The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-03-04
The Murderers' Reprieve.

punishment, succeeded in finding flaw
in the law, by means of which the necks
OF their clients were drawn out Of the
ropes that had been prepared The point
which they make is that the law empow-
erlng the Governor to appoint day for
the execution is unconstitutional, Tor the
reason that it is judicial and not an eX-
ecutive act-one wholly incumbent upon
the court, and wholly within its functions
as defined BY the constitution.
Application was first made to Judge
Peters, who did not consider the point
strong enough to warrant interference.
Judge Danforth, however, was inclined
to grant stay OF proceedings, and upon
information to that effect, Gov. Dingley
granted reprieve for thirty days This
| matter was determined upon on Wednes-
day night, but was not generally known
until next morning Every preparation
had been made for the execution, even to
preparing cotfins They We're not inform
ed Of the respite until Thursday night, in
hopes that they might confess, but not q
word OF the kind could be got from either
The special correspondent Of the Lewis
ton journal has the following, under date
of the goth:
| All of Yesterday forenoon Wagner and
Gordon, from cells l43 and l45 in the up
per corridor, could hear the carpenters
driving the last nails in the gallows a few
rods distant. The gloomy structure is
situated directly against the blind back
! OF one of the shops, and almost upon the
| brink OF the great yawning pit, the now
| unused hole in the earth in which the CON
| VictS of former years We're made to quarry
limerick. 1t is 50 located that only those
upon the platform adjacent could witness
| the execution When Harris was hung i'll
! 1869 there was one building, outside OF
| the prison yard, from the roof OF which n
fair view OF the gallows could be obtain
| ed and this roof was thrOnged with eager.
albeit distant spectators, But the new
machine has been so placed that there can
| be no unauthorized witnesses.
The old gallows, upon which the few
executions in the history Of Maine have
been conducted, was SO weather rotted
as to be unsafe, and for the past few days
mechanics have been engaged in remod-
ling it, 1t is now a grim conglomerate OF
new planks, and beams and traps and pull
leys which have seen service. There IS
but one drop, and that is the same drop
through which Harris and Sagcr and Cox
and Williams were launched INTO eternity.
The gallows We're completed Just after
dinner yesterday, and the hammering
then ceased, and Gordon and Wagner
| knew-or supposed that the instrument
of death was ready for its work.
| The gallows will stand during the ivy N
| weight days of the murderers' respite,
| awaiting the final decision Of the supreme
court Judges Close by, almost tumbling
over the brink Of the lime pit. lies the
wreck of the old and discarded gibber.
Wagner has never been assigned to any
prison labor since he was brought to
Thomaston in September, 1873. Gordon,
until the past fortnight, has been en-
ployed in the blacksmith shop, where he
showed himself willing and intelligent
| although unskilled workman.
They have been allowed to hold 10 COM
municaton with any persons except the
prison officials. their chaplans and phvsi-
latter Wagner. of course, has none to visit
him.
Yesterday noon, DR.. VI alker. prison ply
sician, made Il special examination of their
physical condition. He reports Gordon in
good bodily health, except a slight pain
in the head, probably from loss of sleep
and mental anxiety. He complained of
loss of appetite and general depression
Said that he ''telt bad in his mind" He
has had no quiet sleep Tor number 81
| been feyerish and undressing
| Wagner on the other hand, is quite
| cheerful lie has fine appetite and
sleeps soundly and to good purpose. He
suffers no pain except from an old rhcu-
matte affection in his lower limbs which
is chronic. and has been one cause Of his
exemption from labor. lie makes no com
plants. and walks his cell very leisurely
and with the air OF man entirely at ease.
Wagner's faith in his salvation from the
galloWs has been the most singular and
perpleXing feature Of his case. lie has
never wayered. The same story that he
| told in the court room at Alfred has been
| adhered to- and the same expressions OF
| confidence that God would not permit him
to die have been repeated and repeated.
Those who are brought into most intimate
| contact with him. and who have the best
opportunities to diagnose his various
| moods, believe that this faith is genuine
| and not affected. and that his reliance in
God, although rudcly expressed and APP
parently savoring of cant, is real and com
torting to him.
Gordon was visited yesterday afternoon
| by Mr.. Rand and his two sons, the father
T! and brothers of Mrs Emma Gordon, the
murdered woman. Both of the young
| Rands We're old chums of John Gordon,
and they earnestly urged him to confess,
enforcing their argument with statements
of facts which have TRANSFERRED since the
| trial. and which make all the more con
elusive the evidence Of his guilt. Gordon
was much affected by the Interview, and
listened thoughttully to all that his ole
friends had to urge. He nevertheless per
sisted in asserting his innocence. his ulti-
matum being You would not have ne
confess to lie, would you?"
| OF the two men Gordon was inconpar-
ably the more impressed by the prospect
OF approaching death.
Maine Legislature.