The daily gazette., 1878-03-19
FIFTH EDITION..
No Hope for a Pardon.
Collins and Chambers Doomed

THE GOVERNOR DECLINES TO EXTEND
EXECUTIVE oLEMENcY.
The cases of the two negroes, Samuel
Collins and George Chambers, which
have attracted considerable attention
during the past two months, will soon
draw to n conclusion, as their execution
| will no doubt positively take place on
Friday next, in accordance with the sen-
| tence of the Court.
These two negroes, it will be remember
| ed were convicted at the November
| Term of Court for committing an outrage
upon white woman known rs Mrs.
Kate Smith, at Middletown, in August
| last. The outrage was preceded by an
assault upon man who accompanied
| the woman, and who was supposed to be
| her husband, the negroes first knocking
him insensible with cart whips and then
dragging her to the place where the out
rage was committed. The negroes were
apprehended, arrested, tried at the Nov
einber term of Court, convicted, and SEN
| fenced TO be hung on Friday, March 22d.
During the past few weeks strenuous
eXertions have been made by j. l.. Val
landigham, Esq, counsel for tbe con-
demned men, and Harry w. Morrow, of
| the Y. NJ. G.. A., to secure pardon or n
respite Tor the prisoners, on the ground
| of having discovered additional evidence
| which materially affected the case. This
| evidence, which consisted of the discov-
| cry that the woman was not married and
was prostitute of bad character, were
| laid before the Governor, on Saturday,
together with substantiating aifidavits
and the argument of cousel, and the case
| left in his hands, with the hope that he
| would either pardon the condemned
| men, or grant respite in order to allow
\ time for further examination.
A visit this morning to L. &. Grubb,
| Esq, Secretary of State, revealed the
| fact that no hopes of Il pardon or n re-
spite need be entertained by the friends
| of the condemned men. Mr.. Grubb
stated that rs it would take two or three
| days to prepare the necessary papers for
Il respite or pardon, and rs the day ap-
pointed for the execution is close at
| hand, he felt II to be his duty to asccr-
tain as soon as possible, the probable ac-
ton of the Governor in the premises
He therefore visited His Excellency, at
| Middletown, last evening, and on his re-
| turn this morning said he felt satisfied
that he would receive no instructions to
| prepare either n pardon or "A respite, and
| that the law will he permitted to take its
| course.
| The Secretary further stated that for
| the past two months, the Governor has
| given to this grave and important case
The most careful consideration; and that
il has been thoroughly Investigated by
the State officials, i'll all its bearings,
both in this county and in Philadelphia
| where the proSecutrix resides. The re-
suit has been such as to clearly and con-
clusively establish the guilt of the pris-
| oners, beyond the slightest doubt. The
sympathies of His Excellency were with
the condemned men, but he felt that his
| duty to the public imperatively demand
ed his non-interference with the sentence
| of the Court. Nothing contained in the
| evidence presented in favor of the pris-
| oners will warrant him in extending ex-
| ecutive clemency, while the facts in his
| possession will satisfy the public of the
| Justice of his course.
An examination of the evidence of the
| case now in the hands OF the Governor.
shows that many of the newspaper rep
resentation made during the past two
months were greatly exaggerated, ard
did not correctly represenL the facts,
while they have greatly misled the pub
lie mind as to the true nature of the I'M
| fortunate affair. All the evidence con-
| clusively demonstrates the fact that the
offence was committed against tho will
of the prosecutrix, by force. and without
her consent; and that her submission
| was accomplished through force and
| fear.
One strange circumstance in this case
| is that nearly all the colored people of
| the lower portion of the county, are in
| favor of strict fIllfillment of the SEN
| tence; and only few days ago the pas
| tor of the colored church at Middletown,
| called upon Governor Cochran, and
urged him not to grant either a pardon
| or respite.
The counsel for the condemned men.
| and his friendly associates, have used
| their utmost endeavors to secure their
ends. But the stern demands of Justice
rendered futile their humane efforts, and
on Friday the negroes must die.