The Morning herald., 1878-03-20
THE DOOMED MEN.

THE GOVERNOR RSFUsEs TO PARDON COL
LINs AND cHAMBERs-How THEY RE,
CRIv1D THH NEWS. 1rt .tE.. H. ~
Chambers and Collins must die. Not
withstaDding the strenous efforts made to
secure . pardon or respite for the con-
demned men and the general belief that
Executive clsmsucy would be granted them,
there iss no hope, snd they Will be executsd
on Friday. Gov. Cochran has positively re-
fused pardon, saying that bis synpathies
are with the condemned men; yet after q
careful study of facts he does not feel 1t his
duty to interfere. 1t :is said that the Gov.
ernor has given the subject his close and
careful thought for the last two months,
and hegiesls Convinced beyond doubt that
the charges against themswere we'll ground
ed. and that the evidence that has since
transpired was hatched up by the friends of
the condemned men In order to sway him.
The Governor is also reported to have said
that the press both In this State and else.
where have misrepresented him. He de-
clares his action to be just, and invites a
careful investigation Of facts. ...
Yesterday afternoon Harry W. Morrow,
who has been untirlng in bis endeavors to
to secure pardon for Collins snd Chambers.
accompanied by Lloyd Yonkers, went over
70 New Castle by the 1.15 train to break
the sad intelligence. When the two gentle
men entered the jail several colored minis |
ters were just leaving the cell fthe doomed
men, having been giving them religious
COUNSEL. tg ".-1"
Il was a, trying occasion for the whole
party; the two gentlemen realizing the up-
pleasantness Of their duty; and Chambers |
and Collins zach expecting and dreading
that unwelcome news that Was to be i'm.
parted to them. Mr.. Morrow opened the
conversation, speaking Of bis trip down
the State to secure the signature of the ju.
rors, of his visit to Middletown, and his
conference with Gov. Cochran, and closing
with the allusion to the Governors intep-
tionlto Jet the law take Its course ssIdon't
like to tell You, Sam" he said, 'sbut hone
ts dead" The two condemned men did not
appear much sisurprised, and Chamber.
simply remarked: thst he was expecting
the intelligence. Both of them appeared
to realize their situation, and being pre-
pared to die and seemingly conscious of |
theif innocence, bore up well under the
announcement of their doom. The con-
ference, which was unpleasant to all con-
cerned, was brought to close. When
Morrow and Yonkers arose to take their
leave Chambers said, "God knows that
that woman put this whole this whole
thing up on me. You may tell the public 4
that 4 am innocent" |
Chambers looks much changed from what
he W as last November, which is probably 4
occasionsd by constant confinement and
mental anxiety. He was 45 years Of age
last Sunday. and has been a member Of |
church for 80 years. He was born in Gslena.
Kent county, Nd, and was slave to Mr.
Joseph Pierce. When his young mistress
married and came to this county Chambers
came with her. |
- - . :. .. -.... tg -7aa H4n s. ' "
Tho confinement has told on Collins
even worse than on Chambers, he looks
haggard and careworn, but Is the most col
le"ted Of the two. He is 1s or 10 years of
age, but does not know exactly. |
During his conference with the Governor,
Mr.. Morrow offered to support him in q
respite or pardon with strong petition
composed of our best citizens. He inti-
mated that he did not care for Wilmington
'etitions. he said, "a lot Of n *
wrote me letters about whipping Tom
Titus, but l paid no attention to them for
III that" .... ...,~