The New York herald., 1879-03-15

steps he evinced no signs Of weakness. Here the
offered by Vicar General Caissey, OF ST. Adams,
who was followed by Rev. DE- Mick; the
prayer Gravelin was asked Dy sheriff stinson.
il he had anything to say He replied. mo, only
fGsvs al my aIa fer 70 the o
what he meant by wishing to be forgiven.
In substance. he SAID. this desire is gen
1: indicates particular sin, merely
the general acts of lifetime and here we see the
beneht and influence of true religion" When these
remarks were finished Gravelin kissed the black
crucfx which he held while standing upon the scat
fold. and bid Father Caissey and Chaplain Nick M an
adectionate farewell. He was then bound by the
Sherifs deputies, after which Deputy Alnsden
adjusted the moose and drew down the black cap.
DEAD By THE LAWS DECREE.
ecute the penalty of the law" and at quarter past
two the trap fell. The fall four feet. drayeins
neck was broken. and after slight struggle the
medical officers pronounced life extinct.
MURDER OF HERBERT o. WHITE.
On the 9th of October. 1876, Herbert o. White. of
Weathersheld VT. was murdered and his body sub
sequently found in well. On the 10th of October
some farm buildings in Weathersfeld. owned by
Horace Weston, were burned by what was believed
to be an incendiary tire. The property was valued
at 5000 and insured for $2.50O Owing to cer-
tain amount OF ill-feeng between the owner Of the
buildings and ono Henry Gravelin. well-todo
Frenchman residing in the vicinity, and to
some threats that had been uttered by him, he
was arrested on suspicion and bound over at pre-
liminary examination in the sum OF $4,000 At this
time there grave suspicious that Gravelin had
some hand in the mysterious disappearance of Her
bert o. White who was neighbor of his Search
was made for the missing man. and his remains were
found by the officers in well about one hundred
and fifty rods from Grsvelins house. in an unfre-
quented place. Gravein was rearrested on the
charge tried snd convicted at the December term of
the Court and sentenced TO be hung at Windsor
Prison, March IA. 1870
cmcUMsrANr1AL EVIDENCE.
The evidence was entirely circumstantial and
good deal Of doubt has since been thrown the
curacy Of the verdict BY the people OF Vermont and
very strong 1t pointed directly to Gravelin
the only man who was in position to
have committed the murder and who possibly
shown that Gravelin had entertained hard
feelings against White account Of the latters hav
ing testified against him in previous suit in which
he was defeated. One Of the many witnesses who
testified that Gravelin had confessed his guilt to
them had justkservedi AN eight years sentence in
able witnesses who were very positive and whose
testimony gave strong color to that Of the ex-
convict.
NEW EvIDHNCE DISCOVERED.
An effort made at the last session Of the Legis
ment lfe but the petition failed to attract sup
port enough to secure its adoption Mr. Dean. Of
Claremont, n. H., among other things put in an
affidavit made by Albert Preston at the hearing, set
ting forth that he Preston) was agent and attorney
for Gravelin; that one Tim Hanlin. who testified in
the trial that he had had confession o.; guilt from
Gravelin. was in the employ of the insurance
company in which the property DESTROYED by
fire was insured and that Henlin would not dare to
go against the company as he was in its power COM
pletely, OWING to six indictments out against him.
and that Hanlin had been previously employed in
business of the same nature. When this document
became known the officers Of the insurance COM
pany with other reputable citizens appeared before
the Committee Of the Judiciary and very effectuay
refuted all the charges contained in the affidavit
The committee, after hearing this and other test-
mony. reported adversely the petition giving
their reason that the now evidence not of suf
cient importance to warrant any interference
ALLEGED CONFESSION By A TRAMP.
short time ago an application was made to
Governor Proctor for reprieve of six months the
ground Of newly discovered evidence. This pur-
ported to come from Tiblow, Kansas, and was in
effect that in the spring of 1878 French tramp came
there from Vermont, and worked there during the
summer; that his name John Jacobs. One Of
the aidavis set forth that Jacobs represented that
he was well acquainted in Weathersfeld. VT.
that he knew Gravelin WE'LL that he
(Jacobs) set fire to house in Windsor and
further that he had at one time killed man with
axe handle The prisoners counsel endeavored to
prove that this Jacobs and not dravelin killed
Herbert o. White; that he answered the description
OF Charles L. Sheitt. formerly of Weathersheld.
His wife stated that the night of the murder he
came home in state Of great excitement aud besides
gave several false for leaving the place where
he was employed. Both she and one Laura Brown
also make affidavit that this Shellitt said
that he could clear Grsvelin with three words,
adding :-"I could be his best witness" He left in
been heard Of him. The Governor after reviewing
all the evidence here alluded to deemed it insult
cent and refused the petition for stay of proceed
ings. There has been good deal of feeling in tho
and the Governor is sharply criticised for his
action.