St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-03-21

| sort Gov. Proctor was asked to grant a
six months reprieve, on the ground OF
important new evidence. A tramp,
calling himself John Jacobs, had turned
up at Tiblow, Kan, and confessed,
while drunk, to killing man and burn
ing buildings in Windsor county, VT,
Gravelin's friends said. They also pro-
duced an anonymous letter, distinguish
ed for it's illiteracy solely, in which the
writer claimed to be Whites murderer
and that he wished to save Gravelln,
and Mrs. Charles L. Shiette OF Wealth
ersfeld identified the handwriting as
that of her former husband, who had
been divorced from her soon after
Whites murder and then disappeared.
This man, she said. had been unusually
nervous and timid after the crime, re-
fusing to go out doors at night. He
had formerly belonged to Gravelin's
clique, and the theory was that he and
Jacobs were the same person. Jacobs
could not be found, however, and as
none of the evidence against Gravelin
was disprOved, the reprieve was denied.
The struggle to save Gravelin's life was
persistent, continuing to the day be-
fore his death, and much of the $780,
600 property which he had when he
was arrested, with money advanced by
his brother, Celestien, wealthy Kan
kakee Qll.) citizen, is said to have been
wasted in the effort.
Several reporters. of Boston, New
York and state papers, who attended
the hanging, met afterward and con-
demned the execution of Gravelin, "an
and Gov ppnotnrJS o.
fusal to stay the proceedings. They
propose to oppose capital punishment
hereafter, except in cases where guilt IS
absolutely proved and an immediate
execution is ordered.
JOHN Q. PINKHAM.
John Q. Pinkham, the murderer OF
Mrs. Miriam Berry at New Durham, N.
H., january 8, 1873, was executed IN
the state-prison at Concord, n. ID. Fri
day at ii a. NJ, 100 people, including
some of his own and his victims rela-
tives, being present. His neck was
broken when he dropped, aud death
was instantaneous. The gallOws used
was the same on which Josiah III. Pike,
Franklin b. Evans, Edwin W. Major
and Joseph Lapaige were hanged.
Pinkham confessed his crime, saying it
was committed while he was partly in
tOxicated. He sent messages to his
aged mother and his brother, express
ing sorrow that he had brought so much
disgrace upon them. His principal sol
ace before dying was cigar, though
religious exercises were held.
Pinkham was AZ years old and IL ma
tive of Alton, n. II. He WIS not par
ticularly bright, never being able to
learn TO read, but he was considered
harmless sort of fellow, though lac had
a violent temper and was addicted to
drink. He served during the war in
the 4th New Hampshire regiment and,
being captured by the rebels, was con-
fined for time in Libby and Salisbury
prisons. During the summer and fall
of 1877, he worked occasionally for Mrs.
Berry, "A respectable widow of 65, and
dispute about pay resulted in the muir
der. He shot Mrs. Berry through the
head with Il gun, in the presence OF her
daughter, and, escaping, attempted sui
eide by cutting his throat. Recover
ing. however, he was tried and convict
ed in March, 1873. An unsuccessful at
tempt was recently made to have his
sentence committed, OH the ground of
insanity