St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1879-03-28
Incidents of Gravelin's Execution.

| DOSTON, MdTCH GdUlNe
of the Boston, New York, Western, ant
Vermont press have passed resolutions
cOndemning the proceedings which re
suited in the execution of Gravelin al
All innocent man, in Windsor, VT, ant
deeply regretting that stay of pro-
ceedings was not secul ed.n-ASSOcidteC
Press Despatch.
The only reporters present at Windsor
on the occasion referred to we're the
special reporter for the Free Press the
night editor of the Rutland Herald E
&. Carrigan, representing the Boston
journal ; the reporter for the Windsor
Journal ; E. C. George, of the Boston
Globe a reporter of the st. Albans
seventy -nine, and, last but not least,
E. Legacy Smith. The "representa-
tives of the Boston, New York, Western
and Vermont press" who passed and
signed the resolutions were Carrigan,
George, E. Legacy and the st. Adams
man-the Others refusing to approve
or sign this precious document. The
whole thing was a perfect imposition
on the Associated Press, and we are
surprised that its Windsor agent should
have furnished it. Imagine Z. Legacy
Smith solemnly resolving that he deep
ly regretted Governor Proctor had not
given Gravelin Il reprieve! Some SELL
timentalistss still claim that Gravelin
was innocent of the crime for which he
was hanged. Very well. Father Classy
told Gravelin what to say on the scat
fold. The secrets of the confessional
were between Gravelin, his confessor.
and his God. But if Gravelin had as
serted his innocence to his confessor
would not Father Classy have advised
him to proclaim it on the scaffold 3
Free Press d; Times.
Touching the matter of Gravelin's
innocence, we had it from his conf
dental agent and attorney, not month
prior to the execution, that Graveliu
had never, in his most private and con-
fidenUial Intercourse with him, claimed
to he innocent of the murder of White,
nor did he believe that he would, while
life lasted, set up that claim. The
plain truth about the matter is, that
the unfortunate man was literally cruel
fled between hope and fear, up to the
very fatal moment, through the I'M
warranted and unjustiliable agency of
j. w. Deane and E. Morton Smith, and
he thereby suffered a torture worse, if
possible, than death itself. Doubtless
he was led to consider his application
for repreve as trembling in the bal
ance when the hour for execution ar
rived, for, if we mistake not, the final
no of Governor Proctor was received
while on the way from the cell to the
gallows.-Montpelier Waterman.
AN ANSWER TO BE UNDERSTOOD.
The following is the last effort made
to obtain IA stay of the execution:
WINDSOR, VT, March IA, 1879.
10 Coz. Proctor, Sutherland Falls, Vt. :
'For Gods sake, don't hang this in
nocent man, Gravelin. Doubts are ex-
pressed by everyone everywhere, and
Hamlin's testimony will be the result of
great deal of agitation, criticism and
discussion. All we ask of you is Il chance
to prove his innocence before the court.
1t is reasonable, and you have no ex-
cuse for not granting it. The people de-
mand that the case shall be heard JUS
tlce demands it, why should you refuse {?
1t is asked everywhere, and by every-
body. The drop falls at 2 o'clock pre-
clsel y.-FOr Gods sake reprieve Grave
lin. Let ninety-nine guilty men escape.
rather than one innocent man suffer,
Can't you do it 2"
signed: j. w. DEANE.
SUTHERLAND FALLS, Vt, Mar. IA. 70.
10 y. W. Deane, Windsor, Vt:
No,
Signed: r. PRoCTOR.