Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-08-21
Statement of Attorney General Hart
in Resistance of the Appi-
cation and in Support
of the Sentence.

The assassination of T. Wallace More, in
Ventura county, in NJ arch, 1877, produced
marked sensation throughout the State,
as it was and is held to involve questions
between land claimant and settlers, and
because of the interse feeling in Ventura
county on the issue between these respec.
tive claimants. Aside from this, however,
the murder was done in the dead of night,
was shrouded in mystery, and the trials
resulting involved judgments upon con-
fessions and circumstantial evidence.
F. a. Sprague and six others were ar
rested for the crime. After a variety
of legal proceedings Sprague was con-
victed of murder in the first degree. In
various forms the case went before the
Supreme Court on appeals and motions,
and finally the Court below fixed August
l3, 1880, as the day on which Sprague
should on the gallows suffer the extreme
penalty of the law. Prior to the arrival
of that DAY counsel and friends of Sprague
applied to the Governor for the pardon of
Sprague, and asked time in which to file
documentary evidence and make arguments
in support. To that application for par
don the Attorney General, A. L. Hart, in
behalf of the people, interposed his OBJ
lection. The &C overnor thereupon respited
Sprague until August 9th and signifed
his willingness to hear counsel on both
sides. For that purpose he has set Mon
day, August 23l, at l P. NJ, when counsel
will be heard before him, Creed Raymond
in support of the application for Executive
interference, Attorney General Hart in
reply and support of the sentence of the
law.
In view of the widespread attention
which this case has awakened, the RECORD
UNION has taken from counsel on either
side statements of the points they will
make. These interviews were taken pho
geographically, and the matter will be
found to be responsive to questions pro-
pounded calculated to call out replies that
would set the matter clearly before the
general reader. For this purpose unusual
space has been given up to the case, to the
exclusion of departmental matters custom
arily appearing. The perusal of the fol-
lowing columns will be found to well
repay for the time and to give to the dis.
pa sionate reader very clear insight into
this remarkable case, which just now is
engaging SO much of public attention. The
matter will be found given in four general
divisions and in the natural order of their
relation to each other.
1. A synoptical statement of the facts as
set forth in the statement of L. G. Granger,
a,ting District Attorney of Ventura county,
who with others conducted the prosecution
against Sprague, and adheres warmly to
his expressions of the guilt of the prisoner
and the justice of the sentence. In this
synopsis nothing of the force of the full
statement of facts as recited by Mr..
Granger is lost.
Ii. A paragraphic judicial history of the
case as appears in Court records.
III. The interview with Creed Hay
mond, counsel for Sprague, who has the
affirmative of the application now pending
before the Governor, in which he sketches
the points the affirmative will urge.
". The interview with Attorney. Cen
eral Hart, representing the people, having
the negative Of the application, in which
is set forth the reasons for resisting the re-
quest for a pardon, and in support of the
justice of the verdict and sentence.