The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1880-03-10
AUeTIN LETTER.
for His Communication OF
Lanham's Sentence.


AUsrS, Texas, March s, 1850,
The Communication of Lanhams sentence
for the murder of tho actress, George Dreke,
in San Antonio, has become the subject OF
deep and earnest comment. So far ms Lam
ham 10 affectc by it, IL is a matter Of small
importance to society whether be suffered the
extreme penalty Of the law, or had that pen
atty committed, or was even pardoned out
right. The fate Of on individual is not The
matter that Interests society, however ap-
paliing that fate may be to him personally.
quences involved, which directly concern the
good order, peace dnd dignity of the State.
The law was violated and the at"octy of the
crime demanded that 10 majesty should be
vindicated. Every impulse of manhood re-
volts at the idea of cold-blsodcd murder, aud
when tho yicsim is woman and the slayer II
man, her blood cle' out from the very
ground against hin. The circumstances Of
this heartless kl'ing are enough to "stir II
fever in the blood OF age, and make the in
fant's strong as steel" In view Of the pre-
vious association OF theic parties, their
relation TO each other, the fact that after a
fair and impartial trial he WAS convicted,
which Judgment WIS affirmed by the appro-
pirate Appellate tribunal, The people ae
non-pussed at the action Of Governor
Roberts.
Naturally enough ii has occasionel the ia
stitution of compromise between the pre-
"A ha :. i-,nt .,,, l.,
referencesto the e-erciGe of executive elem
ency, and despite the censure which was
visited on Cove nor Hubbard for leaning too
much 10 mercy's side, there is no p etense
that for SO gca,e an ohense he over came be-
tween the Judgment Of the court aud the
work of the eAecutoner. 1t is true that be
pardoned more of those convicted, within the
same length of timo than Governor Roberts;
but the brutal murderer, whose hands were
stained with the blood of his viciim--thet
victim being girl who on Bonded In
plead for liie--awoke no mawblsh, maudlin
sentimentalily in the b east of the e-.Govel-
nor, as it seems to have done in that of the
present incumbent. Aud yet Hubbard was
censured, and it was not among
the least iolcible reasons urged in favor o
the eminent fitness ofhs Egcellencv, that IN
der his rule this wholesale pardoning woult
cease Practlsed "a the exercise of judicia
functions, familiar with the pr elents, anC
through long years OF experience on the Su
preme bench, accustomed to e.plain and ex
pound them, the people thought, that wher
violated, particularly a. ,er final Judgment b.
the court of last resort. he would let the
Judgment stand and the law Vi Q ita course
But not so, and in that portion
of the State which is eIiacen
to the scene of this horrible
tragedy. the communication OF Lauham's , IN
tence has given rise to expressions of jndig'
nation of The most decided End bitter che
acter.
Your correspondent remembers during th,
session of the last Legislature TO have bearc
distinguished lawye" comment with grea
favor upon letter of Governor Robert TO ,
Judge of one of The criminal courts of thu
State, who had written him 10 int pose il
behalf of youth who had been conyc OF
theft, as embody ing the ne theorJ Of exec
utive cleraency. The position s-sumcd wa.
that pardon SD uld mot be granted except
where there had b. n mist" e ia Law or ga
insuffcencv in the facts 20 warrant con
yiction, ana when approach / by Senator
in the interest Of this same boy, be replied
that II executive clemency was 10 be expected
in such cases the law-maliing power must
change the law before he could do it. IL
view Of this opinion, which became generally
known about the tue of its expression, th.
action Of the Governor in committing
some of the sentences which have
been passed upon convicts, notable among
which was the case of the Houston rapist, OF
Hubby notoriety, and refusing Others, which
So med to warrant Communication, has occa
stoned much surprise and disappointment tC
the lovers of law aud order
The reasons assigned for the action taker
in this case are not considered by any means
conclusive. For while it may be true tba
gentlemen and ladies signed tins petition il
large numbers, it is also tue that a premedi
tated murder has been pepetrated by mar
YOUNG and strong uDon defenseless woman
and il capital punishment steTs at all sppro
pirate, il is eminently SO in just such acase an,
under such circumstances. He was young
so was bis unfortunate victim, and it is sac
reflection TO contemplate that the muir
derer. q man, is allowed to live, while hi
victim, woman, Is cold and silent tenant o
the grave. Again, it appears equally incon
sistent, and this reason seems Il
occasion the greatest dissatisfaction
that because GONE grown men soldiers com,
between him and her." though she was hi
mistress. that, therefore, this Communication
ought to DO granted. 1t is commended tina
the argument proves too much, since !