The weekly Arizona miner., 1882-04-14
THE SCAFFOLD CHEATED.
TEMPE, A. T., April l2, 1882

EDITOR MINER:- For long time the hue and cry has been in Arizona what an incompetent person General Fremont was when he was governor of Arizona. Now of two evils always choose the least, and l I don't see that President Arthur has made osr condition any better by his re cent appointment of Governor to Arizona, as it's a matter of doubt in my mind as to whether it's better to have Governor incompetent to do his duty, or one untoitt- iqg to do the same.
 Within the last year in Tempe an old man bv the name of Alfred Cantrell was brutally murdered Suspicion pointed to a young Mexican, by the name of Alfredo Brown, as being the murderer. He was arrested, taken to PheniX and tried, found guilty of murderer in the first degree by twelve law abiding Supposed to bel cit zens. Sentence was passed and the mur- derer condemned to die The lawyers for the prisoner were very active i'll bringing the case before the Supreme Court, but 1t proved of no avail, as a new trial was de nied The next step on the part of the lawyers Qike the drowing man to the straw) was to get up petition in Phcnix to save the life of Brown. Judge Porter, whopresided over the case, signed said petition, after refusing a new trial, tell inc him he had had fair and impartial trial. and he saw no cause why 1t should be granted; still the judge signed that pc tition, but then the political pot has al ready begun to simmer, and sometimes ven murderers can be the means of mak i1g it boil 70, most learned Judge. = Nine on that jury signed that petition
 after hearing the entire evidence in Court, concluding that Brown, according to that evidence was guilty of the crime of murder, and admitting they brought in their verdict on circumstantial evl- dence, which, I'll admit, many persons ob- feet to, but which is lawful, and although here was no recommendation to the Court for mercy, and although there were no circumstances surrounding the case that would justify the chosen nine to sign that petition, still they signed it. Quite a number of citizens in Phenix signed the petition, though they knew very little of | the case, only that they objected to the death penalty, which is lawful. Others objected to circumstantial evidence, which also is lawful-in short, the lawyers for tho prisoner influenced some weakminded people, and by this gained their point. A petition was gotten up here, but sign d
 principally by Mexican outlaws, which is not at all astonishing, for 'birds Of a Heather ought always to flock together. The honest law abiding portion of this community sent remonstrance following the Phenix petition to Governor Iiltle, and also some letters went from here ask ing the Governor to let the law take it's course, and he replied, saying that he would gipe the matter careful considera- tion, at the same time showiHg that Judge Porter, the Grand Jury and the Trltl T Jury had signed that petition, which should not have had any particular
 weight. for if any man in this Territory should err in his judgment, that Is no reason that the Governor should do ike wise, but it appears he has, for he's coIa- } muted Browns sentence to Imprisonment } for life.
 The Governor should bear in mind that this Is not question to be decided by the vote of the people. Now, if there's Q doubt as to Browns guilt, which the law entities him to the benefit of, l should think at the time of the trial the jury are the ones to consider that. If nine out of l that jury at thetime they signed that pc tition found Brown innocent, then l should
 think that 1t was at rather late hour for them to decide in the matter. Now, then, I'll ask what is Brown to be punished for at alll He Is certainly not innocent and guilty both. There remains but one thing now for GGyernor Tritle to do land 1t s
 quite likely ill the course of time the gen tleman will do it, and that Is to gr;mt
 Brown an entire pardon, as Brown may take it in his head some day that he would like to rob and murder somebody else, and he could not very conveniently do it, shut up in prison. It is a great pity that tEe Hon. Thomas Butler had not been ap- pointed Governor to Arizona, for l te- lieve that gentleman to be an honest man and one that neither politicians nor those disposed to break the law, could handle.
 In conclusion I think 1t advisable that
 President Arthur should call his pet Gov erner East, for the President has more need of him in the States or in California either, than We certainly have in Arizona. Yours Truly,
 ELIZA 4. EDWARDS.