Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-08-17
AWAITING THE DEATH SENTENCE.

The Crime for W hich George Watiace -
Condemned to Die-A Deed OF which
few Details are Known-EhOrts TO
Commute His Sentence
one week from to-day in all probability
the negro. George Wallace, Will be hanged.
The crime of which he was convicted was
the murder of Martin Jensen, a Norwegian
sailor. at a notorious dance-hOuse in the
Old Fort precinct, on the night Of March
Is. 1882. The meagre details Of the crime
are familiar to many Of the readers Of the
MORNING News.
Wallace was charged with shooting
thu sailor His arrest followed, and
at the CorOner's inquest the jury
rendered the verdict. I'VE ind from the
evidence before us that the deceased, Mar
tin Jensen. came to his death from a gun
shot wound, said shot being fired from a
pistol in the hands Of George Wallace,
and we consider the said killing as muir
der"
From the evidence it developed that
Wallace was in the dance house, and
charged some of the inmates with stealing
his watch. A disturbance followed. Wal
lace was put out of the house. and IN the
ARRAY he fatally shot the sailor. He was
promptly indicted and put upon trial. He
was found guilty and sentenced by Judge
TOmpkins to be hanged on May 10th.
1852. On MAY II a motion for new trial
was made. which was argued on July
2Sth. On the 10Th Judge Carswell, pre-
siding. granted a supersedeas, and the
case went to the Supreme Court, where it
was argued by Messrs. r. f. Lester and
j. J. Abrams in behalf the accused. The
Supreme Court. on April 26, 1888, affirmed
lr III of IF al
and at the last June term of the Superior
Court the remitter of the former tribunal
was filed and made the order Of the latter
The sentence Of death was pronounced by
Judge Fort. who reviewed the case, dwell
ing upon the enOrmity Of the Ohense, and
assured the prisoner that he could not see
one ray of hope for him, as every source
Of appeal short of Executive clemency had
had been exhausted. and the present
Chief Magistrate was resolved that the
majesty of the law should be indicated.
After cOunselling the prisoner to make
the most of the time left him upon earth
in preparation TO meet his Maker, the
death sentence was passed, and Wallace
was Temanded to Jail TO await Its iulh!l-
ment.
There have been doubts in the minds Of
many as TO the prisoners guilt. The evil
dence upon which he was convicted was
i'm a measure circumstantial. still. the
law has had its course. The decision Of
the courts has been rendered, and in all
probability the penalty of death will be
inflicted. The prisoner, during his long
confinement. has occupied narrow
cell i'm the west corridor Of the
Iail. where he is still imprisoned. At the
last interview. before the final sentence
was passed he was found by reporter
pacing up and down his quarters with his
hands behind his back. On being spoken
to he came quickly to the cell door, and
talked freely about the crime, yet
stubbOrnly declared his innocence. Wal
lace is of weak intellect, and claimed by
many to be almost an imbecile. During
the passage of the sentence in court he
drew a paper from his pocket which he
held in front Of him. and which, when the
court concluded he dropped, raising his
arms above his head and moving them
about in a nervous manner, and uttering
unntelligible words, showing that his
mind was not wholly sound.
Upon the ground Of deficiency in intel
lect an effort is being made to secure
communication of the death sentence to i'm
prisOnment fer life. His attorney is now
in Atlanta with a petition to the Gov
ernOr, signed by prominent county otfi-
cials and a number Of citizens, asking
that this Communication be granted. The
result Will be known in a few days.