The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1883-05-17


On Thursday, April 5th, no respite
having been received, the Sheriff made
ready for the execution upon the next
day, but on Thursday evening received
telegraphic notice that on Friday DIR.
A. G.. Byers would arrive with the
writ Of respite. The DIR. arrived on
the morning train on Friday, delivered
his papers, and had conversation
with the prisoner, who exhibited
much impotence and unconcern, tell
ing the Dr. to go back and tell Gov.
Foster that he Jackson was ready to
hang.
As last effort to save the neck OF
the criminal, his sisters were sent out
with petition praying for the COM
mutation of the sentence to imprison-
ment for life. On the other hand, re-
monstrances were gotten up, praying
the Governor not to interfere with
the carrying out Of the sentence of
the law.
May 1st was the day set by Gov.
Foster for the hearing of petitions
and remonstrances If such there
might be-in the matter Of commu-
tation of death sentence to that Of i'm
prisonment for life. The condemned
man was represented at Colum-
bus by John T. Moore, and the
remonstrances were presented by Ell
mer G.. Powell, Prosecuting Attorney.
Governor Foster refused to inter
with the sentence of the Court of
Common Pleas, sustained by the Su-
preme Court. The sentence thus re-
mained in the condition made neces-
sary by the respite, calling for the
execution on May 11th.
THE MORAL EFFECT.
No man believes that the hanging
of jackson will stop murder. As long
as crime is prevalent in our midst, as
whisky, lewd women, laziness, and
general cussedness abound there will
occasionally be terrible crime perpe-
trated; but the experience Of Jackson
teaches the lesson that a prompt,
vigorous enforcement of the law
would have great effect in check
ing the crime of murder. John
W. Jackson was naturally giddy,
light-hearted fellow. We called at
the jail on the first night Of his i'm
prisonment, and while he would at
times seem cast down, he did not seem
to fully realize the enormity Of the
crime he had committed. During his
confinement he retained, most Of the
time, his elasticity of spirits, his mer-
ry laugh frequently-even after the
death sentence had been pronounced
being heard on the streets from the
Jail building.
AS the 9th Of April approached,
Jackson believed there was great dan
ger Of his being hung; but when the
respite came, he ceased to fear death,
and, led by his attorneys to believe
that there was great hope for COM
m utation, he became light-hearted
again.
He was favorite, among the pris-
oners, with the Sheriff s family, be-
cause of his jolly disposition. But
all his jollity was not because he did
not care for hanging, but rather be-
cause he thought to escape it. Had
the prisoner been frankly told-what
everybody believed, and what the
Standard said-that his hope Of life
departed with DIR. Byers, it would
have been far less cruel than to de-
ceiye him into the belief that the
death sentence would be commuted.
We are aware that favorite argu-
ment Of those opposing capital pun
ishment is that IF a person has muir
der in his heart he will not fear the
scafold." This is an erroneous idea.
A murderer is almost invariably a
coward, and while he may seemingly
delight in inhicting tortures upon his
victim, just bring him face to face
with certain and speedy death and his
innate cowardice will assert itself.
The reason of the laws not having
been more effective in checking the
horrible crime of murder, is that the
persistent, untiring efforts Of attor-
neys have been directed toward de-
feating the law and cheating the gal
lows. Murderers have been taught to
believe that with their cases once in
Court there was no danger of the
scafold. 1t is our hope, and belief,
that such prompt administration of
Justice as was shown in the Jackson
case, will have great effect in deterrlng
criminals from the commission of hor-
rble crimes. Every murderer fears
the scaffold. 1t is the hope to elude
it which buoys them up. John w.
Jackson IS more valuable to this COM
munity now than he ever VS. before.
A good murderer is dead Iiurderer.
WE find the following in the Colum-
bus Herald: