Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-10-23
The Correspondenoe.
TIE OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS


upon this subject are interesting as form
ing chapter in the history of the pro-
curing of tbs release of these men. The
first letter from Mayor O'Brien to Gov
ernor Hamilton is dated July Z, 1883, and
is as follows:
"Hon. John e. Hamilton, Governor of
Illinois-Sir: Ihave the honor herewith
to transmit for your consideration the
deposition of different witnesses, which
have taken in the matter of the murder of
Policeman O'Oonnell, Of this city, on the
morning of the 18th day of June, 1881. I
also forward you the testimony taken
at the coroner's inquest.
You will perceive, from an examination
of these depositions, that thestestimony is
largely composed of admissions made by
these two men to the witness Charles Des-
los and the witness Henry Thompson Or
Thomas; but take the liberty of calling
your attention to the corroborative facts,
which partly appear from the testimony
itself and partly from matters which we
are not able to transmit, such as the ideu-
teal bullet found in the police
mans head, the nature and character
of the wound, and the character
of the bullet itself. You will also observe
that the witness Henry Thompson or
Thomas accurately describes the locality
of the murder and the circumstances under
which it was committed, and this without
any opportunity on his part for any in
formation concerning it from other sources
than of the man Underhill. Thompson
came in on the Mary Morton the day be-
fore the date of his deposition and was
pointed out to myself and the chief of
police by the witness Deslos. personally
superintendent his arrest and saw, myself,
that while in custody here no one was per-
mitted to approach him, indeed none of the
other officers than the chief knew what he
was here for or why he was kept, and he
made his declaration to me, under oath,
precisely as have caused it to be tran
scribed by the stenographer who took it
DOWN.
The deposition of the witness Morton
shows the presence of those men in this
city at the time of the offense, and is cor
roborative of the declarations of the wit
ness Deslos as to the pistols in their pos
session at that time; and have no doubt
| that when these men are confronted with
Mrs. Bickel that she will be able to iden-
| tify them with reasonable certainty.
It is our purpose (which desire to state
| fully to you) to use the defendant, Wash
iugton, as states evidence, and to proceed
moro particularly against Underhill. I
feel assured at present that if these men
should be surrendered We will be able 10
convict them both CT this murder, as many
circumstances will undoubtedly be ciscov-
cred directly pointing to full corrobora-
ton of the confessions which they have
made, at the times and places indicated in
| the dispositions.
On the question of their surrender, I
take the liberty Of enclosing to you brief,
| and from the authorities cited L desire to
urge before you the position that il is
within your power, under your constitu-
ton, to grant a conditional pardon, if you
should deem it advisable to pursue that
course, as the authorities seem to hold that
the condition may be either precedent or
subsequent. If you should be so advised
that you will issue pardon containing
the condition that it shall not take effect
unless the men should be convicted of this
offense in this state, will see to it that
! they are remanded to Chester at once on
the termination Of their trial if they should
not be convicted; and it seems to me
that can be readily done. and that there
is no danger Of their being released upon
hd5eds corpus even If such q proceeding