Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-22
Wilmington. THURSDAY ,Nov.22. 1888.
Governor stoekIey's Responsibility
In the Harrsgan Case.


In the Harrfgan Case.
Governor stooklsy will presently be- |
asked to grant reprieve, or perhaps q |
full pardon, TO jeremiah Harrigsn, the |
murderer Of Denis Shea. The decision |
ia absolutely in the Governors hand. He |
can turn the murderer loose within a
month he can grant him years. or ten
years exemption from the gallows, or he
oan hold his hand and let the sentence Of
the Court be executed on the 18th Of
December. There is no doubt that Har-
rigan's friends felt that the first reprisve
was great point gained, and that the
second gave strong hope of Hsrrigsn's
final escape from the gallows. The
measure of their hope is Indicated by the
fact that they now ask q pardon for the
convicted man.
Public sentiment, We believe, has
somewhat changed in favor OF Harrigsn,
bat men are not to be pardonsd or con-
demned by popular vote. The Governor
that II Hsrrigan is guilty of the full
crime for which he WAS convicted lie Is as
deserving of death to-day as when he
first received the sentence OF the court.
The fsot that one Governor thought fit to
grant him a lease Of life does not commit
Governor Stookley to like course or re
lease him in the slightest degree from
the responsibility of giving the
arguments of Harrigap's friends
the closest scrutiny. Whatever
public sentiment may be, Harrigan comes
before the Governor convicted and con-
demned man, his life forfeit to the State,
and only upon the most convincing proof,
in examining which it must be remem-
bered that It is submitted by the friends
OF the condemned man, without the
ordinary solemnity surrounding testi-
mony as given in court OF Justice, and,
as far as we have heard, without accom-
psnying recommendation to mercy FROM
the court or any of its officers. On the
other hand, if the Governor shall be con.
WINGED that the verdict in Hsrrigsn' a
case was in any degree an unjust one, il
is the Executives plain duty to exercise
his great prerogative of mercy.
1t has been suggested from a sourc,
that delights to fud nsught but evil il
the public administration OF this State
that political influence will secure tn,
condemned man reprieve or pardon, bu1
ss we believe no man would dare appes
to the Governor upon ground 80 utterly
unteuable, and 80 subversive OF justice
30 we believe that the Governor will no
allow the fear OF criticism from sucl
source to sway his Judgment. Harrigan
color, religion, nationality or politics, ha
nothing whatever to do with the question
Of his guilt. and the man who woult
thrust any or all OF them between Harri
gan and justice is dangerous enemy t
the State.
OF course the Governor does not Nee
to be told that the arguments hithert
advanced to save Harrigan's neck csnno
properly serve to secure him full an
immediate pardon. II he was guilty {
anything in staying Denis Shea, hi
crime has not been sufficiently answere
by his brief term of Imprisonment, Tt
argument urged to save his life ia thu
the victim had corrupted the wife OF h
slayer. Had the killing been done whe
the alleged outraged husband had four
the guilty pair in hagrante delict,
there would have been no ca
for executive clemency, for Harrigs
would have beeE el5ared nv the jut
But since Shea was slain under no suC
circumstances, surely the Governor ca
not be expected to set the slayer fire.
Whatever is done the great point for t!
Executive is to remember tn
the present responsibility ia entirely pc
sonal to himself,