Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-26
WALLACE'SLEASEOFLIFE
THE GOVERNOR TEMPORARY
IY SVSPENDS SENTENCE.

~ ~ SPIN 10 SIN LA--NNA-s
Ike Prisoner sanity to be Determined
His Condition Unchanged-A Com
mission OF LuDaey TO be Summoned
To-Dav-How the Condemned Nan
Appears in His Cell
The temporary suspension Of sentence
ordered by the Governor last night, ia the
case Of the negro George wallace con
demned 70 be hung on Friday, ADDS
new lease Of life 70 the doomed men
On Monday evening Jailer Russell al
dressed letters o. Drs. Thomas, Martini
wefcbSeIuaum. Duncan and >heftaIi. r.
...,...-fr,y them % call at the Jail yesterday
O'clock. Punctuauy At the
5C,,r named the physicians assembled.
M condition Of the negro Wallace
was stated and the physicians were IN
formed that their presence had Deeh To-
aur-fed for the purpose 81 ascertalning
,,b4rb.r il should d-e deemed advisable 70
have 4 commission Of lunacy asked for n
determine the sanity 81 the prisoner.
They declined to act as experts m the case
until a Jury had been summoned and
suggested n the Jailer that he take steps
"a have such a Jury Assem- BLEED. The Jaiier
then addressed the following letter.
JAILKR's OFFICE
SAVANNAH. sept -, 1oo-i.'
.I.J Franklin, Esl-, Deputy >heFH ti'''-
S1r-It seems that George Wallace,
sentenced o. De- hung on the 18Th INST
-fDce +ba Governors refusal % pardon
him. has gone crazy. The law does not
r,aruft tho execution II lunatic. 1 de-
Sire that some action should be taken and
a furv summoned 10 inquire a. u al
Iace's sanity Respectfully.
WARING RUSSELL. Jailer.
Mr. Franklin. upon receipt Of the above
communication. proceeded To the OFuI-
narv's office. but that officer being tempo
rarilv absent from the city. he called upon
the Solicitor General. who expressed the
opinion that the Sheriff would have 10
await the return Of the Ordinary before
no could proceed further in the matter.
His opinion was based upon the law a.
prescribed in section $3.50 Of the Code 0i
C1eOrgia 1ss2, which reads as follows:
III after any convict shall have been
sentenced 10 the punishment Of death he
shall become insane. the sheriff 81 the
county. with the concurrence ana assist
ance Of the Ordinary thereof. shall sum-
mon a Jury Of twelve men 10 inquire into
such insanity. And if it be found by the
inquisition u such jury that said convict
is insane. the sheriff shall suspend the
execution Of the sentence directing tho
death Of such convict and make report Of
said inquisit0n and suspension Of eXecu-
ton u the presiding Judge Of the district,
who shall cause the same 10 be entered on
the minutes Of the Superior Court Of the
county where the conviction was had.
And at any time thereafter, when it shall
appear 10 said presiding Judge. either BY
inGiiisition. or otherwise. that the said
convict j. Of sound mind, the said Judge
shall issue new warrant, directing the
Sheriff To- do execution Of the SAID sen
fence. as said court at such time anu
place a. the said Judge may appoint ana
direct ON the said warrant which the
sheriff will be bound % do accordingly.
And the said Judge shall cause the said
warrant and other proceedings ~ the case
10 De entered on the minutes OF the said
superior Court.
slr. Franklin informed reporter of the
MORNING. News last night that u IS pro-
liable that 20 viii summon the jury to-
day, provided tue Ordinary shall concur
iu such action.
About III o'clock last night aH
Atlanta dispatch 10 the MORNING NEWS
aunnuuced that Governor Mcdaniel had
-,rantsi temporary suspension Of the
sentence hr. franklin stated. when
interviewed in relation 20 the dispatch,
that be had received no official cOmmunI-
.ati0n from the Governor, but it was con-
.Iudcu ,Gat the notification Will arrive
this morning 10y nail
In case no notification l. received the
allows will Doe erected this morning, aGd
everything placed in readiness for the
.sce..,ion. The platform will be the same
used in the hanging Of the negro johnson
some years ago. iGD condemned man
still occupies cell No. IL. and Yesterday
seemed entirely oblivious 10 what was
.Jing on lie failed to recognize any
0f ths iail officials. and when
-uotau Ia did not seem 10 comprehend
what was said upon ats subject. Mr..
!.oehcl. the Deputy Sheriff. concei, cd the
idea that If he informed the prisoner that
efforts were being made to have jury
pass upon the condition Of his mind, and
tnai perhaps he might not be hung on
FRIDAY. Wallace would exhibit indica-
lions "a sanity Acting upon this theory,
MI. Ge0bel went ~ bic cell, and on Civ
ing him the hope the prisoner aid AIT ap-
pear to understand what was meant.
During the day il vas impossible to keep
a single article Of cIotnng upon min.
Ills appetite was not good. In the MORN
an" ne drank cup Of coffee and ate
but little Of good breakfast
that had been provided with the view Of
tempting him 10 eat heartily. Though ne
was not as violent as on sunday after
noon. he talked in a rambling manner
aud for AN hour at time would humble.
Lord. oh Lord, Lord. Lord" He cOntin-
ned In this manner talking and mumbling
until late last night.
II j. probable that tine result Of tO-day's
proceedings viii determine whether the
sentence will Dc executed Or the prisoner
pass hi7 days in the Insane Asylum.
The neas % the temporary reprieyc will
~ communicated ~ the condemned man
'lI- morning.