Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1883-11-15
HARRIaAN,S SUSPENSE.
ais Friends to Apply for Another
respite or Pardon-Trytng Third
mime to Save His Life.


uts Friends to Apply for Another
Resuite or PardOn-Trytng n Third
Ttme to Save His Life.
Jaremish Hsrrigan, who shot and
S,ilsd Dennis Shea at Hookessin OIL
santembsr 10Th, 1881, and between
wbom and the courts sentence of deatf
tor the murder respites granted by Gov
arnor Hall have twice interviewed, Ii
swaiting with q great deal of anxiety al
10 what disposition will finally be mad'
his case.
Harrioan WAS tried, convicted OF murdel
In the first degree and sentenced to b,
sxaouted in March 1882. Before the tim,
of execution Petitions signed by abou
, 900 persons, asking that he be respited
and letters from prominent citizens max
inc tn. same request were placed ia tn,
hands Of Governor Hall. Acting favor
ahlv uuon these, the Governor granted {
rssnite from the COURTS sentence unit
Friday. December 10Th, 1882.
some weeks before the latter date
Harripsn's friends, many OF whom wer,
residents of this city, procured afhdavits
from Mrs. Harrigan setting forth thai
her husbands suspicious OF undue init
macy between herself and the murdered
man we're we'll founded, and from one O
her daughters who was witness to somt
ot her alleged misconduct with Shea
Hmm these, petitions asking for a further
rasnite. were circulated and signed by
hundreds of people, which With grea
number of private letters of the SAINT
nstnre were forwarded to the Governor
the latter also met a delegation of the
mnrderer's friends in this city, and the cas-,
and circumstances were reviewed to him
also with their opinions regarding public
santim.pt OF the matter. As a result o
the effort Governor Hall, after holding
the matter under consideration fol
day or two, granted the respit,
Of one year short OF ont
day. The respite putting off the SECOND
day set apart for the execution wal
granted about two days before 1t was tt
have taken place and after some OF tht
preparations for it had been made. The
last stay OF the execution granted by
Governor Hall then transferred tht
further disposition of Harrigan's case tt
Governor Stockley.
Friends OF the murderer here fsel cou
adent now that he will never beexsouted
for the crime, as he has been twice
respited and the case has been shifted
from one governor to another. They
claim It would be contrary to all ostab-
lished precedent. This with the fact tina
Governor Stookiey in letter to Governor
Hall asked that Harrigsn be granted {
respite from December last encourages
the hope that the life Of the prisoner Ii
safe.
In Just one month the time Of the lac
respite expires, and without further
executive interference Harrigsn will b,
hanged. Governor Stookley will howeveI
be petitioned In Harrigan's behal
The work Of circulating petit
tions and soliciting letters with THU
end in view will shortly begin. Thu
afidavits OF the prisoners wife and chile
will also be- used in the effort as showing
that the killing was in measure justified
by reason Of the nature of the grea
sggravation.
Whether or not further respite or al
absolute pardon will be asked for is no
fully decided upon, but 1t Is probable
that the latter will be requested of thu
Governor. A person intereated in petit
tioning for the former respites Ia of tn
opinion that appeals for executive
clsmenoy will be signed by even NOR
persons than asked for the last stay o
execution. The petitions will he cirou
lated in about two weeks.
Harrigan, in his cell, is said to b
rather morose aud sullen, and does no
give expression to the anxiety he evinoe
in other ways regarding his future. Il
ia anxious for a pardon, and he felt bitterl.
aggrieved, and expressed considerabl
i'll feeling that he did not get full par
don from Governor Hall in December las
instead of the respite, which stayed hi
avaoptinp