Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1884-03-12
THIRD EDITION,
THE LIST REPRIEVE.
The Distressed. Women made Hep.
py-HOw the Lists Received the
News,

execution Vi VIC bCutCuCU ukhluSt
the intense anxiety of the two women
most interested in the case can only be
imagined, as day after day passed by,
and hour by hour the time for the
execution approached. This was a
matter of grave concern not only to
young List, his mother and his wife,
but to his counsel and the large nun
Der of friends who had interceeded for
him.
Friday and Saturday passed, and no
word was received from the Governor.
Monday morning came but with it
came no reprieve. The 9 o'clock mail
brought no intelligence. The train
that arrived at noon was as silent as
the grave so far as news from the Gov
ernor was concerned. The anxious
hearts of the two distressed wives and
mothers grew more and more
anxious still MS the shades Of
night gathered, but no news from either
Dover or Georgetown.
Tuesday morning came, still no news
Surely there will be something In the 9
O'Clock mail, but that hour went sweep
ing by into eternity and still no news.
Hope began to die in the heart, though
the day of execution was three days
distant The rumors began to float
around that the Governor had said that
after he reprieved Harrigan he would
never grant another reprieve under any
circumstances. "Couli this be true, J"
was asked. No it could not, for the
tears that were shed by the good Cover
nor Of the State as he listened to the
appeal for executive clemency was in
dicatiye of a man who could not make
such an expression.
About noon care worn, distress ed
little woman with a baby in her arms
some four months old, might have been
seen hanging around the railroad de-
pot.
She pretended to be reading the time
tables but she saw not the figures. She
studiously kept her back to the people
that her tears might not be seen. This
was the younger Lists wife, and she
was listening for news from Dover.
Twelve O'Clock reporter from the
REPUBLICAN looked into the office of
Austin Harrington, Esq, one of List $
counsel with the query ANY news
from the Governor"
"Not word. have teleg.aphed to
pobu loSNl anu NICtl SCVp"u, Dul nav Q
not received any answer yet.
Looks had, doesn't it?"
cit does indeed don't know what
to make of it, but still hope for good
news"
From thence the reporter went to the
depot to see his wife off on the Balti.
more train, and when returning he was
hailed by Mrs. List
Have you heard anything" she
asked.
"Not word" was the reply.
Do you think the Governor will
reprieve 90
Yes, havn't particle OF doubt of
it, replied the reporter, $50 just keep
in good heart
Scarcely had the reporter left Mr..
HarringtOn's office when the following
telegram came to that gentleman from
Georgetown:
GEORGETOWN, DEL, March II, 1884
Austin HARRINGTON Sentence OF
Lewis F. List suspended until second
Friday in March, 1910. Will forward
document to Sheriff.
WILLIAM F. CAUSEY,
Secretary. of State.
Mr.. Harrington Immediately brought
the news to the REPUBLICAN office.
The reporter soon afterwards entered
and was greeted with " List respited
for 56 years" The first impulse took
the reporter back to the depot to i'm.
part the good news to the wife who he
found as at first pretending to read the
time table.
Tapping her on the shoulder she look,
ed around with her eyes swimming 10
tears and a hopeful smile fitting across
her face she said
sob, you have news"
Yes, | have; now don't cry" was
the reply,
" What is it, tell he quick"
Fifty SIX years respite.
The lips tried to speak, but the tongue
refused to articulate, and the tears
Of grief turned to tears OF joy.
The news was then Immediately car
ried to old Mrs List, 1904 Walnu. street.
Coming to the door the care worn old
lady burst into tears and complained of
aweight on the heart that would surely
kill her.
"Have you heard the news ?" asked
the messenger.
"No; what is it, for see by your
countenance it is good, what is II 20
Prepare now for good cry ofjoy,
said the messenger your sons life Is
spared he is respited for 56 years.
The scene of rejoicing which followed
is simply beyond description. "Oh, !
am 50 happy, praise God from whom all
blessings tlow," shouted the happy old
lady as her hands, feet and lirs praised
God in good old Methodistic fashion,
and in this happy frame of mind she
was left.
In the afternoon Messrs. Harrington
and Sharpley, counsel for the Lists, and
Mr.. Hersey, of the REPUBLICAN, took
passage in the O'Clock train for New
Castle to tell List of the good news.
But the news had already preceded
them. The young wife with her baby
had gone over in the o'clock train, and
when the last delegation arrived she
was sitting at the cell door engaged in
pleasant, lively chat with her nus
band, while her baby was soundly
asleep inside the cell.
All three of the gentlemen named
were warmly received by young List.
Tears of gratitude more than words tx.
pressed his feelings, though he said he
had fully prepared himself for the
worst, had intended to 90 to death like
brave man, and had prepared I"
make plain statement of all he knew
He repudiated the intimation that hi,
aged father was to blame. The old
gentleman was overwhelmed with Joy
and expressed his thanks 10 his friends
in the most demonstrative manner.
No father ever bore a stronger love
for son than this poor old man. 81
AN sure" laid he, would have died
broken hearted had my son been cxecu-
ted. Both father and son rejoicCd in
the prospect that they would now be
put together in one eel, where one could
assist the other if either were sick.
Young List is 80 years of age, and
has for a long time been troubled with