Daily Republican., 1884-02-11
4 Plea fer Mercy.


lures, and are being numerously signed
Many who at first thought that Lis
should be executed, have, upon 6
thorough review of the case, changed
their minds, and are now asking for a
respite for the unfortunate young man
This change of opinion has been brought
about by no mere sentimental feeling
against capital punishment but by a more
healthy, honest sentiment that the pun.
ishment is greater than the crime war,
rants. By far the greater number OF
those who sign the List petition believe
with those who desire his execution,
that it is high time that an example
was made of those who wantonly and
maliciously shed the blood of their
fellow beings, but before this change
takes place they want to be sure that
the first victim shall be a really guilty
one.
The fact that so many others have
escaped the extreme penalty Of the law
more guilty of its violation should be
no argument that List should be made
the turning pivot of public opinion. If
there is to be new deal in the manner
of dispensing justice for capital crimes
If a new program is to be inaugurated
if the old slate is to be wiped off, and
a new one commenced let the change
be made with criminal of whose guilt
there cannot be, a particle of doubt. Is
~ a nj
The State of Delaware can better af.
ford to bear with violated laws a hun
dred times over than she could afford
to bear the sin of executing man OF
whose crime there is reasonable doubt,
though he may be condemned to death
in due and regular form Of law. 1t il
doubtful if "A jury could be got now,
after the public mind has become calm
ed and after all the facts have been
thought over and carefully compared,
that would convict the young man, and
in saying this we would not for q mo-
ment question the character and homes
ty Of the jury that rendered the terrible
verdict-a verdict that surprised even
the prosecuting attorneys-a verdict,
though hoped for by some, unexpected
by any.
The facts Of the unfortunate affair
have been told and retuld so often that
the reading public must be familiar
with them, and yet at this time when
an effort is being made to save the
young mans life, they will bear telling
once more. Let us then 20 back to that
day in September whrr Reuben Dean,
a tenant in the house with Lewis F..
List, went cunning for reed birds, having
borrowed Lists shot gun for that pur-
pose. List went not with him as was
generally supposed, but remained At
home until Deans return in the even
ing with seven reed birds. Mollie
Dean, the wife, was away at the house
Of relative preparing for a surprise
party to a neighbor in tn" evening.
Mrs. List, thu wife f the unfortu-
nate young nan whose lie hangs
hair-Shlhen Over eternity, n4h..y
dressed and coOhcl Deans bird,
for his supper. He ate five Of them aud
put away two for his wife. Neither
List nor his wife were offered bird.
Mrs. Dean came home and few into 8
very bad humor when she found that
the husband had spent money tgv pow
der and shot that h should have spout
in the family, The Language used upon
that occasion was 50 violent and -
RI f,y,fr
the columns Of the REPUBLICAN nor
offend the refined feelings Of cur readers
by reproducing it here II was then
that she so far unsexei herself a. 70
apply an insulting reflection upon Lis:
in regard to the paternity Of his chilli.
rem.
1t was then that List stuns TO maine.
raised his hand but still ret4ctiug tn.i
il was woman who made the remark
resented the insult with bat light -lag
across the mouth. This was the quar-.
rel that led to the more fatal one -
the wOman's uncle-a quarrel that ~
fortunately ended in his death. Lewis
+. List never knew George Il. Taylor
by sight until that fatal saturday.
aayior wa" an EN- pi"yer III TIch"!'
FOUNDRY, anu having "raId no! h7
niece, MIS- Dean, had been ''r0'h -,E.~
TWO OF lhree DAYS %'or'' trirfhi.l'"i ="
have revenge. He left the foundry
WIN me express discrimination u hay"
hSlit, ana 10 use ma own Ian@Ia-', h
wa" gong 70 give Lew List 4 '.----E
Ro"' IcHihE' he wanted -"'n" 81 MS
shopiha,eo I" 20 win INN and >r'r Tia:
lie li"l idlr-pI"y a, ~ "1p"ct"I - ,hr
oiu man Llst was there roo. II" t'IG
P"liceihaii " aiKrr an hour b"i"F" IL.
"ei't I" the mouse mat h was going ~
Lck L'"' ana ASKED MN nor 10 interfere.
ne wa. larger ana stronger man man
list ne went 10 tn" hou." and Ehor:
@ Ill lhe H"'f IN rough b'iswf"n-
manner Heinahdih9 aalnlttahce. H."
was adinit'e" ana WIN :! Y"l."y f
oatls he demanded that MIS-. Deans
so"is 'houIi De delivered up and sAe
De allowed 20 depart with them,
Hefe Lewis Llsf, III" itther first ap-