Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-03-25

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Correspondence ce-Indignation Ex-
pressed In San Bsrnardino.
The promised hanging of William r.
Mcdowell, convicted in San Bernardino
Of the brutal murder Of Maggie O'Brien.
in January. 1883. and who was sentenced
to be hung yesterday, did not come off
according TO the judicial programme
The approaching execution excited such
widespread and profound interest that
the HERALD detailed one Of its staff to
be present OF the storm and awful cere-
mony and faithfully chronicle oil the
incidents Of the occasion. The HERALD
reached San Bsrnardino shortly after a
telegram from Governor Stonerhan
reached Sheriff Burkhardt Of our sister
county. The dispatch read as follows:
SACRAMENTO, March %, 1884.
TO J. B. Burkhardt, San Bernardino:
Take notice that ! have reprieved W.
r. McDosfeA until Friday, March 28th.
1884. Papers will be forwarded by mail
tomorrow morning. Acknowledge re-
oeipt Of this dispatch.
GEORGE SroNEMAN, Governor.
NEWS OF THE RETRIEVE
Sped like wildfire through the town and
before night ominous threats Of taking
the law in their own hands could be
heard on every street corner.
A visit to the Court House, in the
basement of which is situated the jail,
showed large crowds Of people coming
and going, alt drawn to the spot to catch
q glimpse Of
THE GALLows,
The dumb instrument Of justice which
for space had been cheated of its hu-
man prey. 1t had been most carefully
made on Saturday, every precaution
having been taken against any bungling
work at the critical moment. During
it's erection in the Jail yard Mcdowell
sat at the window Of his cell watching
every movement Of the workmen and
every timber put in place. He seemed
fearful lest the Sheriff should not give
him enough drop to break his neck.
Strangling to death appeared to be his
chief concern, and he asked that hand.
kerchief be tied tightly around his jaws
to prevent his mother seeing him with
his tongnc hanging out Of his mouth
when he was dead. The dimensions of
the gallows are: Nine feet 6 inches from
the ground to the top Of the platform on
which Mcdowell is to stand; 8 feet from
the platform to the beam from which the
rope is to be suspended; the trap-door is
feet square and the whole platform 10
feet square. To those who have never
seen scaffold there is an indescribable
and awful solemnity which comes over
one who stands in the presence of this
senseiess. emotionless tool Of justice.
THE DOOMED MAN,
From his general behavior, would be
said to be perfectly oblivious Of the
frightful fate which is so infallibly in
store for him. An air of bravado is as.
sumed by him in the presence Of strang-
ers, but the look in his eyes betrays the
torture Of mental agony which he is suf-
fering. Sunday night he slept very
little; fears Of the msb breaking into the
Jail and twisting his neck, despite the re-
spite, kept him awake, and yesterday
morning he fell into heavy sleep, from
which he only wakened at noon. Two
trustworthy men, one deputy sheriff,
KEEP TIE DEATH WATCH
Over him to prevent him from commit
ting suicide, of which serious fears are
entertained. Perspns visiting him ar,
not allowed to shake hands with him les
some friend should slip poison into BIZ
hand.
| The HERALD commissioner called on
the prisoner on Sunday afternoon and
found him lying on his cot smoking q
cigarette. Mcdowell had just been in
formed of the Governors action repriev
ing him five days, but did not appear
affected by the news one way or thu
other. In fact, a person who wal
present when the telegram was read t.
him stated that he exhibited no emotion
of any kind.
The jail yard has been enclosed by :
high board fence. in order to exolud,
from the public view the execution, bu
every window Of the courtAouse looking
south opens on the Jail ,1sta and afford
an excellent point ssiview from which t,
witness the hanging. Yesterday morn
ing numbers Of people from almost svsry
part Of the county congregatsd at tn,
courthouse expecting the execution Il
take place. but were signally disappoint
| ed.
RUMoRs OF livery KIND
We're rife all Sunday night as to wha
the respite could possibly mean and how
it had bSen obtained. At nm early hou
yesterday morning District AttorR.
Bledsoe. who has never been approached
| in any manner to intercede for Mellow
ell, sent he following dispatch to Cover
nor Stonepan:
SAN BERNARpISo, March "a, 's4.
| Governor Sfonenson, Sacramento.
Upon what and whose representation
have you respited Mcdowell? 1t is al
wrong. It may lead to violence.
r. E. BLEDsoE, Dist. Atty.
The above dispatch, which was sen
at an early hour yesterday morning. hat
been absolutely ignored by the chief sx
ecutive officer Of the State so far as an,
reply was concerned.
The officers and citizens of San Ber
nardino county ar, highly incensed q
the actien Of Governor Stoneman. H,
10 said to have bcen influenced by repre-
sentations from parties in this city, ans
not to have sought the opinion Of any o
the officers Of the county where th,
heinous crime was committed and wher'
more of its bloody history was known
than could possibly be ascertainsd BY
strangers. One thing is certain, that i
Mcdowell ID not hung by next Friday
lawfully, . resistless mob will take intt
their own hands the carrying out Of th'
mandate Of justice.
A word in Justice to Sheriff Burkhard
ia dua to that officer ara closing thi
article. 1t was reported that he va
vindiotively disposed towards the mur
derer on account of this one having COS
him so much money TO recapture him
There is no truth in this report. Afte
long conversation with that officer AM
thorough investigation Of the matter
the writer Is convinced that all Mr.
Burkhardt desires il to do his duty
The parsinony which has been charge
against him in hin endsavors to recar
ture Mcdowell is myth. He paid tn
capturing officer not only the $50
offered in his published offer Of reward