The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-08-08
A GOOD BEGINNING.

w laCoVSr mdJ 10 scsio vi 1uosAAo L
new Governor regarding his past
political career, he has made a good :.
beginning as the executive OF our I,
neighbor Territory. His arrival at
Boise has been anxiously awsited
| in order that petitions might be pre-
sented to him praying for the coms
mutation of the death sentence
pronounced upon one George Pier
son, to life imprisonment. Last
week he wss waited upon by the1
doomed mans attorney who laid be-
fore his excellency some strong pc
titions in behalf of his client. The
Governors reply is contained in the
following paper, which should De
hung up in every exective Office in
the west:
EXECUTIVE OgE-cE, BOISE CITY,
Idaho, July Both, 1884.
DEAR SIR:-Ihe petitions and other
/ nspers fled in this effice, praying the
i, desth penalty imposed upon George
q Pie-eon, convicted of killing John I.
Hall. aliss Johnny Behind the Rocks, be
conmuted to imprisonment Tor life, have
y ali been carefully read and thoroughly
:. considered. deeply regret that | have
heen unable to find in them sufficient
J. reasons to warrant executive Interior
a ence with the sentence pronounced upon
the Inflated man by the court, and most
il devoutly hops he may lind mercy IN
= heaven. While the disregard OF the laws
It existing among certain classes OF THIS
20 thing with me in my consideration OF
to Pierson's case, yet desire to say now, at
:. the outset Of my administration. and it
is should be understood by all, particularly
is those who carry gums" that / shall
al ripidly enforce the laws, 10 far ss / IN,
able, and under all circumstances be
rs very slow to set aside the judgments Of
IA the coarSs.
IA II the happy and much.to- be-desiret
iu condition ofour empty isils and unused
in fcaffolds dawns upon this Territory, dur
70. ing my occupancy of the gubernatoria
chair it must come through the behavior
of the people and not by the pardoninG
n. power vested in
D. Your your most obedient servant,
" JOHN BUM,
1t; Governor.
wv HON. ALANsoE SMITH,
of Atty for defendant, Boise City.
mr. Pierson was hanged last Friday
ICE and according to the orthodox be
fl lief, ere this has presented hi
nm petition for pardon to the Court o
ss last resort. The murder for whic
he was executed was perpetrate
wn two years ago, when he killed
ate former friend and business partner
lad It was claimed that the deed We
M done in self defense, but if this wei
ed. true the prisoner failed to establis
lis. the fact on the trial. The verdict VIZ
md generally accepted as just and
-ee. perfect harmony with the law.
nd Il is doubtful if legal executor
I'd have any deterrent effect upon tt
the minds of other would be murderer
ON indeed, it is quite clear they do no
an while it is quite certain that impri
ent onment for life means little
nil. nothing, as it is rare inde'
,bar that the sentence, when pronounce
ntis is carried into effect. We belle
,ao. that if life imprisonment would
I'D made to mean what the expressi'
It'll. implies, it would Prove the mi
rev satisfactory Punishment for nal
hev dersrs. But the law ssys the des
and penalty must be imposed. her
ould when that sentence is pronounc
nan. LET it be carried into effect. If
;ket. does deter others from the crime
.yul. will at least make it impossible
I'D. the killer to repeat his deed.
gRed This business Of Governors int
nbly fering with the regular and pro
Ed execution OF the law il euch CO
,t,an is all wrong. Courts and jurles