Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-25
srAYINo THEGALLows, DROP.
Whitfield, the Negro House Burner,
Given 3 New Lease of Lifs-An Appeal
- the Governor.

Whitfield, the Negro House Burner,
Given 3 New Lease of Lifs--An Appeal
70 the Governor.
a new lease Of life has been granted to
Henry whitfield, the negro under SEN
tehce to be hung on FRIDAY for attempting
to burn the residence Of MT. F. A. Exley,
on Margaret street, early in January. A
bill Of exceptions to Judge Adams de-
cisiou refusing to grant a new trial was
fled in the Superior Court YESTERDAY by
the prisoners counsel, WOOten & Collier.
The counsel cited the action Of the court
in refusing to grant the prisoner a new
trial both upon the motion and the amended
motion rs error. Judge Adams signed
the bill and at once ordered a superse-
IDEAS staying the execution OF SEN
tence until the further order Of the
court. During the hearing he remarked
TO the counsel that in view Of the newly
discovered evidence going to show the
weakness Of the prisoner, he thought the
case one which deserved the inteTpOsition
OF the executive rather than judicial
authority.
A NEWS reporter called on Mr.. Col
lier yesterday and learned that among
the papers which Will be forward
Ell to Atlanta in the case are the all
davits Of DIR. Rudolph o.. GOerke, OF
Augusta. Thomas Whitfield, the con-
l demned mans father, Rev. I. l.. Houston,
James &. BIance. james Jefferson. ScipiO
( Small. John White, Mary and Georgia
/ I.lovd. and Thomas J. Daily. Among
4 OtherNIhlngs to which DR.. GOerkc makes
affidavit Is the fact that Whittield's mother
l was a confirmed epileptic for many years
! before her death. and that child born to
I her would be likely, in his opinion, to be
/ afflicted with a severe mental or nervous
| disorder.
The affidavit Of Whitfeld's father shows
/ that the mother had four children, one Of
whom is a deaf mute. another, now about
/ 80 years OF age, is an idiot, third was an
7 idiot and died when years old. and the
/ fourth is the prisoner, Henry Whitfield.
Thomas J. DAILY, OF this city, is timer.
In his affidavit be alleges that the pris-
oner was in his employment twice-in
/ 1881 and again in iSSi-and that his mind
\ was weaker at the time he last knew him
I than when he was first in his service, and
I that he finally discharged him because he
\ had so little mind as to be useless 70 him
I as an emplOye.
None OF the facts to which these parties
y have made affidavit nor a number of other
I facts going TO show the mental weakness
! of the prisoner were adduced during the
I trial. The prisoners counsel had not then
I heard of his infirmity and the question
was not raised ia the court, although
/ some persons outside intimated that the
I man was demented and that they had seen
/ evidences Of the tact.
/ ON Tuesdays and Fridays Whitfield Is
| allowed the freedom of the corridors at
l the iail. His cell door is kept open and
I he is permitted TO move about unre-
I strained. Since he has been in jail,
I however, he has been apparently in
/ different Of the privilege, and has
l generally remained in his cell, where he
I keeps up a strange jargOn of talk TO HIM
I self. He acted this way before he was
\ tried and convicted. and his conduct ever
since be was sentenced may be said
Y to have been similar to that which charac-
Z teriZ,d him previously. Yesterday he
| was asked out Of his cell so that 1t might
I be whitewashed and cleaused, and on
/ being told later in the day that he couht
I return 10 it. he pointed to the floor aud
I remarked that he would scrub that on
Z Friday. Friday was the day appointed
T for his execution. and as he had not
I heard Of the order of the court staying
/ the execution, il is evident that the doom
I which up 70 that time awaited him did
/ not occur to his mind. A NEWS reporter
was informed by Sheriff Roman and the
attendants at the jail that he seemed To
I be totally Oblivious 10 his fate, and that he
I had not at any time seemed to realize
l that he was under the sentence Of death.
/ Every now and then he fancies that he
I must write a letter to some person outside
( OF the iail All Of his letters are, OF
I course, deciphered and read by the jailer
I before being sent out, but nearly every
I one contains a request for cigars, tobacco,
4 scissors and sausages.