Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-09-23
TO THE RESCUE.
Tne Ladies Petition the Governor and
Conncn 70 Commute Mrs. BarroWs' Sen.
tence. $500

Inc Governor and Executive Council gave
hearing yesterday forenoon on q petition
from ladies of Maine for a communication of
sentence, to imprisonment for life, for Mrs.
Mary Z. Barrows, in State Prison under a SEN
tence OF death, to be put 10 execution next
december, being an accomplice with Oscar
Z. Blaney, for the murder of her husband q,
kittery. Two ladies, Mrs. Lucy A. Snow of
Windham Centre and Mrs. Phebe Wad.worth
OF Augusta. appeared before the Governor
and Council in favor of clemency. Mrs.
Snow presented a petition, signed BY 400
ladies of the State. 1t rad a. follows:
We. the undersigned. christian ladies of the State
OF Maine. do most earnestly enireat the Governor
and Council in behalf Of one Of our own sex. Marv
H. barrows nnw under ,enfence Of death accordi ~
to the existing laws Of this State praying that her
sentence be COMMITTED to imprisonment for life.
Some $50 names, headed by that of Mrs.
Selden Connor, were obtained in Augusta.
and as many more in Lewiston, two lady NJ.
DIS being in the list. Mrs Judge Dresser
was the Lewiston lady who had the petition
10 charge in the latter place. There was also
a petition from KIttery with quite list of
names. Parsonsheld, in York county,
presented list. Mrs. Snow addressed the
Governor and Council briefly as follows:
We come before the Governor and Coup-
Gil OF the STATE as humble representatives of
the christian women Of Maine and as our
hearts sbrank back with shuddering dread at
the thought of the terrible gallows so far in
our thought behind the enlightened senti-
ment of the State whose glorious motto.
Dirigo, even from childhood has thrilled our
hearts with loyal pride-so we are glad to be
the bearer of more than 400 names of her
noblest daughters, headed by the wife of our
patriot Governor, Mrs. Selden Common: and
many other well known names, as that OF
Mrs. Quinby, whose lamented husband has
been beard by some of US to plead so eloquent
ly against what he called legal murder,
beneath the dome of this building, where a
woman's feeble voice pleads to-day for one
of her own sex-that sex too dumb in the
laws to have voice in fixing its penalties but
not without sense of responsibility that bids
her cry out against the indignity of such a
fearful retribuation for one who bears the
helpless name of woman. beg of the Gov
ernor and you, gentlemen of the Execu-
tive Council, to believe that this paper,
teeming with the names of women
who have gently, but with firm persis-
tence. won that place in the world which
gives them emphasis, as well a. gentle wives
and mo hers, invalids whose prison has
been their couch of pain until thrir hearts
grew tender and pitiful for those who must
bear in their solitary penance the pangs OF
undying remorse as well-has not been filled
ssr.k -
struck with the sense of responsibility shown
by those to whose thought the question came
for the first time, and by the eagerness with
which those who had long ago made up their
minds, said would sign it twenty times il
| might In the first one hundred names
solicited only three refused and one of those
signed later. The next hundred were in a
different locality, and there was still but
seven out of the hundred who refused One
lady who is pastor of a church in Kennebec
county said, Il think that petition has shown
me how much the Gospel is still needed in
the world | am shocked to find some of its
ministers who still plead for the hangman' s
cord | remember reading years ago an
anecdote of the time when the girl Queen of
England came to the throne. and the first paper
brought her to sign was a death warrant.
"Oh," she cried, "what has he done must he
be hung" They told her 'Yes," but she still
pleaded "Oh do find out something good so
| can pardon HIM. do so want to pardon
someone the first paper sign" And so il
was as she desired, and though it NAV sound
sentimental to those before whom | plead
but it looks to me that Heaven itself was
glad. and commended its guardian hosts to
make her reign long and prosperous. But il
is not pardon we ask, but that the punish
ment the law metes out may tipifv the high.
est Christian civilization and if it should be
you can find no reason that will warrant you
in hearing our prayer, we would still desire
to modify II. and ask you through executive
clemency, to suspend the execution of this
sentence one year. and in such ways as your
wisdom shall devise, arrange that women in
their several towns and cities all over the
State, shall have the privilege and opportu-
nifty of saying yea and nay to this momentous
question, and we ask this because we are con-
fident a large majority of the women of Maine
would give their voice to abolish forever the
gallows from our brave and gentle State
| thank you for your kind attention, and
pray God from full heart to guide and bless
your decision.
Following her address the lady offered
prayer. Mrs Wadsworth said a few words
Attorney General Baker, who was present
made a few explanatory remarks. Mrs
Snow in answer to queries said that there
we're special reasons outside of the general
opposition of the ladies to hanging, whv the
woman should receive mercy. In connection
with Blaneys case she said that there were
instances where women were not subject tc
the same laws as man, and cited the fact'
that her sex were not blessed with suffrage
and were exempt from military duty. Hel
chief point was however, that while Mrs
Barrows had been tried and condemned by 8
jury Of men, owing to her sex, women should
have some voice as to the manner in which
she should be punished.
The Council voted to lay the matter
on the table. 1t is well understood
that they favor a Communication of sentence
Several members have held from the frs
that if clemency was extended to Blaney
Mrs. Barrows should also receive mercy.
Iy.GOv. COBURN's WILL.