Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-12-29

cision-upon an application OF this kind
o . false or untenable ground. II it be
said that public opinion il against the
execution Of q oma for any crime, no
matter how horrible, the answer is that
public opinion should express itself by
seeking q change OF the statute which di.
reefs such punishment in murder cases,
The executive alone has no power to
change the law, but his sworn duty is to
enforce it ae he finds it, fearlessly and inn,
partially"
The reasons which prompted him to
grant the respite are thus given by thu
Governor:
Much as I would personally be g%ratifed
il I could See my way clear to grant thii
stands, and am compelled to deny it. But
because the date fixed for the execution
December 29) 10 during the holidays
which seems to be regarded by q great
many worthy people as an unreasonable
time for the occurrence OF such an event
and out of Difference to such opinione, anG
because of the further fact that there Seems
to exist a sentiment among portions OF thu
community against the execution of g. wo
man in any case, which, it is claimed
would be sufficiently strong to induce thu
Legislature to change the law if IN oppor
tunity shonld be afforded, and az the Leg
islature is now about assembling, and tn.
sentiments of the people upon this ques
ton can be made manifest through theil
representatives in such Legislature, l have
decided to, grant q reprieve to the defend
ant until Feb. % next.
This respite will enable the Legislature
to have ample time to carefully consider
the subject Of capital punishment SO fal
as it effects women, and to change the
law in case it is deemed wise and desirable
to do so. II the legislature, upon which
the responsibility for the enactment oil
laws mainly rests, refuses to modify the
present law, it must be enforced as it now
exists, and unless it shall be changed in
the meantime the case is closed SO far as
my official action is concerned, and ON
February % next the law must be per-
mitted to take it's course"
He thus throws the whole responsibility
of the woman's execution upon the Legis-
lature of the State. Great interest has
been taken in the case not only by the
people and press OF New York but by the
people and press of the whole country, and
the action OF the New York Legislature
will be eagerly watched by all. Should
that body modify the criminal laws of the
State to the extent OF exempting women
from the death penalty other State Legis-
will doubtless provide for the ex-
emption of females from capital punish.
ment.
The causes which led Mrs. Druse to MUIR
der her husband were of the most aggrava.
ting character. and surprise was every.
where expressed that an American jury
could be found to convict her under the
circumstances. It is said that the con-
duct of Druse toward his wife was
characterized with almost unparalleled
vicic and cruelty. He abused her,
beat her and threatened her with murder.
He had loaded a pistol and placed it in a
convenient place with the oft repeate l pur-
oose of shooting the woman he had sworn
70 cherish, to defend and to love. Not
with this, he declared that he
would "split her head open with an AK"
and his entire conduct toward her was
sufficient to warrant the belief on her part,
that he would, SOM day, execute his pur-
pose. The woman lived in constant terror
and torture. She did not know where to
turn for relief. Finally, after bearing so
long his brutality, and suffering untold
agony from dread Of the fate with which
he threatened her, in one supreme moment
of frenzy and despair she sliced the weapon
prepared for herself and shot him through
the heart.
Had the case been tried by a western
jury, and these matters been proven, the
would have been acquitted. They
do things differently IN New York, it seems,
but, judging from the expressions OF the
press of that State, the mass of the people
therein denounce the verdict AMI desire her
pardon.