New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-03
TILE H1NGING OF NPROULE.

The hanging of Robert E. SprOue at Victoria,
British Columbia. entails a fearful response
bility upon the Canadian Government, for the
evidence in support Of the unfortunate mans
innocence was so strong as to have convinced
the public best acquainted with the facts
that he was wrongfully convicted. The
case Of Sproue was one which called
for the most careful and thorough review, for
the evidence obtained since the trial had in
the judgment of thousands completely upset
the case for the prosecution, aud justified the
conclusion that the defendant was the victim
of foul conspiracy against his life and prop
erty. He was convicted on the testimony of
two men, both OF whom subsequently confessed
that they had perjured themselves and that
they had been hired to do so. 1t seems that
they had been assured no harm would come to
Sproule because of what they said, and when
they learned that he had been found guilty and
sentenced to death they were dismayed, aud
sought to undo the mischief they had caused.
The result of the disclosures made after the
trial was that public opinion throughout British
Columbia became friendly to the prisoner.
Everywhere it came to be believed that he was
an innocent man. 1t was further ascertained
that scheme to rob him of some valuable min
ing property was the incentive to the whole pro-
ceedings, and it was alleged and generally be-
lieyed that the perured witnesses had been
hired by men who expected to benefit Imam
cially through the removal OF Sproule. SO
great was the change of sentiment concerning
the case that at Victoria public meeting was
held, the Mayor presiding, to petition for new
trial, and after much strong speaking resolu-
tions were adopted declaring the confidence of
the community IN Sproule's innocence, reciting
the main points of the new evidence and ur-
gently soliciting fresh trial. The judge and
Jury who tried the case unanimously supported
these proceedings. A stronger case, in fact,
was never referred to civ ilized government.
That in the face of such facts the Ottawa
authorities should have deliberately refused to
stay the execution is incomprehensibe on any
hypothesis consistent with the retention of
respect for the Judgment, sense or equity of
the responsible officials. The United States
Governments intercession for Sproule would
certainly not have been given had not the case
appeared one for reconsideration. Our dis
patches from Victoria show that deep
Indignation has been aroused there by
the refusal of the Dominion Government to
respite the prisoner and reopen the case. This
feeling, which is so strong that the matter is
to be made political issue, of itself proves that
the execution was nothing less than the outrage
it is denounced as by the Mayor of Victoria
The strong probability is that an Innocent man
has been murdered under the forms of law, and
the whole circumstances are so extraordinary,
and so suggestive of everything but justice
that it is in order to inquire whether the mau
would have been thus shamefully put to a
death there is so much reason TO believe he did
not merit had he not been a citizen of the
United States.