The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1886-01-09
A FINAL APPEAL.

The period for which Gov. McEnery
granted a second reprieve to Patrick Ford
and John Murphy is rapidly drawing to a
close, aud the friends of the accused are
preparing to present to the Board of Par
dons last appeal for mercy in behalf of
the devoted brother and ignorant cousin
under sentence of death for carrying out
the murderous behests of Judge TON Ford
1t is not asked, of course, that the prisoners
be pardoned, but only that the form Of their
punishment be changed from death by
hanging to imprisonment for the terms of
their natural lives; and the reasons upon
which the appeal is based are thus set forth
in petition being circulated throughout
the State for signatures and emanating
from the we'll known New Orleans business
men, John Henry & Co., A. Baldwin. E.
Conery ~ Son, John r. Hardie, Nelson Nc
stea, Jalius Weis & Co., l. n. Marks, Henry
Abraham A. Son, Ckaffe and Powell and
Katz j. Barnett:
we believe in viniication Of the law. in the
suppression of crime and the punishment of
criminals. yet We fear the effect of stern en-
torcement OF the judgment which, by its start
tvs sense of justice. To execute these two men,
the ignorant dnpes Of the wiles Of an arch con-
splrator. himself the actual perpetrbtOr of the
e tar - who escapas yith an fora
esty upon Justice which will be productive Of
much evil and but little good.
The one end gf all punishment is to prevent
future crinte. The public gains equal security
says an eminent writer jnai faSv
whether the offender himself be amended BY
Wholesome correction. or whether he be disa-
bled from doing further harm ii. 1t is only when
the offender appears incorrigihle that the pains
OF death should be inflicted"
Crimes are more effectually prevented by the
CERTAINTY C, than the severity Of punishment.
of The actual necessity Of each case is not only
cruel and barbaruus but tyrannical. Terrorism
as such; has alweye been shown to multiply
rather than dlmiIis h brutal crime.
I'VE believe that i searching Investigation of
the past lives OF the condemned men warrants
the assertion that they are not incorrigible
offenders. We feel that had the jury, who now
seek to sscare mitigation of the sentence pro-
n"unced IN accordance with their finding. quail.
he'd their verdict. the community would have
considered the law vlndlcated and Justice salts
We are confident that it is the conviction and
punishment of these offenders. and not the
character of the physical suffering inflicted ups
on on thsm which will restore an impaired SENSE
OF right anu maintain the order Of society,"
We are satisfied that the voice of the wife and
five little children Of Patrick Ford. pleading to
be spared the shame Of his death on the scaffold,
can he heard and needed by Christian com:
lnnnlty without injury to society.
Residents of this town and parish who de-
sire to attach their names to this petition
vial find copies at Mr.. Redqineton's Me-
ehanic's Exchange and at the CHIEF Office.
It is strongly hoped that the effect OF
tais anal appeal will induce the Board of
Pardons to renounce its former decision
aad temper justice with mercy by recon-
that the lives of the condemned
be spared.