Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-07-24
CHIARA'S SENTENCE.
Will Mrs. Cignarale Only Be Imprisoned For Life.

NEW YORK, July 2s-Chiara Cignarals has been spared the tgnominy of a death on the gallows. Gov. Hill has exercised his prerog- ative, and the prayers for mercy have been answered.
 For weeks Mrs. Alexander, her daughter, Mrs. Stewart, Pearl Eytinge, the actress, Banker Oldrini, and the unfortunate, broken hearted woman's counsel, Messrs. Howe & Hummel, appealed to every power save that of the Executive only to be denied. At last, when hope had we'll nigh died and at the mo- ment when Chira was concerned moro about her immediate welfare than for what the future held in reserve for her, they lifted their voices in prayers for mercy to Gov. Hnl.
 Day by day this little band besought the Executive clemency until it seemed at last that the stern decree of the law must be full filled. But at last. from m authority whose power cannot be gainsaid, it was intimated that the Governor was examining the papers minutely, and that he had instituted an inquiry as to the physical condition of the prisoner.
 On Saturday while MT. Howe wus at Long Branch he received telegram from his office stating that to-day q communication of sentence would be received from the Governor. A sim liar dispatch was sent to Banker Oldrina who was in Washington.
 Pearl Eytinge was among the first to receive the glad tidings, and she hurried gayly
 
 and visitors had long before departed. The Sisters of Mercy, who had been most nssid uous in their attentions had spent along time at the cell of the unfortunate Chiara, and they besought her to be brave and hopeful. With tears streaming down her cheeks, for getting for the moment the intense physical pain she was suffering, she thanked them for l their words of comfort and sank buck on her little cot. It was thus that tho actress found her.
 ''Chiara, you're saved P she cried, "the Gov ernor has spared your life and has signed the commutation."
 The words fell on ears that only faintly comprehended their meaning. There was q l moment of hesitation, and then, as though her untutored brain had grasped the real inn | portsnce of Miss Eytings joyful nows, tears | flowed freely down her cheeks, and extending her hands through the iron bars. she grasped the fingers of her visitor and covered them | with kisses. "God in heaven be thanked, and you too. my good friend and all the others" she cried hysterically. Again and again she kissed the fingers lying in hor grasp, and then she fell | exhausted on her cot and cried until long after her visitor had departed.
 Above her head was Il cruciflx and on the table was & lighted candle. To the former she had often prayed, and once again, in the mel low light of the wax dip, she returned her thanks for the mercy shown her. l LArER.-Mr Howe received the following despatch this afternoon in answer to tele- | gram sent to Albany
 l The Governor has not decided the CIgnarale | case. W. c. RICE, Private Secretary.
 It is believed by many people about the l TombS that the rumor was circulated in or l der to show that thoro was widespread sym pathy for the murdoress, and that it would undoubtedly influence Governor Hill. Others said that the whole affair was engin- eered by young woman who is anxious tO gain newspaper notoricty and who took this course to gain her ends, not caring what ef- feet revulsion of feeling would cause the unfortunate woman when she learned the truth.
 Mrs. Cgnarale has not yet been told of the truth.