New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-09
1oBByTYG FOR d MURDERER.

The controversy between the Legislature ana
the Governor of Connecticut over the murderer
Swift is remarkable in criminal annals. All
accounts agree that the crime was premeditateo
to an extraordinary degree and was without
single palliating circumstance OF proVocatlon'
Swift was a drunkard, who had persuaded o
respectable girl, the daughter of teamster, TO
marry him. Finding life with him Impossible
she soon returned to her fathers home, earning
her living by working in a factory, and con-
Quoting herself in all respects in an exemplary
manner. Swift lived disreputable life as q
saloon pianist compelling his wife now and
then. by threats against her life, to take up
her abode with him again, and at all tunes
managing to browbeat her out OF most OF her
earnings. But she seems to have been girl
of spirit, and at last refused to yield any fur
Their to his threats. This brutal ruftian pre-
pared for her murder with an Indifference to
consequences which showed either that he
realized that his life was worthless one and
he did not care how it ended, or that he counted
mon the fact that men are seldom hanged in
Connecticut. 1t is in evidence that he repeat
edly declared at various times before the muir
der that he meant to shoot his wife, and that
on the very day the crime was committed he
told people to come up and visit him in the
Jail. as he was about to kill her. In the after
noon he announced that he would shoot her at
G o'clock, and he was true to his word coming
ND behind her with characteristic meannesS and
cowardice, as she was returning from her work.
and chasing her through the street, firing until
she fell. The defence Of insanity which was
set up proved complete failure, and his con-
yiction was affirmed by the highest court OF
the State.
Here begins the remarkable part of the story
Swifts sister was schoolteacher, who, up to
the lime Of the murder, refused to associate
with him. But when he got into this trouble
she, naturally enough, flew to his side. 1t was
decided to make an appeal to the Legislature
and secure the adoption of resolution com
muting the sentence to imprisonment for life.
1t was passed in the Senate by a two-thirds
vote, but in the House by bare majority OF
votes in poll of 221. The result was achieved
in each case by the prayers and tears OF the
devoted sister, who stood at the bar and begged
all whom she could reach for her brother life.
Governor Buckley promptly vetoed the resolu-
ton on the ground that no new evidence had
been presented since the trial, nor any miti-
eating circumstance to Justify the interference
of the Legislature. The Senate passed tho
resolution over the veto, and to-day it comes
UP again in the House.
The real question is not so much whether this
particular brute shall die on the gallows or pass
the rest OF his depraved existence within stone
walls. 1t is rather whether the people Of Con-
necticut can afford to permit questions which
ought to De decided in the calm atmosphere Of
court, or of the Executive Chamber, to be
handled about in the turnult of legislative
assembly, and decided by the potent influence
of a woman's tears and pleadings. 1t ought
never to be possible to affect the administra-
ton of Justice by lobbying Of any kind. In
this case, as it doubtless would be in every case
of the kind, the members most easily intiu-
enced by such entreaties are those who have
the least knowledge of the crime, and the least
capacity to uphold the righteous claims OF
Justice against softhearted and weakheaded i'm
pulses toward clemency. Very few men arc
ever punished for crime without causing some
woman to shed tears, but If society is to exist
at all, the law must be blind to these manifesto
tions of an affection which not even the most
perverse depravity seems able to extinguish.
The grief of Swifts sister deserves far less con-
sideration than the terror of many drunkard's
| wife who may feel that her life is less safe il
such a vicious creature as this escapes any part
of the full penalty he has earned. This dis
play of maudlin sympathy is discreditable to
| the majority OF the Connecticut Legislature,
and they ought to try to re-etablish their self
| respect by taking steps to render repetition Of
| II in1possble