New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-08
TO SAVE A CONNECTICUT MURDERER
THE GOVERNOR FORCES THE LEGISLATURE X
FACE ITS RESPONSIBILITY IN THE
CASE OF A BRUTAL, RIJFFIAN.

ChSE OF n BRUTAL bOfflAN'
Hartford, April 7-Nothng Of recent occurrence
has so excited popular interest throughout the State
as the changing aspects of tho case Of the wifemur
dcrcr Swift. There possible cxcuseStor the
murder, to begin with. The woman. who was quiet,
inofcnslve person. had been duped by Swift, and was
abandoned by him Immediately after tho marriage.
He had contributed 10 her support to the vaLue
Of than a nickel for horse-car fare upon one
OCCASION He seemed 10 be Infatuated because she
would not contribute to his support and meeting her
on the street In open daylight he, in semiinboxcatcd
state shot her dead. The decd witnessed By
dozens Of people, and conviction and sentence 10 tho
galIows the logical conclusion OF the affair
Swfts friends, however, took advantage Of the meet
ing Of the Legislature TO make appeal TO the Jul
dietary Committee for communication. and It recon-
mended Unemployment instead Of hanging. and the
Legislature Endorsed the recommendation AT this
point there arose remarkable series OF loyal CON-
plicatons The Constitution provides that all resolu
lions and acts shall remain in the hands OF the Coy
ernor for three days for HIS approval or his veto;
falling of either thy become operative by the lapse
of time The resolution Of communication for Swift
reached the Governor on Tuesday afternoon The
sentence of hanging to be carried ont at 10 a. M
on Friday Swifps lawyers Immediately set up the
claim that tho three days would expire on Thursday
al midnight Those who seemed anxious that the
hanging should occur and they were not few, set UP
the other claim that the three days must DO three
full days aIJef inc IpSOiPb VI bO"c'eN" - -
Governor and In this they were supported BY the
private opinion Of at least Of the Justices OF the
Supreme Court.
It was thus evident that the action OF The legs
Iature had not reached the Executive IN season to
allow him the fun constitutional llmt for oonsidora-
tion II no took no action within the first two days.
the Sheriff would have Official knowledge OF the
oommutaton and would be Obliged to proceed to eX-
ecute tho sentence for which he had gone so lar ID
preparation as TO have the gllows at the jail and 10
issue the Invitations TO tho legal witnesses Thus
the Governor by mere inacion, could have sanctioned
the hanging while the Legislature would have been
on record as favoring commutahOn II tho Governor
had vetoed the bill there would scarcely have been
time for reconsideration In tho Legislature aoo " ha'o
decided the mans fate before the moose wond nave
been around his nook This state OF affairs put tDo
Governor in a very embarrassing position ana there
were not few who believed that there was sOihe
political scheme behind the whole matter to corner
him. The Governor, however. was equal TO mo si'uS
toa He put the final responsibility Of executing inc
law or committing It's penalty upon the Legislature py
granting EepriCvs Of thirteen days to the muroeror
Thus he able 10 secure for himself the three Gays
constitutional tmelimit, and at the same uine !"
give the Legislature several days In which TO recon-
sioer us action. Notice OF the rep1eve was scht 70
me sheriff In time % prevent the execution, ana On
at,osy .ne epIfeye itself ana veto on He nssssd
me resolution over the yeto while the HOUSE was %
unsole 70 reach It before adjournment INC IsgS Ui
inc murderer Is yet undecided. As Tor hlInSeu' hc
processes indifference as 10 the result.