The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1889-04-18
LOBBYING FORA LIFE.
Struggle for . Condemned Brother
by a Devoted sister
Successfully Carried Through the Lssisla.
turs-Hsr Hopes suddsnly Crushed,
the Governor vetolng the BIN
for ComButation-- Her
Brothsf Must
Hang. WHtfWftE

AEoND' III APHu Al AIt0E Ouo VI
the most bitter Legislative struggles In
the history Of the State II was decided
yesterday that John H. Swift must hang
April Is for the murder Of his wife In
1884 Swift married Katie McCann, the for.
mer being nineteen years Of age and the
latter twenty. They frequently met, but
never lived together. July 1, 1881 as
Katie was returning from her work with
two female companions, she was shot dead
by her husband after refusing to live with
him. Swift pleaded insanity caussd by
drink, but he was condemned to cath, and
the higher court upheld the decision. This
was the state OF the case when the Gem
eral Assembly convened In January. Soon
after the opening Of the session. a good :
looking young woman, Mary A. Swift, the
sister Of the condemned man, appeared in
the lobby. Never did woman work harder
to save loved one than Miss Swift labor.
ed to rescue her brother from the gallows.
She was always ladylike and made good
impression. A petition to commute Swiits
sentence was introduced. and then the sis
ter began her work in earnest During
two months she had interviews with
nearly all Of the 275 members Of the As.
sembiy, leaving her school In care Of On.
other to work tor her brother. Aft,r
long debate the petition was referred to
the judiciary Committee, and II reported
almost unanimously in favor Of oommu.
tation. Then came Miss Swifps first vic.
tory. Then came the action In the Senate,
which sustained the repor. by vote Of II
to 0. The House concurred by vote Of
113 to 100. and everyb ,dy believed tho sis.
ter had saved the neck Of her murderous
brother. The signature Of Governor
Bulkeley was all that was lneedsd, or tho
resolution would become i law in three
days without being signed by the Govern :
or The House passed the resolution a
week ago Thursday. II laid on tho
table during Friday, whenith Legislature
adjourned until Tuesday, and that day 1t
was sent TO the Governor. Friday. the
day Swift was sentenced to swing, the
Governor reprieved the condemned man
until the 18Th and vetoed the resolution.
The Senate committee passed resolution
over the veto by practically the same vo.e
as lefore and but one more vote was
necessary to make Miss Swifps forts O
complete success. Another vote was
taken yesterday afternoon. and dashed
all the hopes Of the r.ass weeks Of la.
Dor. Be,ween last Friday, when the
Senate voted, and yestoriuy Mss Swift
was actively at work, and wrote letters
to all member to voto for her brother. the
floor and gallery Of the House yesterday
afternoon was PACKED to suffocating,
many ladies being among the audience, as
every one knew the deciding vote was to
be taken. For three hours the resolution
was debated, in which many bitter utter.
ances were made. During hsvote there
was the utmost suspense. Many specta.
tors kept tally, and the evennsss Of tho
votc was remarkable until Toll and Mid.
dlesex Counties acre reached. When
Swift's fate was decided, by q majority Of
twenty -four votes, there fell dead
silence on the House. 1t 10 possible that
counsel for Swift may raise the technical
question OF the resolution becoming eifsc-
tive on account Of the expiration Of the
three days from the time II was received
by the Governor and the day OF the veto.
1t was sent 10 Governor Bulkely at half.
past one Tuesday afternoon, and his veto
reached the Senate at eleven Friday morn
ing. Swif's sister Is at homo hoart-
broken, and his mother does nothing but
w0en -