Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-04-11
HER BROTHERS LIFE.
MISS SWIPTS EXPORTS TO HAYR A DEATH
SENTENCE COMMITTED.
After Bitter Struggle in the Connecticut LsgisIs-
ture 1t IS Decided That the Wife Murderer
Must Die on the Gallows-Sbry
Of the Case

HARTFORD. CONN, April lO.-Afler
one of the most bitter legislative struggles
in the history of the State, it was decided
to-day that John II. Swift must hang April
Is for the murder of his wife.
In 1884 Swift married Katie McCann,
the former being nineteen years Of age,
and the latter twenty. They frequently
met but never lived together, end why
they were married was a mystery. July
l, 1887, as Katie was returning from her
work with two female companions, she
WAS shot dead by her husband after refus-
ing to live with him.
Swift pleaded insanity, caused by drink
but he was condemned TO death, and the
higher Court upheld the decision. This
was the state Of the case when the General
Assembly convened in January.
Soon after the opening of the session a
good looking young woman, Mary Swift,
the sister of the dead man, appeared in the
lobby. She is a teacher in Brown school
and is highly respected. Never did woman
work harder TO save a loved one than Miss
Swift lsbored to save her brother from the
galloTs. She was always ladylike and
made good impression. A petition 10
commute Swift's sentence WAS introduced,
and then the sister began her work in
earnest.
During tgo months she had interviews
with nearly all of the 275 members OF the
Assembly, leaving her school in care OF
another TO work for her brother After
long debate the petition wss referred 10
the Judiciary Committee and il reported
almost unanimously IN favor of commuta-
tion. This was Miss Swift's first victory
Then came the action ia the Senate.
which sustained the report by q vote OF II
to g. The House concuuod by a vote Of
ll3 TO LOG, and everybody believed the
sister had saved the neck of her murder
ous brother The signature oil Gov. Bulk0
ly was all that was needed, or the resclu-
tion would become law in three days
without being signed by the Governor
The House passed the resolution week
ago Thursday. 1t laid on the table during
Friday, when the Legislature adjourned
until Tuesday and that day it was sent Ia
the Governor Friday last, the day Swiil
WAS sentenced to swing, the Governor re-
prieyed the condemned man until the 18th
and vetoed the resolution. The Senate
passed resolution over the veto by prac-
ticslly the same vote ss before. snd but one
vote WAS necessary to make Miss Swiit's
efforts a complete success.
Another vote was taken yesterday after
noon and dashed ali the hopes Of the p4st
weeks of labor Between last Friaay,
when the Senate voted, and yesterday.
Miss Swift wss actively at work and wrote
letters TO all memb TO vote for her
brother. The floor and the gallery Of the
House yesterday efteruOOn were packed TO
suffocation many ladies being among the
audience, Ps every one knew the deciding
vote was to be taken. For three hours the
was debated, in which many
bitter utterances were made. The Govern
or WAS called coward for yetoing the bill
and Mr.. Hill, Of Stamford, the orator
of the house said if Swift was hanged his
blood would be upon the members who
voted to sustain the Governor. Mr.. Dur
and, of Milford, said he had voted TO com
mute the sentence because Of a promise
made to another member, hut now that he
had fulfilled his promise he would not
again vote to save Swift.
During the vote there was the utmost
suspense. Many spectators kept tally and
the evenness of the vote was remarkable
until Talland and MiddleseX counties
were reached, when Swift's fate was de-
cided by majority of "a votes, there fell
q dead quietness on the house.
1t is possible that counsel for Swift may
raise the technical question of the reeOlu-
ti0n becoming effective on account Of the
expiration of the three days from the time
it was received by the Governor and the
lay of the veto. II was cent 10 Governor
Bukley at / 80 Tuesday afternoon, and his
veto reached the Senate at ! o'clock Fri
lay morning. Swift's sister is at home,
heart broken and his mother does nothing
but weep.