The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1890-12-25
A LEGAL MURDER
ls What the Hanging Of Henry Popp
Is Styled.
A Movement 10 Abolish the Pardon Board
---Ita Course Denounced an FARGO.

Saturdays Cincinnati Enquirer has the
following In regard to tho hanging OF
Henry Popp, which will be read with much
interest here
The hanging Of Henry Popp yesterday
morning occaaloned much surprise among
lawyers In thlA city.
Great Interest from a professional stand
point was taken In the case by Cincinnati
attorney, especially those who have made
study Of criminal Jurisprudence.
The belief very generally prevailed that
Governor Campbell himself would cer'
tainly Interfere.
There was much aironger talk In legal
circles. and the course Of the Pardon
Board In the case was denounced aa the
vcrIcat farce, A movement has takon
shape for the preparation Of bill TO bo
introduced az tho next session OF the Log.
islature 70 abolish the Board. Popp'a
case has been the subject Of much discus
sion
rs LEoAL JOURNALS.
Last weeks Law Bulletin, OF this city and
Columbus, devolos several pages 10 u ro.
Wow OF certain Issues involved, and cur.
rles liberal extract from the report sub.
mlttcd by Mr. G. @. Cook 10 the Governor
The Bulletin also handles the sui Icct odi.
torlally, declaring that the onsc should at
tract the fullest oitcntlon Of the bar aud
the public generally.
"Popp,n says the Bulletin, "la Nn lgno'
rant an unntclligcnt German, common
laborer without money or lronds, who has
only been short time IN the country and
was convicted Tor the killing Of u saloons
Keeper az Canton, Stark County. llo
pleaded soIf defense, and at the trial 10
appeared that he was drunk at the time,
and indeed 30 drunk that he himaclf knew
nothing Of whnt had occurred, and could
not give any explanation OF the circum'
at0neea OF the crime
WITHOUT MONEY or FRIENDS,
without any knowledge OF English, and
without experience or understanding Of
our Court practice, counsel had 20 be as
signed him by the Court. IL appears that
no bill OF exceptions was tnkon, and oven
no motion was made for IA now trial, and
under hich circumstances the man was
sentenced TO the gallows. The caso went
directly from the Court OF Common Pleas
10 the Board Of Pardons.
TINS rs NOT THE FIRST TIME,r
Adds the Bullotin, "that the charge Ia
heard that prisoners without money or
friends, or experience from former con-
vlctionH which would enable thom 10 holp
thuir case aud 10 SEQ that thoir rilhta are
protected, have not always the fun benefit
of tho safeguards which the law grants TO
all who have 60 stand trial for crimes, II
would seem that especially In such cases
whore the life OF the accused In NJ stnko,
exceptions should be saved 10 ruling
the court on important questions OF law
arising, 60 enable court aud counaol after.
ward on motion for now trial TO examine
these questions with care aud at leisure,
for which AZ the trial there was not sulil'
Client time.n
THIS STRONG LANGUAGE
Only voiced the sentiments of the Cincin-
matt Bar Purely from disintorostcd,
professional standpoint several leading
attorneys and jurists, like Ex.Judge Wil-
son, Judge Outcalt, Judge Maxwell, II, Il.
Paxton aud q. II. Matthew'S tclographod
and wrote 10 Columbus, urging that the
case be given full hearing, aud tho
wrong repaired before Il ~ too late.
These unsolicited requests must huvn re-.
ccivod little consideration, Judging rom
Ilit TthHllt y H' lll'NNN'HAh M'l' W.
AGAINST THE CHARGE
on the Judge In the cnso. Even after the
conviction, aud when the matter finally
reached the Pardon Board, tho prosccu'
ton savorod 30 strongly Of persecution M
20 cause comment and romonBtrance.
Proper consideration OF the vital question
as 10 tho defendants ability to deliberate
and mediate, so lawyers here say would
have lessencd tho degree OF tho crime, 80
that popp would not have hanged.
IL was the talk hero yesterday that liis
execution under the CIRCUMSTANCES was
litileloss than legal murder, for which the
Board OF pardone ~ blamed. Good may
come of the sacrifice, however, VI II only
results In obolshing the Pardon Board,
, which has come to bG regarded as a blot
on tho States fair name.
There wilt be no delay IN drawing bill
o this effect, and urging ils earliest pass
age. tits probable that npoting Of the
Bar will be called In day or so, TO cone
slider the subject, The cruel llnalc Of the
popp case Will also serve TO attract more
attention 70 such prosecutions IN the iu-
ture, and possibly contribute TO q keencr
consideration of the points which were 80
fcrvontly urged during and subsequent TO
hla trial,