Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-04-30
NRW LEASE ON LIFE
The Unexpected Reprieve in
Kemmler's Case.
o. s. COURT INTERFERENCE.
That Tribunal to Decide on Several Point,
in the New Law.


in the New Law.
Uow the Condemned Man Received the
Nsws-H~ Said His Mind Was Relieved,
Nothing More-A Belief That the
Electrocution Was to Have Occurred
To-Day.
AUBURN, N. Y, April 30.-The writ of
habeas corpus that has saved Kemmler
from the electrical chair, for a short
time at least, was given on application
| Of ex-United States District Attorney
Roger NJ. Sherman, of New York City.
Mr.. Sherman saw the judge iE mis- pri-
vate rooms lato Monday after ooon, and
obtained from him the papers which
| did not become q writ until signed by
| Cleak Doolittle of the Northern District
| Circuit Court at Utica.
Judge Valance, sitting in New York,
which Is in the Southern District, had
no power to make the stay until 1t had
properly passed through the hands of
Northern District clerk in which
KsInmler was. Consequently Mr.. Sher-
| man, whose connection with the case
does not seem plain, fastened at onos
to Mr.. Doolittle, and from thence to
this city, where the order was hrst
made public.
The following is the writ:
Tbs President Of the United Stdtea to Charles f.
D.uston, Warden and Agent Of Auburn
| Prison, GREETING:
| The people Of the United States, whom God
| defend, do command that you have the body
| of William Reminder, by you imprisoned and
l detained, as it is said, together with the time
and cause of such imprisonment and deten-
tion by whatsoever name the said William
| Kemmler is called, or charged before the Cir
| cult Court of the United States for the North
| ern District Of New York to be held at Canaan
daiRua on the third Tuesday Of June, at 10
O'Clock in the morning.
Witness the Hon. Melville w. Fuller, Chief
| Justice Of the United States. Fail not, at your
peril, and have you then, there. this writ.
On the back of the writ is the follow
ing endorsement
1.-THE within writ is granted this 10th day of
| April "WILILAN J. WALLACE,
Judge United States Circuit Court"
Reporters Learn the News.
i group of anxious reporters were
standing in the corridor of the prison
at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon. The
warden fitted in and out but would say
nothing He did not even reply to
their questions. and Gnally disappeared
through one of the big doors in the
rear.
Presently he reappeared and said:
Judge Wallace has granted a writ of
habeas corpus in the Kemmler case and
Kemmler will 60 before him on June g."
| Instantly there was wild rush and
scramble down the long. fight of iron
steps which lead to the front court
yard. The one-armed gateman was
surrounded, and he leisurely turned the
. big key in the lock and let the crowd
out. There was great rush down the
street to spread the news. At first it
was rumored that Kemmler had been
executed.
| Warden Durston's First 1ntina alton.
1t was II O'Clock yesterday morning
that Warden Durston first heard of a
reprisve. Lawyer Sherman assured the
warden that he was working with no
Interior motive and was moved by no out
side influence beyond a desire to be of
use to an unfortunate man in appoint
? Ing himself Kemmler's counsel.
Warden Durston refused to recognize
Sherman as Kemmler's lawyer until
Judge Dwight, of this place, executed
: legal document guaranteeing In sub
stance that as Reminders legal friend
Sherman was sound and o. X.
Kemmlsr's First Business Signature.
At $3.50 O'Clock David B. Mcneil, who
docs the notary public work for the
prison, went to Kemmler's cell with
Durston and attached his signature to
I, /
have his body protected. and delivered
as aforesaid.
The document was read to the muir
derer by Warden Durston, and it was
with great pride that the man who had
learned to write with the death chai1
waiting for him put one of his innum
. erably executed signatures on q rea
}, formidable aspect.
H>u,,nl>r >f KJi. narr1~~a
, At twenty minutes to four Warden
Durston concluded to inform Kemmlel
Of the news, and taking his little key
opened the big door that leads to tn,
murderer's cell. Kemmler was alone
peaceful and calm, and in his usua
state, eminently self-satisfed. Kemm
Ter and the warden were alone in tn,
! cell. The warden solemnly said t.
Kemmler.
, "Wsll, William, they've granted ,
writ of habeas corpus to you ani
, | that carries you over to June, Your,
!. safe now for the present"
"Is that SO" said Ksmmler, very muol
elated. "Well, I am easier in my
t mind, now" With that, Kemmler hav
ing exhausted his flow of ideas, tn,
d. Warden came away and very import
ant thing was over.
. Only Prolonging His Suffering.
There is really little solid comfort TO
Ksmnler in these efforts at ksepin,
him from the death shock which await
: him. improvements may be made /,
Z ths chair and q capable executione,
) may be secured, but excep
, Tor that Kammler is rathe
10 be pitied for havin
had this new lease of horrid lif
granted to him. He can scarcely hop
, Tor ultimate pardon, a. he cheerful,
and with many details relates how h
= chopped his mistress up, believing tina
he meant to kill her sometime and tina
be might a. well do it then as later.