New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1891-04-08
STAYED BY THE GOVERNOR.
Holden's Journey by the Hempen Route
Postponed Through Merriam's $
Clemency.

Holden Journey Dy the Hempen Route
Postponed Through Merriam's
Clemency.
The Influence Of Prominent Men Leads to
Respite Of Thirty Days
The People Tired of the Way in Which
the Case Has Been Handled.
Friday was the day on which Clifton
Holden was to have atoned for the MUIR
der of Frank Dodge, but by reason of a
very peculiar turn of circumstances he
is still alive, and once more takes his
odgings at Hotel de SchmelZ instead
of in the other world.
Early Thursday morning he was re.
moved from the New Ulm Jail and
taken to Redwood Falls, the scene of
the contemplated execution. The know.
ledge of his approaching death on the
gallows told on him the last two days,
and when he entered the car at New
Ulm his face was minus the reckless air
that it wore when first he was told Of
his fate, and he had the appearance of
weak man who was utterly without
hope. Handcuffed to him was Deputy
sheriff Olmstead of Redwood County,
and attending for his safe keeping, were
Sheriffs Mead of Redwood, Schmelz
of Brown, and Glynn of Blue Earth,
death-watch Dolan and G.. DE Lent OF
Peoria, III. The crowd was quiet one,
and auietest of all was the condemned
prisoner. Aside from accusing Mead
of unfair treatment at his trial and later
on asking for pardon for making the
charges, he said nothing, and when he
arrived at Sleepy Eye he refused to take
breakfast and persisted in eating moth
ing, all day. The party remained two
hours in Sleepy Eye. and then, surround
ed by a large and curiosity seeking
crowd, took the train for Redwood
Falls. As his destination grew nearer
and nearer, Holden weakened. His face
assumed a deathly pallor, and as time
dragged on it seemed as if he would
give way under the great strain.
At Redwood Falls ne was at once
taken to the barn-like coop. through
which the wind is said to howl as it
would through a shanty on Dakota
prairie, and there under strict watch
he remained during the entire day.
Spiritual advisers were allowed to visit
him, but they had apparently little Of
consoling effect. He was asked to con-
fess, but stoutly refused, protesting all
the while against the accusation of
guilt.
The climax came at half-past five,
When the sheriff read to him the tele-
gram from the governor granting him
a reprieve of thirty days. This bit Of
news overcame him completely, and
for time he was not himself. Finally
he grasped the hands Of those he had
but lately cursed, thanked them and
then asked for something to eat. After
supper he was taken to the depot and
dispatched at once for New Ulm, where
he arrived at 1850, still pale and wor-
RED, but much improved over his ap-
pearance in the morning.
The announcement of the respite came
unexpectedly to everybody. 1t was
largely through the efforts of Albert
Scheffer of st, Paul that the stay of pro-
ceedings was obtained, a chance meet
ing between him and II. A. Baldwin of
Redwood Falls occurring on Thursday.
Baldwin said that when the jury in the
Holden case were out considering the
verdict, they had been told by the fore
man that if they brought in a verdict Of
guilty with plea for mercy the court
would not impose the death penalty.
When Mr.. Scheffer heard this, he Inn
mediately urged the Judge to 60 before
Gov. Merriam with the statement, and
together they started for the capitol, taxi
ing with them A. T. Stebbins, whom
they chanced to meet. Attorney Gen.
Clapp was also called into the confer
ence with the governor. Mr., Scheffer
hrst pleaded fora Communication for life
sentence and urged upon the governor
that his position was not that in which
he was obliged to perform merely a
5perfunctory duty, but one in which he
should exercise his heart as we'll as his
head. TO this the governor agreed, but
the attorneY-gen declared that the
case had been fairly tried and the YER
dict was q proper one, and he could not
grant a Communication. Then the gen.
tleman .pleaded for q reprieve of 80