The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-08-11
Intense Feeling Aroused by the Newspapers,
as Worse than the MurdererS Crime.
Grover Cleveland and Senator Harris
Also Criticised for Their Conduct.
King Hurriedly Taken to Nashville to Avoid o
Memphis Mob-The Governor Hanged in
Efigy and the Dummy Burned.
COLONEL KING SPIRITED AWAY.

Chief of Police Davis received letter in
forming him that Col. III. Clay King would
be taken from the Jail tonight and hanged
or shot to death by mob. The letter also
stated that preparations were on foot to
form such O mob as would be able to storm
the jail no matter what force would be
placed behind the walls. The police at once
made known tho contents to Sheriff Nc
Lennon. The latter at once made prepara-
tions to take King to the penitentlary at
Nashville. and left at 5 o'clock this even
ing The Nashville 81 Chattanooga train
will meet the Louisville train from Men,
phis at McKinzie, and there is remote
possibility that Colonel King may be in
tercepted there. The sheriff is one-legged
and unaccompanied by deputies. Kings
son is with the party. and there are some
fears of an attempted escape.
Never was there such storm OF indig-
nation aroused in this city as that caused
by the action OF Governor Buchanan in
committing Kings sentence to imprison-
ment for life. He has ignored the wishes
of the best people in the State. The friends
of David Poston, the man whom King mur-
dered, prepared petition to the Governor,
praying him to allow the lew to take its
course. This petition was signed by thou
sands of the best people of Memphis. the
leading lawyers and men in all the higher
walks in life, but it seems that the influ-
ence of ex-Attorney- general Garland
and others was greater than that of
the citizens. Through Garland's efforts the
results have come which are SO dIstasteful
<<< q <hoy 10 of rha al De-
anan IS not the only one that is being de-
nounced. Unfavorable comments are be-
ing made on the part taken by Senator
Harris. Grover Cleveland is also mixed
up In the business. The widow of ex-
Lleutenant-governor King, of kentucky,
II. Clay Kings sister, who married her
cousin. wrote to Mr.. Cleveland in regard to
the matter. and Mr.. Cleveland, in his reply,
said he had only superfici knowledge of
the case. but from what he knew he hoped
that the death sentence would not be
executed. Mr. Clevelands letter was at
once forwarded to the Governor, and this
afternoon. when MIR. Cleveland's g action be-
came known, he also was roundly de-
nounced.
SEVERE ARRAIGNMENT.
This mornings sAppeal-Avalanche in dis
cussing the Communication of Kings sen-
tence, said:
The Governors power in the matter 10
absolute and exclusive. The responsibility
is his alone. He Is not required to give
reasons. He may yield to any passing
prejudice--and yet his authority remains
indisputable and supreme. If his deter
mination of the King case is to be taken as
q precedent. then we see no reason why
any other criminal should ever be hanged
In Tennessee KING, In cold hood, after
careful deliberation, shot down David II.
POstOn, unarmed and unsuspecting. 1t
was highway assassination in which the
victim was given no chance to defend HIM
self. There could not have been a murder
moro heinous. When the trial was had
the murderer himself, with the most
extraordinary assurance protested against
the introduction of the insanity plea"
Discussing the review of the case py. the
Supreme Court. the Appeal Avalanche con-
tlnues: THE opinion was welcomed by all
lovers of law and order. Its effect was not
confined TO Tennessee. 1t was felt through
out the whole United States and the SUI
honor for advancing civilization TO that
degree. The court did not overlook any
phase OF the case. 1t considered even the
excuses OF King made for his act. But the
Governor has brought all this to naught.
Having the greater power to save. he has
met the courts power to condemn, and has
whistled the latter's Judgment down the
wind. With stroke of his pen he has
given hope to every murderer in the ials
of Tennessee. He has rebuked the Jury
and made light of the States highest tri-
bunal of Justice. 1t were infinitely better
if the jury of the trial court had Dade
King 60 free. We now wish sincerely that
it had done 30. 1t were even better If tho
He has acted without the support of the
trial Judge, the jury or the prosecutor,
usually an essential prerequisite In guberna-
torial clemency, and 1t now remains for
Kings art to solve the question of his free
DOM"
sCATHING DENUNCIATION.
The Evening Scimitar vehemently de-
nounces the Governor in q sensational edi-
torial abounding in such sentences as these:
HE has spit upon the court of the State
and the Nation, and held out his hand to
save an assassin in w hose person was CEN
tered and upon whose fate depended the
question whether money and influence in
the South was sufficient to make GistiDc-
tion between persons convicted Of cold
blooded murder
The rescue of Fl. Clay King from the
gallows, to which all the courts of the
country. after a careful review of the evil
dence. had condemned him. was q crime
more damnable even than the murder of
Poston.
He has risen above all law. all right and
all justice. What King did as q citizen he
Buchanan has done as the chief executive
of the State. He has taken the law INTO
his own hands. He has justified the muir
der of POston. He has saved the assassin.
He has taken the smoking pistol from
Kings hands, stepped INTO his shoes
dipped his hands in the blood of his victim
and trampled upon the already outraged
law. He has turned deaf ear to the
pleadings of the victims family for Justice.
He has made the Governor of the State the
champion of murderers.
THE Governors conduct tears the band
age from the yes of justice. 1t pulls down
the pillars of the temple. 1t paralyzes the
strong arm of the law. 1t stiles the cry of
the widow anG the orphan; makes of the
court q sham. 1t shakes the very founda-
tion of society and makes every man a law
unto himself
"If Buchanan should be shot down be-
hind pillar on tho portico of the Capitol
to-day. if King should be slain on his way
TO the penitentIary. who shall say that the
gallows would bear fruit"
JUDGE DUBosE's ORDER,
These publications aroused intense feel
ing. A mass-meeting was arranged for TO-
night, n. which Governor Buchanan was to
have been hung in effigy. 1t was given out
that the jail would be attacked and the
notorious prisoner lynohed. So great was
the anxiety that Criminal Court Judge. j..