The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-16

Last night several carpenters from
the establishment in Pittsburgh which
made the scatFold on which William
Maier, the wife murderer, is TO be hung
next Friday came down to erect the
scafold. They stopped at the Hotel
VanKeuren. The work Of putting up
the scatFold will be begun this morning.
Maier's fate was settled last evening
at Charleston by Governor Fleming,
who refused to commute his sentence.
The following special telegram to the
INrELIIGEEcER from Charleston, re-
ceiyed last night, tells the story:
Governor Fleming announced this
evening that he had decided to refuse
10 interfere in the matter Of the appeal
Tor Communication OF sentence imposed
against Maier, convicted OF the murder
OF his wife, and sen tenced to be hanged
at Wheeling next Friday. The COVER
nor spent considerable portion OF the
day in an examination OF the records
in the case and in consultation with
Hon. George W. Atkinson, who is act
ing in behalf of the doomed man, and
whose
EFFORTS To OBTAIN cLEStENCY
should command the highest apprecia-
ton Of the prisoner and his friends. In
his able presentation of the case to the
governor Mr.. Atkinson earnestly, sim
cereIy and faithfully discharged the
duty he had to perform. 1t is urged by
those recommending a Communication OF
the sentence ofthe court that Maier was
tried too soon after the commission OF
the crime, without sufficient opportun-
ity for full Investigation OF the sur
rounding circumstances, and while pub
lie sentiment ran high against him.
The governor in brief holds that there
is nothing in the case to show that the
prisoner did not have fair trial. The
rulings OF the trial court were sus-
tanned by the supreme court oil appeals.
There has never been any question but
that the prisoner took the life Of his
wife. The jury passed upon the ques-
ton OF sanity, and in finding the pris-
oner guilty found him sane. Ii the
prisoner is guilty as found by the jury,
the courts sentence should be execut-
cd, there appearing to have been no
new developments or evidence which
would justify executive interference.
DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
There was a great divergence Of opin-
ion as to the outcome of the appeal to
tho governor, and the news from
Charleston will be surprise to many.
1t is probable that il Maier were SEN
fenced to hang a month later there
would be such public pressure on his
behalf that his neck would be spared,
but from beginning to end he has been
surrounded by exciting matters which
diverted the public mind from his case.
Sheriff Steenrod has all along in
tended to hang Maier himself. He took
the high ground that he ought not to
ask deputy to do thing which he
objected to doing himself. Now, how
ever, he is so i'll that it is doubtful if he
can perform the official act in person
on Friday.
Rev. Father BIcElligott the con-
demned mans spiritual adviser, yester-
day told an INrELLIGgNCER reporter that
Maier was bearing up remarkably well.
Father McElligott had not particle OF
hope OF executive clemency, although
he thought it ought to be extended.
The language OF the dispatch quoted
above as to Maier's and his friends APP
probation of Mr.. Atkinson's efforts on
his behalf will sound like sarcasm to
many people, who do not consider
Maier capable OF approaching anything,
and know how nearly friendless he is.
There are reports OF definite charac-
ter Of new evidence on Maier's behalf,
The only reason this evidence did not
come out on the trial was because OF
Maier's strange and unnatural reticence.
Il is safe to say tnat he never told
his counsel his story. The re-
ports, if true, tend to show that the
deed was committed in the heat OF pas
sion, and explain on plausible grounds
his having the revolver. 1t is alleged
that Maier's wife had sinned and
was in delicate condition when
lie married her, and that he
afterward condoned the offense. 1t is
also said that she behaved in an exas-
perating way toward him, and that he
was stung by bitter answer, not tit for
print, to his request that she kiss him
good bye, when he shot her. Other ex-
tenuating circumstances are urged in
his favor, and from the statement by the
governor that there was no claim of new
evidence, it would seem that these re-
ports were not mentioned to him. Yet
ii they arc true they are nearly all aus
ceptible OF proof.
The case has begun to absorb public
interest to large extent as the day APP
proaches on which Maier is to expiate
his aWful daad