The record-union., 1892-06-23
HIS LAST HOPE GONE.
Death Alone Can Save Buggy From
the GaIlows.
Governor Markham, After a Study of
the Case, Declines to Commute
His Sentence.

There appears now to be no hope of
George H. w. Bruggy, the Sonoma muir
derer, escaping the gallows. A petition
for the commutation Of his sentence has
been before Governor Mark ham for some
time, and yesterday the Executive took
final acton IN the matter by refusing to
grant the petition.
The crime for which the sentence of
death was imposed on Buggy was the
killing of Diedrick Lonissen at Windsor.
Sonoma County, in February, 1880 After
his conviction the case was appealed TO
the Supreme Court, but that tribunal
failed TO reverse the judgment of the
lower court, although three Of the seven
Justices were in favor of so doing. In
declining to interfere with the judgment
of the court, Governor Markham says:
THE GOVERNORS REASONS.
"On the 18th day of May there was
presented to me, and filed in this Office. a
petition praying for the communication OF
the sentG nee in the case of George II. w.
Bruggy, sentenced 10 be hanged on the
Both day of June. / do not hesitate to say
that when | read the statement OF the case
contained in the petition for commut8-
ton, was much impressed with the idea
that the verdict was too severe. But when
l compared that statement with the evil
dence contained in the complete tran
script Of the testimony on file in this
Office, | found it to be very misleading.
/ The court reporters official transcript of
the evidence in the case has been to me
much more satisfactory than the state
ment Of the evidence made to the Su-
preme Court. l therefore read the entire
evidence given at the trial, the charge of
the court. the transcript for the Supreme
! Court, and the opinion of that court, as
well as the dissenting opinion of some Of
the Supreme Justices. l have carefully in
vestigated The reputation and standing of
each of the jurors who tried the case, and
there can be but one opinion in regard to
them, and that is that they are all honor
able, honest and intelligent men.
Feeling keeniy the great responsible
ity resting upon me, l have cOmmunica-
ted with very large number of leading
citizens IN ali parts Of Sonoma County,
and am in receipt of letters from all whom
L addressed, giving me very frankly
their views OF the case, as we'll as the rep
utatlon OF the applicant prior to the COM
| mission of this crime. / am reliably in
formed that every member OF the Jury
has been urged to sign the petition, or to
give some favorable expression for a
communication of sentence, yet but two of
them-MeSsrs. Reid and DavidsOn-haVe
done SO. The Judge who presided at the
| trial and the District Attorney who pros
ecuted Buggy have not interfered in the
case. To my mind these three things
are very significant: for the Judge, the
District Attorney and the jury have had
opportunities to ascertain the facts in con-
nection with this unfortunate affair much
better than possibly can have had.
1T does not seem necessary for me to
go into details further, or to discuss at
length the evidence in the case. From
all that have read and heard, and after
most deliberate and careful consideration,
| am of the opinion that the defendant,
Bruggy, has had fair and impartial trial,
and l am unable to find any good reason
why / should interfere with the verdict of
the jury and the Judgment and sentence
of the COURT