The record-union., 1892-03-18
FREEMAN'O FUTURE.
1t Must be Passed Within the Peni-
tentiary's Walls.
The Gallows Torn Down, and the
Slayer of Mark Feeny Taken to Fol-
som = The Governors Action.

The long suspense over the question as
to whether or not Governor Markham
would commute the death sentence that
hung over the head of Charles Freeman,
for the murder of Mark Feeny, was re-
moved yesterday forenoon by the Execu-
tive officially notifying Sheriff Stanley
that he had decided to reduce the sentence
to one of life imprisonment.
Sheriff Stanley thereupon ordered the
work on the scaffold stopped. The struc-
ture had been nearly completed, and by
last evening would have been ready for
the execution this morning.
While the general impression had been
that the Governor would act in accord
ance with the request of the Supreme
Court Justices, Sheriff Stanley could not,
Of course, act upon such presumption,
hence the work of proceeding with the
preparations for the execution had been
prosecuted diligently, and had the EN-
ecutivels decision been otherwise the exc
cution would have taken place at the
hour fixed upon.
The condemned man was taken TO the
bathroom yesterday forenoon, and was
obliged to pass through the yard where
The gallOws was in course OF erection.
Although at that time no word had come
from the Governor, and-so far as Free
man or anyone else knew-the indications
were that he would to-day be hanged
from that gallows, he betrayed no nerV-
BUSINESS as he gaZed upon It.
Messrs. G. \. Post and c. I. Jones,
E'reeman's counsel, called upon him
shortly after 10 O'Clock and informed him
that they had not yet heard from the Gov
ernor. This announcements affected Free
man, who weeped, and said that II he had
known the Governor WAS not going to IN
terfere he would have sent tor his folks to
bid them farewell His visitors told him
not to give up, however, that there was
reason to hope the Governor would grant
the Communication asked.
Shortly after the attorneys departed
Freeman was visited by his mother. who
is upward of 90 years of age. The old
lady displayed the same quality of nerve
that her son has shown from the first, and
was careful not TO give way TO any emo
ton that might affect the condemned
man. She declared to the SheriT's Of
1icers that her son was innocent Of the
crime, and that if he were hanged others
would be murdered, not he.
THE SUSPENSE ENDED.
Shortly before noon Governor Mark
ham affixed his signature to paper which
lie had prepared, directing that the SEN
tence of Charles Freeman be c0mmuted
TO that of life Imprisonment, and at once
fact.
The latter was on the bench, hearing
the case Of the people against j. D. Smith,
for the murder of Robert Allen,
when the Governor S communication was
handed him. He carefully read the COM
munication and then wrote something on
a sheet Of paper, which he handed back
TO Deputy Sheriff Fay, and the latter left
the courtroom.
When Sheriff Stanley received notifica-
ton of the Governors action he at once
directed that the scaffold be taken down
and removed. Under Sheriff Bugbey
went TO Freeman's cell and congratulated
him on his escape from having to suffer
the extreme penalty Of the law.
Freeman was oyerjoyed at the news,
for within the last day or two he had be-
gun to fear adverse action ON the part of
the Executive.
Several of his friends called during the
afternoon to congratulate him, and at )
O'Clock he was taken by Deputy Sheriff
Fay to Folsom Prison. there to end his
days, unless he manages to escape or sue
Ceeds in obtaining pardon, which in the
course Of time he will probably seek.