The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1893-12-16
AT THE STATE CAPITAL
EX-GOVERNOR ROSS PROUD OF THE
COLLEGE.
Anxious That Post Reporter Walt
the A. aud NJ. College and Witness
It's Fire Neutrality-suspicious. for
Respiting NichoIs-Notes.

having come on business cginected witt
the Agricultural and Mechanical college
at Bryan, OF which he Is president.
The Little cavalryman' looks well
and little would Il be suspected that one
With manners 10 quiet natural and de-
murc could carry so much latent strength
with the masses Whenever Governor
Ross name IS mentioned for a third term
as governor OF the state the responses
are spontaneous and numerous.
as president of the college At Bryan. he
Is no less faithful than as the governor
q the State and is heartily absorbed In
his work.
u WISH" said he, you could come
down and see how we arc getting along"
addrea4.---.vs.The Post man. "fave you
over known there? We don't want
| you to come on some special occasion,
We want you 10 drop in on us unawares.
This y the best way to see how We man
age things.
II read The Post and like It very much.
And. say, your people have promised that
some one from the paper would call upon
| us. Can't you 80 down? You see we are
| on the railroad some distance and are
| rather buried and the outside world does
not ind out as much about this State IN
| stltuuon as II should BE sure and come
| 10 SEQ Us as aoon as YOU can" and with
| this the ex-governor walked away with
Mr.. y j. Ross Of Salhdo. who is one OF
the directors OF the Agricultural and Me-
ehnnleai college and president OF the
board.
THE NICHOLS RESPITE
The respite granted to the doomed man.
| Ed Nichols. by the governor is exciting
| no little comment.
The peculiar atroeity OF the crime for
which Nichols is to pay the death penalty,
the thorough trial by a jury and the ex-
animation Of the case on appeal causes
much wonder as TO what may be the
causes which has led Governor Hogg to
give the prisoner another lease Of life.
In order 20 ascertain, 81 possible. for
the curious readers Of The Post what
may have Induced this action by the ex-
ecutve a Post correspondent called on
me governor this morning In his office
BY way Of broachlag the subject the
governor was asked II he had read an
article in the Texas Medical Journal IN
which II IS lntmated that perhaps Mich
DIS ls crazy. He had not read such ar
tcle-never reads anything of the kind
II takes the record as his guide and he
had reason 20 make a little further exam
nation into the case,
The following is q part Of the language
used IN the article:
The negro had neither friends nor
money. but tho court assigned counsel to
defend him. The question Of insanity was
not raised, but Mr.. Walton OF counsel
informed me the author OF the article
mat The negro was M imbecll- IL not an
IDIOT, that he seemed 70 not comprehend
that he had done anything wrong showed
no erlot.ca %hsn told that unless he
would make some excuse upon which hla
lawyers could try to save him his neck
would be broken remained throughout the
trial with q face of blank pxpresslonlcsa
stupidity. and when the sentence Of death
was passed upon hm and he saw that he
was an Object OF interest broad grin
spread over his face"
Governor biogg seemed TO realize that
an execution of a human being was a very
serious affair, oud he dli not propose 10 be-
governed tn his actions whether they
were lneNorabie or relaxed, by any popu-
lar demand
ne said he diI not propose to furnish
christmas entertainment Tor the people by
Swing them hanging He has oftan'
found, gaid hc. that "a condemned man ala
not realize the fate that awaited him, aud
with thi4 and other reasons ne often grant.
cl % respite.
When the sober judgments Of men are
hr lght 10 a consideration Of the action
of Governor HogR they will approve What
VIII few days mates, whom "a man ls al
ready condemned Justice ls not cheated
She suffers only IA slight dolay ln her de-
muni for nm expiration for crime.
Th,H man's day OF execution was set Tor
the 2.i OF December the very beginning or
the holidays Christmas times are days ~
merry-makinE. whatever way In which the
Joy may come. Il rs n great time f5r the
childrcn's carnival Young proule mike
merry and their harmless cyhlhluons
bring light into the soul of mellow old aga
Then what would Doe the effect Of a semi
public execution? There is death.Uap,
the gloomy public aud a morbid public
curiosity tp see and learn ench lightest
detail OF the hanging Again the story M
h. a. frh ID ..It o..