The morning call., 1894-04-19
WILL BE HANGED
Governor Markham Scores
Sullivan.
Compares His Crime to That of an
Apache Indian and Declines
to Interfere.

There is no hope left for P. J. Sullivan,
the condemned wife-murderer. who is
awaiting the gallCw in San Quentin
prison. His attorney. Mack. made last
appeal to Governor Markham, basing his
plea for mercy on the statement that the
murderer was insane when he committed
the deed. The Governor refuses to enter
tain any such idea. The result will be
that Sullivan will hang at II O'Clock on
Friday morning. Following is the CON-
munlcation the Governor sent to Attorney
Mack yesterday:
arthur Z. Mack ESq.-DEAR SIR: The
main facts in the case OF Patrick j. Sulli.
van impressed me so unfayorably that
have not thought Ii n ecessary 20 examine
the evidence of all the witnesses who tes-
tilted. | did, however, read the testimo ny
of the principal wtne sses, both for the
prosecution a1d the defense. with great
care. and believe that / understand the
points involved.
know nothing of the case except from
the evidence, and from that am thor
oughly impressed that the crime could not
have been made more revolving and cruel
if committed by an Apache Indian. HIS
fiendish exultatiOn over the bleeding and
lacerated body of his wife, his foul and
brutal curses as he stood over her dying
form. were so inhuman and so deyillsh
that one can scarcely believe, without alb
solute proof, that such creature exists
where civilized people dwell.
In your appeal to me, W hich may say
is the only one that has been made, you
urge insanity as the only excuse for the
crime. did not find in the evidence any
thing to even raise doubt in my mind on
that point.
A deliberate and voluntary life of crime
and debauchery is alone responsible for
his condiiio to-day.
/ cannot see how the jury could have
found any other verdict than the one they
did, and with that verdict l cannot inter-
fere.
In my conversation with you l said that
might write 20 Judge Belcher, but after
reading the evidence / did not deem IL
necessary.
Sullivan, being unable to procure coun-
sell, you were appointed by the court to de-
fend him, and from the record before me
am convinced that you did all for him that
could have been done IL You bad been re-
tanned by him and paid fully for your SER
vices
You have done all that could be expected
of you. l am quite sure that you believe
in his insanity. but undoubtedly that be-
lief Is induced by the contemplation Of the
foul act which he committed.
do not share that belief, for, with all
his degradation. he knew right from
wrong. BE knew the character of the
woman prior to their marriage. and he
knew the kind of life she was leading for
years before the murder.
Nine times he plunged the deadly dagger
into her defenseless, wicked body, thus
making her pay the penalty OF her sinful
life.
Why should the mercy which he refused
to grant her be meted out TO him? He
gave her not only NJ opportunity for de-
tense, but none for repentance nor reform.
The strong arm of the law has granted
him all these opportunities, and granted
him everything, in my opinion. that he
should have.
Believing that the verdict of the Jury is
correct, and that he was not insane, / re-
fuse to interfere with the judgment of the
court. Yours truly,
Ell. FL. MARKHAM, Governor,