The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-18
FROM ASYLUM TO GALLONS
Ella FaySOR Receivers Reason Only TO
EXpiate a Crime.

I 80 FANNN "a NAAANNa
Accessory to Murder She Was SEN
fenced to Death at Darien in 1890.
The Sentence Drove Her Crazy and
She Has Since Been In the Asylum.
Supt. Powell Writes That She Has
Recovered-An Effort to Be Made to
Get the Governor to Commute Her
Sentence,
Solicitor General Fraser received a let
ter yesterday which recalls a peculiar
history of murder trial that took place
in Mcintosh county over three years ago.
The letter was from DR.. T o. Powell,
superintendent Of the state asylum for
the insane at Milledgeville, and stated
that Ella Fayson had fully recovered aud
was ready 10 be sent back to Mcintosh
county to receive the sentence Of death
passed upon her by the court for being
implicated in the murder of Theodore
Cromwell at Darien In the summer of
1890
The facts In this case are as interesting
as they are peculiar and unusual. The
F'ayson woman went crazy after sentence
of death had been passed upon her, but
before the date set for the execution.
She was so adiudged by the court of ordi-
nary at Darien and was sent to the asylum
for treatment.
HAD TWO TRIALS.
The woman was tried twice on the same
charge. There were two implicated in
the murder Of Cromwell, German mer-
chant at Darien. They were Charles
Reaves and Ella Fayson, who were living
together as man and wife though not mar
rled. The killing grew out Of some petty
quarrel between Reaves and Cromwell
After some hot words between them
Reaves went to his house and got his shot
gun. Followed by the Fayson woman he
went to Gromwells place, called him out,
and placing the gun on the stump of one
arm as rest he killed him.
Inc evidence against the woman showed
that she had followed Reaves, and urged
him on to the deed at each step. Reaves
escaped, but the woman was CAPTURED
shortly after the killing. She was tried and
recommended to the mercy of the court.
On that she was sentenced to the peniten-
tlary for life. Her counsel made a mo-
ton for new trial on the ground of dis
coVery OF new evidence in the case The
new trial was granted, and in the mean
Time Heaves was captured in Alabama.
REAvEs TRIED FIRST.
Reaves was tried at the November term
of the court in 1890. He was found guilty
and sentenced to be hanged. This SEN
tence was executed shortly afterwards.
The newly discovered evidence in the
case went bad for the Fayson woman
She was found guilty on her second trial
without recommendation to mercy. She
was sentenced and was TO have been
hanged with Reaves, but the awful doom
a n Nmn ffaH hnW
mind and she went crazy.
Ever since December OF 1890 she has
been at the asylum. Now that she has
recovered she is to be sent back to McIn-
tosh county TO have sentence of death
again passed upon her, and a date set for
her execution.
ONLY ONE CHANCE LEFT.
There is but one thing that can save
her from this fate and that is interfer-
ence on the paGt of the governor.
Whether he will take hand or not can
not be known until the petition in her
behalf, signed by large number Of the
prominent citizens of Darien, has been
laid before him for consideration. The
petition was sent yesterday to Solicitor
General Fraser with the request that he
and Judge Falligant urge its favorable
consideration. 1t asked either
that the woman be pardoned
or that her sentence be com
muted to life Imprisonment. A letter
was added to the petition, signed by the
Judge and solicitor general recommending
that the sentence be committed, but they
state that under no circumstances could
they recommend that she be pardoned
II is probable that the governor will give
| favorable consideration to the recon-
mendation with regard TO the commuta-
ton of sentence