St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-01-04
RETRIEVED ON GAhLows.
Sensational Interruption. of an
Execution in New JERSEY.

Execution In New Jersey.
CAMDEN. N. j., Jan. "a half hour
before the time set Tor the execution of
Theodore Lambert, in the county jail
this morning, an order for a stay of
proceedings until March 4. granted by
Justic Shiras, in Washington, was
served, upon the sheriff. At that time
score of witnesses had gathered In the
execution room. A notice of the sta
was given to Lambert by his attorney,
Semple. The condemned man fell to
the floor in faint, from which he re
covered by the use of stimulants. He
fell into another faint, In which he re-
NAMED for nearly five minutes. On
being revived he shouted ''Glory he to
Cod" and then fell on the neck of his
counsel, kissing him, Lambert's mind
has been temporarily turned by his
good fortune. Since learning that be
has two months more to live, he ias not
shouts and sings by turns. County
Physician Jones has him under treat
ment. After leaving the jail, Lawyer
Semple went to Lambert's home, where
his mother was awaiting the news of
her sons execution, the lawyer previous
ly promising to come to her Immediately
after it had taken place. When he
entered, she cried: as he dead yet?
| Thought he would not be hanged until
10o'clock."
When told of the stay she fell like log
on the floor. A physician had to be
called 10 restore her to consciousness.
She went at once to the Jail with the
lawyer. and the mother and son were
permitted to have their meeting alone.
The scene was affecting. Mrs. Lambert
refused TO leave the cell of her sop. and
she was allow ed to remain with him.
Lawyer Semple's efforts to save his
clients life have been extraordinary.
He claims that Lambert is legally dead.
The date first set for his execution was
Dec. 81. Lawyer Semple asked for
reprieye. which the governor at first re-
fused on the ground that he had no
power, as the thirty-day limit from the
time OF his conviction had expired.
Lawyer Semple claimed that conviction
dated from time of sentence. anu not
from the time of rendering of the YER
dict, In which case sentence was only
twenty days. The matter was referred
to the attorney general. and he took
the same view of the case as held
by Semple. The reprieye was then
granted. After Dec. 49,, the day on
which Lambert was to have been ex-
ecuted. had passed, Lawyer Semple
took the opposite ground. that convic-
ton did not date from sentence, but
from the time of rendering Of verdict;
as the date set for the execution had
passed, Lambert was legally dead. He
exhausted every means provided in
New Jersey to save bis client on the
aechnicality, fortnight ago, and then
appealed to the federal courts. raising
the same point which had been dis
missed in the New Jersey courts. file
went before Judge Dallas in Phila-
delphia yesterday. but was refused the
application for writ. He next went to
Washington and called on Justice
Shiras. Of the supreme court. He was
referred back to Judge Dallas. He re-
manned In Washington, however, and
shortly before IL O'Clock succeeded in
having the stay granted. He took
midnight train and reached here early
this morning. but did not serve the writ
Oh the sheriff until $50 this morning.