The Washington times., 1895-06-28
EFFORTS TO SAVE TAYLOR
Petitions for Olemency in Demand
Among East Washington Citizens.
Dyer Clarkson's Affidavit Shows That
Taylor Did Not Premeditate the
kflling-Dr. RamsdcIi's Plea.

Il must get some more OF the petitions"
said Mr.. j. w Babson president of the East
Washington Citizens Association, two days
ago. He was speaking of the effort to save
| Thomas j. Taylorfrom the gallo VS. for kill
ing his wife last September. Taylor makes
oalh thaG he found her in her room with
another man under circumstances that left
| no doubt of her infidelity.
The people of East Washington" Mr.
BaDSon, continued, ARE very earnest in
theirdeSire thatso severe a punishment shall
not DC visited upon this man Tiey are
aSkinS me Tor the petitions and ] want 10
have some ready when called for. The
matter VIII be called up at the meeting OF
the East Washington Association Tuesday
night"
| point which Taylor's attorneys, Messrs.
Barrett & Niles, viii try hard to bring out
strongly IN their plea to President Cleveland
is the TACT that there was clearly no malice,
on Taylors part
The affidavit OF Mr.. William E. Clark.
son, the dyer of No. 403 Eleventh street
! southeast, bears strongly upon that point
III mas never 6een published. Mr. Clark
son swears that he net Taylor at the door
few moments before the tragedy. Taylor
was coming in; he was going out. Taylor
said:
II spoke to your wife about giving up
the house and giving up housekeeping
nave changed my mind now. ] viii keep
the house aud furniture and continue TO
HVe with my wife tor the sake of our child
and Of her family and mine"
Then he burst out in agony, NY God,
you don't know how have suffered during
uhe past month. For Gods sake, Clarksnp,
give me some advice or / viii &C mad. y
This fUTt her
mouy that at the moment his Wife defjantly
refused TO give up her lover. he was crazed.
Win shame ana misery over the dis grace
that hdd C me upon him, and, seeing his
pistol, seized il aud tried TO kin himself.
He mas never wavered for moment, so far
as known, from his assertion that he did
not know when the shot was fired that
killed his wife. His only thought was TO
kill himself
MI. Niles has had Photograph taIseH-
oil Iaylor's wounds. and VIII have a care
iul elucidatlon made Of the theory that'ther
Killing may have been the result OF the
accidental rebound OF the bullet that Tay-
lot lircd INTO hls own body. This will be
laid before President Cleveland
letter has been received from nm .erpj.
neht chemist, who says from chemical
examination he has made lie thinks The
patient must he great sufferer from nerv-
Gus exhaustion and EeTvOus debility
lue lOloWIng letter from the pastor of
the church near which Taylor lived was re-
ceived yesterday for transmittal TO Prcsi-
dent Cleveland
North Presbyterian Church.
Washington, d. c., June %. 1895
To the President: l have talked with
Mr.. Taylor at the jaii about religious
matters, and should be glad to learn that
executive clemcncy had been extended in
the Communication of his sentence.
Whilst h,
countahie for his acts, yet his brain does
not work as normally as the brain OF The
average man. l should hardly wish TO
have him set free, lest his mental conceit
might Influence him 10 other nets of vio-
lence. He does not belong to the so-caIled
criminal class and the death penalty
seems very severe for a man of his mental
make up. A lunatic asylum is hardly the
place for him.
Il know little about the legal aspects
of the case, but granting he has committed
the alleged crime, think he should be de-
tained continuously in some penal insti-
tuition. With great respect
"CHAS 3 RANSnFIT