The morning times., 1895-07-24
TANOR'S LIFE is SAVED
Death Sentence COMMITTED to
Imprisonment for Life.
TIMES WORK BORE FRUIT
He Could Not at First Believe the JOY
ous News, Then Fell Upon His Knees
and Prayed SiIentIy-A ffecting
Meeting with His Sister and Little
Daug Were Glad.

eager and satisfactory interest yesterday
than The few words on The Times bulletin
announcing that President Cleveland had
commuted the sentence to death of Thomas
j. Taylor TO that of imprisonment for
life.
The Times bulletin was the appropriate
place to read that Information, inasmuch as
The Times had inaugurated the appeal for
clemency in this case. The Citizens
Association of Northea st Washington
pushed the appeal vigorously before the
President, and while all that was ex-
pected has not been obtained there's joyand
satisfaction among Taylor friends through
out the city.
The receipt of the news quite unnamed
theprisoner. Shortly after 10 o clock Mes SIS
Barrett and Niles went to the Executive
Mansion, where the official papers from
the President had Just arrived They
were forwarded to the office of the At
torney General, where Taylors attorneys
went and had copy made of the commuta-
tion.
TELLING ia YLOR THE NEWS.
They then telephoned Warden Seward,
who Immediately went to cell No. 4, and
Informed Taylor of the Presidents action.
Taylor was so surprised, considering the
long delay in receiving an intimation that
the President would act favorably, and
the near approach Of the day on which he
was to be hanged, that he told the warden
that he didn't believe it. When reassured,
however, Taylor turned away and went
down on his knees N prayer.
The news spread rapidly through the
Jail, and there was a general comment OF
congratllatiou among Taylor's fer1ow -pris-
oners.
Among those who We're most deeply in
terested in the news from the President
were Miss Bessie Taylor, the sister, Blanche
Taylor, the daughter, aud Mr. j. Haden :
back, the brother in-law Of the condemned
man. The latter on receiving the news
| Immediately left the city to convey the
| Joyful news to Mr.. Taylor's sister in the
country.
A telegram stating the fact Of the com
! mutation W as sent TO e&-Mayor Downham,
| of Alexandria,, an Intimate friend or
! Taylor.
HIS CHILD in, HIS ARMS.
At half-past O'CLOCK Messrs. Barrett
| and Niles, accompanied by Miss Bessie
Taylor and Blanche Taylor, who is onlS
| five years old, visited the cell. Little
Blanche carried a bouquet OF flowers,
which she gave TO her. father. The scene
was very affecting and pathetic as Taylor
elasped his sister and his little child IN his
! arms.
After these affectionate greetings and
the congratulate ions OF his attorneys,
who read him the words of the Presiden
changing the penalty, Taylor regained
! his cumposure and expressed his gratitude
| to all concerned in his case. No othel
| person was admitted TO see the prisoner
| EXCEPT Mrs. Lucy Davis and Father Nc
nP &
hearing the news, called on the prisoner.
The priest and Taylor prayed together
for few moments, which closed the Incl
dents OF the day in the 1al.
| Later il the afternoon numbers Of persons
| called, but Taylor had expressed a desire
to see no other visitors. Many messages
of good viii and many flowers We're sent
| to the cell
NOT ALL THEY HOPED FOR.
Messrs. Barrett and Niles said last nigh
that they were satisfied with the commu
tarion, although they had hoped for some
thing more They had seen numbers oi
citizens OF Northwest Washington and the!
had all expressed themselves as much re
lieved by the news and thankful that thei
efforts had met with such favorable result
During the day President j. w. Babson
of the Citizens Association; MI NJ.
Weller and Messrs MiChaels and Chappe
!
for the prisoner, called on MessrS. Barret
& Niles at their office, and, as one Of th'
attorneys expressed it, they had gen
eraI ioIlification." The attorneys sait
that they viii endeavor to keep Taylo
here as long as possible in order tha
his friends may have an opportunity t
see him before he is sent to Albany PEN
tentiary, no time Tor tnat haNlhS ye
been fixed.
The note of the President accompanying
the Communication of sentence is as follow:
PRESIDENTS ENDORSEMENT.
: "Sentence commuted to imprisonmen
for life. In disposing of this case l ar
not able to rest my, action upon the ia
too common allegation of insanity, no
upon the theory of accidental or uniuter
tionaI homicide, both OF which pleas hav
been strongly urged on behalf of the col
vict. as well upon his trial as upon hl
application for executive clemency.
This Communication is granted upon IL
ground that in my opinion there has n(
, been presented in the case such distint
) and satisfactory evidence of premeditauc
, as should characterize the crime of mu
der in the first degree and because | thin
it can fairly be assumed that the fac
developed that discovery by the couvl
lust prior to the homicide of the recel
5 aud fragrant infidelity of his wife so a
: feCted him that he TOOK ner lhe III an
slant of blind passion and terrible rage.
This case presents another Illustrate
/ of the adyjsability of the Classification
murder juto degrees in the District Of G
p lumbia, as has been done with good resul
. | in some OF the States. U. Z.
? JUDGE AND PROSECUTORS VIEW
), 1t is now known that District Attorne
l. Bjrnev and Judge Cole endorsed the a
pljcatiou for clemeDcy. Their views in Il
case are substantially reflected in Il
Presidents language. Mr.. Birney believ
t TavIor to be sane, but that there was
f reconciliation as essential to murder.
, The crime therefore, lacked the prin
= essential to what is known as murder
the first degree in some of the States
the Union. where the crime of homici
is graded. Mr.. Birhey further urged IN
TaylOr was not of the criminal class, an
Judge Cole stated that clemency would n
have an evil influence on the Grimm
classes.
The opinion in favor Of Taylor was pu
ushed continuously by The Times, viii
also strongly urged the President to a
in accordance with the sentiment OF t
community and the merits of the case.
Beam is still in the shadow of the gallo'
and wears a brave front. His appetite
good, and he says that he will die bravely
A Woman's View.
Young Lady (out yachting)-What is
ro.t+ar Cant Quarterback?