The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-06
nture to address you in relation to this

venture to address you in relation to this
matter
OF the most respectable citizens of Seattle have
addressed to the citizens of San Francisco and
10 the association which these petitioners rep
resent the most urgent requests to interest
themselves for the sake OF humanity in behalf
OF the said Craemer. Some Of their statements
express an unqualified conviction in his inno-
cence. As to such statements, these petitioners
do not assume TO form any opinion or belief
But every one of these informants has
given these petitioners the most solemn as
snrance that the condemned man has not had
a fair trial for his life This assurance is
borne out by facts which appear to be in
capable of contradiction. Within three weeks
after the commission of the murder Craemer
was tried and condemned TO death.
request to the trial court for a continu-
ance to enable the accused to prove that he
was not at Seattle at the time of the commits
ers submit that such speed in trying and con-
yict1ng person charged with capital crime
violates the spirit of our institutions.
only lately the Supreme Court of this State
In the case of "Fredericks," who commf tied
murder in open daylight, expressed its decided
dlsapprobntion OF the short time allowed TO
The court said, Gin view of the enormity OF the
charge against him in view of the public clnmor
that was pursuing him; in view of his own
poverty and friendlessness the State could well
have afforded to concede him such continu-
ance, in order that he might have full opportu-
nifty TO make his defense, however weak II may
nave Dccn Wlen made. Inc Slelc WOulu nave
lost nothing by such a course and justice would
have been done just the same. While the
State should administer justice TO law-oreakers
with no laggard hand, yet at the instance OF
public elamor or other causes, 1t ie beneath Its
dignity to act with unseeInly hast"
Craemer had no means to employ an attor-
ney, and it appears to be admitted on every
side that the attorney appointed for him by
the court was entirely incompetent to conduct
q criminal case OF such importance. Your pc
titioners have been informed that the Judge
stated as reason for the appointment that the
attorney and the accused were both Dutch,
while the fact is that the attorney Is q Swede
and the accused q German, ignorant OF the
English language, and thatneither understood
the language of the other.
Many other circumstances have been
brought TO the attention of the petitioners,
which strengthen the presumption that the
accused has not had such a trial as is guaran-
teed to every accused by the spirit OF our laws;
but those already set forth seem SUFFICIENT to
justify your petitioners in presenting their
most respectful petition that your Excellency
grant to the condemned a postponement of
the day of execution, SO that in the meantime
reside nts of Seattle, well known to your E1-
celIency for their honor and sense of justice,
may have the opportunity TO lay before you
the proofs that the circumstances surrounding
the trial and conviction of Craemer were not
consist tent with wise and impartial admins
tration of justice.
Dated at san Francisco October 5, 1895.
Signed: German General Benevolent So
ciety. E. c. PRIBER, President.
WIN. HERMANN, Secretary.