The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-08-02

J
titled by Sheriff Hardy, at the instance
OF Governor Wells, that nothing now
remains to him but to prepare himself
to meet his fate. Governor Wells fully
considered all the representations made
to him by Thiede's friends and others
who have interested themselves in the
! condemned murderer's behalf, and yes
terday returned the papers that Thiede
mad presented to him to show that he
was entitled to executive consideration
with note to Sheriff Hardy Directing
him to inform Thiede that he did not
consider the showing that had been
made sufficient to warrant him in
granting the clemency asked for. Sher-
if Hardy decided to wait until this
morning before imparting the informa-
ton, and will then convey the purport
Of the governor S message to the DOOM
ed man. Governor Wells action in
thus directing the sheriff is N line with
the considerate policy he has pursued
al along, the message being prompted
by a desire that Thiede should know
the worst and he the better prepared
for the ordeal.
KEPT UP HIS SPIRITS.
Thiede kept up the good spirits yes
terday that were with him the day be-
fore and laughed and tested with his
keepers, but in a less boisterous way
than on the preceding day. He was in
something more OF a thoughtful mood
and Frequently referred to the eXecu-
ton when in conversation with the
watch but not dispiritedly. He seemed
to realize that he had nothing to hope
for, although he was given no intima-
ton that such was the fact, and in
speaking of the last day, did so appar-
emily without fear or concern, each
time reiterating the assertion that he
would die without (1inching. Several
visitors called at the jail during the
day, but he declined to see anyone,
saying he had nothing to say and
thought their presence would be an
moving to an extent greater than their
expressions of friendship and conf
dence would be consoling. He accord
ingly passed the day in intermittent
attempts to read and in conversation
with the watch.
SHERIFF HARDY WATCHFUL.
Sheriff Hardy is very watchful of his
important charge, and is taking every
precaution to prevent a. miscarriage of
justice by the prisoner taking his own
life. For fear that some friend might
have smuggled in a dose Of poison or
a weapon with which he might do away
with himself when he became convinc-
ed that all hope was gone, the sheriff
ordered that his cell be searched yes
terday. The deputies accordingly went
through the steel compartment from
top to bottom most thoroughly, but
found nothing. They are now under
orders TO be always present when
Thiede has a visitor and see that no
opportunity is allowed for anything to
be passed to him of any kind whatSo-
ever.
HIS BIRTHDAY FRIDAY.
Friday was Thiede's birthday. He
was 81 years old. He celebrated it by
putting aside the worry and anxiety
that has characterized his manner up
to that time, and beginning to get his
mind into a condition to make his exit
from the world with as little regret as
possible. It was the fact that his
birthday fell last Friday that he was
permitted to live out another week, for
ii was Friday that was set by Judge
Hites for the execution and then chang
ed at Thiede's request because it was
his birthday.
THE GOVERNORS KINDNESS.
There are altogether too few men
occupying executive chairs who are
like Utah's chief magistrate, Governor
Wells 1t will indeed be doubtful if
in all the land another governor could
be found who would go to the trouble
that Governor Wells has tc be sure
THAI a man sentenced to be hung mer-
tied his punishment; and governors are
generally good men, too. They, how
ever. very rarely make it a personal
matter to see that a condemned muir
deTer is given every benefit of the
doubt of his guilt before permitting
him to go TO the gallows. considering
that they have discharged their full
duty if they fully consider the appli-
cations for clemency made and pass
upon them with the cold eye Of the
official.
1t has not been that way with Gov
ernor Wells in Thiede's case NotwitFl-
standing that as a member of the board
of pardons, he had reviewed Thiede'S
case in the consideration of his petit
ton for Communication of sentence,
when asked for an interview by the
man whom he had no reason to be-
lieve was anything but the criminal
the courts had declared him. he gra-
ciously consented to go out of his way
to visit Thiede at the jail. No require
ment of duty demanded it. butt he did
and sat for two hours and more listen
ing patiently to Thiede's argument and
statements concerning his property.
He held out no hope to Thiede as the
result of the interview but promised
to look into the disposition that had