Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1896-11-19
KENT WILL NOT HANG.
Governor AlIin Accedes to the
Request of Judge McCon-
nell in the Kent Case.
And Commutes the Sentence
to Imprisonment for Life
at Bismarck.
The Prisoner Says hess essAlWays
Expected This Would
be the Result.


be the Result.
B1sMA1cx, Nov. l8. Especial l)-The
arguments before Governor Allin were
not concluded until S p. m. aud st
about z O'Clock last night Governor
Allin sent for the deputy secretary Of
state to attest his order committing
Kents sentence to life imprisonment.
The official order to Sheriff Barnes 10 a.
follows:
"Whereas, William Wiley Pancoast,
informed against 90 Myron r. Kent. was
on tho sixth day Of August, 1896, con-
voted OF the crime OF murder in the first
degree, committed on the thirteenth day
of March, 1894, near the city Of Mandap.
in the county Of Morton, state of North
Dakota, and was therefore sentenced by
the Hon. VIM. B. Mcconnell, in the dis
trict court of Cass in the Third judicial
district to suffer the extreme penalty of
death by hanging, and the date Of the
execution of the said sentence:being final
ly fixed for the twelfth day OF November,
1896, which execution was by me on the
11th day of November, 1896, stayed by
granting to the SAID William Wiley Pan
oast reprieve until the 18th day Of
November, 1896. and
Whereas, there has personally ap.
peared before me tho Hon. VIM. B. Nc
Connell, Judge Of the Third Judicial dis
trict, before whom the said William
Wiley Pancosst was sentenced, and
asked for Communication Of the sentence
Of death by hanging, to imprisonment in
the North Dakota penitentsry for the
period Of bis natural life, and
Whsreas, it u stated BY the Hon. VIM
B. Mcconnell that bis reasons for asking
for the Communication Of the sentence
pronounced upon the said Pancosst in
brief are 40 follows, to-wit: That exhibit
G, known 90 the black book, could be so
minutely and accurately prepared before
the homicide seems lncredible; that the
absence from the trial of persons who
had been instrumental in obtaining the
confession from Swidensky. and they
not being called to testify has been by
him construed as favorable to the SAID
William Wiley Pancoast; that the motive
for the homicide was not clear; that the
publicity given to the case by reason Of
the first trial operated against the de-
fendsnt, aud that certain things occur
ring during the trial were prejudioisl to
the defendant, and
Whereas, a. the Hon. Wm. B. McCon-
nell presided at the trial at which the
said William Wiley Psnooast was con-
voted and had opportunity for knowing,
Judging and determining these state
ments above set forth, now
Therefore, I, Roger Allin, governor of
the state Of North Dakota, by virtue of
the authority and power in ne vested by
the constitution and laws of the state OF
North Dakota, do by these presents CON-
mute the sentence OF death by hanging,
pronounced upon the said William
Wiley Psucoast, and of which he stands
reprieved until the nlnteenth day of No.
vember, 1896, to imprisonment in the
North Dakota penitentiary for the term
Of his natural life, at hard labor, for the
reason above set forth and do direct you,
o. &. Barnes, sheriff of the county of
Cass, state of NORTH Dakota, charged
with the execution OF the sentence of the
court to deliver the said William Wiley
Pancoast to the authorities OF the North
Dakota penitentiary to be by them held
and restrained Of his liberty during the
period of his natural life, and agreeably
to the provisions of law in such cases
made and provided and such imprison-
ment shall be in lieu of any sentence
heretofore pronounced upon the said
William Wiley Pancoast, and further
upon the presentation OF this order
which have executed in duplicate The
OF the North Dakota penten-
tiary will receive the SAID William Wiley
Pancoast agreeably to the terms of this
order.''
Gov. Allin was seen at his residence
and said the commutation was based al.
together upon the statements presented,
reasons set forth and the request made
nv William B. McConneli. tha nresidino
district judge at the trial of Kent.
This case is one OF the most remarka-
BILE in :oriminal annals. 1t was tried
first in Mandan and a verdict Of guilty
found and sentence Of death imposed.
1t was taken to the supreme court and
new trial ordered. It was tried again
at Fargo and the same judgment rem
dered; again taken to the supreme court,
sentence was affirmed. On October Sth,