The herald., 1896-06-12
TELEGRAM FROM GOV. BUDD
The Last Hope Shattered aud Craig
Must Die Today
What the Condemned Man Says Of His Trial.
Grounds Upon Which the Last Appli-
cation Was Based

John Craig, ex-policeman and triple
murderer is to be hanged today in the
states prison at San Quentin for the
murder of his wife in this city nearly
two years ago. The details of the
tragedy are still fresh in the minds of
all, and need pot be rehearsed. but Craig
Will die protesting as he has all along
that, no matter what may be said of the
murder of Mr.. and Mrs. Hunter, he is
innocent of any attempt upon the life of
his wife Emily. In the light of this and
of the efforts which have been made to
save his neck from the gallows, it will
not be uninteresting to know the con-
tents of letter which was yesterday
received by his lawyer, George p.
Phibbs, which is probably Craig's last.
Phibbs wrote to Craig on the 4th of
June, telling of an appeal he meant to
make to the governor for a Communication
of sentence from death to life impris-
onment, and stating the grounds on
which he should base his plea. Phibbs
stated that he had lately discovered a
man named Bates, San Francisco COM
mercial traveller, who knew and had met
Dwight Olley, the elusive parsonage
with whom Craig had made arrange
ments to go riding on the date of the
shooting.
cisco some weeks after the tragedy and
talked the affair over with him. Olley
told Bates that he had made arrange
ments to go to Pasadena on the fatal
morning with Craig, and to'spend the
day sight seeing. AS they would prob
ably return late at night he (Olley)
asked Craig to get some weapons for
them to carry for use if necessary. 1t
was for this purpose and in compliance
with Olleys request that Craig had pro-
cured the two revolvers which he after
ward used so fatally on everybody but
himself.
Olley further stated that he was sorry
that he had had to leave for San Fran
cisco that afternoon, instead of taking
the ride as intended, as thereby the
tragedy would probably have been
averted. Phibbs stated that Bates would
testify that Olley remained in San
Francisco about week and then de-
parted for Chicago where he probably
now is. This, in substance, was the
ground of the latest appeal to the gov
ernor for clemency.
Some ten days ago Mr. Phibbs went
to Sacramento in person and had
three hours audience with Governor
Budd, during which he laid this evidence
before him, along with mass OF other
documents upon which he based his
hopes for a Communication OF sentence.
The governor heard him through and
said he would receive anything he had
to offer up to the last moment ana
would give him decision.
All this was told in the letter to Craig,
and In answer Mr. Phibbs yesterday
got one from the prisoner. 1t stated
that he was glad some one had been
found who could testify that obey was
not a myth. as had been claimed at the
trial Craig again protested that his
&c oiU the stand cor
rect and that the truth would come out
some time in relation to what had ooc-
Cured. He does not blame the jury which
convicted him, and says they could not
have done otherwise upon the evidence
which was presented.
He does, however, think there was a
mass of unlawful testimony admitted
which prejudiced his case, and that
Henry T. Gage and Judge Smith knew
it was illegal He is resigned to his fate
but thinks it hard TO be hanged for the
murder of his wife, of which intention he
is innocent. His only regret is that he
must be executed for a crime of which
he is at heart innocent and the stain and
shame of their parent being executed
for wife murder must fall upon his chill
dren, whom he dearly.lov
The evidence admitted upon the trial
in regard to the shooting of the old peo-
pie Craig thinks was unjust and unlaw-
full, and he characterlZeS that trlal as the
most unjust ever held in the United
States and that he is not the only one
who thinks so. Mr.. Phibbs is thanked
for his efforts in his behalf and the letter
closes.
OF course at the time it was written
the prisoner had probably not given up
all hope, but a telegram which was
received late last evening destroyed the
last shred of expectation and sounded
the death krell to John Craig. He Will
now as surely be executed today as that
the sun rose over the eastern hills this
morning. The message was from Cow
ernor Budd signed by his private secre-
tary, and read as follows:
George p. Phibbs, Los Angeles DO
not think your showing sufficient to
justify executive interference. people VS..
Craig. e. d. M'CABE,
Private Secretary"
Thus but a few hours of life remain
to the condemned man who will go to
his grave with the blood Of three vic
tins on his hands, dying as he has lived,
Q,1