The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-11-25
OGuBT AS TO HIS GUILT
GOVERNORS ACTION ENDORSED
BY COUNCIL OF STATE.
HOPES ENTERTAINED FOR HIS PARDON
The Condemned Man Would Have Been IakeT
to Rockingham Tonight Had toe
Governor Not Reprieved
Him..
"The mercy I to others show.
That mercy show to me."

'"The mercy l to others show.
That mercy show to me.
Thanksgiving Day has dawned crisp
and bright. a nations voice is hlteu
in praise and gratitude. Inc sTeets
swarm with people. There are cofdl'si
greetings, merry laughter and nearly
good wishes--Oh the JOY OF living anu
the gladness of a new day.
To no one perhaps is life so sweet or
the sun so bright or the day SO dear as
to the young negro, John Evans, Who
Is in Jail under sentence OF death lor
the rape of young white factory glri
at Rockinghom, October 23rd.
He was to have been hanged to-mor-
row at Rockingham, between the hours
of . and 6 o'clock; but last night the
Governor reprieved him for two months.
Add to this the fact that great num-
ber of people have interested themselves
In his case and hope to later secure a
complete pardon, or, if they cannot prove
his innocence, a communication OF SEN
tence to imprisonment for life, and you
will appreciate the feelings Of hope and
gratitude that must rise up to-day in
the negro's heart.
He has feared death. Ever since his
conviction and sentence he has scarce
iy talked of anything else, always pro-
testing his innocence. During the day he
has walked up and down his cell, nervous
and impatient. At first he talked will
ingly to all who came near. As the day
of his doom crept nearer, though, he be-
came moody and silent, save now and
then few words of prayer as he walk
ed up and down his cell. AT night his
sleep was troubled and ftful.
fr.fr rl,%o n1 oc
one would look who had suddenly fallen
heavily upon a pavement. Day after
day he stood by the cell grating, clutch
ing the cold iron and looking through
the duh windows. But no ray of hope
came from the outside world until We'd
nesday, when his attorneys, Messrs.
Claudius Dockery and ". L. John visit
ed him and told him of the efforts being
made to secure a postponement Of his
execution.
The news excited him. Hope and fear
contended in his duh brain for the mas
terry. He could neither eat nor sleep. Yes
terday's dawn brought no certainty-bGt
the gallows was one day nearer. AS
the day wore on and he learned that his
lawyers had gone and preparations were
being made to take him 10 Rocking
ham, the hope that had burned so fercely
in his breast died out again. The Old
dazed look returned; the gaunt spectre
of the gallows seemed to numb and
deaden him.
1t was O'Clock last night. when he
heard the news. For moment he SEEM
ed not to realize that it could be true.
''Thank the Lord, for I'm an innocent
man." was ell he said; then sat down
upon his cot to think it all over.
There viii be many people who will
this morning read the news Of the re-
prieve with almost as much joy as
Evans heard it last night. Great inter-
est in his case has been aroused all over
the State and there were not few who
feared he might not be the right man.
But this part of the story is told by
Gov. Russell in the following reasons
which he last night assigned for his &C
ton in granting the reprieve:
"This case demands a serious and
thoughtful Investigation. Out of four
other like cases, that occurred in this
State during this year, one of the cul-
prits escaped before arrest, two were
hanged by the courts and one by mob.
In the two convictions, there was no
reasonable doubt of guilt and the prOba-
bilities are that the mob got the right
man. Here comes a case when a friend
less wretch has been put on trial in a
community fevered with excitement and
Indignation justly aroused by the COM
mission of crime for which the perpe-
traitor ought to suffer death. There were
excellent men on the jury; but no jury
can be expected to deliberately and
coolly weigh evidence uninfuenced by the
spirit pervading the community.
ut is possible that jury of like char
Rcter in a different community would
have rendered a different verdict upon
this same evidence, and it remains TO be
seen wether the jurors in this case may
not change their opinion upon maturer
consideration under quieter circum-
stances.
Evidence directly material to the
question OF the prisoners guilt, has been
produced since the trial.
''It is urged that the Identification of
the prisoner was incomplete and un-
satisfactory; that an alibi was COM
pletey proven by witnesses OF both
races and that the admitted facts OF
the case strongly indicated that the
perpetrator OF the crime was familiar
with the habits of the prOsecutrix in
walking along that certain path where,
and at that certain hour when, the
crime was committed: that the prisoner
could not have known these things, be-