The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-10
MURPHY is RESPITED.
HIS EXECUTION POSTPONED FOR
GOOD REASONS.

"A lawyer Gays ho Can Irouuce EVldenc0
in Murphy's Favor-Murphy Tells the
Governor He Has Confession to Mako,
but Fails To Do 80.
COLUMBIA, March 4.-Tuesday after
noon, when Governor Ellerbee told
the Register reporter that he would
not interfere in behalf of Murphy, the
condemned murderer of Treasurer
Copes OF Orangeburg county, he add
ed: "Unless something of which ]
have now no knowledge comes up"
Something has come up, and though
it promises little hope for Murphy, yet
the Governor, in order to give the
prisoner every possible chance for his
life, has granted him a respite for
twenty days, and so wired the Sheriff
of Orangeburg county last night.
1t seems that the Governor some
time ago asked for the court records
OF the Murphy trial. Murphy's friends
could not raise the money to have
them copied and sent to the Governor
and this record, therefore, has never
been laid before him.
Murphy has brother in Augusta,
on the police force of that city. He is
said to be good fellow, and has sue.
ceeded in interesting Attorney Carroll
of Augusta in the prisoners behalf.
Yesterday Governor Ellerbe received
word from Mr.. Carroll that if the
Governor would grant a respite he
would have the court records copied
at his own expense, and would also.
send an additional matter that might
give a new complexion to the case. 81
Though the probability is exceeding
ly small that anything can be brought
forward in Murphy's favor at this late
day, yet the Governor, actuated by
humane motives, acceded to Mr.. Car
rolls request and the condemned man
is thus given single straw to clutch
at in what was supposed to be the last
hours of his mortal existence.
But though there is a bare possibili-
ty that Murphy's friends may succeed
in saving him, the man himself has
seemingly done everything in his
power to ALLEVIATE sympathy. -
Yesterday he sent word to Governor
Ellerbe that he had a confession to-
make. This was about 5 o'clock. The
Governor was waiting for the supply
bill to be sent down for his signature,
but he put everything aside when
Murphy's request reached him, and
accompanied by Senator Connor Of
Orangeburg, an intimate friend OF the,
late Treasurer Copes, and by the Reg
ister reporter, he entered his carriage,
which was standing atthe State House
door, and drove rapidly over to the
Penitentiary. 1t was the second time.
in four Gays that the Governor had
gone to visit this convicted felon.
Arrived at the Penitentiary, Murphy
was led into Captain Westfeld's priS
vate Office. The Governor entered the,
room, the door was closed behind him,
and Murphy and the man in whose
hands his life lay were alone together.
Fifteen minutes later a telephone
message was received that the General
Assembly was only awaiting the Gov
ernor's presence at the State House TO.
adjourn. Five minutes after this
Governor Ellerbe came out from
Captain Westfeld's Office. His nom
committal countenance betrayed noth-
ing of his interview with the prisoner.
He entered his carriage and was
driven rapidly back to the Capitol.
On the way the Register reporter ask
ed if Murphy had made confession.
'No," said the Governor. "He not
only did not make a confession, but
denied that he had sent for me. The
man is evidently under the impression
that he Is going to be pardoned."
''Did you tell Murphy, Governor,
that you were going to grant him 9
respitea"
''No," was the reply. Then he ad-,
ded, II said I was not going to inter.
fere and that I don't want it to be;
thought that I am vaciIlating in this
matter. I think it only right that 1
should grant respite under the CIR
cumstances, as Mr.. Carroll has laid
them before me. 1t is only fair. Ii
Murphy is innocent he will be par
doned ; if he is guilty he ought to
hang"
If Murphy had deliberately planned
to injure his cause he could not have
adopted more successful means than
those he employed yesterday-first TO
send for the Governor saying he had
confession to make, then to deny
both propositions, and cause the chief
executive of the State to undertake Q
bootless errand when other demands
upon his time were urgent.
1t was the most preposterous piece
of folly of which the condemned man
has yet been guilty. Unless MIR. Gar
roll, of Augusta, can produce unex-
pected evidence in the prisoners be.
half, Murphy will undoubtedly swing
on the 26tn of March Register.