The record-union., 1898-01-04
WANTS DURRAHT EXECUTED.
A SAN FRANCISCAN'S LETTER
TO THE GOVERNOR.
Unlike All the Others Who Have
Written, He Wants the
Prisoner Hanged.

SpirltualistS, theosophiSts and others
continue to flood the Governors office
with petitions, entreating, demanding
ana ordering Governor Budd TO com
mute the sentence of murderer Durrant
and but for the fact that Miss Todman
the Executive Secretary. carefully files
all such communications away where
they cannot be found by the Governor
probably saves him considerable worry
Of. the vast majority of law-abidine
people in the State who believe that the
sentence of death ought to be carried
out, none had written to the Governor
petitioning that the sente nee be execut ed
up to the 1st day of January. 1898. on
that date, however, NJ. c. Baker of San
Francisco picked up his pen and indicted
q letter to Governor Budd. petitionins
| him TO refrain from interfering with
the execution of the sentence. The let
| ter. which is unique because it stands
alone, is as follows:
San Francisco, January, /, 1898.
Hon. James Budd, Governor State OF
| California-Dear Sir: Expressions OF
embarrassment because of lack OF
moral support in resisting the tremen-
dous force of personal, official and petit
tional influence in behalf of noted Grim
inals applying for executive clemency,
/ certainly have.
Yet there seems to be a certain fe-
rocity and gratuity in a petition TO en-
force the law which you and we have
made, and a wholesome fear Of which
affords you and US whatever measure of
protection we have. The law is ever be-
fore you as our petition and demand.
After ages of experience it is to you an
expression of the abiding conviction of
the people you represent.
''Theosophists may differ, others, too!
They represent an infinitesimal portion
Of our State, or moral, religious or other
wise cultured community. The argu-
ments urged upon you by them are for
voters not executive.
we you especially have to do with,
present conditions as to law, comfort,
safety. / need not remind you of the
general boast that a murderer with in
fiuence, either financial political or
social, cannot be punished. or of the gen.
eral Indifference to the law on this ac-
count. The public has waited long with
more or less patience that the question
in the case of Durrant might be tried out
to the utmost.
1T is waiting still. Practically every
aTtifice is exhausted The executive
alone may prevent the execution of the
law in one of the most heinous cases of
all time. Proofs of guilt are ample, of
innocence nil. Every artitice of law,
perjury. false confession, implication,
accusation, threat, stimulation of inno-
cence, etc, has been exhausted.
NIntT
search for the truth, and are convinced.
True, some are not. Some would not be
under any circumstances, unless, pos
sibly proofs We're enforced by self-inter-
est. The world generally is convinced
and waits with more or less apprehen.
sion the executive action in this case.
The criminal element will be more than
ever rampant and emboldened, and the
just, more fearful and discouraged, If
the execution is delayed. {
'"Tis not the wish for vengeance that
impels me to write this, but sense of
increasing peril, and desire that the
execution of the law shall be a peril
and a terror to evil doors.
with expressions of respect and COM
mendation for the whole course so far
pursued by you, and with the further
hope that you will perseyere to the end,
am very respectfully,
M C. BAKER.
"607 Mission street" 4"