Evening star., 1898-09-22
CASE OF JOHN ANDERSON.
Appeal to Higher Court Under Writ
of Habeas Corpus.

| Attorney Hugh @. Miller of Norfolk, Va.
| arrived in the city this morning and is
stopping at the Shoreham. Mr.. Miller is
| here looking after the legal status Of the
habeas corpus proceedings sued out by
himself and Mr.. P. j. Morris, his associate
| in thu case, which saved temporarily the
| life of John Anderson, the Swede. who was
| convicted Of the murder Of the captain and
mate of the schooner Olive Pecker. and
| was to have been executed at Norfolk sew
| eraI weeks ago
| notable legal battle. Having been tried be-
| fore Judges Golf and Hughes in the United
states circuit court, sitting at Norfolk, and
afterward heard in the Supreme Court OF
the United States on writ of error with
out avail, it was supposed even by the
ablest lawyers that every possible question
| had been exhausted and that Anderson
must hang on the 26th of August. But On
| the very day set for the execution of the
| doomed man Mr.. Miller and Mr.. Morris,
who had represented the five other mem
] berS OF the crew of the Olive Pecker who
| were not convicted, and who, though denied
| permission by the court to represent Andcr-
| son, had watched his trial closely, stepped
| in, and, by raising a new constitutional
question affecting the whole trial, succefd-
ed in getting stay of execution and an
| other appeal to the highest court in the
| land. This proceeding was as thrilling and
| dramatic, probably, as has attended any
case ever tried in this country, the stay be-
| ing ordered only few moments before the
| drop was to fall.
The Anderson case has awakened nation
| al interest. 1t is unusual in that the man
| charged with the deliberate murder of two
persons on the high seas has the sympathy
| OF every one in Norfolk, where he was
| tried and has been confined since being
| brought to this country on United States
| man-of-war. Every person in the Virginia
| city is anxious to prevent his execution, be
lfeving that he does not deserve the death
| sentence. This is due largely to what has
| been learned by the public since his trial
| of the terrible brutality of the captain of
the Shlp-the man kilied-the general belief
| now being that. driven to frenzy through
fear and excitement amounting to tenn
porary insanity, Anderson killed the mate.
who had told him that he would be killed
anyhow when he appealed to him for pro-
| lection from the captain, and also to the
strong belief that the other five members
| of the crew have been making Anderson a
| ScapeSoat in order to clear themselves.
Nearly all the ministers and influential cit-
zens of Norfolk have interested themselves
| IN the case and are earnest in their efforts
| to prevent the hanging.
Anderson Is slight, delicate man. who
mas the appearance of a gentleman in spite
| OF the rough toggery of the seas. Accord
! Ing to the witnesses who appeared against
| MIN, he killed the two burly officers Of the
| ship, ore right after the other and with
| two cmoking pistols in his hands, showed
| the bodies overheard and set fire to the
| ship. Single-handed he is supposed to have
| done all this, while the crew stood Idly by.
| Mr.. Miller was at the Supreme Court
| clerks s office and the Department of Jus
tlce today comforting with Attorney Cen
eral Griggs, perfecting Anderson's appeal
and getting the case on the Supreme Court
docket.
| So great is the sympathy for Anderson
that / large popular subscription has been
secured for his defense.