The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-02-18
REID DOOMED.
Court Of Pardons Refuses to
Commute the Sentence Of
Henry's Murderer.

The Court of Pardons met this morning
in Chancery Chambers, and the principal
case considered was an appeal for Glenn
ency for William Reid, who is sentenced
to be hanged next Thursday morning, IN
the County Jail, for the murder OF An-
drew Henry, in Hoboken, on the night OF
May IA, 1898.
President at the meeting this morning
were:-Goyernor Foster M. voorhees,,
Chancellor McGiil, Lay Judges Krueger,
Adams, Vfedenburgh, Hendrickson.
Bogart and Barkalow, Secretary OF state
G. Wurts and Assistant Clerk E. Fox
To resist the appeal Prosecutor Jas. j.
Erwin was present and on behalf of the
murdered were ex-Judge William Norman
and Counselor w. H. Speer.
| The story of the crime is as follows
ANDY Henry, member OF the Dem
ocratic County Committee, and OF the
we'll known Bachelor Club of Hoboken, on
Saturday, May IA, 1898, left his home, No.
80 Willow avenue, to attend a meeting Oh
| the Bachelor Club, at j. z. Woltmann
hall, No. 1858 Newark street. Henry went
| to the hail. and met Allison Mather'
| well known real estate dealer The Two
| conversed at the bar for some minutes.
While they were talking, William REID,
who is also member of the club, entered
the saloon, and, walking up to Henry said
| that he would like to talk to him privately
on the sidewalk.
"Well. Billie, what can I do for your
asked Henry, pleasantly, as the pair
reached the sidewalk.
These were the last words Henry ut
tered. He had scarcely spoken when
Reid pulled a thirty-two calibre revol-
yer from his pocket and fired two shots.
Both shots entered Henry's stomach and,
with a groan, he sank to the sidewalk.
/ He recovered. however, and ran back into
| the saloon. with blood stained hands
clasped to his side. When he reached the
end of the bar he sank to the floor
Reid, who seemed possessed of de-
mon with a smoking revolver, swept
aside those who had gathered, and be
! fore his intention could be OWNED ne
fired two more bullets into his prostrate
victim. Both balls entered the brain, and
death followed instantaneously.
1t required the efforts of half dozen
/ policemen to prevent the crowd which
/ had gathered from lynching Reid, be-
cause his victim was very popular man.
Reid was locked up promptly indicted
/ put on trial and convicted of murder in
| the first degree. Justice Lippincott i'm
posed the death sentence which was
ordered to be carried out next Thursday
i morning.
Counsers appeal this morning was thal
! Reid was degenerate and consequently
not responsible for his act. There was
| not enough, in the case, argued Mr.. Hon-
man, for an appeal to the Court oi
Errors and Appeals, but there was
abundance of reason why the Board OF
Pardons, specially constituted to give re-
/ lief in these cases, should act. Coun
sci asked that the sentence be commuteo
to Imprisonment for life.
Judge Hoffman's argument lasted from
eleven to one o'clock
Prosecutor James p Erwin, on behalf
of the State, contended that Reid's crime
was deliberate and premeditated. Whilst
it is true he simulated insanity. during
the progress of the trial, medical testi-
| mony was to the effect that competent
physicians had examined him and pro-
nounced him sane.
The court then took a recess for lunch
con and is now considering it's decision.
The Court after long deliberation, re
i fused to commute the sentence. One Ia,
Judge voted for Communication to impris
| onment for life.