The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-17
WILLARD MOORE
WILL NOT HANG
His Death Sentence Commu-
ted Yesterday,
TO LIFE IN STATE PRISON
HE WAS TO HAVE BEEN HUNG
MARCH BOTH.
C0NVlcTtDATLASr TERM OF WAKE COURT
For the Killing Of a Penitentiary Guard Named
Shaw. The Judge, Solicitor Jury and
Others Join in Prayer for Com
mutation of Sentence.

Willard +. Moore, who was convicted
at the last term of Wake court and sen.
fenced to be hanged on March seth, was
a happy man yesterday afternoon. His
death sentence was committed by the
Governor to life Imprisonment in Ike
State prison
The good news was carried to him by
Mr.. II. \. Simms, one of his attorneys.
A reporter of the News and Observer
was present VIXEN Moore WIS Informed
of the good news. He approached the
grating of the cell when the small party
stopped in front of his iron cage on the
upper tier of the jail, and it seemed as
if he read the good news in his at
torney's face before the welcome news
was spoken as subdued smile appeared
on his face as he approached and which
deepened as the combination of his
sentence was made knowh. His eyes
frightened AMI CLEANED. showing the
pleasure which this spark of hope had
kindled in has breast. otherwise there
was no demonstration nf what was GO
ing on within his bosom. Moore is a
thick-set man Of middle age, and does
not appear to ne Il man of many words.
He seemed o be rather ut loss fer a
few moments . express his feelings in
words.
One of his first thoughts was for his
debt of gratitude to his attorneys,
Messrs. Robt. n. Simms and w. b.
Snow, who so ably defended him when
on trial, and who have been active to Sc
cure the communication of his sentence.
He said, addressing Mr. Simms: Il am
sorry that / have no money to pay you
for the great service you have rendered
me-"
Then addressing the reporter, he said:
Il want to thank the Judge the solicitor
and all the kind friends who have APP
pealed to the Governor, in my behalf, and
to the Governor for what he has done
for me. / also want to thank the News
and Observer for its, kind expression on
the severity, of my sentence after my
conviction" Y
Il have" he said, 'fan old mother at
home in Robson county. who is so
years of age. and little daughter there,
too, and when | attempted TO escape it
was to see those two who are so dear to
me. 1t was for them | risked my life. +"
Il want to thank the sheriff, his depu-
ties and the jailer for their kind treat
ment of me while / have been in Jail.
He also said that he had been well
treated when at the penitentiary before
and believed that they will treat him
all right again.
At his request he was not taken to the
penitentiary yesterday, but will be taken
out there to-day.
The Governor gave the following rea-
sons for committing the sentence of
Moore:
First. That the Staying was done
without malice.
Second. The judge who tried him, the
solicitor who prosecuted him, and the
jury which convicted him entered in a
prayer for mercy.
Third. A petition signed by large
number of the members of the Raleigh
BAR the officers of the court, and Il
number of leading citizens.
The mitigating circumstances that
Moore believed that he ought to have
been a free man when he attempted to
make his escape, perhaps had also some
thing to do with the clemency extended.
Moore is a noted horse-trader from
Robson county, and was convicted at
the last term of Wake Superior court
for the killing of a penitentiary guard
named Shaw The killing was done in
Wake county a few miles from this city
Moore and other convicts were doing
grading on the John Mills railroad when
he attempted to make his escape. He
left the camp at night, taking with him a
gun. His escape was discovered and
the guards pursued him with blood
hounds. He was overtaken in a swamp
and when driven to bay he killed Shaw,
one of the guards, in pusut. He claims
that he did this fearing his own life at
the hands of Shaw. He then ran but
fell over a log and broke his gun. He
then surrendered to the other guards
who were in pursuit of him.
CsnN-TDIpIyrPIONS FOR THE POOR