The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-12-14
MAGERS SENTENCED.
He Still Loudly Protests That He
Will Die An Innocent Man.
His Counsel Shows It Was I'm.
possible to Get Fair Trial by
Jury.

At 9 O'Clock Wednesday morning
Judge Burnett sentenced w. G.. Mayors
for the murder Of Ray Sink, to be han
ged on February 2, 1900.
The sentencing Of Mayors was atten-
ded by no excitement nor demonstration
Of any kind, the sentence having been
pronounced and the case finally dis
posed Of before the town was astir. The
court instructed Sheriff Van orsdeH to
bring Mayors into court the first thing
in TIE morning.
When asked II he had anything to say
why sentence should not be pronounced
upon him, Magers arose TO his feet and
IN a clear voice addressed the court as
follows:
"You can pass sentence on me and
take me out and hang me but you hang
an innocent man. ! am innocent OF
taking any mans life"
While accompanying Magers back to
his cell, Sheriff Van Ordsell, said to the
prisoner:
"Magers, you have eXhaused all OF
the legal processes in an effort TO save
your life and there is little probability
that executive clemency will be exer-
ciscd m your behalf advise You to
prepare for eternity"
The convicted murderer who has pre-
sented his usual nervy and collected
front since the recent decision rendered
by the supreme court was apparently
unconcerned at the remarks OF his
custodian. After brief pause, how
ever, in very cool and deliberate man
ner he replied
"You do not aim to say that on the
second day Of February you will take
me out and murder me, do you2"
81 shall follow out the dictates Of the
law In this matter" said the sheriff
81 am not the Judge and have not any
choice in the matter"
"Well," deliantly retorted the con
demncd man, "my blood will foreve
curse every man who has hand in thi
matter have no preparation 10 make
| am more ready 10 die than most mel
who make confessions. am as mucl
prepared To die today as | will be OF
February ID.
Sheriff Van Orsdell has doubled hi
guards aud will exercise every precau
tion to prevent the possibility Of th
prisoner cheating the gallows. A con
stant watch is being kept over Mager'
a night and n day watch being employed
The men employed in this capacity ar
West Morrison aud John Grant
MAGER's COUNSEL TALKS.
There has been some reports circulate,
quietly to the effect that recent dis
closuresiwould have thrown diiieren
light on some OF the States witnesse
in the case of the State W. Magers.
JouRNAL reporter undertook To trae
them down in the interest Of iairnes
to the State and 10 the defendant
When inquiry was made Of Mayors
counsel, living in Salem, he aDswere,
that he was always opposed 10 news
paper publicity. lie said. "Iou arr
well aware that have accused, in Court
the newspapers with being responsible,
for all the public sentiment which
was worked up against Mayors, and
have deprecated that policy as being un'
wise aud contrary TO our system OF
Jurisprudence. II has u tendency Il
disqualiiy competent jurors, and even
sweryo the Judicial mind lie said
that lac had no doubt the newspapers OF
Salem had been largely instrumental in
adding to the intense notional state
ments OF individuals. Many men have
said; "a believe that he is guilty,
though | know nothing about the testl'
mony.' The testimony was altogether
circumstantial, and the circumstances
were not OF a very convincing nature,
The testimony of the Polk county wit
ness, who they claim saw Magers. aud
Sink driving ON the road at a quarter
past sundown, which was practically
about $3.50 o'clock ON that even
ing did not correspond at all
with the testimony OF MIR,
Keeler aud his nephew who testi-
fled that the team and buggy was not
taken from their stable ON that evening,
by Sink and Magers until half past
z or : O'Clock. This was certainly the
strongest circumstance which the state
relied uron. The witness only got a
glimpse OF the parties he claimed to
identify as they drove rapidly by him in
in the twilight, as he expressed il. They
talk about his riotous living in Portland,
but the state did not prove that he iR-
CURED liabilities during the week that
he was there, beyond sei or Ss5.