Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-18
4 RED HOT ROAST
OF GOVERNOR ATKINSON BY SEM
AToR @. w. osENToN, or
FAYETTE COUNTY,
CAUSED BY WALKER EXECU.
TON.
The Senator Says the Execution
Was Wholly -Unwarranted, Under
Promises Made of n Commmuta-
ton of Sentences, and Uses Very
Strong Language-The Executives
Makes Reply to the Criticism.

Special TO the Register.
CHARLESTON, w. Va, December III
The execution of Frank Walker at the PEN
itentiary last Friday. after Governor At
kinson promised to commute his sentences
to life Imprisonment, has led to an ex-
change of courtesies between the Cover
nor and Senator c. w. osenton OF Fayette
county, which can not be regarded as es-
peciafly affecdonate. Senator osenton said
to the Register to-day.
The action of Gov. Atkinson in falling
to ommus the sentence of Frank Walker.
who was executed last Friday. is simply
inexcusahle. This negro should not have
been hanged, and while / regret TO say 50.
l do say, after considering all the circum-
stances, that had he been a white man, he
would not have been hanged, and Gov
ernor Atkinsonfs action in the matter, in
my Judgment, makes him guilty, under the
moral law, OF the murder of this man; at
least that is the way I would feel were /
in the Governors place. and I win tel
you why: / made application to the Gov
ernor in person for q Communication OF
Walkers sentence to life Imprisonment,
and / read the record of all tho evidence
taken in this case to the Governor on his
request the day that 1 made the appitca-
ton. AT the conclusion OF the reading Of
the record the Governor voluntarily stated
to me, In the presence OF Hon. T.. c. Pier
son, that he agreed with US In our conten-
tion-that there were ~extenuating ctrcum-
stances shown by the evidence In tho case
which warranted a communication OF sem
tence to life imprisonment; that he would
send the record and papers In the case to
the pardon board. and that II they did not
recommend a Communication OF sentence he
would eonmu the sentence OF this man
to life Imprisonment But Notwithstanding
this promise and assurance, Walker was
hanged IL the Governor really believed
land he surely did, for he said sol that this
mar should not be hanged, and then failed
to commute his sentence when It waa hs
duty TO do 50; II he believed what he Baid,
then 1 reiterate that he was guilty OF taxi
ing this mans life. Upon the strength OF
his statement to me as to what he would
do in the premises, l did not so before the
pardon board, as / would otherwise have
done, for i did not think II was necessary.
and having so much faith in the Gov
ernor's assurance in the matter. l notified
Walker, and also his father that his sen~
tence would be COMMITTED as promised. III
the Governor can reconcile his conscseuc0
with his duty and his action In this case,
II Is more than / could do under like cir-
curnstances, for certainly the blood Of this
man is upon his hands.
THE pardon board IN this case. so I am
Informed indirectly. undertakes to criticize
everybody who had anything to do with
this case. from the judge down to those
who fled the application for q ~conznuta-
ton Of sentence. / can not understand
why the board took 80 much pains in their
criticism in their opinion which was not
justified, in my Judgment, unless II was %
silence so much just criticism made 81
this board of late, or to furnish an Item
of news TO the newspapers or both. / am
unable to account for the noise they have
made in this particular case. They vert
u~njustly c~riticise Judge Dunbar. as wei
as those who made application for a com
mutation of the sentence, because they eRs
we asked them to override the action d
the court. Tha would not have beer HARD
for THIS board to have done. had X beer
iAIHAsH1A y y 10 AAfgg AfNFR - RAR@N"N|7t% 49, NV
Hager case from Boone county. TO SAY
the least under tho Grcunstanca@ tbs
hanging Of Walker is a disgrace to the
State
Senator osenton's interview hassng besH
shown Governor Atkinson this afternoon
the Governor said he had believed with
Senators osenton and Pierson, that whlls
Walker was technically guilty Of murdtg
In the frat dcarreo vet there vgera 4alch &c
~tenuatfng circumstances SHOWN In me eaNs
as to Justify mercy in the sentence. Hef
did not believe that Walker would have
killed his personal friend mercy for 4
drink Of wf4skey. but that ne was drunk.
and did not know what he was DONG
However, the Board OF Pardons hid made
a careful examination Of the case ard had
eorne TO the conclusion that the eondesnned
man was not entitled 10 mercy. He re-.
spected the opinion and judgment ok tire
board, and would not override II.