El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-04-26
MAC STEWART

MAC STEWART
After Four Years Imprisonment He
atLast Knows his Fate.
Mac Stewart, the ex-confederate
veteran who has been confined in q
Mexican Jail four years awaiting final
action on his case by the courts and
governor of chihuahua, has just bad
his sentence commuted to life imprison-
ment, according to dispatches publish
ed In these columns yesterday.
Stewart killed Mexican policeman
at Psrral in 1895 duricg q street ii ght
while the officer was endeavorine to ar
rest him. He always claimed that he
acted in self defense but this plea
awaited him naught and the court in
which he was tried found him guilty of
murder and sentenced him to pay the
death penalty.
From his filthy prison cell Stewart
comrades2 in arms in the southern
states. He had served in the confede-
rate army during the civil war aud
confederate veterans all over the south
interested themselves In his behalf.
The appeals he sent out for aid were
piteous, but many Americans wno
knew the circumstances of the killing
always SdlO Gudt Guc ouOOblQR was uO-
justiiable and that Stewart deserved
no executive clemepcy.
Despite this number OF prominent
eX-cOnfederates went actively to work
to procure his release. Money was
raised and petitions circulated all over
the southern states. Governor Ahu-
mada andJ President Diaz.s we're both
besieged by petitioners and petitions
and SO much outside pressure was
f0
less they conclude to commute Ste
warts sentence and avoid further nag
ging.
A Houston dispatch says: General
G. G. Beavens and A. A. Brinsmade
have just returned from Mexico, where
they went in behalf of Mac Stewart,
the confederate veteran who was under
killing policeman about four years
ago, They visited the cities of Mex
leo and sChihuahua, had interviews
with President Diaz, the secretary of
state and Governor Ahumada of Chi
huahua, and make the following stale
ment of the facts and present condi-
tions for the Information of Mac Stew
arts friends.
''Stewart's was an ugly case from the
start. Three courts have passed upon
it, and all three have confirmed the
death sentence. He might have taken
a further appeal, but his friends be-
lieved that there was no hope in that
direction, d and that it would cn.y
lengthen the term of his confinement.
Under their advice on the 10th il
slant, Stewart accepted the decision,
tion of punishment. ALI talK aoous
applying for pardon to President Diaz
Or TO congress or to the legislature of
was nonsense, because
neither of these have the power to par
on in such cases. That power rest.
only in the governor of Chihuahua, and
that humane and liberal minde officiSl
at once pardoned Stewart ae to the
death penalty and cOmmuted the pur'
nishment to the shortest term of i'm:
prisonment possible under the law, ara
that term will, we believe, be greatly
reduced by good behavior and other:
wise, leaving his case now in as gcoi
condition as his friends could expec;
Gall stories about Stewart being
confined in loathsome dungeon or
being deprived of his rights in the
only do him harm. President Diaz
with Governor Ahumsda IN
favor OF clemency to our unfortunat.,
friend, and letters to President Diaz
and to Governor Ahumada from Gov
ernor Savers and Ex-Governor Hogg of
Texas, Governor Barnes of Oklshoma
General j. B. Gordon, General Fi,z.
hugh Lee, General Joseph Wheeie..
and others had very great weight.
IA great deal now depends on Mac
Stewart himself. If he keeps quiet
and if those who are friendly to him co
not injudiciously interfere, his term Of
will be short. Anything
more now attempted, no matter how
we'll intended, will but injure tn
cause. Everything is in good shspe
and progressing favorably. His case
has been placed by his friends. those
who furnish the sinews of wa, in the
hands of General Beevens and arrapg--
ments have been made by which he
will be kept thoroughly posted a. 20
what further steps. if any, should be
taken.
1--WE were everywhere treated with
the utmost kindness and courtesy by
the Mexican officials, and are vel!
pleased with swhat has been done for
Mac Stewart. Great assistance was
rendered and heartfelt thanks are ten
dered to F. r. McCreery, esq. first
secretary of our legation to Mexico,
and charge during the absence of Gen
eral Clayton, our ambassador, and to
Colonel w. w Mills, our consul at
Chihuahua. These gentlemen were
in their efforts and aided very
in all that was DONE"
Governor Beavens was absent over a
month in this work.
Smallpox At Cruces.
DR.. M. F. Desmarais, formerly