The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1900-02-09
WILMINGTON, AWARE FRIDAY, FEBRUARY $. 1900
RESPITED A
FOURTH TIME.

For the fourth time Edward Cliff.
ford has escaped the gallows. All
was in readiness for his execution
to-day IN Jersey City Tor the murder
OF William G.. Watson tour years
agoin Weehawken
Hangman James Van Hlse, with
the galows in his wagon, was just
driving up TO the door of the Jersey
City Jail, when telegram came to
the Sheriff, informing him that
United States Supreme Court Justice
Gray had granted another stay.
1t was the friendship of Martin
Fion, Wcehawken, N. j., saloon
keeper, that saved Clifford this
time. Clifford, III his prosperous
detective days, had shown many
little kindnesses to Filon which
were never forgotten. Late on
Wednesday atternon Filon called
on Lawyers Charles ]. Peshall and
James Furey, and offered them $500
il they could succeed in obtaining
another stay in the execution ol his
old friend.
"That's all the cash have in the
world,' Filon told the lawyers.
but il money is all that IS needed
to save Ed. Clitford's lite, | will
mortgage my house. -
With l'llon S money as a retain
ing fee, MIR. Peshall and Mr.. Furey
started quietly yesterday morning
for Washington. where they intcn-
ded to make their appeal to Supreme
Court Justice Shlras. Finding he
had left Washington, the two law
yers took the first train to Whining
ton, arriving here late in the after
noon. They went to the residence
of Justice Gray, to whom they made
a plea for a stay Of Clitford's exc
cution.
They told Justice Gray that their
client was now insane, and present
ed at1idavits IRON experts 10 prove
their assertion. They contended
that the hanging Of an insane man
is in violation OF the eighth amend
ment to the Constitution OF the Uni
ted States.
The Justice refused the request
for a writ OF habeas corpus, but
telegraphed Sheriff Rumpler, of
Jersey City, that he had gaanted
an appeal. An appeal was the
only means by which Il stay could
be obtained.
Charles J. Peshali appeared at
the county jail at Jersey City last
night with typewriter copy OF
what he said was Judge Gray $ Or
der granting a stay IN Clifford s
case. 1t was not signed by Judge
Gray, nor certified by the clerk nor
had it the seal OF the State attach.
ed.
Sheriff Rumpler refused to re-
ceive it. but he went with Lawyer
Pesall to Judge Lippincott's house.
When Judge Lipplncott saw the
paper he refused to give any ad-
vice on the subject, saying it was a
United States court matter and out
of his jurisdiction. Peshall then
went, saying he would go to Tren-
ton at once and secure the certltica-
ton of the Clerk Of the court. lie
had not returned at midnight
Clifford was a detective in the
employ of the West Shore Railroad
yards at Wechawken. He gained
an almost national reputation for
cleverness by his arrest OF Perry,
the train robber, who escaped from
Matteawan Asylum. But the praise
and prosperity which followed, were
more than Clifford could stand. lie
took to drinking, and Oh March g,
1896, was discharged by W. G.
Watson, division superintendent
Of the road. Clifford, for revenge,
shot Watson as he was sitting at
his desk. Watson died Of his
wounds in Roosevelt Hospital.
In June Of the same year Clifford
was sentenced to be hung by the
Court of Oyer and Termincr i'll Jer-
sey City. A legal quarrel over the
Jury in the case resulted in a new
TRIAL ludl dllll lHCu kAS PiSNlouo
Judgment.
Then an appeal was taken and
the higher State Court decided that
Clifford must be hanged.
An attempt to have the Supreme
Court OF New Jersey amcndthe rec
ord resulted in prclonging the prs-
oncr's life until February 1898.
Meanwhile Clifford had developed
symptoms of insanity in his cell IN
Hudson County jail, and on con-
stitutional technicality, the case
was transferred to the Federal
courts.
For the third time he was sen-
fenced 10 death last June.
Long habeas corpus proceedings
ended in December i'll fourth death
sentence fixing the date OF execu-
ton for to-day.
Justice Gray's telegram has given
Clifford an indefinite ly long lease
,l I.t,