The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1900-01-19
CLIFFORD'S END.
Murderer Of w. G.. Watson
to Expiate His Crime
On February 9.
FOURTH Time SENTENCED
Warrdn Dixon Applies for
Writ of Certiorari and
He Will Be Heard
Tuesday.
FOURTH TIME SENTENCED

! For the fourth time day was fixed by
| the Oyer and Terminer Court this morn
| ing for the execution of Edward clifford,
for the murder of William G. Watson,
superintendent of the West Shore Rail-
road, in the superintendent's office at
| Weehawken. on March 5, 1886. Unless
some more legal obstructions can be in
| terposed Clifford will be hanged between
| the hours of ten A. M. and three p M. on
Friday. February 9.
| Clifford was brought into court about
| 10:30 "A. M. in company with jeremiah
| Roach, who was to be sentenced for the
murder of his wife, and Frank Burke, who
killed William J. Coffey, and who was to be
sentenced for manslaugnter, the crime of
which the jury convicted him. 1t was
understood that James Il. Brown, who
killed Policeman Charles Gebhardt IN Ho-
boken, was to be sentenced also, but ow-
| ing to the absence of Congressman Daily,
his counsel, sentence was postponed until
tomorrow. The court room was very we'll
filled and every eye was turned on the
ithree prisoners as they walked up the
middle aisle. escorted by Sheriff Ruempler
and his deputies. Clifford led the pro-
| cession, walking up the aisle with the
shufflfng gait and spreading of the feet
which the experts declared clearly indi-
Gated insanity. He wore his soft felt hat
and did not remove it until a constable
spoke to him after he had taken his seat
in the front bench next to the railing.
| Clifford sat in the end seat and Burke
and Roach were obliged to climb over his
feet to get to their places. Cliffords eyes
wandered aimlessly in every direction ex-
cept toward the bench, where Justice Lip
pincott and Judge Blair were seated.
| Most of the time his eyes were cast to-
ward the ceiling and he seemed to be en-
| tirely oblivious of the fact that every
| body in the court room was observing
him. Counsel for the prisoners were in
court, Warren Dixon representing Clifford
| Otto Grouse representing Roach, and ex-
! Judge Hoffman, Burke. Mr. Grouse spoke
privately to the Court and few minutes
afterward Roach was removed from the
| court room. He had a white bandage
around his head and covering one of his
| eyes. Mr.. Grouse explained afteIward that
| as Roach was tried and convicted with
only one Judge, Blair, on the bench, it
was only proper that he should be SEN
| fenced by the Judge who presided instead
of by the full court. He will be sentenced
on Monday.
| The case of Burke was taken up first.
Justice Lppincott announced that there
were some matters to be disposed of in
1 the Oyer and Terminer Court and asked
Prosecutor Erwin if he had any motion to
make. Mr. Erwin moved that sentence be
| imposed on Frank Burke, who had been
convicted of manslaughter. Burke was di-
rected to stand up.
IN your case, Burke said Justice LIZ
pincott, the Court feels that the jury felt
justified in finding a verdict of man
slaughter. They considered that the
proper verdict. The Court has nothing 10
say except the circums tances of the case
seem to warrant the exercise of some
/ clemency. At the same time a consider
/ able degree of punishment must necessar-
| ily be affixed to the killing of a human
| being. The sentence of the law is that
| you be confined in the State Prison for a
period of six years and thence until the
costs are paid. The prisoner may pe re-
manded.',
Burke was evidently satisfied with the
sentence and looked pleased as a consta-
BILE escorted him back to the County Jail.
HAS the Prosecutor any motion to
asked Justice Lippincott
May it please the Court replied Mr..
Erwin, 81 have received from the Clerk
| of the United States Circuit Court copy
Of the mandate of the United State Su-
preme Court in the habeas corpus pro-
ceedings brought in behalf of Clifford. The
mandate directs that the order heretofore
made be vacated. ask leave to file the
| ole hi. u
move that some day be fixed for the
execution of the judgment passed upon
| Clifford, which has heretofore been un-
satisfied
"The ppaers may be filed,o said Justice
Lippincott, ''and Clifford may stand up
Clifford seemingly had not heard JUS
/ tice Lippincott remark for he remained
seated with his eyes fixed on vacancy.
| Finally a Constable nudged him and he
stood up with his head turned to the
/ left.
"In the case of the State against Cliff
/ ford,'' said Justice Lippincott, .sthe- re-
mittitur and papers have been filed and
it now becomes the duty of the court to
! fix new day for the execution of the
4 Judgment. Have you anything to say,
either yourself or by counsel, why day
should not be fxed?''
81 desire to say few words said Mr.
Dixon, land present two reasons why
sentence of death should not be passed
upon this defendant. The first reason is
| this: I have felt and Isfeel now that the
verdict should not and would not have
4 been murder of the first degree, and +
! would like to move for a new trial. Cliff
| ford was insane and is insane now. If
i the evidence of his insanity had been
! produced at his trial the verdict would
not have been murder in the first de-
gree. AS it was there was recommen-
dation to mercy showing that the jury
! did not believe him guilty of crime
for which the penalty is death.
| MY second reason is that the sworn
| testimony of fourteen reputable physi-
/ clans given at the subsequent insanity
proceedings. and contradicted by only
two, one of whom did not claim to be an
expert proved that he is now insane
| and should not be hanged 1t is against
| the policy of the law to hang an insane
man. If Clifford is insane he ought not
/ to be executed. I know the Court has
| passed upon this question. but + think it
should be taken into consideration.E
Justice Lippincott said that rhe ob3ec-
tions raised by counsel had already been