Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-07-30

A representative OF the News VISIT
ed the State prison yesterday and
through the courtesy of Warden Dow,
was permitted to see Abe Majors who
is TO be shot on Friday. August IT, for
the killing Of Captain Brown. The prs-
oner is a tail. well proportioned young
fellow. and DE walks with the ease
and grace OF an athlete. He has a
very pleasant and intelligent face. es-
pecially when smiling and would be
the last person IN the world one would
suspect Of being a murderer His eyes
are large and Of a steel-gray color
When talking he looks directly at
person with a sort OF a wild stare
Ordinarily Doe disliles TO talk 10 ans
one about his case and Is said TO have
an aversion TO newspaper men, claim
ing that they are largely responsible
for the present condition of things. He
has not read any Of the Utah news
papers and having been assured that so
far as the News was concerned he
would be treated with all Fairness, he
consented TO make a statement He
was dressed in a rather old checked
black and white suit Of clothes, and
wore light-colored negligee shirt with
collar attached and a black bow te
He walked hurriedly from his cell along
the corridor 20 the reception room and
advanced towards the reporter with an
outstretched hand and a broad smile
on his face. After shaking hands Ma
jors and the reporter took chairs along
side Of each other In a low tone of
voice he enqulred. what can do for
you slr?'
"Nir Majors" said the reporter 81
suppose you have learned that the board
Of pardons at its meeting Saturday. re-
fused to commute your sentence
eyes. ! learned Il from Warden Dow
on Saturday evening" replied the prls-
oner.
Have you any statement to make TO
the readers OF the News? the reporter
next enquired.
"I don't know that have anything
particular TO say at this time" said
Majors. "I don't know that It would do
me any good OF course It's a little
tough for young fellow Ike me 10 be
placed in this kind Of position, but 1
sim have hope that the death sentence
win not be carried out intend TO take
my case TO the Supreme Court Of the
United States, whore they tell me l
shall get Justice / am told that only
cases involving a federal question can
be appealed 20 the higher court That
kind OF q question has arisen in my
case for the reason that ! was pracu-
cally convicted by eleven jurors. one be-
ing disqualified on account OF a state
ment he had made concerning me be-
fore my trial began when the Constltu-
ton distinctly provides that IN murder
cases the twelve shall be a unit Il Is
useless for Mr.. Fosgren 20 deny his pre-
judice towards me, for there are a num-
Der Of reputable people who are just as
anxious as be TO see the guilty pun
lshed. who swear that they heard him
say before the trial that / ought 20 be
hanged. or words to that effect. DO you
think Il fair that / should be executed
because a man feeling as he ala found
me guilty?
"No. SIR" the condemned youth went
on. Il don't consider have had a square
deal. was never given an opportunity
TO defend myself or make any kind
Of a statement that would have judicial
weight with the jury or anyone else
Had ! been given new trial I would
have taken the witness stand and made
a statement In my own behalf have
no hesitancy in saying that most OF the
testimony used against me was perjury;
yes every word OF Il was perjury. Had
/ been given an opportunity / would
have proved my innocence 10 the mind
OF any intelligent person
Speaking OF the action OF the board OF
pardons Majors said; MY firm con-
vlction Is thar the members denied my
petition because Of my alleged bad rec
ord In the past Mr.. Allison presumed
that the reports affecting nay character