The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-07
FUNK'S FATHER DEsPAIRS.
Has Small Hope of Saving His Sons
Lie,


The fate Of Frank Funk. convicted of
murder and sentenced to be hanged on
Friday, will doubtless be settled by Presi-
dent Mckinley Immediately on his return
from Canton tomorrow morning The ap-
peal of the convicted man for a commu-
tation of his sentence to life imprison-
ment is now IN the hands Of Acting At
torney General Richards. That officer IS
going over the case today. and viii have
his recommendation ready to be submitted
TO the President early tomorrow morning
Funk's petition, which was fled at the
Department of Justice by his attorneys.
Messrs- Baker and Wolf. requested re-
ductiou of the sentence 10 life imprison-
ment. 1t was signed BY about seventy
Ave people, among whom were two Of the
jurors who found him guilty. The action
OF the jurors is of more than usual in
terest, as in their verdict they fixed the
punishment OF the prisoner at death On
the receipt OF the petition at the Depart
ment Of Justice it was forwarded to Dis
trict Attorney Anderson and to Justice
Cole, who tried Funk. General Anderson
has reported adversely On the application
for clemency, ana Justice Cole has de-
clined to make any recommendation
indicating his belief that the original SEN
tence of death should be carried out.
As Attorney General Griggs is out of
the city. Solicitor General Richards, who
has just returned from work in the cam
palgn, is the acting head of the Depart
msnt of Justice. Funk's father called
upon him this morning The grief
stricken old man has just returned from
a personal trip TO Canton, where he went
n car he. E--.ss r!.-.4 ~, -
Executive clemency for his toy. The
President received him courteousiy, and
promised to give the case Immediate and
careful attention On his return TO Wash
ington- More that that, however, he would
not promise.
Alr. Funk. senior, accordingly was hope
full today Of securing from the Acting At
torney General some assurance that a rec
ommendation for Executive eIemeney would
be made. His interview with Mr.. Rich
ards az the Department of Justice was very
pathetic He called about II o'clock. and
spent long time with the man in whose
hands he believed the fate OF his SCH large
" lies. He himself is thoroughly convinc-
ed Of his boys innocence. and asserts that
il justice were done the prisoner should
be pardoned outright He did not ask for
that. however, since he believed that such
q request would be useless and with tears
in his eyes he pleaded with Mr., Richards
20 recommend a Communication of sentence
to life imprisonment.
Mr. Richards, who had already reviewed
the ease in part, gave him little hope.
He told Mr.. Funk that nothing yet dis
covered in the testimony or in the legal
aspects Of the case had led him to be-
leve that the sentence of death should
be altered. The father Of the condemned
man left the department with hope almost
gone that a favorable Recommendation
would be forwarded to the President He
still hopes, however, that Mr. Mckinley
on his return tomorrow can be induced
to reduce the sentence to life imprison-
ment. Mr.. Funk expresses the hope that
the result OF the election will influence
MIR. Mckinley to listen with favor to an
appeal for cfemeney. He expects to call
in person at the White House tomorrow
to make his final plea for the life of his
boy, who is condemned to be hanged on
the following day.
Counsel for Funk will tomorrow morn
ing file q petition for a respite of thirty
days, on the ground that there is not now
remaining sufficient time before the date
set for the execution for the President to
review the case as its Importance de-
roaDds