The evening times., 1901-05-21
SEEK TAYLOR'S RELEASE
Revival of Interest in a Celebrated
Washington Tragedy.
The Prisoner Slew His Beautiful
Wife, But would Not Expose Her
to save Himself From the CaEiUvTs.
4 Life Sentence His Puni-hEsIcTIt-

= he Prisoner Slew His Beau TftUI
Wife. But would Not Expose Her
TO save Himself From the CaIT0vrs.
4 Life Sentence His Punish EsIcTit-
Renewed efforts. it is learned. are to be
made to secure the release Of Thomas J.
Taylor. Row confined in the United States
Peuitentary, at Albany. under life sen
tenee for the murder Of his wife, Mamie
". Tay.or- The crime OF which Taylor
was convicted was committed il tbs city
September Ii, 1S94, under strange circum-
stances. while Taylor was Iaboring under
the knowledge Of his wife's inGdelity. He
was sentenced to he hanged and this pen
atty was afterward conznuted by exccvt-
i've c-emeucy to life Imprisonment. Taylor
began his term in the Albany prison on
August ;. 1885. and from the time of his
arrest has been a prisoner for over six
and a half years
IN 1897 q petition was presented to the
President urging that Taylor be pard5ned-
This petition bore the signatures OF ten
Of the Jurors, including the foreman,
which found the verdict against Taylor.
and also the names of many of the most
prominent citizens and public men of
Washington The petition failed of favor
able action. and now lies in the archives
Of the Department of Justice. 1t is IN
derstood that the District Attorney who
prosecuted the case before the court, has
been strongly Influenced in the behalf of
the prisoner. and has consented to add his
recommendation for a pardon 1t is also
asserted by the friends of the prisoner
that Judge Cole. the trial judge while he
VIII not make any written recommenda-
ton in the case, viii throw his influence
in favor of 4 reprieve.
The crime for which Taylor was con-
victed is one that claimed the attention
of entire Washington, at the time The
local press was strong in its advocacy Of
the prisoners cause, and after his con-
viction, united with 5000 citizens of the
District of Columbia in urging a commU-
tation TO life Imprisonment by the Presi-
dent
TayIeT was married to woman who
was repUted to he exceedingly beautiful
She. it IS stated. confessed acts of inf
deity 10 her husband, but upon her prom
ise to reform. had been often forgiven by
him Taylor appears to have been deep
y attached TO the woman.
Taylor vas employed as a driver OF a
bakers wagon, and his duties called him
away from home very early in the morn
ing. It was his custom. after covering
! his route, to return to the house, prepare
breakfast. to which his wife was subse-
quenay called 1t was after returning
from his morning work one day that ne
found a condition Of affairs that led TO
the tragedy.
At the trial TayloT's attorneys presented
two lines Of defence that he had not shot
his wife with intent 70 kill and that II he
had shot his wife with such intent II was
II d moment Of epiIeptic insanity
he was tried at the spring term Of 1893,
| before Judge Cole, found guilty, and sen
tencea TO v- hanged His attorneys ap-
piled 10 the Court Of Appeals for a new
/ trial The circumstances attending the
discovery Of his wife s inEdelity on the
6aE Of the crime, and of her previous il
ideiiLies, mad not been brought CT in
The evidence at the trial and on this
ground the appeal was taken. The Court
OF Appeals refused to interfere.
| The citizens of Washington then took a
hand IL the affair. and signed petitions TO
| the President urging executive Clemency-
/ It vas stated in the press at the time
that .gJJ sigma lures 10 the petition could
have been secured Judge Cole and Dis
JTict Attorney Birney beth joined in the
! prayer that the sentence be c0mmuted to
life imprisonment The date set for the
/ death of Taylor was but three days of
/ when President Cleveland exercised elem
/ eucy- committing the sentence to life i'm
[ DTiSUumenJ.
! The President assigned the following
/ reasons for cOmauting the sentence:
/ in GisDCsing Of this case / am not able
/ to rest my action upon the far too Uu-
I certain allegation OF INSANITY nor upon
the theory Of uHintentionaI or accidental
homicide, both of which pleas have been
strongly urged on behalf Of the convict.
as well upon his trial as upon his appli-
! cation for executive cIemency- This com
mutation IS granted upon the ground that
{ in my OpiEjO1. there has not been pre-
! Sgnteu in the case such distinct and salts
/ should characterize the crime Of murder
/ IN the first degree and because l think IT
( can be fairly assumed that the facts
developed that the discovery by the con
( EIca- just prior to the homicide Of the re
ceT- and riagrant infideiity Of his wife SO
f affected him that he took her life in an
instant Of blind passion and terrible rage
! This case presents another illustration Of
] the 9dyisability of a classification of ruur-
der into degrees IN the District OF COaum-
/ bia as has been done with good results
I in some OF the States.
/ Taylor was subsequently taken to the
pcniteutidTy at Albany where he has been
incarcssrated since. He had always borne
/ q good reputation. He has been model
/ prisoner since his conviction His mother
+ after three years Of sorrow. herself q
/ paralyt5c, died in 1891. Taylor, during his
/ health.
/ IN 1897 a petition for his liberation was
offered to the President by friends Of the
/ prisoner This petition. as elsewhere stat
( ed. was signed by ten of the jJ1rymen who
/ convicted him. and by many prominent
men For some reason it failed 20 receive
executive approval. Taylor S friends urge
ms physical condition, his good record
/ before his crime, and since his fmprison-
ment his broken health. as reasons why
he should be released from custody.
1t is pointed out that a sentence for
/ TnansIaUghter would have brought the
/ prisoner probably q shorter term with
communication for good behavior. than he
has already served Another point made
/ is that statistics show that few life pris-
/ Oners serve a longer term than seven
/ years Feeble prisoners usually expire
. III
| age to survive the life of hopelessness
! are usually pardOned-