The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-12
.REPRIEvEIS TOO LATE
THIRTY MINUTES EARLIER VT
WOULD HAVE SAVED HARRY
FLUTCHER FROM GALLONS
NEW TESTIMONY DISCOVERED
Gov. DOckery's Tardy Action in An
s~erfng the Recommendation for
a Stay ImpeIIs the Sheriff to
Go on With Execution.

ST. LOUIS, Mo, April 1l.-Just thirty
five minutes before his reprieve, signed
by Gov. Dockery, arrived Henry FIutch-
er, colored, was hanged by Sheriff Dick
mann, for the murder Of Louis Roth,
sixteen years old, Aug 2, 1900.
The following telegram was received by
the sheriff a little over half an hour
after BE had given the signal for the
fatal drop:
Jefferson City, Mo, April 11.-Joseph
f Dlckmann, Sheriff, st. Louis: l have
granted respite of fifteen days In case
OF Henry Flutcher, to be hanged today.
Stay execution. Answer.
"A. NJ DOckery, Governor"
The following reply was sen:
st. Louis, Mo, Ap:iI ia. NJ Dock
cry Governor, Jefferson City. Mo: Hen
ry Flutcher executed, CLIO a. m. Telegram
Of stay at Gas.
Joseph Dickmann, Sheriff"
At II o'clock last night Circuit Attor-
ney Folk telegraphel Gov. DOckery rec
ommendi5g a ten days reprieve in order
to investigate more fully some testimony
TO the effect that FIutcher acted in self
defense when he killed Roth
AT a. m. message from the tCIe-
graph office al Jefferson City stated that
the Folk n1essage had been delivered to
the governors mansion. 1t read:
Jefferson City, 1886 a. m.-JOseph w
Folk, st. Louis: Yours TO a NJ DO k
cry. signed Folk received. Messenger re-
stuck his head out of secOnd-storv win
dow, asked What's wantCd?' Messen-
ger told him nature Of message. He told
him to put it under door Made no re-
ply"
Sheriff Dickmann concluded that this
meant no interference and went on with
his preparations for the execution
The boy walked to the galows with q
steady step. and when asked by the sher-
III II he wished to say anything. began a
speech that occupied three minutes. He
declared that he fired the fatal shot, but
disavowed any intention of murder His
object, he said, was merely to disarm his
assailant.
II did my duty" said Sheriff TJckmann
after the hanging.
1.-The answer to Mr. Folks telegram to
the governor came to the four courts at
2:3O in the morning. / supposed that end
ed the matter and left no hope. Mr..
Folk thought the same and so did the
prisoner Anyway, / don't hold myself
to blame The governor is the one who
had the authority. and he is responsible
for the whole incident"
Circuit Attorney Folk said: ''When De-
tectives Mcneil and Harrington came to
my house last night, at ] o'clock. and re-
ported they had just discovered a wit
ness, who, il is alleged through fear
trial. 1 thought 1t best as matter Of
caution, to ask the governor for re-
spite of ten days. until I could fully in
vestigate and examine these witnesses"
JEFFERSON. CITY, Mo, April IL
Gov DOckcry declined to discuss the time
of receiving Circuit Attorney Folk 8 tele-
gram regarding Flutcher, but says he did
not decide until an early hour this morn
ing to grant a respite. The governor
says he went down stairs to get Folk s
message and read it at 1890 this morning.
but that he did not decide to act until
| 5:55 this morning He at once wired
Sheriff Dckmann, and also telephoned
him to stay the execution, he says, the
order being sent a O'Clock. The tele-
gram reached st. Louis thirty-hve min
utes too late and the telephone message
ten minutes too late.