Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1904-12-08
THE GOVERNORS BUSY DAY
RECEIVES MANY REQUESTS
FOR CLEMENCY.
He Refuses to Discuss a Serious
Case Of Criminal Assault
on Mrs. Emma
Florijanek.
FIXES DATE OF EXECUTION
OF SYDNEY JOHNSON.

Serious thought was given by Gov
ernor Warfield today relative TO exec
utive clemency in a variety of cases.
He was asked for pardons in a number
of cases, but refused to exercise the
power vested in him 10 any great ex-
tent. Owing to the fact that he had
been detained inxBaltimore on other
business Yesterday his executive SEES
sion was held today. He arrived at
the Executive Department early and
found number Of persons waiting TO
see him.
A case of considerable interest
which came before him was that of
Sydney Johnson, colored, of Allegany
county, who had shot and killed two
other men in a Cumberland saloon.
He was found guilty and was SEN
fenced TO be hanged.7 4 The date of his
execution was set for Friday, January
27, and il was hoped TO have the SEN
tence committed. Mr.. Arch Young,
of Cumberland made IA strong plea in
behalf of the youth. stating that the
affair was one in which fear was the
influence which prompted the young
man To fire the fatal shots Governor
Warfield refused TO interfere in the
matter and the sentence of the Court
will be carried out on the day men
toned.
Another case ofIcapital punishment is
that of Edward Cassidy, colored, who
was convicted of criminal assault on
September IL last on the person of
Mrs Emma Florijanek. The Cover
nor stated that this was a case where
in he would absolutely refuse to exer-
else executive olemency. He said that
offenses of this kind should be dealt
with speedily and surely and if that
was done the danger and excuse of
iynchlngs would be eliminated. He
ordered that the man be hanged on
December %, the original time set by
him.
A pardon was granted Ernest Allen,
of Prince George county, charged
with manslaughter. 1t was shown that
the evidence was of a very conflicting
nature and that there was much doubt
as to the guilt of the young man.
The Governor committed the sentence
in the case of Georgianna Driver, of
Howard county, who. killed san infant
child of her mistress by pouring con-
centrated lye down its throat. The
testimony was very conclusive TO the
effect that the woman was weak mind
ed and as not morally responsible, al
though she Is not insane.
Willie Herbert, colored, of Balti-
more, asked the Governor to remit to
her fine of $50 which had been as
sessed by q kBaitimore justice. She
was found guilty of the heinous offense
of using for her house bottles which
belonged to bottling company. The
matter was laid over for further con-
sideration.
Affidavits of great length and con-
vincing facts were presented by j.
Frank Turner, of Easton. in the ap-
pfication for pardon of Madison W.
Wright, of Denton. He was convicted
of a criminal assault on his wise's sis
ter seven years ago and sentenced TO
81 years in the penitentiary. The
facts produced today throw different
light on the matter and will be given
further consideration by the Governor
at later hearing.
The Governor has appointed John
@. Sheriff, of Prince Georges county,
Judge of the Orphans Court of that
county, vice his father, ID. L. Sheriff,
deceased Mr.. Sheriff is highly rec
commended as a young man OF intelli-
gence and ability and Is we'll qualified
| for the place.
/ ITO NFOfOIuOA HAS QOSAkudICU 0uQRc
r. Irving Bowie as Chief Judge of
the Ophans'r Court of Prince Georges
county, vice ID. T. Sheriff, deceased.
In the case of James Upshur, color
| ed, convicted and sentenced to Jail
| for six months for assaulting and
| striking Charles Walton, which was
advertised for final consideration to-
day, was taken up by the Governor and
he decided upon the recommendation
of Justices Grammar, Packard and
Goldman, who, at his request, review
ed the case and declined to extend ex-
ecutive clemeney.
The Governor pardoned and remitted
the fine imposed upon Howard Chew
ON November 6, 1904, by Justice
Loden, of Baltimore city for assault
ing Charles Beatty and sentenced to 90
days in Jail and fined $40. This case
is one which was thoroughly investi-
gated by committee of justices of
the peace, who Ifavorably reported the
n