Arizona republican., 1904-07-23
IT MUST BE DONE QUICKLY
If the Life of Teodoro Elias Is to Be
 Prolonged.

Unless the authorities of Pima coun- ty bestir themselves very quickly they will have a hanging on their hands, thir.; which they seem to want to avoid if possible. But so far no move has been made at that end of the line which is by the way the only one at which anything can bc done for the saving of the life of Teodoro Elias, who is under sentence to be hanged next Tuesday.
 A great many communications have passed between the office of the gover- nor and the office of the sheriff Of Pima county in this matter. A week ago when it was announced from the office of the governor that there could be no communication of the sentence: that the governor could not disregard tn" evidence which had been offered at the trial regarding the sanity of Elias, it was suggested by the gover- nor that if Elias were at the present time insane as claimed, he ought not to be hanged while in that state of mind. But it was further pointed out that the insanity of Elias would have to be determined in a way provided by the statutes; that there would have to be an inquisition by a jury summoned by the sheriff of the county with the concurrence of the trial judge.
 There were several communications on this subject. The Tucson authori- ties for some reason not explained preferrr-ed to save Elias in some other way and it was repeated from the gov ernor's office that there could be no other way.
 Night before last it was reported from Tucson that Acting Governor Nichols had advised Sheriff Murphy that if he were furnished with an af- fidavit of the insanity of Elias he would grant a reprieve and it was stated that the affidavit would be sent to the office of the governor yesterday. No such document came, none was ex- pected and none would have served any purpose.
 But there was a letter from Sheriff Murphy in which he referred to the matter of summoning the jury for the determination of the state of mind of Elias. He said that he had been un- able to communicate with Judge Da> wis and suggested that as the execution of Elias was only four days distant there would not be time enough to hold the inqusition.
 In reply Acting Governor Nichols for warded the following:
 Phoenix, July 22, 1?0i. MT. Frank F. Murphy,
 Sheriff of Pima County,
 Tucson, Arizona.
 Dear Sir: I have the honor to ac- knowledge the receipt of your Commun- ication of the Fist instant in relation to the Elias case. Should you desire to proceed under the Penal Code and have the question of the sanity of Elias decided as therein provided and after so deciding you find that there will not be sufficient time prior to the date set for the execution in which to complete the inquisition I will on your request as sheriff of Pima county, based on the grounds as above set forth, grant a as you may think necessary, not ex- ceeding sixty days, otherwise the law must take it's course.
 Please acknowledge the receipt of this communication.
 Yours respectfully,
 w. F. NICHOLS,
 Acting Governor.
 In the nature of things this ought to be the next to the last step in the negotiations if not the last. If at any time before July 26, the acting gov ernor is informed that the inquisition is desired and that steps toward it have been taken a reprieve will prob ably be granted.
 Ever curse yourself for being a fool? If you never did, you do not know