Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-02-17
HEARS NEWS.
coniey Had Given Up All Hope When
Reprieve Reached the sher.

Taos, N. M, Feb. 16.-The messen
Taos, N. NJ, Feb. 1.-THE messen
ger who left here Thursday for EN-
budo to bring any message OF docu
ment bearing upon the Conley case is
sued by any of the judges Of the Su
preme Court, or by the Governor Of
the Territory, reached here early this
morning with the ten days reprieve
granted by Governor Hagerman.
At Conley's request, Reverend w
C. Buell. called upon him Thursday
morning. After he left, Conley seem
ed more cheerful than at any time
since his return to Taos
Ex-Sheriff H. G. Kinsell, of Santa
Fe, tested the scaffold, rope and traE
yesterday afternoon. Two bags Of
salt weighing 165 pounds ware drop
ped several times and everything
worked like a charm
A friend sent Conley the best sup
per the hotel could prepare Thursday
evening and he ate heartily. THAT, is
the only meal I have had since ] have
been back to Taos" he said.
Mr.. Kinsell and the writer visited
him in his cell Thursday night to cheer
him, but at II O'Clock, as the messen
ger had not returned, he gave up hope
asked that minister be with him. to
morrow, gave the writer three letters
to mail and arranged some business
matters. A fourth letter addressed tt
his friend George B. Paxton, he tore
up. '1'll not send 1t, he feels bad
enough anyway, poor fellow, and Il
might make him feel worse" he said
1T don't make much difference, ! fee
that the world has gone back on me
It's horrible though, to be hung lire
a dog, it isn't as if were guilty; but
l am innocent. 1t is simply a lega
murder. So far as the killing is con
cerned, do not care that" and he
snapped his finger "My conscience is
perfectly clear on that
When the writer in response to
request gave him synopsis OF wha
had been written for the New Mexican
his eyes filled with tears which rolled
down his cheeks, but he said no word
When he was informed that the hang
ing would he secluded and only lin
tied number would witness it, he said
"Well, that is some consolation; II
won't be public
He is restless one moment and thu
|riext makes a strenuous effort to ap
pear calm.
AT o'clock Friday morning thu
messenger arrived with two copies o
the reprieve for Conley; one was ad
dressed to J. B. Lusk, his attorne.
here, and the other to the sheriff
both read as follows: "I hereby gran
respite in case of John Conley fo
ten days from this date in order t
inquire into the report as to his sani
lty. You are directed to suspend exc
Icution accordingly. Special messen
ger arrives tomorrow.
III. J. HAGERMAN,
Governor of New Mexico.
J. B. Lusk gave the good news t
Conley at $3.50 o'clock in the morning
Conley was just preparing to lie down
when the welcome words were spoker
| to him who had abandoned hope.
Il am thankful for that; there Il
now some chance; am thankful fol
that" said Conley.
Before the news of his reprievt
reached him, and in anticipation OF his
death on the following afternoon, Con
Hey on Thursday evening drew up
lengthy statement relating in detail
| the events that brought him within
the shadow of the gallows. This state
lment is in the hands of the Daily New
Mexican, but in accordance with tht
promise given the doomed man, vii
not be published unless he Is exc
lcuted.