The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-06-08
GOV. GUILD REFUSED
TO COMMUTE SENTENCE
Declares That After Studying
the Evidence and the
Prisoner He Concludes
That Young Man Killed
Mabel Pagd.

Boston, June s.-Charles L. Tucker
was told BY his counsel, James II. YAH
ey, this forenoon that Gov. Guild re-
fused TO commute his sentence. The
young man was partially prepared to
hear the fateful words, but broke down
completely when they we're spoken. He
lnoaned and cried aud gave way to un-
controllablc grief. His spirit seemed
completely broken and his counsel was
utterly unable to comfort him.
Mr.. Nahey reached the prison at ten
o'clock. Tucker had been looking for
him since seven. Warden Bridges had
not broken the news to the prisoner.
and had cautioned the death watch to
say nothing to Tucker regarding Gov.
Guilds decision, as printed in the morn
ing papers.
Governor Curtis Guild announced at
late hour last night that he had decid-
cd not TO commute the sentence TO one
of life imprisonment.
Governor Guild says he has reviewed
the case with the utmost care, adding;
Il have read all the evidence presented
in the lower court and the Official steno-
graphic report (2,6o6 pages) Of the pro-
ceedings in the superior court. ! have
personally examined the neighborhood Of
the murder and have on foot passed
with time tests over the roads and ways
about the Page house in Weston and at
about the hours Of the day when the
murder was committed. | have cxamin.
cd all the various exhibits I'M the ease
and have myself fitted the blade of the
knife of Charles l.. Tucker into the slit
in the bood-stained corset OF Mabel
Page
Included in the statement is a report
signed by the Judges who occupied the
bench during the trial, stating that they
heard nothing al the hearings before
the governor which they attended TO
meet the strong evidence of guilt offered
Mt the trial. The possession of a
stick pin sworn TO have belonged to
Miss Page in the same pocket with frag.
ments Of knife IN the pocket of his
coat Is taken by tile governor to point
strongly to the guilt OF the prisoner.
After referring TO the sorrow brought
upon fuckers relatives, Coy. Guild con-
timed:
II must remember that other home
a pure and lovely girl murdered in a
lonely home; father martyred by SEN
sationalism; a devoted sister driven TO
the verge of nervous prostration, and a
faithful working girl prosecuted BIZ
threats of bodily harm.
Proof Of the miserable habits of life
of this unhappy young man as dis
closed by incidents in connection with
his trial Is. confirmed by my own inde-
pendent investigation.
'srhe evidence in the lower court, later
confirmed by expert medical evidence,
furnishes tlncontested proof that the
prisoner was not accustomed to recog-
nze even the bounds established BY na*
tire in the qualification Of his pas
sions.
"ln common with every other respon-
sible person in this case, sworn To act
in accordance with his conviction, am
compelled TO an undoubting belief in his
guilt.
Neither, therefore, on the ground urg-
ed that the verdict was unwarranted
by the evidence, nor on the grounds
usually urged, can interfere with the
execution Of this Just sentence"
GOV. Guilds statement bears the inn
print of fnaity. There Is nothing fur
iher to be said to him which will make
him stay the hand Of the executioner.
Not scintilla Of hope for a reprieyc
on any pretext, under any circum-
stances. is given in the expression Of
the governor. Tho more carefully the
gibernatorial decision is read. the bold.
er are the lines: Tucker must die.
believe him guilty.
Il cannot be said that at the state
house the determination of Gov. Guild
was unexpected, for since the day when
Il was proposed to petition for execli-
iiye clcmency the opinion there has been
chat he would not interfere
But the governor did surprise many
who believe they are close to him BIZ
the revelations as to the amount Of
nprsonal investigation he had made TO
decide for himself whether Charles l..
Tncker was guilty Of the crime charged.
Nnne except few intimntes who were
wall acquainted with him knew how
eonscicntiously he as studying the case,
snsnected that Gov Guild had consti-
,nted himself q Jury that he night deal
mstIy with this man.
.--~-----------------z.
uow Vahey Received the Decision.