The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-12-07
IN PRISON FOR LIFE
Sentence Of Adams and Saw
yer C0mmutcd.
BY PRESIDENT OF THE j. s.!
Decision Gives Almost Universal
Satisfaction Here.

Satisfaction Here.
Action of the President was An
nouncod Yesterday-Prisoners Had
Almost Given up Hope of any Furth-
| cr Action Being Ta.en-Short His
Earnest Efforts to Save the Lives of
the two Men.
Washington, December 5.-The presi-
dent has commuted to life imprison-
ment the sentence of death imposed
upon Arthur Adams and Robert Saw
yer, negro members of the crew of the
schooner Harry A. Berwind, who were
convicted Of murder and mutiny aboard
that vessel about year ago. The men
We're tried at Wilmington, N c., and
are now in jail at that place. Another
| member of the crew who was convicted
on the same charge already has been
executed.
| The few words in the above dispatch
received from Washington last night,
will be read with universal interest
here, where the developments in the
Adams and Sawyer case have been
followed with increasing interest.
| Those two criminals are now con-
fined in the New Hanover county jail
and they had almost despaired that any
action would be taken by the president
| to prevent the carryi ing out OF the death
sentence, the date for execution being
set for December 18th, just a little
more than a week off, They had made
| no complaints, but we're waiting with
patience for the day Of doom. Yet
| through it all, they have not entirely
lost hope. They were kept advised Of
1.-THE efforts being made to save their
lives and they awaited anxiously each
| day for some tidings of good news
They have been unoficially informed
of the communication of sentence and it
| was plainly evident that the news came
as great joy and relief to them.
Marshal Dockery will probably come
on to Wilmington within few days,
and officially communicate to them the
presidents action. They will then De
taken to some federal prison, probably
the one at Atlanta, and begin the life
| sentence.
Since the confession made by Henry
| hp IJhn 10
executed here On July 9Th last, in
which he completely exOnerated Adams
and Sawyer of any completely in the
| Berwind tragedy, there has been a
| wide spread belief that the negroes
were not equally guilty with Scott and
| that they did not deserve the death
sentence. It has been the almost gen
| eral opinion that life imprisonment
would be the sentence that was more
just, and ID get this change OF SEN
| tence. strenuous and earnest efforts
| have been made by some of the lead
| ing citizens and members Of the baB
Of Wilmington
The crime for which Scott. Adams
and Sawyer were convicted occurred on
October 10th, 1905. On November 7th,
that year, Adams and Sawyer. We're
/ convicted and sentenced to be hanged
| on January 26th, 1906. An appeal was
taken and stay of execution resulted
| In the appeal, no error was found by
| the United States supreme court anu
! the men were again sentenced to hang
on August 18th, 1906 On August 7th,
on account Of the confession of Scott
and in order to allow time for the con-
sideration of the case the men were
respited until November 1st. On Octo-
ber 18th. the pres dent decided not TO
interfere in the case and to allow the
execution TO be carried out. However,
ten days later, On October 23rd. Rever-
ends f. H Barber of Fredericksburg G.
Va, and Jas. Carmichael, of this city,
made a personal appeal in their behalf
to the president Of the United States
and to the attorney general, this re-
sultns On the Goth, in another respite
until December 18th. when the execu-
ton was ordered to occur.
There We're no f rther developments
until yesterday, when the commv eatIosl
of sentence was ordered by the pres
fgient
Dr. Carmichael Wilmington ha
taken deep interest in the case and ne
has eyerted himself to prevent thf
hanging. Geo. L Peseilau. Esq, t
torney for the condemned men has also
worked diligentlt and faithfully IN
their behalf and The presidents action
mus 10 scG@c very great p ca
ure and satisfaction to him.
Othe.s. too. have taken deep il
terest IN he cas-. ,'vhich has been :
red n 18th Ise vigor and IL
action gade pub'i Yesterday, il is :
liere1, ~ ne res ed as fair and il
to d ries q erned.