Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-09
Tucker Must Die.


The refusal of Governor Guild of
Massachusetts to commute the death
sentence of Charles l.. Tucker TO one
of life Imprisonment required an I'M
usual degree of courage and excep-
tionally strong convictions. This muir
der case has been one OF the most
widely discussed of our times. The
appeal for executive clemency was
backed by a petition of over 125,0OO
ton of the kind ever drawn up in TINS
country, though the number OF names
really means much less than appears
at first glance The condemned man
has been favored with the services OF
very able and active lawyers VINO nave
exhausted every resource known Ill
law in their efforts TO save MN from
the electric chair. 1t is probable,
however that some of the methods
employed by fuckers counsel nave m
iured rather than helped his cause
since they have been sensational to the
,.st deeree and occasionally have been
even questionable.
In denying the appeal of the petition
ers Governor Guild is undoubtedly
actuated by the earnest and honest
desire to do only his duty. The re-
sponsibility placed upon a governor in
such a case is something terrible and
the duty bitter one TO perform. Many
executives would doubtless have yield
ed 10 the popular clamor through their
desire to gain popularity with the
masses or through natural tendencies
to take the course of least resistance.
honor TO him for his unfiinching cour-
age Having made a careful study OF
the case. having read all the evidence,
personally visited the scene of the
crime, inspected the agencies by which
the murder was committed, consulted
with the judges, and listened patiently
to all the appeals, he is finally con-
WINGED of fuckers guilt, and that no
new evidence has been discovered
which would change the verdict We're
the condemned man given another
chance for his life. Being so con-
WINGED there is nothing left for him to
do than to deny the appeal for COM
mutation. He gives the reasons for
prehensive and conclusive.
He finds nothing in fuckers life or
character which appeals to him. BY
the boys own confession he has been a
thief, a forger and IA moral degenerate,
and the murder for which he WAS con-
victed was one Of the most wanton.
wicked and causelcss in all the crini-
nal history Of New England. While
the Governor does not forget the ter
rible sorrow of the condemned boys
parents. neither does he forget that
other home where Il pure girl was
martyr-d by the resulting sensational
ISM the devoted sister driven to ner-
vouS prostration, and the faithful ser
want prosecuted by threats of bodily
ham.
Here in Maine We do not believe in
the death penalty for murder. The
Massac husetts law is different and
where the death penalty is still upon
the statute books, this seems case
for its infiiction if it is ever t. lie in
flicted. Governor Guild has done a
brave thing and the right thing. just
as Governor Bell of Vermont did in re
sisting the maudlin appeals of those
who sought to save the life Of Mary
Rogers solely on account of her SIX.
Massachusetts and Vermont have rea-
son to be proud of governors who have
so much backbone and so much respect
for law.