Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-01-17

A telephone message was re-
ceived here from Jefferson City,
Tuesday afternoon, stating that
the names of Bill Gay, R. w. Gay,
H. L. Simmerman, Dick Baldwin,
and R. T. White, all of this city,
were attached to a petition adj
dressed to Gov. Folk, asking him
to commute the sentence of Bill
Spaugh to life Imprisonment.
Each of these parties wers seen,
and all of them addressed a letter to
the Governor declaring that they
had signed no such petition, and
if their names were affixed to any
such document it was a forgery.
1t surely looks to US like SOME one
should be prosecuted for this
forgery.
Mrs. E. w. Graves, wife of the
we'll known merchant and lumber
man at Des Arc, fell dead while
sweeping the floor at her home
early monday morning. Mrs.
Graves arose that morning, ap-
parently in perfect health, and the
final summons came without warn
ing. The physician who was
called diagnosed the case as heart
trouble. The deceased had lived
in Des Arc for the past twenty-five
years or more and was beloved by
every one. To the bereaved hus-
band we extend assurance of our
sympathy. The remains were
taken to New York state, Mrs.
Graves former home, for inter-
ment, on the noon train Tuesday.
Just as we were going to press
last Wednesday afternoon, we re-
ceived a long distance phone mes
sage from Mr.. Walter Nall, in st.
Louis, announcing that Governor
Folk had granted a respite OF
seven days to Bill Spaugh, who
was to be hung at Centreville the
following morning. About an
hour and a half previous to that
time two hack loads of people had
left here for Centreville to be pres
ent at the hanging. By using the
telegraph we were able to head
them off at Hogan and start them
back home. Had it not been fol
Mr.. Nails thoughtfulness and
kindness they would have had the
long, %wearying drive to Centre
Vile for nothing.
Prosecuting Attorney Damror
made a trip to Jefferson City lasi
week to see Gov. Folk and en-
deavor to ascertain whether he
proposed committing the sentence
of Bill Spaugh, who is sentenced
to hang for the brutal and crue
murder of ex-Sheriff John w
Polk. Notwithstanding the fac
that the Governor had told ouI
representative, G. H. Polk, no
more than a week previous, tina
he positively would not commute
the sentence, he refused to giv'
Mr.. Damron any decisive an5we.
and suggested that he return tt
Jefferson City to-day (Wednes'
day., when Spaugh's attorney
would likely be there and he would
hear both sides again. Mr.. Dam
ron came home Sunday and hi
and Mr.. Hawkins, circuit clerk
went to Jefferson City Monday
where they will remain until tn
Governors action is known. TIL
Governor informed Mr.. Damrol
that the reason he granted
| respite last week, after declarinI
! that he would not interfere, wa
| that he had received a very pitifu
letter from Bill Spaugh sayin:
that he had hoped all along for
, r~eprieve, that he wassnot prepare
. to died, and he asked for sevel
! days in which to make prepare
: ton. In view of the fact tina
) Spaugh has been under sentenc
| of death for over a year, to
thinking man, this sounds like
very limsy excuse. But it wa
probably the best the Governo
could give.
/, To the layman the ways of tn
| law are past finding out. Wn
I Spaugh, Jr., was convicted In tn
: circuit court OF Reynolds count
! for the murder of Sheriff John W
!. Polk of this county. The case wa
appealed to the Supreme Cour
: and that tribunal affirmed the find
. ing of the lower court, the judg
who wrote the opinion declarin
4 that it was as cruel and brutal
murder as blotted the pages of tn
: history of the State. Last wee
the Governor granted Spaugh
stay Of execution for seven day
and now it seems that he is to /
q given another respite, judgin
r from the following, taken frol
Wednesdays Globe Democrat:
"Judge Finkelburg of the Unite
States District Court yesterda
afternoon refused to grant a WI
of habeas corpus to prevent tt
II execution of VIM. Spaugh, und'
y sentence to hang tomorrow
II C~entreyille, Mo-, for the murder
: Sheriff Polk of Iron county, M
/ j. B. Daniels of Centreville ar
Us Joseph @. Williams of st. Loui
former United States Assista
District Attorney, applied for Il
" writ as counsel for Spaugh. Judl
3 Finkelnburg ruled that he cou
not assume jurisdiction, taking Il
same ground he did in the case
st William Church last week. T.
le attorneys at once took an appe
le from the decision to the Unit