The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-03-29
Hanly Commutes Death Sen
tence in Case of
John Lapidat.
CAN'T TELL PRISONER
Doomed Man Ignorant OF English
Thinks Guards Signs Mean ;,
Instant Death.
Especial TO Lake County Time.,.

Especial 10 Lake County Timesl.
Michigan City, March 29.-Governor
Hanly late yesterday afternoon COM
muted the death sentence of John
Lapidat to life Imprisonment. This
action followed some hours after his
communication of Stathocopolus sen
tence.
Both We're to have been hanged to-
night for the murder of Gus Kackle-
manus. whose death the Greek accom-
plished and Alexander Urdia. whom
Lapidat killed. Stathocopolus receiv-
ed his communication with a simple
Thank you,' but he appears to be a
new man. No so with the Roumanfan-
Lapidat. He is ignorant of the Eng
lish language and nobody in tho prison
is able to converse with him In his
own tongue. and consequently the
wretched man has not yet learned Of
his good fortune. Like a hunted
creature, destitute OF all hope. he PAGES
his cell uncertain. Of his fate, aiwavs
waiting for the guard to come to lend
him TO the gallows lie does not even
know what day had been set for his
hanging. but is guessing that his time
is up.
When the guards came into his cell
last night to tell him of the good news
he thought they were about to lead
him away, and when they made signs
on their necks, shaking their heads
TO Intimate he was not to be hanged
he did not understand. He moaned
and finally collapsed. Warden Reid is
now seeking two men from Chicago
who visited Lapidat some time ago and
through these wants to tell him the
story.
Signs Document I'm he'd.
Governor Hanly's action was taken
at his residence. where ne is conflled
to his bed by illness. The sentences
of both murderers were commuted to
life imprisonment
After the governor had acted In the
cases the Rev. Moses ZaIea, pastor of
Santa Maria church, Cleveland, o., and
Louis Brown of Indianapolis, both Rou-
manians, called at the governors Of
flee to thank Col Fred Gemmer, the
governors private secretary, for the
governors action. Both men had lab
ored hard in Lapidat's behalf because
the man had few friends in this coun-
try and because they believed his ac-
tion to have been wholly in self-de-
fense. Tears came from the eyes of
both when they learned that the gov-
ernor mad saved Lap1datS life.
Action in the Roumanian's case was
not taken until 4:3O o'clock yesterday
evening.
| Governor Thorough.
The governor had insisted upon go-
ing into the cases thoroughly. Prop
ped up In his bed. the states executive
! listened attentively to the reading of
the evidence. Occasionally he request
ed a halt so that he could rest, and
once or twice he slept.
After all had been read the governor
put his name, with a firm hand, TO the
documents that meant the qualification
Of monarch's wish and the release
from the fear of death of two swarthy
praying convicts at the prison.
Since he has been in office Governor
Hanly has allowed but two murderers
to go to the gallows. In both cases the
men were negroes, George Williams,
slayer of Edward Petticord, an In
dinapolis policeman, being the last.
Besides the CASES decided yesterday
the governor has commuted the SEN
tence of two other men, Edward Dono-
hue, convicted Of murder in Lake
county, and William Spores, convicted
of murder in Scott county.
Murderers' row for the first time in
six months is now without an occu-
pant