Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1909-11-11
Petitions For and Against Him
Flood the Governor and
Cause Him a Sleep
less Night,
.FINCA Is HOPEFUL
HAS CONFDENCE THAT HIS SIDE
OF THE STORY MUST BE BE
LEVIED AND DRAWS DIAGRAM
FOR A JOURNAL REPORTER
WHILE CHATTING.


"Until all efforts have ceased
within reasonable time on the part
of either Finch's or Daly's friends
to secure the communication of their
death sentence, will be unable to-
give out a Anal decision in the case.
and at the present time / cannot
state my opinion regarding the petit
tions already submitted. as 1t would
not be fair to give out information
concerning either ones chances un-
til the last effort has been made to-
ward that end, and / will not consent
to consider any more petitions after
tonight. p
This statement Was made by Cow
ernor Benson to a Journal reporter
in an interview this morning when
asked regarding the Finch and Daily
cases, now SO intensely interesting
to the general public in Oregon
Last night Governor Benson re-
ceived word that the brother of tha
late Ralph Fisher would call on him
some time today, presumably in re-
gard to the Finch case, but so far
he has failed to appear. The gov
ernor sent to Portland last night for
further testimony In the Daily case.
Huch of the testimony has already
been handed to the governor, but in
order to look more closely into the
case he was compelled to secure the
testimony introduced at the first
stage of the trial.
In connection with the probable
interview with the brother OF Ralph
Fisher, and the additional testimony
In the Daily case to look over and
examine, Governor Benson was ln-
formed last night that petition was
being circulated among the citizens
OF Salem, and would be presented to
lin this evening.
The governor stated this morning
that he had not intimated ever so
regarding what HIS opinion
viii ne on the hnal adludt q.iop OF
the petitions. and that no one was
aware, as far as he was concerned,
what may be the fate OF either Finch
or DAILY. In all probability the
governor will deliver his fnal report
Of the findings in the two cases at
an early hour tomorrow morning,
but there is no likelihood OF u de-
cision today.
Never before as far back as gem
sral reports show has there been
governor OF state so besieged with
petitions. both in writing and orally.
ls has been presented TO Governor
Benson. Since his short term In the
governors ONCE, he has been called
ipon to exercise elemsncy in six
murder cases, all sentenced TO be ex-
'euted by hanging at the peniten-
larry. They were @. Y. Timmons,
\, y, NordstFom, @. Anderson. j.
Ianciiag, Harry DAILY aud James
Finch, notwithstanding two cases Ot
murder IA the first degree against
Abe Hembree and T, Johnson, IN
which Johnson hung and Hembree's
ace was reversed by the supreme
curt. and remanded for q new trial,
these two last cases did
iot come before Governor Censor.
/ is probable that Hembree's case
would had not the higher tribunal
eversed the lower courts opinion.
The governor OF Oregon has been
laced under a severe strain since
rs incumbency, and many pitifui
ases come before him. but today,
fter spending days and nights goins
yer testimony, petitions and other