The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-03-20
VIRGINIA BOY GOES TO CHAIR Benjamin Gilbert Is
 Electrocuted, SLAYER OF HIS SWEETHEART Suffers Deatb for Killing Miss
 Amanda Morse. The Girl Was Shot Down in Norfolk by Her Lover in . Fit of
 Rage.

Richmond, Va, March 19.-For kill ing his former sweetheart in a moment of jealous rage, Benjamin Gilbert to- day was electro<uted in the State pen itentiary here, Where all criminals in this State are now put to death.
 Because she had spurned>him for the attentions of other young men, Gilbert shot down pretty Amanda B. Morse, on Campestella bridge in Norfolk, July 23 last. The girl fingered for twenty four hours, her death occurring a St Vincent's Hospital to which institu- ton she had been removed immediate ly following the shooting. Hearing that Gilbert had threatened to kill his daughter T. O. Morse. father of the girl, went to look for Gilbert and req son with him. Going the wrong way Morse missed Gilbert and twenty min utes later while still in search of the youth. was told that he had shot his daughter. The father rushed to the scene and the fact that he could find no one to furnish him with a pistol was all that prevented a double trag edy.
 Killed on a Fridge.
 On the hot summer night Miss Morse and several young friends wene, 10 Campostella bridge for a breath pf air from across the water. They were conversng on the bridge when young Gilbert approached. Miss Morses es- cort. w. c. Mitchell noticed Gilbert acting peculiarly. Gilbert asked the girl to see him privately. She replied that If he mad anything to say to her he could say 1t then and there. Gill bert making no reply, Miss Morse turned upon him and took the arm of Mitchell to walk further on the bridge. Just as she did so Gilbert drew his pis- tol and fired three times at her. Two of the bullets entered the girls back. The thfxd grazed the coat of Mitchell.
 Gilbert would have been mobbed but for the early arrival of the police. He claimed to have been engaged to the girl and declared that their wedding was scheduled for an early date when she spurned him.
 Glbert's defense was general de- pravity and mental Responsibility, It being sought at his trial to prove he- reditary insanity.
 After the trial eight members of the Jury petitioned Governor Swanson to commute Gilberts death sentence to life Imprisonment in the State peniten- tiarw The jury in rendering it's yer dict recommended the prisoner to the mercy of the court Judge Hanokel submitted this recommendation to the Governor, who declared that If ne should commute Gilbert he could not permit another man to be executed for murder so long as he occupied the gu- bernatoriaf chair.
 Fight to Save Life.
 The Supreme Court was then appeal ed to, among the groulsis being that Gilbert had become insane since his conviction and that the act of the Leg islature in. changing the mode of in- ficting the death penalty in Virginia from hanging to electrocution was "strange and unusual" and therefore In conflict with the Constitution of the State.
 The Supreme Court denied a writ of error on Gilbert's appeal and Governor Swanson, who had granted numerous respites to permit court action refused to interfere further.
 Gnberts parents spent their all In an effort to save his life, even mort gazing their beds to raise money with which to carry the figh- to the higher courts.
 Daniel Coleman, Jr.. the young law yer who defended Gilbert. not only re- ceived no compensation but had to sup plement> from his own pocket the money raised by Gllbert's parents to carry on the fight for the condemned boy.
 Gilbert. after being carried to the penitentiary. repented and had his spiritual adviser write 10 the parents of his victim asking forgiveness. the youth saying that he could die easier if he had this forgiveness.