Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-23
Convicted Murderer of George w.
FasSeII win be Shot on
September Ninth.
NEW TRIAL MOTION is DENIED
Date Of Execution Same N That of
Harry Thornc, Rilcy's Companion in
the kiIling-plcture OF Despair.

James Riley, convicted murderer Of
George w Fassell was sentenced to
be shot on Friday. Sept. .. by Judge
r. y. Lewis in the criminal division
OF the Third district court this morn
ing This is the same date set for the
execution OF Harry Tnorne. Riley's
accomplish In the killing OF Fassell,
and both men will expiate on the same
day the crime which both were instru-
mental In committing on Mary %, 1910,
The motion for new trial was de-
MED; but as the defendants attorney
said that he saved an exception. ono
tiny ray of hope, frightened the
trembling man and, graphing help
lessly with bis terrorized nerves. arose
TO take his sentence with subdued agi-
tation. As the Judge announced that
the crime OF WHICH the defendant had
been found guilty involved hanging by
the neck until dead or shooting until
dead. Riley did not wait for the in
quiry: (Which do You chonse2'; but
as II he had anticipated that only one
word would be expected Of him and as
n stunned by the awful dread Of the
occasion n slow, confused cultural
whisper issued from his throat so in
audible that the judge had 90 have him
repeat the one word, shooting When
asked n there was any reason why
judgment should not be passed upon
him he whispered an inaudible NO
az II the mere strength Of speech had
been taken from him Intuitively the
Judge caught the meaning Of the ncr-
vous tWitch OF the defendants lips. and
then slowly proceeded to pronounce
the sentence.
PICTURE or DESPAIR.
As the portcntous sentence. shot un-
On you arc dead was slowly spoken,
Riley shot his hands UP To- his hair,
strokcd IL systematically and looked
about the room. a picture OF dismay,
hopclessuess and despair. FalteriuR as
N stunned into inconsistencies. When
the Judge said that Is air the trcmu-
lOus prisoner looked 1ppealingly toward
tho sheriff who was ready to place
the handouts on his wrists, as ~ there
only was refuge from scene which
rcckcd with tho very odor NJ the grave.
With CLASSY eyes worn deep now into
their blue tinted sockets and face of
EhustIy Wilderness. the condemned man
followed with weak faltering step to
the cell where the death watch. filled
with suggestive horror, would imme-
diatcly begin. There until the awful
9Th OF September he win await the
IFlAnllul termination anu ltIANuliti "A
few minutes before his doom viii be
sealed through the stlil air Of the
prison yard will come to his ears the
sound OF the shots which will carry
his companion. Thorne, to his judg-
ment Of the two men, perhaps Thorne,
the younger, tho l1-year-old boy, viii
walk with hrmer step 20 the fatal
chair
MOTION ONERRULED
For upwards OF an hour Judge Pardee
argued in behalf OF Riley IN support OF
now trial on the ground that "a change
OF venue should have been granted and
that II had been illegal TO permit the
jury to have ln the room with them
the revolver and the overalls the de-
PENDANT used at the time Of the deed.
Judge Lewis. however said that only
deposltions are forbidden from the Jury
room and that 50 few people attended
the trial that there could not have been
public. prejudice lie added likewise
that the evidence, containing undenicd
confessions rs II did, made the verdict
Inevitable. The motion for a now trial
was ovcrrulcd and though the attor-
ney FOR the defense announced that he
had saved an exception II Is likely that
James Riley has faced his last earthly
Judge.