The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-20
FATE OF BOY SENTENCED
TO DIE ON GALLONS IS
IN GOVERNORS HANDS
People Of Arkansas Care Little
Whether Earl Gilchrist Is
Put To Death.
WOULD BE BLOT ON STATE.
Executive Will Study Case But
Refuses To Say What
Course He Will Take.
WOULD BE BLOT ON STATE.
Rx &. C. RODGERS.


LITTLE ROCK, Oct. 20.-There Ii
among the people of Arkansas
Despite the immature years of the
lad condemned to die on the scaffold
for the murder of VIII Longley, a 25
year-old Negro, there is a strong in
clination here to let the law take its
course, which means that the gallows
already erected should claim him.
Just why this is, 1t would be diff
ficult TO explain. From Gov. Don.
aghey down to the jailor's assistant
who watches over the condemned
murderer's cage in the Pulaski-co.
Jail, all are positive that color had
nothing TO do with the hurrying OF
the boy to the gallows.
And yet, Earl has never been known
as a degenerate, or even a criminal
No testimony at the trial showed any
hardened criminal traits. He was
called bad boy. by his school
teachers and was suspended several
times. He liked TO loaf with the
"Ninth-st. gang, and he liked TO get
on. in the gulleys OF Forest park and
engage In stone-throwing battles with
other boys OF his crowd, but in these
ways he was no different from thou
sands Of other boys
Il liked to go to school," Earl told
me as he pressed his youthful face
hard against the steel bars of his
cage, but somehow or other |
couldn't get along well with the teach
er. All the time they wanted me to
do something different from the way
wanted to do. but / can read and
write and do other things as we'll as
any OF the other fellows who went to
school with me-"
He showed me how well he could
write when he begged me for a scrap
of paper and my pencil | suggested
to him that possibly many persons
would petition the governor to change
his sentence from death to imprison-
ment. Il wish they would" he re-
peated again and again, as II by the
force OF the repetitions the wish
might become reality. When ask
ed him to make a statement to the
people, he wrote:
please sign petition to save
my lIfe."
is the state OF Arkansas going to
hang a boy?"
Gov. Donaghey, kindly, good
natured Irishman, replied:
"Oficially the question OF setting
the date for the legal execution of
Earl Gilchrist has not reached me. I
cannot answer your question now.
When the secretary OF the supreme
court officially informs me that the
int 4,
the verdict of the lower court, | can
say what | shall do"
Would the question of the boys
age help you to determine whether
or hot he should hang
That might be considered in judg.
ing the crime, for know that youth
full passions and anger have not had
tho restraining hand of experience
placed upon them"
Would you commute the sentence
OF woman sentenced to be hanged
In this state?"
Il was one of the first persons In
Arkansas to sign a petition to the
governor-general of Canada for a
commutation of the death sentence
imposed upon Mrs. Angelina Napoli.
tana,' was the governors reply.
Would the earnest petitions OF
honest men and women, a great null
titUde of them. influence you to
emulate the merciful act of Canada q
executive when he commuted the
death sentence of Mrs. Eapolitana? ?"
II do. not know. One cannot say
that this or that will influence one
and that something else will fail.
shall, when the matter of naming the
day for Earl Gilchrist's hanging is of.
ficially before me, study the case
carefully. | shall review all the evi
dence that was introduced in the trial
court; the proceedings before the su
prone court; | shall even get the
boys school record both as to his
ago. about which there is some dis
puteI and his department"