The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-06-09
DETR0|TERs TO I'LL
. IN ATTEMPT To-
SAVE WOMAN
Petitions Will Be Circulated q
Churches Asking Canadian Govern
ment To Commute Death sentenes
of Mrs. Napolitano.
Woman Killed Husband in 800, Z
Alleging He Tried To Drive Her
To Life Of Shame.

Stirred by the articles printed ~
The Times. regarding the case OF Mfs-
Angelina Napoiitano, now under SEN
tence of death In the county Jail IN
the Canadian 500, for the murder
OF her husband, Mrs. II. M. Zahn. NO.
LAT kuclid-ave. west, secretary or the
Great Lakes International Peace so
ciety, and Mrs. Herbert Rookshy. No.
l63 Philadelphla-aye. east. have un-
dertaken a campaign in Detroit 10
aid In saving the woman from the gdi-
lows.
Mrs. Zahn circulated -pefition 10 Z
the Canadian government, asking
clemency, Thursday afternoon. among
her friends and got over 100 sigma
lures In very short time, not per
son refusing to sign IT, She conciud-
ed, however. that more Roadway could
be made through concerted action on
the part OF a number of workers, and
she enlisted the aid of Mrs. RooksDy.
with the result that several petitions
will be In circulation by Sunday. Mrs.
Zahn communicated with number Of
clergymen. Friday morning. and they
agreed to allow petitions to he placed
In the yestibule of their churches.
Sunday, for the purpose or getting
the signatures OF the members OF the
congregations The pastors also said
they would notify the congregation
of the presence of the petitions and
make a reference to the nature or
Mrs. Napolitano's case. II is also
likely that some of them will preach
on the woman's plight within week
or so.
Among the ministers who will make
reference 10 tie case on the coming
Sunday are: The Revs. Lee 8. McCol-
lester. Churni OF Our Father; T. w.
Young. North Woodward Baptist: Rob
ert j. Young. Church OF the Cove
nant; Eugene r. Shipper, Unitarian
and Dean IS. 8. Marquis, ST. Paul's
cathedral. Attorney Harry Hunt.
president OF the Great Lakes Internal
! tonal Peace society, will have charge
y the petition In the Unitarian
church.
"In addition to the petitions which
will be placed in the churches. thcre
will also be petitions placed in the
big department stores, IL the proori-
ctors will allow It." said Mrs. Zahn
70 The Times. I'VE want to get ~
many signatures to the petitions AZ
possible, in the hope that we may be
able to bring some influence to bear
on the Canadian authorities to Jpare
the life of Mrs. Napolitano. She does
not deserve to hang for her crime.
and we don't propose to let her go to
the gallows Ii a protest from Detroit
will help to prevent II. Sacred moth
erhood is at stake In her case and
! that ought to have some considera-
ton In the eyes Of the Canadian Of
| fcials.'
Mrs Napoiitano expects a visit
| from the stork within a month or SO
before the date set for her execu-l
ton, Aug. 8, OF this year. She slew
her husband, an Italian, with an Ak,
while he lay In bed. because. che
said, he had tried to induce her TO
Eseii-har- honor
The petition asks that the woman
either be pardoned or the death sen
tence be committed to imprisorcment
for life.
This Is probably the first time that
people Of one country have interced-
ed for a person condemned TO die ror
a crime In another land. The Detroit
workers in behalf of Mrs. Napolitano
will ask A. II. Clarke, OF Windsor.
member OF the CO adam house or
commons for South Essex. TO present
their petitions IL the minister OF JUS
tice. and. pending the circulation or
the petitions, they plan to forward
to the minister of justice number
OF kilograms. praying that he recon-
mend favorable action in the case.