The Detroit times., 1911-07-11


III the Canadian authorities turn a
deaf ear to the thousands upon thou
sands OF petitions from the United
States asking for the Communication OF
the death sentence of Mrs Angelina
Napolitano, who slew her husband
because he wanted her, she says, to
sell her honor, they will disappoint a
big army OF sympathizers In Detroit.
Yet Detroiters have not much to be
proud of In connection with what has
been done here TO aid In saving the
unfortunate woman from the gallows.
according to Mrs. r.. M Zahn, vice.
president OF the Detroit Equal Suf-
frage club.
Detroit ought to be thoroughly
ashamed OF ITSELF" said Mrs. Zahn to
The Times. This city has not done
well at all for the condemned woman.
While few have been working hard
for her, the majority OF the men and
women OF the city have taken no In.
terest at all In her case. The church
es, especially, ought to be ashamed Of
themselves. Why, do you know, we
sent petitions to number of churches
TO be signed by the congregations and
We only got two petitions back, with
but 225 names on Them? That Is
perfectly disgraceful. The members
OF the congregations were In too big
a. hurry to get home to their dinners
to take an interest In the welfare OF
fellow-being condemned to die. Now,
they are setting anything but good
example as Christians, for I'm sure
that Christianity means something
else than a mere form OF worship. 1t
means TO stretch out helping hand
to those in need and distress, as well
as calling for prayer and other feat
ures of formal service.
But while the church people were
SO neglectful and Indifferent. there
were others who showed more consid-
Grafton In the matter. Mrs. Rooksby
had petitions In three stores and sue
ceeded in getting 500 signatures.
These petitions, together with num-
Der of others and countless night tele-
grams, were forwarded to the govern
or-general In Canada, and we are Id
hopes that they will have some infiu-
ence, with the many from other parts
of the United States, In the effort to
save the life OF the poor !. woman.
Among these petitions was one from
the Church OF Our Father, Detroit,
This church appears to have done
done more than any OF the. other local
congregations In dealing with the
case"
Judge Phelan, OF the recorders
court Is heartily In sympathy with the
movement to save Mrs. Napolitano's
life, as the following comment from
him shows
II would not wish to be considered
as Offering gratuitous advice to the
Canadian government, or as interior
ing with the administration OF justice
In Canada, but / trust the governor
general will see his way clear to pre-
vent the execution of Mrs. Napolitano.
Considering the peculiar circum-
stances of the case and the woman's
condition at the time, doubt IL she
could have been convicted of murder
in the first degree In this state. where
we have no death penalty for that
offense. / earnestly hope that her
sentence may be commuted.'
Mrs. Brotherton, president OF the
Detroit Equal Suffrage club, advances
an entirely new argument for the ex-
ercising OF clemency for the con-
demned woman She says.
1.-THE laws of all civilized nations
have laws for the protection OF an
animals young during the nesting
period. Therefore, II seems to me
that the Canadian authorities have no
right to take the life OF human moth
er. such as Mrs. Napolitano. In fact
think that the Canadian government
ought to spare her life and protect
her young until the youngest, the one
expected to be born shortly, reaches
the age OF FL years"
Mrs. Napolitano Is sentenced to
hang on Aug. 9 mt the Canadian 500 .