Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1911-07-13
GOVERNOR DECLINES
TO RESPITE ROBERTS
Man Convicted of Murder
of Mrs. Robert Casey to
be Hanged Tomorrow.
Governor Issues STATE
menf.
EXECUTION PRIVATE,
SHORTLY AFTER TEN

Special to THE EVENING JOURNAL
DOVER. Del, July 13.-Governor
Pennewill. in public statement is
sued today announced that he would
not interfere further in the case of
Reese Roberts. under sentence to be
hanged at the New Castle County
Workhouse tomorrow for the murder
of Mrs. Ann Casey. at Claymont. who
with her husband, Robert Casey, was
slain as she slept This means that
the sentence Of the court will be car
ried out. as the Governor is now. the
only authority standing between Rob-
erts and the gallows.
The Governor in his statement re-
views the legal processes In the Rob
erts case and the action that had been
taken by him in granting two re-
prleves TO the condemned man, and
points out that in the absence of any
evidence being introduced following
the reprieves to establish the inno-
cence of Roberts he Will not interfere
with the carrying out of the Judgment
Of the court.
Governor Pennewill was not at the
/ DAhif AlUhoo i'uhNf uui HIS HthAthtuA
was made public by Secretary Of
State William r. Smithers in behalf OF
the Governor. The statement had been
prepared by tho Governor after long
deliberation during the night.
Governor Pennewill's statement Is
as follows:
Governors Statement.
Reese Roberts has been given
every opportunity 10 establish his in
nocence of the crime, and has utterly
failed. He has had a fair trial. at
which he was defended by able coun-
sell The jury found him guilty Of
murder and the court sentenced him
TO be hanged. Upon a unit of error,
his case was taken 10 the Supreme
Court. where the sentence of the court
) below was affirmed
"On April 13. upon application made
10 me. | granted him a reprieve, In
order that he might have time to pre-
pare and present his petition to the
Board of pardons for a communication
4. OF the sentence. so. .f
"The Board Of Pardons heard y
petition az great length, as r. was pre-
r. scented by his counsel. and unanimous
y ~ refused 10 recommend the com
I- mutation.
If "On the 11th day OF May, however.
granted him a further reprieve, hav-
Is ing been persuaded, that grave
a doubts were then entertained as c
y his guilt. and that facts would bt
" forthcoming which would tend to es-
& tablish his innocence. I was asked
j. to grant the reprieve for only thirty
e days this time. But I did more. ]
granted II for sixty-three days
i- "And now, as the end of that time
Il draws near. and not a particle OF evi-
y dence having been produced in his IA
vor ! must decline 10 interfere long
er with the sentence Of the court. or
to take any further action In the mat
n ter"
j. Warden Leonard Crawford. Of the
L New Castle County Workhouae said at
= noon today that he had heard Indirect
e ~ that the Governor would not grant
=. Roberts another respite. He said the
S scaffold is ready, most of II having
been put up last evening, and the task
was completed this morning.
Under the law Sheriff James Logue
will summon a Jury Of twelve men n
4 witness the execution. Aside from
these men there will be a few wit
10 neSseS, physicians and newspaper men
present The hanging will take place
in the walled inclosure where the
Z whipping post is located IL will be
the second execution at the Workhouse
the last one having been that Of the
negro John Joiner, who killed mar
named Taylor in a stable on Tentf
4, street, between Orange and Tatnall
l. several years ago
B. The law sets forth that either tn,
J. warden Of the Workhouse or some on,
D. designated by him must oficiate at
hanging. When asked if he would hanl
Roberts Warden Crawford said: II
it has to be done there is some onl
/. here who will do It."
/. Execution After Ten.
= Warden Crawford said that the
o courts sentence was that Roberts
! should be hanged between the hours
# Of 10 o'clock in the morning and s
o'clock in the afternoon. He said he
thought the hanging would take place
shortly after 10 o'clock. He was not
d Continued on Second Page)