Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-07-13
Executive Clemency Prayed For
in Case Of Woman Condemned
TO Die in Canada.
COMPUTATION is EXPECTED
Mrs. Napolitano, Who Killed Hus-
band, Is about to Become a
Standardization Set
for August IL.

Ottawa, Ont, July 9.-Three more sack |
fuls of petitions praying for executive
clemency in the care of Mrs. Angelina
Napolitano, under sentence TO be hanged
at Sault Ste. Marie, Ont, next month for
the murder Of her husband, were received
yesterday by the justice department The
petitioners are now numbered by the tens
of thousands, representing all parts of
the continent. The case because of its
peculiarly distressing conditions, tho
brutality of the husband and the present
physical condition Of the woman has
excited special interest in the United
States. Petitions have been received by
the hundreds from Chicago and other
American cities. Even from Oklahoma
and other points, thousands Of miles
away. have come requests for mercy and
offers to pay for legal assistance in plead
ing the womans cause when it comes
before the cabinet for final consideration
In only one case has capital punishment
ever been imposed on woman in Canada.
It appears to he thought here that the
sentence will he committed % life imprison-
ment. but meanwhile the matter has not
yet been considered by the cabinet council
The petitions may possibly have some
weight with the government but the
when it comes up for review some time
within the next fortnight. The case has
awakened an interest that is wholly un-
precedented.
PREMIER LAURIER QUOTED.
20, child IL coming. Weel then
know what will happen, but won't tell"
These are the quoted words of Sir Will
fTid Laur!er, premier of Canada, cablcd
from London by an interviewer who had
laid before him the case of Angelina Ma
poltano. Sir Wilfr.d Laurier, who Is now
passenger on board the steamer EN-
press of Britain on the way to Canada,
cannot himself pardon a criminal. lie
cannot sign his name to decree which
VIII open the door of prison and permit
one who has offended against the laws
of Canada to walk forth into freedom.
liut he can WELD an influence that no
ether man throughout the length and
breadth of the Dominion can in this or
any other case that comes under the con-
s'dcrat!on OF any of his ministers.
And the heart Of the premier was touch
| ed by the tale of Mrs. Napolitano. He
| had been engrossed in the deliberations of
| the imperial conference and the corona
! ton festivities for several weeks and was
not aware of the extent of the fight being
Y:aged by the women of the United States
| and Canada to save this "womnns life. 4"
| He listened attentively to his interview
! or's story and announced that after the
minister of justice had reported to the
| governor general in council. the case
would be dealt with as the Kings repre-
| sentative saw fit.
| At Sault Ste. Marie, where Mrs. Ma
politana, goaded by distressing circum-
stances, committed her crime, G0Sl sigma
| lures have been appended to a petition
20 save her 1t was forwarded to Earl
| Grey yesterday.
| CHICAGO WOMEN TAKE HAND.
| Chicago, July "a movement was
| inaugurated among Chicago women
yesterday to aid In saving Mrs. Ange-
lima Napoitano The campaign takes
the form OF an appeal TO every woman
in Chicago to write letter to Sir AL
len Aylesworth. minister Of justice Of
! Canada. whose address is ottawa. ask
ing him to grant Mrs. Napolitano a
respite,
Mrs. Henrotin of the Chicago Wom-
ans club in an address to the women
said: This woman was convicted by
a jury at Sault ste. Marie and SEN
fenced to death by a Canadian Judge.
He fixed August IL as the date of the
execution. Unless executive clemency
is invoked she must pay the penalty
of her crime on that date, regardless
of the time when her child is born.
The government already has extended
the time because of the approaching
birth Of the child.
This agitation is auxiliary to wider
campaign now going forward In Canada.
Both movements are directed al Sir Allen
Aylesworth. Appeals from a judgment In
a criminal court In Canada are seldom
permitted, and then only where new facts
indicate a clear miscarriage of justice If
the original sentence should be carried
out.
Hence in securing n respite for Mrs.
Napoltano II is necessary to appea! 10
the gardening power That power rests
nominally in the governor general but
actually the governor general rarely acts
except on the recommendation of the
minister of Justice"
The club women also find in the facts
of tho crime itself extenuation for the
deed. 1t Is urged that the wonan's hus-
band was brute; that he beat her and
made her his drudge and slave and com
manded her to lead n life OF shame that
he might live in ideness.