The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1912-06-18
BLEASE GRANTS SIX RESPITES
Electric Chair Won't Be Ready Be-
fore August First.

Columbia. June 15-Because the
electric chair at the penitentiary can
mot be installed and completed in time
Governor Blease this morning grant.
ed reprieves to the six mcn condemn
ed to die in the electric chair within
the next few weeks. The chair vii
not be completed bef;,e August anG
the first elcctrocutina will se o., Al
gust 6, according to the reprieve:
granted today by the governor.
Samuel N. Hyde, who is being ex'
amined for his sanity, and who wanted
to be the first to die in the electric
chair, has been reprieved until Sep
tember 8, the last of the six in the or
der named by the governor for the
dates on which they are to be electro
cuted. This extension in Hyde's case
said the governor, was to give the
alienists time to make their examina-
ton complete and thorough.
The statement as issued from the
governors Office follows:
Governors Statement.
Superintendent Griffith, of the peni-
tentiary, informed me yesterday after
noon that it would be absolutely i'm
possible to have the electric chair
ready before the middle of July or the
first of August; that the chair and
other apparatuses> have not yet ar
rived, Notwithstanding the fact that
the men have come to put them in,
and that the executions would have
to be delayed.
am also informed by the State
electrician that the chair cannot pos
sibly be gotten in shape before about
August 1.
Capt. W. H. Sondley, of the peniten-
tiary force, came in this morning and
brought the papers in the five cases,
confirming the statements of the 9TH
er gentlemen, that the electric chair
could not possibly be gotten ready.
In view of these statements, of course
it is necessary that the dates for the
executions should be changed and
they have been fixed as follows:
August 6, William Reed.
August IA, Isaiah Butler.
August %, John Cole, alias John
Grant, alias Henry Brown.
August 80, Ernest Mulweee.
September 8, Sam. N. Hyde.
No "Hog-Killing Week"
I do not believe in putting them all
on one day, or all one week, because it
looks too much like "hog killing day"
or sehog killing week." and therefore
I began with the negroes accused of
rape and scattered executions by put
ting one each week, beginning at the
earliest date that everything is like
ly to be, in frst-class condition and
having been fully tested.
I put Hyde last, because it Will give
the alienists, who have been appoint
ed to examine him, the fullest and
freest opportunity to come to final
decision after having made frequent
and thorough examinations. A singu-
lar thing, I noticed from the papers,
Mulwee, who was sentenced to be cleo
trocuted for murder in Oconee county,
was convicted of killing Sam Hyde,
and was sentenced by the judge to be
electrocuted on the 5th of July, the
same day that Sam N. Hyde was to
have been electrocuted for the muir
der of his wife-the name Sam Hyde
is spelled exactly the same, except the
man who is dead was plain Sam, and
the man who is to be electrocuted IS
Sam n.
Against sBlack Friday"
The jurors tried these men; the So
licitors presented the facts; the judge
passed the sentences; therefore, the
responsibility 1or their electrocutions
rests entirely with them,- and I am
certainly glad that have no connec-
ton whatever and absolutely no re-
sponsibility for the sentences imposed
upon them, and in letting the law take
its course feel that am in no man
ner, shape or form responsible for
their being put to death, and for this l
am very glad. No other changes Will
be made in regard to these matters
unless something unforeseen takes
place or some special report from the