The Prescott daily news., 1912-12-14
FOUR MEN HANGED AT SALEM IN FACE OF PROTESTS
 FROM THOUSANDS.
GOVERNOR WEST OBDURATE
ment Crusade Lost at the Polls, Executive Lets Execution
 of Men Proceed.

Salem, Ore, Dec. 14.-Yesterday was Bloody Friday in Oregon. For murders as shocking as any in the 10 eternity through two traps in scaffold at the state prison here,
 Col. B. K. Lawson, warden and sup arintendent, released one spring and l guard another. The same contriv- ance, operated by one of the springs only, released both traps. but both triggers were pulled simultaneously 0 ease the conscience of the warden and his assistant, neither knowing which spring did the work.
 The prisoners executed were: Mike Morgan, slayer of John Yorke; Frank Garrison. who killed Roy Perkins; No ole Faulder, who, in an insane frenzy caused by drink, slew Louis Gilbert, md H. E. Roberts. convicted of the double murder of Donald Steward and George Hastings.
 Scaffold in Old Pillow Factory.
 A week ago the scaffold was taken rom it's place in the little room just north of the dining hall and dragged nto the old pillow and mattress fac .ory of the prison, where executions ook place. The pillows and mat resses. the work of the convicts for distribution among various state insu' utions. were removed elsewhere.
 The condemned men in their upper fer of cells in the north wing of the 1ententiary were near enough to hear he gallows being dragged across the floor and jostled and hammered into place.
 Governor Sets "Bloody Friday"
 All of the five men were sentenced 70 hang on various dates earlier in he year when a petition was filed un, Ter the Oregon initiative law provid- ng for the submission of bill to he voters abolishing capital punish nent. Gov. Oswald West, the fighting ,oung governor of the state, himself m opponent of capital punishment, re orieved all five men until the Oregon electors could pass upon the bill.
 At the general election November , he measure was defeated by vote of to 1, the ballots in reality signing he death warrants of tue men await ng death A few days after the cleo ion Gov. West. chagrined and an gered set Friday for the wholesale executions. In a caustic and sarcastic statement issued at the same time he rebuked the people of Oregon. He said: -
 q regret to say that in view of the verdict rendered by the people of this state November 5, by which they de ,lared that the barbaric custom of capital punishment should continue, hangings will be the general rule in Oregon until such time as the people or the legislature desire to change 1t.
 "These hangings will take place. Friday. December 13. will be Black Oregon's Bloody Friday. l am sorry that the seating capacity of the death chamber is so limited. for we undoubt- sdly will be obliged to turn many away who have been looking forward to this event"
 Women Fight for Five Lives.
 The effect of the statement was i'm mediate. Suffragist organizations and reform societies of all kinds began tremendous effort to induce the gov srnor to change his mind. Hundreds of letters and petitions poured in upon him, pleading with him to commute the sentences or grant further re- prieve until the people of the state could vote upon capital punishment second time.
 It was pointed out that the same election which defeated the anti-gal- lows bill also enfranchised the women of Oregon and that they should have an opportunity to speak upon such a vital measure before five lives were forfeited The governors of all the states that have abolished capital pun lshment wrote personal letters to West urging delay and he received communications from prominent men and organizations in England and on the continent.
 But he has remained obdurate, ex- oant in tho casa of JOhn w TaylOr