Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1913-02-26
GOVERNOR VISITS
 M'VAY IN JAIL After Examining Man and Interrogating Prisoners, Makes Announcement. CONDITION IS SERIOUS StUtern0r Says He Will Either Gran! Respite or Compute the
 Death Sentence.
CONDITION IS SERIOUS

Governor Joe T. Robinson came to
 Pine Bluff yesterday afternoon and
 personally examined John M. McVay, slayer of J. w. Ethridge, whom he shot and killed in. the Jefferson coun- , ty court house here on November 20, 1911, and who has four times been respited after being sentenced as many times to die on the gallows for his crime. The Governor after the ex- animation, which was thorough and
 which included the ques!ioning of phy- sicians and attendants, stated that he
 would either grant another respite or
 commute the sentence hanging over lMcVay to life Imprisonment, the lat ter action being considered with
 view to having the man treated at the penitentiary hospital in Little
 Rock. McVay was to have been hang
 ed here Friday morning.
 In coming to this city Governor ] Robinson wanted to make sure of Me. Ways condition. He had previously
 granted him thirty days on the state
 ments of physicians and others. He does not want to let an insane man
 go to the gallows and rather than
 make a mistake he decided to come to
 Pine Bluff and "see for himself'
 "McVay's condition is serious" said
 the Governor. "I shall either grant
 him respite or commute his sen- tence."
 Governor Robinson had previously
 advised Sheriff Brewster of his visit
 When he arrived he was met at the
 station by Sheriff Brewster and Meyer
 Solmson and was taken in an automo-
 bile to the county jail. He went into
 McVay's cell and found the prisoner lying in the same position he has re-
 mained in, speechless and almost
 motionless, since January 9. He walk ed into the little cell and after observ- ing the prostrated form for some time called to him.
 "John, John, don't you know me. This is Robinson McVay only star ed at the chief executive with his glassy eyes and apparently he knew : nothing of the visit. His actions were
 the same as those that have puzzled physicians and alienists for weeks. ; McVay rolled his head from side to
 side on his pillow, but his emaciated body remained in it's deathlike posi- ton without the movement of a muscle.
 Dr. Asa Brunson county physician
 who has attended McVay continuous
 ly since he was stricken with what
 alienists term "collapse delirium, " took the prisoners pulse. It was 9S.
 Governor Robinson questioned sev- eral of the prisoners, among them w.
 s. Bud Rhea, who is also under death sentence, and Frank IN. Hall, who have been attending McVay Jail CT Reidinger was also interrogated.
 The inquiry revealed the fact that Mc- Way has not spoken since January 9.
 His condition is growing weaker every day. Food is forced down his throat
 and only buttermilk and eggs are fed to him, it being impossible to get ' more solid food into his mouth. a q hardly think the man can live u much longer in that condition" said the Governor after leaving the jail. He was taken for an auto ride over the city by Frank Bloom and later was entertained at dinner at the Ho- tel Jefferson by Sheriff Brewster. Af- ter the luncheon he was greeter by 4 many friends in the hotel lobby. He \ will return to Little Rock early We'd ! nesday morning.
 \ Governor Robinson also visited the < penitentiary Tuesday morning in Lit & tie Rock and personally examined 1 w. c. Alexander, another Jefferson \ county murdered who was recently granted six months respite. Alexan' 2 der is insane The governor is thor x oughly convinced of this fact. Alexander was convicted of the murder of J. P. Kelly, popular Cot ! ton Belt employe here in July 1911 1l He was also under death sentence { several times. each time being grant :. ed respite. ~