The Hawaiian gazette., 1914-05-12
.G0DV|GTED man
EsBIIAPES Death
Governor Pinlham Conmutcs
Death Sentence Of Henry Fran
chs Fufguson 70 Life Iinprison-
Ihent. Isl

Henry Francis Furguson, SLAYER Of
Police Officer Manuel Diohizio DC
Abreu has escaped the .hangman'.
Iooss. The sentence Of death which
has hung over him since November Is
last, when Judge william J.. Robinson.
carrying out the verdict OF the Jury
which tried him, sentenced Fnrouson
TO pay the death penalty, was .yestcf-
day eommuted by Governor Pinkham
to impfisonnient FOR life.
The COMMUNICATION was expected and
has been awaited for some time. Ia
pas been known for some mouths past
That powerful influences at WASHING.
ton have been exefted On behalf Of
Fnrguson. II has been stated that con
siderable pressure was brought. 10 bear
through Washington higher,ups to the
e1a that Fufgvsoh's life might Be
Within q period Of few DAYS Fur.
gpson deserted from the Army. de.
bhuehed a young girl aud burrIarized
u humber Of homes. when 4 posse
Of officers placed him under arrest.
while walking to the waiting vehiclo
10 bring him into the city. Furenson
drew q revolver and in cold blood Gre
on officer IAbreu. ,Abren died the FOL.
lowing day at the Queens Hospital.
Explaining his reasons for Commit.
ing Ferguson q death sentence 10 lilo
Imprisonment, Governor Pinkharh wrote
70 Attorney General Ingram NJ. stain.
back as follows ~,
q" IN Committing the sentence Of acnth
imposed BY the court on Henry Franeis
FurggsQn "a imprisonment for lie. il
q proper 2 record be made Of the rea'
TThls Young man within Tie space az
a few days eommitted four CRIMES. two
Of them Of the most serious Character.
one being that on murder N Tie fr.I
degree, FOR which crime the Jaw prom.
erly prescribes death as the penalty.
leaving no power Of discrimination on
the part OF tho presiding Judge.
Tn case The figofs OF law need moI|.
|feation, the decision IA l6ft 10 the indt.
rent and cOnseienee Of the Governor.
W believe that the sBfety 81 society
demands the exercise OF the death uon.
atty, but its severity should be nibdi
fed where there Il . question as 10 the
tul, moral responsibility of the Grim.
ssThSt the deed III Ills case Va.
most narrowing in its results Is true.
and only the fpdinas Of a careful|inres
tigation can Justify lenieheY, and ever
then u there g u struggle 10 fsfFaiR from
THAT Henry +. Fpreuson Is con.
scious OF right and wrong In the pfi.
mary essentials Of mofai conduct A fho
belief Of all who hava EXAMINED him.
but that he has. strong moral chafac'
ter Is not believed.
\, ',lie "a a boy, not Yet nineteen years
Of ape. and immature IN his mentality:
IN fact. .seems in some degree deacient
In memory and comprehension. He Il
lacking IN judgment and purpose. That
Ne Bought the revolver with any def.
mite intent 4. not believed. II was the
Farne impulse that induces mauv hovs
70 desire 70 possess d weapon Of some
In tracing his life Il seems 10 have
bad. an unwholesome atmosphere. He
seems 10. have failed TO enjoy Or profit
BY the physical aud mental opportuni.
ties army life presents; In fact. was
weak in 50 MANY points that the pecn.
Iistities made. him almost ostraciaed.
The whole evidence tends to Ak
belief that his nettons and inental con.
dition is. due to habits not Usually
spoken Of in public.
Great care and deiiberation have
been exercised In examining his ease.
and able medical men, the Rich sheriff.
pttorney general and others. have nacd
their best JUDGMENT III forming their
conclusions. which. with The Gbvernor'a
own ihvestigations form the basis OF
this clemency
am ronyinced that Henry Francis
Fnfguson Is too deficient in the. elements
Of physical and mental manhood FOR
the law DO. enforce the extreme penalty.
death; hence have eommuted bis sen
tence to life imprisonment, 4 ~