Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-15
PROPAGANDA TO SAVE CARTER FROM THE
SALLOWS WAS MATCHED IN COUNTY JAIL,
THOMPSON SAYS IN ANSWER To RETRIEVE

states Attorney Floyd THOMPSON
today answered the reprieve granted
VIII carter with the charge that the
propaganda to save the Negro from the
ealiows was Matched in the county
Jail.
IN statement to the press he brings
out the following points:
NeWspapermen were given informa-
tion on Carriers actions which was Of
Tered in a propaganda to save him
from the gallows.
Newspapermen were told Carter
made certain statements in the Jail
which he had not made.
| The granting of the reprieve by
Governor Lowden will compel people
OF Rock Island county to lose their
respect for the law.
Carter was proven guilty in three
distinct ways in circuit court.
The statement of the states attor-
ney is appended, in which he reviews
: the case:
| THE execution of Will Carter has
been postponed. Again the people are
compelled to lose their respect for the
law, and at the instance of a few JUS
tice is delayed.
For the last Is days, by propa-
ganda deliberately planned in the
county Jail, the innocence of Will Car
ter has been hammered into the mind
Of the reading public. Imagine the eff
feet Of half-column newspaper arti-
Gle published daily recounting the de-
tails of statements from two or three
men interested in saving Carter from
the gallows. l have noticed that al.
most daily for the last week an ap-
pointive county official has voiced his
opinion that Carter is innocent.
Every man is entitled to fair and
impartial trial He is entitled to ey.
cry right that the law guarantees him
but after he has had all of these rights
then it is high time that he pay the
, penalty for his crime. Will Garter
, was tried speedily. He committed thi!
murder on Nov 4, was indicted on Nov
IA and convicted on Dec. 5. The yer!
: earliest date on which he could be eX
ecuted was Feb. Is, and that date wal
set. When he was indicted, the cast
, was Immediately called for trial, bu
: at the request of his attorneys thu
case was postponed until Dec. 3, Civ
) ing them every opportunity to maxi
: preparation for his defense. He wa
2 fairly tried before jury of II men o
f high standing in this community
: These men heard all the evidence an
in record time brought in verdict
S finding him guilty and fixing his pen
t atty at death. The cause was trie'
0 before Judge Frank D. Ramsay Q
= Morrison, the oldest Judge in this cir
S cult
: From Dec. until JAN &c motto
e for a new trial was pending. Ever
o opportunity was given the defendan
to bring to the attention of the judg
any matter that should be brought t
: his attention, justifying any interior
ence in the verdict of the jury. Afte
this long delay Judge Ramsay aske
Carter if he had anything to say VIII
the court should not pronounce sen
! tence, and Carter replied that he ha
not He did not say to Judge Ram
II say that he was innocent and did nc
. make any protest against the passln
of sentence. Judge Ramsay reviewe
i. the evidence to Carter and stated
n Carter that his views were fully in al
q cord with those of the jury, and ths
Z under the evidence there could hav
9 been no other just verdict. Carte
made 10 protest against this state
4 ment, but stood calmly before tn
# bench and received the death sentenc
r. From Jan. &c until Feb. Is ever
" effort was made to bring to the after
q ton of the board Of pardons facts jul
X tifying interference in the verdict I
: the jury The board of pardons sci
If special man here. the case was tho
> oughly and carefully investigated an
the verdict of the jury and the jud,
is ment Of the court affirmed. Now,
n the 18th hour, and without any oppo
w tunity for the state to be heard,
&c some means the execution is postpoI
IS ed for % days.
'e without Carriers knowledge.
he "I wish at this time to call attentic
,e to the facts in this case. If this pro
uganda, Matched in the county Jail al