The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-03-07
CONVICT MAY
BE HUNG HERE
; FOR MURDER


IT has been long time since any
body was hung In the penitentiary
here and the public was hoping that
such an execution would not soon
take place there. The indications are
however, that Clyde B. Pearson. a
Wyoming youth. will pay the extreme
penalty of this law there. sometime
this month. probably during the week
beginning March 10Th. for murder.
Pearson. who has been In prison here
for nearly two years. was examined
few days ago by q commission OF
alien.sts appointed by Governor Gun
ter and 1t reported adversely upon
the claims of his friends that he was
not mentally responsible for his
crime Three members OF the state
board of pardons also questioned
Pearson's sanity and recommended
communication OF his sentence to life
imprisonment. The Recommendation
was declineS by Governor Gunter
who appointed a medical commission
consisting OF Or. Howell T. PERISH
ing. DR.. George A. Moieen and DR..
George Neuhaus. oil of Denver, to
come to Canon City and make an ex-
animation of the physical and mental
condition of the prisoner. After COM
pleting their inquiry they returned
to Denver and submitted report TO
tho governor in the course Of which
they stated: in our opinion the afore-
said Clyde B. Pearson is in good
physical condition and sane"
The report of the commission re.
moves the last legal Barrier between
Pearson and the gallows and only
cIemency at the hands of the COVER
nor can now save him. From the po-
isition heretofore taken by Governor
Gunter. it is not thot possible that
the capital punishment law win be
interfered with. which means that
Pearson must die. .,4..
Peason was convicted of killing
Sheriff Frank B. Rooch of Cheyenne.
.t the Webster ranch in Larimer
county. Colorado, early in 1915.
Roach chased Pearson and his com
panion, Peter Burns. known also as
Cornelius Gray. across the Wyoming
line as horse thieves. Burns was con-
vscted of killing Neils Nelson. a
rancher. who joined. posse organ
led by Roach near Fort Collins.
Burns ia serving life term.
Sheriff Roach had no warrant that
hs could serve on either OF the men
in Colorado. being out of his juris-
diction when the shooting occurred.
His action, as construed by certain
lawyers. was one Of where he sought
to kidnap the men and carry them
back into Wyoming.
II Pearsons had not made an a1leg-
ed confession to w. C. Thomas of Lar
anne. Wyo., who posed as his friend.
there would have been no testimony
other than circumstantial evidence,
according to the records. Under the
law capital punishment may not be
afflicted on circuumstantial evidence.
Pearson is % years old. He was
born in Indiana. He was sentenced
to death from Larimer county. June
2s. 1916. Judgment was affirmed by
the supreme court Nov. 6, 1917. and
the week of Feb. "a set for the time
OF hanging. Recently the governor
extended a reprieve until the week
OF March 10.
Burns is z2 years old. He was st n
fenced June IL. 1916 to life imprison-
meut. {
Several weeks age. a delegation,
From Wyoming. headed by W. r.
Carey. son of the former governor
Of that state. and among whom was
the widow OF Sheriff Roach. appear
cd before the board of pardons in
Denver to ask that justice be done the
state of Wyoming and on behalf of
The widow by the Colorado authori-
ties