The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-10-14
GOVERNOR DAVIS STANDS FIRM

GOVERNOR DAVIS STANDS FIRM
:, Governor D. W. Davis has refused
executive clemency in the case OF
Vincente Ramirez convicted OF first
degree murder. Twice the time seemed
to be at hand when the convicted man
would be led to the gallows, but
stay of execution was secured each
time Finally the matter was put up
to Governor Davis, but the governor,
believing that cold-blooded murder
had been committed and proved, stood
firm in the face of the strongest
pressure. Commendatory of the
governors stand, the daho States
man, says in part:
Governor Davis deserves common
dation In the face of lawyers who
have used every legal device to save
the life of a convicted murderer, i'll the
face of justices of the supreme court
who waited upon him as private citi-
zens to say that they would not be
displeased if he committed sentence
which in their official capacity they
had upheld, in the face of a delega-
ton of ministers from the churches,
and despite a letter from the presl-
dent of Mexico urging clemency, he
has declared for law and order by
saying, 1.-The law INST take its course.
| will not Interfere | am convinced
the man is guilty"
In days when new murders seem to
be hourly occurrences, days when
citizenry, incensed at the ease with
which skilled attorneys are able to
defeat justice, are repeatedly break
ing the law with lynchings, thu action
of the Idaho governor is a telling
blow struck for law and order.
What is the nature of the Ramirez
case? This:
The Mexican husband of white
woman lies asleep on his cot His
wife and others are chatting in and
adjoining room Someone enters and
sends crashing blow to his fore,
head The body grows limp. 1t is I
picked up. carried outdoors secretly !
and dropped beside blacksmith |
shop
1t is a moonlight night. A little
later watchers within the house see
the man thrown out as dead trying
to struggle to his feet, cropping blind
ly, dazedly, for support. Ramirez
boarder, seizes once more the axe and,
according to the testimony of an al
legged eyewitness, rushes out and
pounds the husbands head to jelly.
The man is indeed dead now. He
is buried in shallow grave under
a manure pile.
The next day the murderer takes
the wife and goes to the nearby city,
shopping. chatting. He tells the
woman her husband has gone to
Texas. She believes him until the
body is found.
Ramirez is tried for murder. 1t is
shown that he was present. His
clothes are produced.
boarder, Garcia, testifies to
A15 guilt "a Jul VI tWClfC SOOu iiiOh
finds him guilty and not one of them
recommends clemency. He is sent
enced to be hanged by the neck until
dead in the interests of law and or
der.
Then begin the legal entangle-
ments. Years pass. Stays of execu-
ton are followed by an appeal to the
supreme court. The court finds no
error The pardon board is appealed
10. The governor and his associates |
IN that board review the case. They
can find nothing wrong Then an
thing happens. Into :
he room of the pardon board file
he members of the supreme court ,
is private citizens-and say that
.lemency will not offend them. They 0
lave already decided in their official t
capacities that the law must take it's a
curse The pardon board can do no :
nore 1t says, 1--WE will not inter- .
ere' =
But the unseen forces back of the n
ttorneys continue to work Minis F
ers are sent to the governor to OBJ j.
-ruct what an honest jury thought Il
7as justice The governor tells them =
is all over, that law is law and ~
ust be enforced, murder is murder =,
I'd must be punished ~
The governor has been strong in
S position He deserves commenda- I'll
On. His action is in the interest of tn
W and order and will mean better pc
US for Idaho. -
- - "a
People of Moscow should show