The Washington times., 1922-03-13
SENATORS
r. =
PLEAD FOR
N HENRY
Dsandsgss and FrsIinghuyssn
oppossd Hanging Slayer
II Mentally Weak.

II John McHenry 10 mentally de-
haisnt and II not responsible for
his acts he should be sent TO an ssy-
lun for the insane, rather than face
asatA on the gallows for the Staying
Of Detective Sergeant James f.. Arm
stroog ana wallace w. Muicare. au-
temobfle accessories deeler.
This u the text Of letters sent to
Attorney General Daugheity by
United States Senators Franz II.
Brandegse. Of Connecticut. ana Jo-
seph 8. Erslinghuvsen. of New Icr-
sey, 10th Of whom have interested
themselves in the proposed sxeou-
ton next Friday Of the twenty-four-
ysar-old slayer.
Attorney General Daugher:y. how
ever, 10 said to have gone fully into
the NcHsnry case. studying not cDly
the testimony bearing on the saying
OF Detective Armstrong anil Mr.. Mul.
care. but that given - to ais sanity.
II was following expert testimony
given by alienists at the young rlay.
sr's trial that he was responsible, for
his acts. that McHeni y was convicted
and sentenced to death.
Sanity II Doubted.
Government attorneys who prose
Gated McHenry when he was tried
In the District court assert they are
convinced Of the responsibility Of
the young slayer. Others, however,
who have observed McHenry at the
District JAIL. whore he has been held
awaiting execution, claim that no
aAne man. unless he had no regard
-, l<~H m m =
has the youth, with the death SEN
tsnce hanging. over hts head.
The District Chapter of the World
War Mothers today sent q petition
- President Harding urging Q COM
Dutation of the death sentence to
sae of life Imprisonment. The petit
ton asserts that McHenry should
b allowed TO repay through his
labors the monetary damage he
has done to'the families Of the slain
man. McHsnry proposed this to the
President last week. The petition
also says that McHenry should be
allowed TO live and repent for his
crimes.
No word has been heard today
from President Harding regarding
the McHenry case. However, the
President declared last week that
he did not intend to interfere With
the young mans execution.
AoIaenry spent most Of yesterday
afternoon In his death cell" ut the
District Jail with his mother, who
has sacrificed herself to be pro
nounced a. Of abnormal mentality.
IN her desperate efforts to save the
young man from the sAllows.
Miss Parlkhurst Makes Plea
Asserting that hanging IL bar
barous and not consistent with our
present day views of Christianity.
Mrs.. Virginia p. Parkhurst. of 32S NJ
street southwest, today mailed the
following letter to Attorne.r General
Daugherty:
.As q Christian woman; n an
American mother and a. q citizen Of
the United States of America, here
By earnestly mako . plea for com
mutation Of sentences in the case of
one John McHenry. now under cen
tence Of death In the District OF Co
lumbia Jail make this plea on the
following grounds:
"Tirst-That In the serving of Q
life sentence. the ends of Justice win
be adequately met,
'second-That the time - now at
hand for the abolishing of capital
punishment and that by Its abolish
msnt more guilty parties Will be con-
vieted.
'Third-JThat the method Of execu-
t1o0 by hanging By the neck until
dad - barbarous and not sonsistent
with our present day Views OF CHS
tianity.
'Fourth-That I, a. Q ,dti2sn Of
the United States Of America do most
strenuously object to being MADE .
party to . deliberate crime Of muir