San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-07

vided for his comfort. l never saw q
man SO apDreciative.
As soon as the news of the COM
mutation of the sentence had been
communicated TO Stephens. Jailer
Wiatrek advised the sheriff's office
that he would remove the death watch.
which had kept vigil over the con-
demned man since the imposing of the
death sentence. The rope with which
Apolinar had been hanged. still await
ing the next victim, was laid away in
a steel locker and perhaps may never
be Used.
Jailer Wiatrek said he would re-
move Stephens from the death cell a;
. o'clock Wednesday morning An
agent OF the penitentary, he said.
probably will arrive in a day or so
10 take Stephens AMY.
Came as Surprise.
Although it had been known tina,
every effort was being made TO save
Stephens from the gallows, it was not
generally believed around the court
house that Governor Neff would COM
mute his sentence. Those who had
thought that the governor might com.
mute the sentence seemed to give up
hope when the chief executive declin-
Cd TO interfere in the case of Apolinar
Ii was pointed out that. since the
governor refused to commute Apo!-
mars sentence when his friends had
claimed that he was still crazy. the
governor would not interfere in the
case of man who had not used the
insanity plea.
The killing Of Finucane by Stephens
grew out OF charge by the latter
that Finucane's children had removed
some shingles from lot whereon Ste
phens was building house. Finu-
cane had gone TO the place TO SEE
Stephens after the latter had com
planned TO Finucanc's wife about the
alleged deprcdations. The shooting
.Ollowed.
What the Governor Said.
This is the text of the governors
proclamation committing Stephens
sentences:
To the Sheriff OF Bcxar County, Tex
as:
Whereas. G. W. Stephens was con.
victed of the crime of murder in
Bexar county. San Antonio. Texas. his
punishment being assessed Mt death.
being therefore sentenced by the
court to be hanged on the 9th day OF
March. A. ID. 1923; and
Whereas, after full and thorough in
yestigation OF the facts surrounding
and incident to the crime committed.
as revealed lin the official records and
as evidenced by C-cumstances connect
ed with the case not contained in the
records. il is my Judgment that the law
will be fully complied with my commu-
tation of this death sentence TO life
Imprisonment
Nov. therefore. l. Pat NJ. Neff.
governor Of Texas. believing that the
punishment for the crime committed
will be properly administered by con
filming the said G.. W. Stephens at hard
labor in the penitent.ary during all
the years of his life. do. by virtue Of
the authority vested in me b. the con-
stitution aud laws of this state. COM
mute the sentence OF the said G. W.
Stephens from death to life imprison-
ment in the state pcnitentiary and
This is to command you, that you do
not execute the penalty OF death
against the said G.. W. Stephens. as
you have heretofore been commanded
10 do. but instead thereof deliver said
G.. W. Stephens. to the transfer agent
of the state pcnitentiary. therein to be
confined at hard labor for the term of
his imprisonment.
Herein fail not. but Of this writ
make due returns, showing how you
have executed the same