Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1925-07-24
TO
GALLONS
FOR THIRDTIME
Execution Stay Ordered
by Chicago Judge for
Sanity Probe After
Reprieve Is Denied
(By The Associated Press)

(By The Associated Press)
CHICAGO, ILL.,, July 24.-Almost at
the hour Of his death march. Russell
Scott early today escaped the gallows
for the second time within week.
The former Canadian financier, twice
reprieved from paying the supreme
penalty for the murder Of Chicago
drug clerk in holdup, lodged the moose
for the third time less than four hours
before he was to have been executed
when Judge Joseph B. David granted
stay Of execution pending hearing into
his sanity.
A week ago, six hours 5efore he was
to hang Governor Small granted Cne
weeks reprieve which expired this
morning. Judge David, called out of
bed few hours before 7he time Of she
execution, convened a specia, session Of
court and granted the stay for Governor
Small and the state board of rardons
and paroles last nigh. at Springfield
refused further clemency.
This morning the sallows trap, set for
springing a week ago. stood without
its victim and Jail officials who had left
it standing during the week Of grace
were considering dismantling it. The
sanity hearing will not come for sew
eral days, Judge David indicating he
cannot hear it before MoLday, August 3.
Scott's escape from death today, like
that a week ago, came after he and his
relatives had virtually abandoned hope.
Thomas Scott, his father. bad called
at the Jail three hours previously to bid
him farewell, the second such visit in a
week.
Scott Surly.
Mrs. Catherine Scott, his faithful
wife who for weeks fought to obtain a
commutaton, played what she believed
to be her final card in Springfield
where she appeared before the pardon
board, and when the stay was granted
was rushing from Springfield to Chi
cago by automobile to hid her husband
farewell almost at the minute Of exc
cution. She arrived to find the court
| action stopping the hanging.
Scott who h adj been surly and defiant
throughout the niGht and ano aTratent-
ly was completely resigned to his fate.
received the news that his life was
spared with considerable surprise. He
had known noG;lilg about ne last Inn
ute appeal to the cuur,s.
"Pm tickled co ueath," were his first
! words.
| Ihen upon learning that the stay had
| been grantei 10 f.nd ut whethe, he
was sane, Scott added:
II am no more crazy than the Judge
who granted the stay on that execution.
| am not asking for any sympathy from
I oft har 7
| SCOTS sudden and unexpected es-
cape from the gallows was as dramatic
| in its way as the desperate last minute
efforts in his behalf a few hours pre-
vious taht had proven unsuccessful.
Board Refuses Reprieye
Yesterday new counsel, hastily sum
moned by Scott's friends had hurried
to Springfield where they met the gov
ernor and board of pardons and pre-
sented plea for reprieve, attacking
/ some of the states witnesses and main
| tanning that they had uncovered new
leads which they ha dnot had time to
develop. The board, however, refused
further clemency and Governor Small
[ concurred, pointing out that Scott had
| already two reprieves.
! Upon receiving this news, which ap-
parently sealed Scott's fate, Mrs. Will
| liam McGraw and Mrs. Isobel Burst.
both of Detroit, representing Detroit
club women who raised S5006 for Scott's
defense, hastily retained William Scott
Stewart, noted criminal lawyer who re-
Gently successfully defended William
Darling Shepherd, accused of the mur-
der of Billy McClintock.
F! Stewart it was who conceived the idea
of asking for stay of execution, an
action similar to that taken three years
ago to save from the gallows Gene
Geary, notorious gunman. whose exc
eution was stayed while his sanity was
| tested Later he was sent to an asylum.
Midnight Court Convened
| At midnight, their last desperate
step decided on, Scott's friends and
/ Stewart started their hum for a judge
to issue the stay. Judge David, called
from his bed, agreed to call session OF
court if his bailiff and clerk could be
| found Then, with the E,;ru,es ti.kirg
away, clerk and bailiff were rushed to
| the county building where in a dimly
lighted courtroom on the tenth floor
the hearing was held.
A little group Of newspaper men, the
| judge, the attorneys, Scott's friends ana
his aged father made up the gathering.
| The petition, signed by Scott's father,
recited that the condemned man has
become insane since his Incarceration
4 nnr~- T~~,nA