Evening star., 1926-04-05
CHAPMAN DENIED
COMMUTAT|ON BY
PARDONS BOARD
Personal Appeal in Vain as
Last Chance to Escape
Moose Tonight Fails.
RETAINS HIS FORTITUDE
AT THE FINAL HEARING
Determined Effort Against Con-
demned Man Charged by
His Counsel.
E. rle Associated Press.

W NETHERSEl EbD, Conn. April b.
Gerald Chapman must hang for
murder The Board OF Pardons this
afternoon unanimously rejected his
application for commutation of SEN
tence TO life imprisonment.
Chapman. lighting back at the
State in an effort to save his life, told
hi own story TO the board this after
noon by permission of Gov. Trumbull,
Who presided.
When he was called upon. the man
use from his seat. He stood erect
and did not move an inch. He looked
;t the governor. His voice at first
indistinct.
His voice did not waiver, nor did he
show any sign of mental worry. He
said that he had not expected to say
anything, and had not prepared any
thing. But he had heard some state
ments by Mr.. Alcorn which he thought
could not be overlooked
lie said: MIR. Alcorn said I did not
protest my innocence. I don't believe
| could enter any protest which would
he loud enough to be heard.
Il feel that l must say something.
[ don't know anything about the
legal aspects of the case. but can and
do rely upon the human appeal of
the case. 1 thought I would go over
ne CetSS SIIlS6 my dLISSl dS
Ind"
Chapman spoke for 80 minutes and
at $50 the board adjourned.
In his closing words, Chapman said:
''I think all l want to say is simply
that l am asking for justice"
He was Immediately removed from
the room and returned to his cell.
Gets Right to Plead.
Chapman, making his last desperate
stand to save his life, was given the
right to make plea in his own behalf
by Gov. John H. Trumbull.
States Attorney Hugh NJ. Alcorn
objected. saying he thought the de-
fense should close the case.
Gov. Trumbul granted Chapman
permission to talk and asked what
procedure would be used.
Frederick Groehl, attch'ney for Chap
man. called attention to the fact that
he was asking clemency for his client.
He wanted his client to plead for him.
self. Groehl said.
He is going to be hanged tonight
tomorrow morning. He must tell his
story"
Chapman made no motion at this
reference to hanging.
AIcoru Expresses Amazement
Mr.. Alcorn said that he did not see
how Chapman could expect clemency
from the board. II am utterly amazed
that with a year to collect these affi-
davitS, with the uneXpended million
dollars stolen from the United States
mailS-I am utterly amazed that he
has only eight witnesses, with want
ads almost broadcast for witnesses" +"
Mr.. Groehl had asked the board not
10 be deceived by passion and preju-
dice" Mr.. Alcorn had then followed
with an outline of the case against
Chapman. The condemned man began
writing notes.
Said Mr.. Alcorn: "Do you think the
verdict in the case could be changed
In the face of this evidence?"
THE saddest thing in this whole
case is the death of Ben Hance of
Muncie, Ind. I shook hands with
IIance the day he left after testifying
against Chapman" he said. They
will get me, Mr.. Alcorn,'" Alcorn
quoted him as saying. "Oh, no, they
won't, Ben" he replied.
'Oh, yes they will. You don't know
tfTpm like l do"
Denies Arguments Legality.
''If the State can hold this prisoner
whose fault is it?" Ciroehl asked.
certainly not Chapman's. certainly
not mine, but the warden's. 1t is not
legal or proper argument to say
that you'd better hang this man so
that you will be safe"
iroehi also said that Ben Hance, al
legged to have been slain by Dutch
Anderson, was not a material witness
IT IS true he said, that the dying
man said Anderson got me- 1t is
JIst as true" asserted Groehl, 'as
Skelly's statement that 'Shean got me-
| believe that Shean fired some of the
shots"
He also referred to affidavits Of
William OLeary and his companion
Of New Britain to prove Chapman was
not the man with Shean at New
Britain.
Pleads for 10 Days.
Mr.. Geoehl pleaded for time. Just
give me 10 days. II I had a week.
gentlemen, think | could have wit
nesses here to testify to facts that
will change the whole thing"
Ninety nine per cent of the people
IN Hartford believe in the innocence
of the defendant" he said. MY heart
is in this case. I have lived with it
for a year. / know every aspect of
It." Pointing to papers on the desk
before him. he said. as if speaking to
Mr. Alcorn:
Attack these afldavits. Tell me
who is wrong here Tell me who lies.
hut let me be responsible. l have
brought two witnesses from New
York and hope that this board will
hear them"
Mr. Groehl said he received an af-
1idaVit from a woman whom he
brought with him from New York.
IIe referred to her affidavit as vital,
important and not considered by
Judge Jennings"
Charges Plot to Speed Death.
Some one wishes to speed the day
Of execution on the claim that the citi-
Zens of Connecticut will be unsafe il
Chapman is at large" Groehl said.
That seems to he the pressing argu-
ment--no facts, passion prejudice.
tlcorn then said: "If Gerald Chap
man Is not hanged the State of Con-
necticut has committed a crime
against every one that has been
hanged"
He said if the board granted Chap
man clemency 1t would put them in
the position of overruling President
Coolidge and the United States Su-
Wpreme Court.
He pointed out that on Chapman's
Continued on Page 4. Column 6.)