Salt Lake Herald | 1897-02-21 | Page 1 | Cleveland's Respites

CLEVELANDS RESPITES They Create Intense Excitement in Santa Fe and Trouble May Result Re-sult Santa Fe N M Feb 20 Intense excitement ex-citement prevails here tonight owing to President Clevelands action today in granting a respite to the four members of the Button gang till March 2 The respited men were to have been hanged on Tuesday next for the murder of ex Sheriff Frank Chaves committed nearly five years ago during a factional fIght between rival political parties Governor Thornton retires from office on March 10 and It Is claimed the respite granted the murderers today bp the pres luent was obtained in order that Governor Thorntons successor who Is said to be friendly to the contemned men may either commute their sentences or grant the men absolute pardon gant Friends of the murderers today threatened threat-ened to attack the state penitentiary with dynamite In order to rescue the prisoners in case the men were not granted n respite Owing to threats made today against the life of Governor Thornton and a number of his political followers poltcl folowers the governor at a late hour this afternoon ordered out the militia to guard the resi dences of the men against whom the threats were made