CONDEMNED MAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 October 1928, Page 2

CONDEMNED MAN

15 YEARS’ REPRIEVE TO END.

William Faltin is to hang. His crime has long since faded from the American. public’s memory; but the judge, while admitting that the prisoner has “suffered torture and death a thousand times,” has decreed that it is time “some definite action” was taken. This action has been delayed now for 15 years. Faltin was accused and found guilty of murder in the State of Arizona, in 1913. The death penalty was postponed pending an appeal, which was dismissed by the U.S. Supreme Court. It was then further postponed after the lawyers defending Faltin had succeeded in getting a retrial —which only confirmed the verdict and sentence. Another retrial was secured and this time Faltin was found insane and sent to an asylum. Some twelve months later, capital punishment was abolished .in Arizona, where Fait in’s sentence had been passed, and it seemed he would never meet the hangman.

In 1918, however, the death penalty was reintroduced and this led to Fallin’s lawyers making further efforts on his behalf. Year after year the shadow of the gallows remained to torture the condemned man.

Again he was brought beforer a judge, and again his case was considered. But this time the verdict was final. And now, 15 years after his original conviction, William’ Faltin is to hang.' |