Case Information
*1 OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF TEXAS AUSTIN
Xonornblo Ronw hrrl8oa, JT., Mrrotor Kmpartmmt fhrel
Toxsr or Publio
cap M8brY TOM,
Aurtin,
D8rr Sir8
quot8 trcm your letter
th0 00nriot a ourrant 0r alent intefl8ity OaUI@ death, and apptie8- 8UOh Ourrent tion 8od oontinueno. tha through Ufltll suoh OOnViOt body df ruoh OOnliOt i8 4.84.” *2 Iionorablo ?lOMr 68rri8On, Jr., p8go 2 m0 d8iOnd8nt NntiOCIOd YOU Ua8 OOINiOtOd &III-
do? 8 8t8tUtO whirh 8hOuli tOVid*d thrt mOd0 O? l XOOUth¶ bo by hrn&#&, rod t E 0 8bOW Qubt8d 8rtiOl8 manly ohan~or th* Wo of xooutiom ?ror hrn&ng to sloetrooutioa.
m0 court Oi Cd&B81 h9pO818 O? hX88 itl m p8rtO Johnron, 258 5. 9. 473, 8r%dl
'?h18 8ppliO8tiOil ?Or dl8Oh8rm by W8J Of writ o? k8bo88 upon the @muad that thr oo?pur rrrdlot do818r.8 th8t hi8 de&b 8h811 be by h8-0 in(l, While th8 808tOaOO dO818rO8 that it 8h811 At tho tin hi8 t?i81, k by 8f8OtrOOUtiOa. 18~ of thi8 l t8to. the mode of oxeau- undo? tho tloa whore tha dorth prnrlty x18 ordord ma by . ban&&. By rot of tho Thlity-Eighth Leglrlaturo,
.S000nd Called !k88lOn, the mod0 e? Watloa ~88 ohangad to of l8otrOoutlon. So* oh8ptor 51, AOt8 38th &I., 2d C81106 b88. mO ~inO0 O? tb JhWY W88 t0 dOOld UP
on tho (ul ! t o? tho 8p?lloant, dnd whothor ho lhould be puniehod rt do8th or by oonilruamt in tho pan- lt8ntirry. That p8rt ot vrrdlrt u8ing tho ‘by h8n&l6 rtntil d.84’ Word8 IOTp1U88130, riti8tod rordiot. in no 8oam m8 moth& oi WI IlOt within th8 X~OUtiO#l 8OOp0 Of thr JUFf’8 8t tha tiaI0 the 1erdiOt ruthority, but W88 ran- dorod U88 fix.& by 18w. ‘he obaP(to or the mode xaoutlen ?ror hanging lsetrooutlOn wa8 within th8 8OOpO Of the 1ftgi818t$V8 POWOr, 8IM3 did not orfoad 888lnst the oonrtltutlonal prowl- 8iOn PFOhibiting 8X pO8t Suoh ?aOtO lt@8i8tiOfL ir the view l xp r o88od the Supremo Court o? tho $ht*8 8nd tb6 OOUTt8 in 8WW81 Of th0 VIiitOd 8t8tO8. .fll &811Oy’8 CI80, 17. 9. 180, 35 %p.
ct. 507, 59 L Ed. 905, qUO8tiOn th8 hiOr@ ua8 whether Malloy, who had ooarltted tho oourt of surdor iu 1910, at uhieh tlra the mob o??rara of l xooutioa W88 h8n((ily, Urd who W88 Oonrlot- ed in 1912, uhan the soda of rxeoution Wa8 rhotid bo dirohrrpd. In tho opln- oleotrooution, ion rodorrd in 1915, th8 SuprOrtr Court o? tho *3 mrrl8on, Jr., pago 3 Xonor8ble Honr 8ftW ?8+iOdn( 801pa 9rWiOU8 8n- mt.8,
Unit.& wunoam8nt8 thhrt oU?t, ~8.6 thl8 layu8@0: with tho rrrloor ob~oation to w*kpro8804 S88UtiO88 hrB&#, 8nd hopoiul th8t 808n8 8l&t k fowd ru kkly life *in I 10~8 batbar- OUI YDIIU,~ 8lu Oovornor or Row fork brought rub .t $0 th0 8ttontia Of tho &~i8f@tUr8 in 188 . c A #i#8iOll th8?.8?t,r 8p Obtod t0 (II- tho mO8t humno 8nd prrot P 081 wthod Of OOrt811 lnrllotly d88ul rontoasr roportoil in ?8VOr O? l8Ot~OUtlOE. thi8 W88 rdoptod by th0 8t8tUt8 8lld, dth thr 8p~iot81 of tho ooWt8, e? 1888, h88 bOOa in OOStlllUOUB WO 81lhOO th8t tim0. Ro x8rlu 1% 0. s. 436, L. Rd. 519, 10 3up. ct. Rep. ll9 If. 1. 569 7 L. R. A. 715, 16 Am; St. ltop.'859, 24 1. X. 1.
g~I~luonood by the rorulto la Ilow Tork, l loVeB other 8t8t.r hto 8dOptOd th8 88# modo do8th lib 8plt81 088.81 8&d, 88 iOr ill?liOtta( rO8rilt i8 th8 OOn8OqUOnt i8 001potiy kItOn, of 8 roll-goondod klio? rl~otrooution 120~ 8yUim8~d MI0 bun. th8B h8ll&6. 178 Y8rr. 549, 553, 52 L. R. A.
P 620, 60 Ii. X.'ilOr St8tO v. Torm881, 75 1. t. L.
739, 747, 69 Ati. 21L
='%.I. 8t8tUtO -do? OOll8ldOr8tiO& did BOt 0h811g0 tho posalty--dorth--?or mUMOr, but only mode oi produola(l thlr, todathor with Oti8i8 MnO88088i81 dot8118 in MS Oat Of IUT- mo puBi.hrat UO8 BOt P BQro88Od, ?O-a-8. 8omo a? tho OdiOU8 inaidont to tho old fO88UTO8 mothod wuo 8ktod.“’
ThO t%lprUIO COW8 Of LOUl818a8 in Stat0 t. Pi@Jr’rO, 200 La. 808, 9 30. (2d) 42, rrldr
Wo point mado by the dofond8nt th8t tho ?8iilm Of tho LIgi818tUrO to ineludo in A08 lb *4 Eonorablo Homo? 08rri8On, Jr., p8p 1,
Oi 1940 8 88Vim l 18U8a mU8t ll@Oo888?11y fro0 th. 808U8Od 18 wIthout BUit, bO88WO U. ham 81n8dy doBon8tr8tod th8t tho 8t8tUt8 do08 not 8??eOt my th8t 8Ub8t8nti81 oi the 8rOU8Od 8dtOI8Olf, ri#It 18 pLU.1~ proooduml, 8?t@OtiB6 Otiy DOB81 8&hi8- by ,ubrtitutin(l th0 vthod of iUfliOtin& trrtiw dO8$h by 8i8OtFOOUtlOn h u8U O? th0 rod0 O? in- death by k8Hgily in o8pital 08808 8adB thoro- fllrO1~ f8080 18% m0 Otiy l ??Wt 88 18 l 8 iCU0, III OX 9088 8 88tin6 ti8UDO would bBV0, I? 0110 hrd boon th8t p18006 irr tho Aot, wuld br to prorono 8nd 88~0 the old pmoduro of OxOoutIoa by h8n&ry, whloh the do- in818tOd Upoll bdn( fOBd8Bt thOn OOtid h-0 08RiOd Out by TiMdiO Of tho tWB8 Of th8 8t8tUtO it8eif. w88hilyfOJ v. Dowlin&, 1926, 92 ?18. 601, 109 So. 588, rad la Xx p8rto Br~wno, 1927, 93 Pl8. 332, 111 So. 518.
Strom what wo h8rr the 8816 it 18 l har dofond8Bt o8nnot bo xooutod hnglag the law whioh 8UthOrirtod tk8t uthod Of C48l'Tyi~ Out the dorth pW8lty h88 b00a rope8lOd fAgi8htUre without 8 88V1~kd 018u8O in thO 8tatUtO. HO 18 llOt b0oru8r ntltlod to bo di8ohr r ho rt8ndr valldly oonvIotO6 8nd OOa9181ll O? tho d88th ponrlty klag laillotod % to daath nd oannot legally ront8aro moan8 or lootrooutlon under a oon8tltutIonal 8tat- ut0 pmvlding for that method or ~040 l xo oution.
V8vlng ro8ohod onalu8lon Aot 14, O? 1940 18 8ppfiO8bl. 8lid th8t it8 8Zhd OOli8titUtiOM~ do not dOpri+O IOl8tOI Of 8nJr 8Ub- pIWi8iOB8 rnd that ho 8t8n68 oondomnod undu 8 8t8nti81 rl*t valid ooarlotlon d08#, thr puertlon nntoaoo t0 tiethor OI aOt 9rOT181On iZb the 8ri888 rantonoo prmldlng for mad0 0r lnfllatlnC: pea81ty ban&d my bo trertrd rurplura6e and, by OpOr8tIOu 0r 18~. the new method or oarrylng out the ponaltp by l~otrooutlon may bo rubrtltutod In Without th8 n80888ity Of thi8 dOU?t UWnd- it8 pi800 romrndlnd the lng tho 8ontoaor in thlt rorpoot dirtriot oourt have tho rontenor 8MBdod 80 88 oonfom with thr now law, Aot 19w. *5 Honor8 blo Honr Oarrl8on, Jr., DlrootOr,'p8ga 5
‘In the 08108 a? Woo Dlk !?8U V. Sata 8~6 i!O?llrBd88 V. Strto, 8upX’8, who?0 tho dofOndMt8 hrd kOn 8OBtOae8d 408th h8 lng UB~O? the 18W, but b.fOrO tho XOOUtiOn8 8OU1 take 91800, 10618- i88iM ww p8888d WhiOh Oh8agOd BhO rod8 ia- tllotl~ tA8 dorth pomlty fro8 hwglng to oloa- trOotit;on 8&d 1Oth81 ro8~otiVo1y, tho Court e8, rpwrOn$ly l Oa8idond th8t by Yr. OpO?8tiO8 Of 18W a8w mthod o? XOOUtiOn m# tho ~Og81 w8y t0 oUry Out the poB8lty Without msoadln~ tho 8OBtOBOO8, bOOIU80, Ln th0 tOmOr aa8a 18 dlreatad l XOOUtlM Of th8 88lLtUbOO 9l-OBOUllO86 8nd in tho 18ttOr, On 8p98@1, 8ffltm8d tho dUdgl8at8. 8tp1t
” . . .
'I8 st8tO v. bOwn, 8Upr8, thr dofond8nt ~88 o rnd 8on- oonrlotid mu&u In the flrrt tonood to 408th h8a#ily, 88 pmr f do6 by the l8w in *??06t It th8t tb0. k618- 8Ub8oqUontly, 8 8t8tUtr, whioh r~p08104 Outri&t, 18tUrO D88aad wlthout a 88~1~16 018~88, th0 18~ protl6lng for tha In?lletlon of the do8th pea8lty by h8n(In& Thr now 8Ot 8ubrtitut.d th8 rothod of the xooutlon by 8dItdni8tr8tiOn Of lOth8i 688. The Attorney- 0OnOr81 iii06 8 mtiOn to h8te the Oofhno. am.&@- to OOnform with th8 BOW 18W. The oourt rollowod tho ralo Of tho M811Oy 0880 and other 8UthOritie8 thrroln elted 8nd ooaoluded th8t dafond8at W88 not 8ffMitOd ia 8lly Of hi8 8Ub8t8nti81 OOnlti- and aI the ohawe we8 tUtioM1 or 8t8tUtOry r-t8 pU?Oly pI'OOOdCW81, nl8tiu 80101y 80 PM1 8diiIb i8tr8tiOns thOr0 V88 BO ?888On Why thh, B@W hW : rbould not l ply to 08808 pondlh( 88 UIO tlm8 t&o Oh8ngo not at0 8ffOOt. The Court thon oomlduod P the quartion of crhO#Or or not it 8hould tmpa~o rontrnoe in 8aoordanoo rdth th0 a8w law rebpad tha oa8o to the 618trlot oowt for purpom and oonoladod 8rfitrily oonriotlaa of the 8ppO1- lant aurdu in tho rlrrt a0gr00 8nd tho lnillo- tion ot oapitrl puni8hmnt 8Bd 8Ot 88ide 8on- tmnom to 8UffOr drrtll by h8n&n& md rrmndod WI0 the trial ooutt h8TO tho IaBtOBOO Im- god la ooordanoo with tho prorbloa8 of th8 new
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I . . .
Honor8Uo Hour Ourl8on, Jr., 04. 4
VI tbo ln8t8nt MM thr aoourod ~88 8omtenoed to death and tha mod. of htllrtl~ thr penalty WI by h8wa(l, in rOOO?d8MO With th8 18W 88 it 8Xi8t8d l t tb8t tbI0. ml10 th0 8880 WI8 pOadin@, th0 8t8tO 8t8tUte Oh~IQh~ tho -thOd Of l X8OUti~ to ~OOtl'OOUtiOIl boo-8 fiOOtlVO. A8 thi8 II8U l8W h8d rOtrO8~OtitO 8XOOUtiO~ by h8w OttOOt 8t8t86 in tho 8OlltOn8. d i not l OllfO?m t0 th0 R8W m8thOd Of 1ntllOtla~ th8 do&h pomlty. %?I. V8rdiOt tho d8t8lId8at 6IJilty 88 Oh8r68d, O? tho #lry tlndlrU a uapuallfled rerdlet, 88 roll 88 the rentmoe lm- the d88th POMlty, UO?O hold t0 b8 +811d pO81ll thi8 8 Ourt, 8Bd th. %Qwom Wut Ot tho United Strter refured to rotlor tho 0880. Rooutln( the prerent trlid doeth 8entonoo bragI tho do- tendant not in oonformltr with the new law ro- gulrlnu the infl~ot~oa of the dorsh poarlty by oleo- trooutlon. A8 th8 n8nnor of ue8utlng the death penalty by leotrooutlon 18 more hurrae mad doe8 UOt 8ffeOt 8ay rubrt8ntirr or 8Ub8teatl81 ri&ht Or tho dorend8nt. ho OfsMOt OMDtin rentenoe being 8mended-80 I8 t0 OOniOb 81th th8 prOvi8bdI8 of Aot y of 1940."
The Supreme Oourt o? Louidrnr In Henry v. Reid, 201 La. 858, Mldl
"The 818111 Oarplmlmt OS the rel8trlI 18 for uny yo8r8 under the prerlou8 18~ Of thlr State, it h88 been ourtmery prowldo in tho Judpeot rentonoo of 608th thr unnor mod8 of ooutlOm Of tho prl8OnU (1. 0. h8muln(o, death and th8t th18 U88 8 88fe 8ad deiht0 VI8 Oi 08r’ry- olod. law and 8bOUid hare boon to1 3: out the
%ven li it be oonoeded th8t rtfpulrting In aentonoe the manner end mode ot the Judgment exeoutlon of the death rrntenoe war the bett8r pr8otioe, it 18 obrerred thrt relatrix ha8 not polntrd to 8my 18W th8t 8hOW8, under tie f8Ot8 8nd oirouutsmoer of thi8 088e, rhe 18 beiq~ deprived 02 any legal right, I mnner 8nd I mean8 oontrrry 1~ a8 or 18 about to be xeouted in Wi8t8 tOd8y. Her 8ttorney8 cnre mare o? the iaot thrt the Judgment 0r rentenoo w88 to be omrlod out ooordin6 t0 hw, 8t the time her 8ppe81 ~a8 fb811y pa88ed upon by thl8 Court rnd did not then r8iro thi8 i88Ue. Stete 'I. Henry', 200 La. 875, 9 So. 2d 215.
I!onor8blo Hmier Curlron, Jr., 98&e
*Rarlne failed ahou that 8ha W(I8 in ray my prejudload or w118 m8wruiiy dtprlved of any _ _ right, thr trlrl Judge properly rerwea gent 8 prolinln8~y lnjunotlon to rertrdn thr rherlrf and hi8 drputlor r-m thr porforarinoe of their dutler in oatryl~ 0s oourt out the rmtenoo and the death rnrrrnt of the Oovemor. Vlth roteronoo to th8 oontentlon that Aot
x0. 14 Of i!&o 18 UnOOn8titUtiW8i bO8U80 it 18 80 l x pO8t raoto bar, it 8UffiOi8nt to My thl8 Court 9888*4 upon thir ldentloal quertlon ln the 0880 OS Sate 1. “larra, 200 La. 606, 9 30. :;,gi and held Aob ~88 not unoon8tltu-
ThOre8fter, the rooured rpplled to the
Suprem; Court 0r ths United St8ter for I nit 0s oertlomrl, nhloh ~88 denied on Ootobor 12, 19I.2.
3~. State of Loulrlrru x rel. Huxh Pl8rre t. I?On&ablr SUB Uou8ton JOne8, tiloriior Of i6ulilan8, 63 5. Ct. 64, 67 L. 36."
In view 0s the foregoing tuthorltlo8 lt 18 the opinion thl8 department when the defendant 18 rp- prehended and returmd to Taxm8, he may br lrotrooutad.
VUY trUlY JrOlW8 ATTORNXY bKNXRAL OY TEXAS .cm, . BY . C. D8vi8, Jr. A88iBtant