Page 29
JACOB HODGES.
21
thing comd satisfy but the violent death
of their victim. The court saw that ap¬
peals had been made to Jacob's sense of
obligation to his employers; and also that
in addition to the promise of co-operation
in the crime and a large pecuniary re¬
ward, his moral sense had been stupefied
by freely administered stimulants. From
these considerations, exertions were early
made to save him from the fatal sentence
that had been passed upon him. And'
some of the court, even while they felt
■ that justice might demand the sentence of
death, voluntarily promised to recommend
him to the clemency of the legislature.
Providentially, the legislature of the
State were in session at the time appointed
for Jacob's execution. While the execu¬
tive had the power of granting an un¬
qualified pardon, the legislative branch of
government alone could change the sen¬
tence which the court had passed upon
him. Upon representations being made
in favour of Jacob, his sentence of death
was commuted to that of hard labour in