DEATH AT LAST.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 225, 22 September 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

DEATH AT LAST.

AFTER FIFTEEN YEARS.

LONG LEGAL DELAYS

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 guiltv 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 wag. secured and this time Faltin was found insane and sent to an asylum. Some twelve months later, capital punishment was abolished in Arizona, 'where Faltin's sentence had been passed, and it seemed he wpuld never meet the hangman. In 1918, however, the death penalty was reintroduced and this led to Faltin'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 before, 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.