Daily Republican

ALBANY, N. Y., July 10, 1888—Pearl Eytinge pleaded with Governor Hill this afternoon for the life of the murderess Chiara Cignarale. She presented an introductory letter from Senator Cantor and made her plea in a most dramatic manner. In a trembling voice she thus addressed the Executive: "Mercy for poor Chiara Cignarale! Oh, sir, we pray thee give one kindly thought to that poor dying creature, driven to despair by the cruelty of one who had broken his altar vows, forgotten his faith in God, dishonored the name of man, by striking to earth the pale, weak, hopeless mother of his children. We implore Your Excellency to consider that dread disease has already fastened upon her poor, frail form. 'We have seen her upon her prison couch with great, sad, yearning eyes, from out whose dark depths sorrow and repentance are shadowed forth; we have watched her wan lips moaning in ceaseless supplication; and we beg you to grant her the blessing of Executive clemency. Exercise that grand official power, and with one stroke of the mighty pen spare poor Chiara's life, and send her that blessed reprieve wherein to save her soul and make her peace with God.'"

Governor Hill heard the plea patiently, though his thoughts were plainly on the big bunch of letters which had accumulated in his absence. He said he was familiar with the case and that the newspapers had prevented a life sentence by charging the prisoner's counsel, Mr. Howe, with abandoning his client. He consulted a few moments with the Pardon Clerk and then courteously assured Miss Eytinge that he would consider the case very carefully. It is believed that the commutation of sentence, for which the Governor's fair visitor pleaded so earnestly, may possibly be granted.

Chiara Cignarale, the condemned murderess, passed yesterday at the Tombs in much the same fashion that has characterized her behavior since she was sentenced to death. That is to say, she is in an almost apathetic state of despair and seems to think her doom is sealed. She derives a little comfort from the efforts of Pearl Eytinge and other friends to procure the intervention of the Governor in her behalf, but she is not especially hopeful of the result.