A newspaper photograph of William Cavalier, a 14-year-old boy from near Pottsville, Schuylkill County, who in January 1925, was convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to death, for shooting his grandmother after gagging and robbing her. [Photo from New York Daily News, January 12, 1925].
The story was closely followed by readers in the Lykens Valley area through reports in the Lykens Standard and the Elizabethville Echo. The articles are presented here in today’s blog post.
Spoiler alert: Eventually, after appeals, young Cavalier was spared the death penalty when his sentence was commuted to “life.” He was transferred to Pennsylvania’s Farview State Hospital, Wayne County, the notorious prison for “mental defectives,” where he died of tuberculous on October 21, 1940.
A history of the case from the Lykens Standard, January 29, 1926:
MURDERER AT AGE OF 14
Cavalier was 14 years old when in September, 1924, he shot his grandmother, Mrs. Catherine Cavalier, of Mechanicsville, Schuylkill County, and robbed her of more than $100. His real name is William Yost, but he adopted his grandparents’ name because they have reared him since he was 7 weeks old, when his parents separated.
The murder had been brutal. After killing his grandmother, he placed the body in a closet and told his grandfather she had gone to Florida. Then, with the stolen money he went to a motion picture show.
The boy’s apparent lack of emotion at his conviction and sentence to sit in the “hot seat” as he termed the electric chair, attracted nationwide attention to his case. Over-grown physically and underdeveloped mentally, his attitude of stoicism created sympathy among many welfare organizations and persons who contended that is Leopold and Loeb, with their mental alertness, should escape executions, Cavalier, with a retarded mind, should also enjoy clemency….
The boy was tried last January in Schuylkill County and was sentenced in May to go to the electric chair. Letters from members of the jury at that time, asking life imprisonment, were referred to the Pardon Board, the court explaining it had no alternative than death to impose.
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From the Lykens Standard, January 16, 1925:
14 YEAR OLD YOUTH CONVICTED OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER
William C. Cavalier, 14 years old, was found guilty of murder in the first degree by a jury in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, Sunday, after they deliberated exactly twenty-three and one-half hours.
Cavalier was charged wih killing his grandmother who was aged 62 years, the murder taking place last September. Cavalier, who shot his grandmother seven times and then stole $58 from her stocking while she was dying, showed no emotion when the verdict was given. His attorney entered a plea for a new trial on the grounds of insanity.
The youth, the youngest to be found guilty of first degree murder in Schuylkill County, and probably the youngest in the State was committed to the county jail to await the disposition of the application made by the atwtorneys. When he was in the county jail he was informed the verdict might mean life imprisonment or the death penalty, Cavalier made no comment, excepting, “Well I will have to get these clothes off,” after which he picked up a book and started to read.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, February 12, 1925:
ARGUMENTS HEARD FOR NEW TRIAL
Attorneys at Pottsville argued for a new trial for William Cavalier, 14-year-old boy who was convicted of the murder of his grandmother, claiming that the State Police obtained a confession from the boy by improper methods. Four physicians testified that the boy was insame.
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From the Lykens Standard, May 1, 1925:
Pottsville, Pennsylvania — Monday was the day for the imposition of death sentence on William Cavalier, youthful Pottsville slayer, but the sentence was stayed because of the decision of Judge Koch being appealed to the higher court. Judge Koch refused to appoint a committee to investigate the sanity od the 16 year old boy and the decision has been appealed to supreme court. This action stays all proceedings and Judge Koch says it may be several months before the case will he beard in the higher court.
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From the Lykens Standard, November 27, 1925:
SUPREME COURT RULES BOY MURDERER MUST GO TO ELECTRIC CHAIR
Death was decreed Monday by the State Supreme Court for William Cavalier, 15-year-old Schuylkill County boy sentenced to the chair for the slaying of his grandmother, Mrs. Catherine Cavalier, in her home at Mechanicsville, in September of last year.
The Court upheld the convictions and sentence assed upon the youth by Judge Koch, of Pottsville, on May 18 [1925]. The only remaining hope for having the boy’s life in an appeal to the Board of Pardons.
The boy, who was placed in a cell in the Schuylkill County Jail October 27, after having been detained in the juvenile detention home since his arrest because of his youth, has maintained a calm exterior through other legal moves which were instituted to bring about a less severe sentence.
Strangely a remark expressing a hope made by the boy last year seems to be coming true.
“I’d rather take chances with the chair than spend my life in a mad house,” he said, when told on May 4 [1925] that an insanity plea had been denied. He also expressed himself against “spending 60 years of my life in jail.”
In refusing the appeal, the Supreme Court said that, notwithstanding the boy’s extreme youth, the death sentence must be carried out. The Court then recited statutes and precedents holding that any youth from the age of fourteen years and up is presumed to possess the capacity to commit any crime.
Following the imposition of the death sentence this year, a wave of sympathy for the boy swept over the state and a movement was started to win mercy for him. The late former Judge John M. Patterson offered his service in behalf of the boy.
Innumerable organizations, among them the Gold Star department of the American War Mothers, prominent churchmen, and a great number of individuals acting for as many groups, joined in the mercy plea.
The boy was convicted January 11, this year. A new trial was asked immediately. Judge Koch withheld decision three months while he digested the evidence. Then he refused the petition and imposed sentence.
During thus time a move to have the boy examined to establish his sanity was started. This was also defeated. Meanwhile, State-wide interest in the case had been aroused, and a great amout of effort was spent in an attempt to win for him a lesser penalty.
There was no dissent to the opinion written by Justice Schaffer, in which were recited salient points of argument offered by the defense counsel for a reversal of the sentence or the granting of a new trial.
Cavalier confessed firing seven shots into the 64-year old grandmother’s body and to taking her savings of $108. She had reared him from babyhood, testimony showed, He was without remorse, apparently, thruout the trial and later developments. His general attitude seemed one of defiance.
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From the Lykens Standard, November 27, 1925, reprinting a commentary from the Harrisburg Telegraph:
THE CASE OF CAVALIER
Regardless of the technical findings of the State Supreme Court in the case of William Cavalier, the Schuylkill County boy who has been found guilty of first degree murder, there will be those who will still contend that one law for Loeb and Leopold and another for Cavalier is very bad business.
Loeb and Leopold, sons of wealthy parents, brought up in an atmosphere and culture and enjoying the advantages of college education, brutally murdered an innocent lad for the mere thrill of an unusual experience – and were sentenced to life imprisonment.
Cavalier, son of poverty stricken and deficient parents, himself of childish intellect, raised in poor surroundings, and younger by four years than either Loed or Leopold, killed an aged woman for a few pennies – and he is doomed to death.
Decent regard for right and justice demands that the State Pardon Board see to it that Pennsylvania does not stoop to the degradation of killing mentally deficient children.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, December 10, 1925:
NEXT MOVE UP TO GOVERNOR IN CAVALIER CASE
The Schuylkill County court officials are preparing to certify the death sentence passed on William Cavalier, 15-year-old boy slayer and the next move then will be up to Governor Pinchot, who has the privilege of delaying action or fixing the date of execution.
Lawyers for the defense state their belief that the Governor wil not issue a date for execution, since he is aware of an appeal pending and will soon be filed with the Board of Pardons. The boy’s counsel are certain that the youthful slayer will be granted a commutation of sentence.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, December 17, 1925:
EXECUTION DATE FOR CAVALIER BOY SET
Following the terms of the death warrant signed by Governor Pinchot, William C. Cavalier, 15-year-old Schuylkill County youth who killed and robbed his grandmother in the month of September, 1924, will be electrocuted during the week of February 1, 1926.
The date of execution was extended to allow lawyers for the defense to carry his case to the January session of the board of pardons, the last appeal remaining for the lad. The slayer was convicted in January in the Schuylkill County Courts, a lunacy commission being refused, and an appeal was made to the Supreme Court, which upheld the decision of the county court several weeks ago, and affirmed the first degree murder conviction.
Cavalier is the youngest person sentenced to death in this State, and at his trial hundreds of letters were received by the governor and members of the board of pardons, all of which asked executive clemency for the convicted. It is expected that these appeals will be repeated before the case is heard by the pardon board.
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From the Lykens Standard, December 18, 1925:
SET DATE OF EXECUTION FOR CAVALIER
William C. Cavalier, 15-year-old Schuylkill County boy who killed and robbed his grandmother in September, 1924, will go to the electric chair during the week of February 1, 1926, according to terms of the death warrant issued Saturday by Governor Pinchot.
The date was estended in order to permit the boy’s lawyers to carry his case to the January session of the Board of Pardons, the last appeal remaining for the boy. Cavalier was convicted in January in Schuylkill County courts, a lunacy commission was refused, an appeal was taken to the Supreme Court, which several weeks ago upheld the decision of the county court and affirmed the first degree conviction. The records of the court cases reached the Governor last week.
Cavalier is the youngest person sentenced to death in Pennsylvania and at the time of his trial many letters were received by the Governor and members of the Boarqd of Pardons, asking executive clemency for the boy. This flood of appeals is expected to be repeated before the case is heard by the board.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, January 7, 1926:
ASK COMMUTATION OF DEATH SENTENCE FOR CAVALIER
On Tuesday application was made to the State Board of Pardons at Harrisburg for the commutation of death sentence passed on William C. Cavalier, who is sentenced to be electrocuted February 1, for the murder of his grandmother, Mrs. Catharine Cavalier of Mechanicsville, Schuylkill County, on September 6, 1924.
The plea was filed by P. B. Roads and C. W. Staudenmierer, both members of the House of representatives and both of Pottsville. It is based on a weak and mental defection of the boy, who was only 14 years of age when he committed the crime. It also sets forth his lack of power of restraint and ability to distinguish between right and wrong and lack of parental care in early youth. The murder was committee for the purpose of robbery and nundreds of petitions and letters were sent to the parfon board by residents of Pennsylvania, asking clemency for the youth. Many of the letters cite the Loeb case of Chicago in their pleas.
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From the Lykens Standard, January 15, 1926:
CAVALIER CONFIDENT OF COMMUTATION
Pottsville, January 11 — P. B. Rhoads and C. W. Staudenmaier, attorneys for William Cavalier, 15-year old boy murderer of his grfandmother, sentenced to the electric chair, have been excused from court attendance the latter part of this monty so they can make a final plea for the boy’s life before the Board of Pardons. Unless the board intervened the boy will be executed February 1.
Staudenmaier is a member of the Legislature which has been called in special session, but will give first attention to Cavalier’s case. Confidence in the communitation of the murder’s sentence is not so great since District Attorney Palmer announced he will attend the sessions of the Pardon Board and present the exact facts as to the terrible manner in shich the boy murdered his grandmother.
“After the board knows the facts my duty will be done,” said Palmer.
Cavalier, who was indulging in loud shouting and singing, so as to disturb the other inmates in jail recently, has been quieted down. He expressed confidence yesterday ingetting a pardon.
“I will be removed from this jail soon,” he said. “Just where they will send me I do not know, but I will not go to the hot seat.”
Cavalier always refers to the electric chair as “the hot seat where they roast people alive.”
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From the Elizabethville Echo, January 21, 1926:
CAVALIER CASE ARGUED YESTERDAY
The case of William Cavalier, Schuylkill County youth who in 1924 murdered his grandmother to obtain $108 was argued before the State Board of Pardons at Harrisburg yesterday.
It was expected that Lieutenant Governor Davis, Chairman of the Board, would be absent, but three other members, Attorney General Woodruff, Secretary of State King, and Secretary of Internal Affairs Woodward went ahead with the case. Lieutenant Governor davis is attending the National Guard Convention at Jacksonville, Florida.
Should there have been any disagreement among the three members who sat at the hearing, the execution date, which has been set for February 1st [1926] will be stayed by Governor Pinchot and the case will be reopened on February 17th.
It has been the general belief, however, that if there were any doubt as to the outcome of the Cavalier case that the Lieutenant Governor would have cancelled his trip to the South in order to sit with the board.
It is also believed that the board has taken into consideration the fact that the boy was only fourteen years of age when he committed the crime and that if the case would have been tried in the first place under the act of 1925 which permits juries to reach a verdict of life imprisonment instead of the death penalty in first degree cases, that the boy probably would not have been sentenced to electrocution.
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From the Elizabethville Echo, January 28, 1926:
DELAY ACTION ON PLEA OF CONDEMNED BOY
Although Lieutenant Governor Davis has returned from Florida, where he attended the National Guard Convention, the State Board of Pardons of which he is the chairman, has taken no action on the application on the application for commutation of the death sentence passed by Schuylkill County courts on the 15-year-old youth, William C. Cavalier of Pottsville, because Secretary of the Commonwealth Mr. Clyde L. King is absent.
Last week the Pardon Board heard argument for the life of Cavalier who killed his grandmother to obtain $100 and because of Davis’ absence the board took no action until he had returned.
When a full membership will have sat on the plea, the board will announce its decision in the case.
Cavalier is condemned to die in the electric chair next Monday morning.
On Tuesday afternon, however, with all members present the Pardon Board commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment.
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From the Lykens Standard, January 29, 1926:
PARDON BOARD COMMUTES CAVALIER SENTENCE
The death penalty of William C. Cavalier, 15-year-old Schuylkill County boy who killed his grandmother, was commuted to life imprisonment Tuesday by the State Board of Pardons.
The boy had been sentenced to go to the electric chair next Monday morning.
When the pardon Board heard the case last week with Lieutenant Governor Davis, chairman of the board, absent, it announced that if any protests were made to its decision, the case would be reheard next month.
After reaching its decision to spare the boy’s life, the Board communicated with District of Attorney Cyrus M. Palmer, of Schuylkil County, who had opposed commutation before the board last week. Palmer said he will not protest the Board’s decision.
Thousands of letters and petitions asking that the boy’s life be saved were sent to the board, many of them reaching herelong before the case had been sent to the board for decision. Many of these came from outside of Pennsylvania, New York especially being a numerous contributor….
The board’s decision sets aside the death warrant which the Governor had issued for his electrocution next Monday, and sentenced him to spend the remainder of his life in prison unless later he should be granted full pardon.
The boy was tried last January in Schuylkill County and was sentenced in May to go to the electric chair. Leetters from members of the jury at that time, asking life imprisonment, were referred to the Pardon Board, the court explaining it had no alternative sentence than death to impose. The appeal was carried to the State Supreme Court, which upheld the court’s findings, and then the case was submitted to the Pardon Board.
Favorable action had been expected by Cavalier who was reported to have prepared himself for the Eastern Penitentiary. The boy seemingly has lost none of his nonchalance and except for gathering together his clothes and a few trinkets given him in the Schuylkill County jail, has shown little worry as to his fate.
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From the Lykens Standard, January 29, 1926:
GLAD IF HE ESCAPES ASYLUM
Pottsville, January 26 [1926] — William Cavalier, 15-year-old youth, whose sentence to death in the electric chair for the slaying of his grandmother was commuted by the State Board of Pardons, expressed himself as being overjoyed when the news reached him this evening.
“I am very happy that my life has been saved,” Cavalier told Warden Llewellyn, “but I am afraid that it was just done with the idea of having me declared insane and sending me to an insane asylum.”
The warden told him that such was not the case, and that in all probability he would be sent to the Eastern Penitentiary at Philadelphia.
“If that’s the case,” the boy replied, “I’m satisfied.”
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