Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1858-05-27
Another Letter from Stout, the Rochester
Murderer.
Rochester, Monday, May 3, ISIS.


Sir present to you my sincere thanks, for
your kind and liberal letter 1t partly caused
me to forget nv present horrifc position and
carried me back through long years ofnnknown
suffering, to cur first acquaintance and the
DAYS of my boyhood, when hope was bright,
and ambition powerful.
] distinctly remember my connection with
the Pennsylvania matter, and | still firmly be
lieve your views and actions in regard to me
were just and honorable You believed (and
! will add your belief was truth) that was
not responsible for that affair, and if allowed
nm opportunity for redemption, with an exemp-
ton from certain destructive influences, | GER
tainly possessed sufficient power to make man
of Importance and responsibility. BY your
friendly action the indictment was suspended,
and with the best encouragement from your
self, and numerous others, | once more enter
ed society Do you not remember what go-
rious commencement | made | was engaged
in business with my old employer, who was
acquainted with this difficulty, yet he trusted
and hOnored me to an extent which showed
his faith in me was undiminished. From the
best knowledge l have, of my views, position
and character at that time, | think IT had
been let alone my course would have been
onward and upward" and true to the princi-
piles of honor and honesty.
Then came that piece of perfdy and villiany
perpetrated by those men who preferred the
charge against me in Pennsylvania, and who
had sacredly promised never to modest or in
ter fere with me- You remember how secretly
the requiSon was issued, and with what dis
patch | was hurried away. My prosecutors
were wealthy, powerful and unprincipled ;
was mere boy, stranger in the place, and
almost friendless aud alone. | bore this un-
Just proceeding against me with the same ener-
gy and selfpOsSeSSion which | have always
shown but | could not encounter such Oppo-
sition with the slightest prospect of success
The clear and forcble letters YOU wrote in my
behalf, should have influenced the Judge in
Pennsylvania to better consideration of my
rase and while it was injustice to do any
thing with me, yet it was quite evident the
law would have been abundantIy viudicated by
sending me to the House of Refuge and not
TO the State Prison. That | suffered wrong
here which changed my life is too true. You
remember the melancholy terminus of that trial
and my final disposition in Philadelphia. 1t
required all the philosophy possessed to sup
port that long, unjust and terrible imprsOn-
ment, but it seems | eventually triumphed.-
The nerve that never relaxcS the eye that new
er blanches, the thought that never wanders,
are the masters of victory.
If my conduct in Owego had not been uneX-
ceptionable, it is probable you would have act
cd on the suspended indictment, and decided
my destiny according to the best of your judg-
ment. And such proceeding would have
been right and just.
Upon the question, whether it would have
been just to have enforced the indictment pre-
viouS to my first discharge | will say, in my
opinion, it would not only have been very un-
just, but very injudciOus. Though succeed
ing events showed that it would have been bet
ter, as a matter of policy, for me to have been
disposed of with my father, yet | never would
have admitted the justice Of such a diSposi-
tion recollect how strongly you were inter
ested in me What good advice you gave me :;
and how firmly you believed | was born for
higher things than to squander my days in that
vortex of degradation called State Prison.
And | appeal to you, if during the brief era of
my liberty in Owego, did | not conduct myself
as straightly and regularly as the fallibiIity Of
human things would allow
There is a strange fatality which has attend
ed me, even from childhood When | think
vi plSSchG SltudtlOlJ dIIl hIItII ~ III
have been, the reflection is btter-bitter and
whitening. Who is responsible for my life ?
Who shall answer for my death Had | been
In my youth directed in the path of rectitude
and honor, who will attempt to say that
might not have been this minute legislating in
the halls of State House, or engaged in the
purer and holier cause of religion ; instead of
dying by inches, condemned in q cell. But |
have no reproaches to make. " God forbid"
should be guilty Of making Ony bitter filings
ut those whom | am bound to regard with the
pureSt reverence and affection.
/ have often bowed before the insullied great
ness and goodness of your character, and have
at time, been strongly impressed with the idea
that perhaps / might some day, be as much
beloved and respected es you. But the result
OF this terrible charge has blighted my earthly
hopes and ambition, and left me little else,
except that cool, Independent spirit which still
burns as brightly as the morning star Of God,
! still possess my almost fanatical attachment
20 books, and to everything lofty and beauti-
full and sometimes when | examine my heart
and character, | consider it singular, that afte"
passing through those vicions associations,
there should be so much goodness and princi-
pie left If -" this is the last of earth," (and
sincerely hope not) l deeply regret that |
have not accomplished more good and less evil
and l also regret that l failed to retain my
liberty long enough to develop those powers Of
usefulness and greatness which am certain
possess
From my heart I thank you for the inter
est and sympathy you have shown for me, and
with much Difference request that you vii
write to me again.
With the highest regard and esteem.
am, sincerely yours.
Nj. STOUT
BANK ROBBERY IN GREENCAsTLE, INDIANA =
a I,rrs Nu,u Staten - A orputlnmou in Grppu