The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-04-06
SAVED FROM THE GALLOWS
from the Chicago Evening Mai


A remarkable case, showing the dan
ger Of trusting implicitly to CT. cumstan-
tial evidence, has just been concluded in
Toledo Nearly three years ago Robert
Sharp was found dead, with shot and
slugs in his brain. A man named Har-
rington, who was on intimate terms with
the d. ceased, was arrested for the murder
The testimony was wholly ciIcumstantial
but so skilfully worked up" by the de-
tectives, that Harrington was convicted
and sent to the penitentiary. His law
yers had become interested in the case
and, although Harrington was poor
man, they determined to fight his
case to the end. After a long and ar
duous struggle through the District and
Supreme Courts, an order for a new
trial was obtained and that trial has Just
closed
The main points in the evidence Oh
which be was convicted were the appar
ent correspondence of the shot in the
body Of the dead man with that in the
shot bag belonging to Harrington; the col
respondence of pieces of newspaper
found near the scene of the supposed
murder, and assumed to be part Of the
gun-waddIng, with tom paper in Har-
rington's residence, and piece in his
vest pockets and that the motive for the
murder was to be found in the alleged fact
of Sharp having come to Toledo with
several hundred dollars in money, which
Harrington knew, and that no one else
was so intimate with Sharp.
On the second trial it was rendered
doubtful whether there was similarity
in the shot. 1t was clea Ily proven that
the pieces of paper alleged to have been
picked up at the scene of the murder
were not there at the time of the finding
of the body, nor for day OF two after
ward, and the inference was unavoidable
that they were put there by the detec
tives to aid them in working up" the
case against Harrington. 1t was further
proven that Sharp was destitute wher
he arrived at Toledo, and that Harrington
was doing his best in aiding him to pro.
cure employment. To crown all, al
alibi was clearly and satisfsctoril,
proven. Harrington was declared limo
cent and the jury voluntarily gave him
letter, signed by every member, repeat
ing, in emphatic terms, their belief o
his entire innocence of any knowledg
OF the supposed murder, ana bearing ties
timony to his uniform good character
The public sentiment unanimously coin
cided with the verdict. The former EN-
ployer of Harrington Immediately took
him back into his service.
1t causes an unpleasant shudder to re
tect that perfectly innocent nam O
good Character, suffered two years of de
grading punishment and narrowly escar
ed an ignominious death, for crime 0
which ne knew nothing. 1t is anothe
warning of the danger of implicit trus
IN wholly circumstantial evidence, and
protest against the detectives in work
ing up case" against one they choose t
suspect
The Pail Mall Gazette, the model !,
correctness of diction and accuracy Of e1
Pression, in describing an Alpine acci
dent, says of some guides who escape,
that !" the ropes snapped just below
them, and couple of eminent member
of the club, an earnest American, thre
guides and four porters were hurried int
eternity, carrying Wita them rope-ladder,
tce-oGes and provisions"