The New York herald., 1871-02-09
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR.
Suicide Of n Convict i'm the
TOlnbs Prison.
He Hangs himself in His CELIA Legacy Of
Hats-Lstters Of the Deceased Inquest ON the
Body Recital Of the Circumstances At
tending His Incarceration Letter
to the Herald Giving His connec-
ron with the Whole Affair


OF report that one Of the prisoners had committed
suicide. Everybody questioned everybody else as
! to who rhe could be- but nothing definite
could be ascertained unul Warden sracom
came 10 the rescue. II was thea ascertaned
that the unfortunate individual wis samnel 8.
| stevens OF Belfast, Ale. Tue story In connection
with this mans incarceration Is as oilows:0n the
letn OF October 1869, stevens came on to New York
! rom Belfast with George W. Buckmaf, OF that
| place, wtha yiew Of purchasing some United States
bonus. He was introduced 10 Buckmar previously
by Axwe Hayford, the Mayor OF Belfast, tue latter
telling Buckmar chat stevens would BE OF greai use
TO him In negotiating some bonds OF the Moosehead
Railroad Company, OF whcb Hayford was
the President 1t was, moreover, alleged that
Mayor Hayford had entrusted Bucsmar with
large amount Of the bonus, to negotiate them In
New York at the rate OF eighty ceEts tho doll ar
for United States securities. Tho manner IN which
the business was DONE at least stated the trial
OF Stevens, subsequently seemed TO reject somewhat
upon the Mayor; but eventually the Assistant Dis
trict Attorney declared that no imputation could
be attached to him. Buckmar and Stevens both
took up quarters ar the Astor House, aud the 2st
| OF October 1869, the former gave the latter
$4,000 IN DRAFTS AND CHECKS,
desiring him to get the cash for them from the Ma
| tional Trust Company, $50 Broadway THIS lie did,
! and handed In the fun amount. Bucimar stated
that be put this money with $4,000 additional INTO
satchel in his room, and put IL on the table,
! his bed Beng sick he was then confined to
| his room In the hotel. and Stevens Cane
| in after he had handed in the money,
and sat talking with him upon various subjects
part OF which referred to their Immediate business
In New York. After Stevens haa been In conversa-
ton some time he sald:-"BucA Amar, this exchange
OF bonds business hos slipped up" and became
greatly excited about
THE PURCHASE OF SOME STOLEN BONDS
he had intended making at fifty cents on the dollar.
BucSmar then lett his room go TO another part or
the building, leaving Stevens in the room where the
satchel containing the money was lying, and when
he returned he stated he shook hands with Stevens
bolted and locked his door, but Immediately after
wards discovered that his satchel had been opened
ana his money gone. samuel stevens left the city ana
was arrested on the lst oi February $780, at quincy
H., ON
REQUIsrrIoN FROM GOVERNOR HOFFMAN,
He was taken TO Chicago and when his trunk was
searched five bonds of the Belfast city stock, each
Oi tue denomination Of $500, were found therein. AT
the trial q Maine lawyer denied that he mad
stolen the money. but that IL was handed to him by
mutual contract, and said that Mayor Hayi0rd,
Bucamar ana Munroe Young tBuckmaris son Iii-IawI
were coDsprators, designing against teyens, whose
family connections were hIghy respectable and
whose name had hitherto remained untarni3hed.
The decea ed was formerly in business IN Name
ST. Louis, Wisconsin ana Chicago and ar the time
he cana 10 New York he had $1,000 IN gold W IN
him. 1t was alleged that be once tried to leave Bel
fast nailed up IN dry goods box, but this We
ns trial on me charge OF stealing the So 500 oc-
cuped Two days liz the Court OF General SESSIONS
viz, 2lst anu I'D December, 1870. Alter the larry
had returned a verdict oil guilty ne was reuianaed
10 the TomDs to await sentence. wnerc he has
remained
BEING A MASON or GOOD srANnING,
well known to many persons in tins ci s., he was
constantly visit BY members OF the Fraternity. In
I fact, the Warden observed tnat he was constantly
receiving visits from persons OF the highest respect
ability IN this Guy. Stevens, was an intelIl
inches In height, tnick sci, wen deve-
loped frame, dark complexion and having
q heavy otard and mustache. During the tine
he was confined IN the TomDs ne was melancholy
and detected constantly reieratine the statement
concerning his innocence OF the charge for winch he
was convicted He sometimes complained tuaL he
cell was TOO close. and said tnat as he was very
nervous man the confinement, combined with
scarcity OF pure air, driving him mad. In con-
sequence OF this Application ne was allowed 10 have
the inner door OF his cell open during the day and
nlgnt both, favor that IS not grained except under
extraordinary CIRCUMSTANCES.
Yesterday ne was TO have been arraigned for
sentence. Stevens however. who possessed very
sensitive nature, secretly determined that he would
moi suter
THE IGNoMINy OF INCARCERATION IN THE STATES
aud accordingly resolved on r,,E
from that lasting disgrace. ON his good
name. on Tuesday evening Mr. Stevens appeared
better than usual, ana so expressed hlmsef 20 be-
putty Keeper Bailey, who had brief conreraton
with him. Nothing more was seen OF stevens tiil
one O'Clock yesterday morning, when Night Keeper
Orr, III going his rounds among the PRISONERS to
see tnat all was right. according TO custom, pee bed
into his cell and was startled by seeing white
cloth hanging against the inner door. Mr.. Orr cried
out TO his associate (kcnnedyl saying "Ibere s
something wrong here" In a few momenti the
STEVENS WAS FOUND DEAD,
he having hung himself 70 the top of the cell door by
means OF strip from sheet on his bed which he had
torn for the purpose After securing the strip around
his neck stevens, as he could not suspend himself
sank 10 the foor and his weight 50 Ilghtened Inc
apology for a rope az tn produce strangulation.
When found Stevens apparently had been dead or
two hours or more. On searching the cell occupied
bJ deceased were iound among other things, o iet
ter addressed 10 Warden Stacom and another
directed TO Bailey, dep4ty keeper. II wi be seen
by perlslng the letter so the Warden that IN
HIS DYING STATEMENT
he protests his entire innocence OF the charge or |
winch he haa been convicted. |
M, warssn sEsess city Prison, New I",s
gone on that tourney from which No traveller returns sss
days has been under fearful excitement, aud / came
70 he s Ia. most TO a: 10 @
on false charge by Andrew hayiord Mayor OF Belfast
Young Of Ellsworth Ne say now as hope soon q
before NY Co.. that there was not one Word Of 'roh IN
the
Eo al Vest Fod 1s my ia a a way
Of Baas" Of hs as ana puos ss short aoS n ss
city ese ana al 0eS g as d % my friends a. sbeye shVESs
on the border OF a copy of the HERALD deceased |
had written postscript, in which ne says:-"Sooner
not guilty VIII die.n
LETTER TO Mr.. BAILEY.
NE. BArLEY-If anything betas in this place |
send to my friends 2i1 West Fortyhird street.
for Please deliver all my things them-:wo !
blankets, two pillows. two comorers, sheet vise,
oyercoat. MIR. Iiley win know. thank you kindly kindly
for your uniform Kindness also thanks TO MT.
d. Dwyer, who has always been kind to Yours kindly,
S. $. STEVENS |
THE INQUEST
During yesterday afternoon Coroner keenan,, with /
his deputy, called at the Tombs for the purpose of
holding an inquest over the remains OF Mr.. Stevens I
ana there found daughter Of deceased, male |
friend from Bangor, Me-. besides lady. nti-
mate friend OF the family, living in West Forty.hrd
street
THE TESTIMONY
OF Warden Stacom and Deputy Keeper Bailey was
taken. but threw no new light on the matter, owing
the absence OF night keepers. Tne nquisiton
not concluded, nut VIII be finished to-day.
Coroner Keenan, however gave certificate or
death, and last evening the daughter OF deceased |
took the remains, which were last night i
sent to Bangor for interment. The Coroner I