Connecticut western news., 1873-01-24
Willy CIark's Dying Statement.

Willy Clark, the feeble e-minded boy, who
 was convicted at the last criminal term of
 the superior court, of obstructing the Bos.
 ton < Albany railroad track at Chester.
 repeatedly told his mother, ,:just before he died, that he was innocent of the crime for
 which he had been convicted. The nigh,
 before his death he suddenly awoke mora intelligent than usual, and began looking about the prison and asked if he might 40 out and play when he got we'll. He was
 then too weak. to talk more than few
 minutes at time without stopping, but his mother humored ihis fancy and told him that he was mot in prison then. Will,
 seemed pleased and immediately said
 Il did not put that stick there, mother, but
 Mr. Gammel said 1 must own it or he
 wouldn't ever let me come home again. J It will be remembered that at the trial Sheriff Gammell testified to saying. "I can't let you go, Willy, for guess you put that stick on the bridge. If you did it, the best thing you can do is to own up. "
 This, according to the sheriff's testimony, eft-repeated statement, at length induced Clark to confess the deed. Willy's final story. taking, from his weakness; over two hours in telling, was precisely what he told his father at first, and what his counsel sought to show at the trial. He left the railroad track above the bridge, and, having rubber boots, waded the brook and SO went home.
 His story was full of unconscious pathos and he only complained because they would not let him go out to play. He remember ed and once or twice shudderingly alluded to Chester lookup, a dark room in the center of the town hall, where he was kept one night and part of the next day without covering, fire or food. It is hardly remark able that he was willing to confess anything to get out of such place. The shock of the experience and subsequent confinement undoubtedly hastened his death, and, weak witted as he was, it was better for him to die than to live in prison. But it is none the less surprising that the jury should have given general verdict of guilty, in the face of his clearly shown mental debility. He never once talked with his counsel, and it was very difficult to make him remember to say ''not guilty" in answer to the indict- ment. When he was convicted te had no sense of what it meant, and even the fore man of the jury said, after the trial, 'We thought he did it, but we did not think him responsible for his a cts"
 But it is by no means clear that he did do it. As shown by the testimony, after he reached home, the section master cross. ed the bridge and saw no stick between the sleepers. Then 8 mountain wood-burning engine passed the bridge and the passenger train followed. It was the theory of the defense that the obstructing stick fell from :he Aforementioned locomotive tender. One or two profesScd experts pronounced the theory untenable, but the circumstance has since happened on the very same bridge A stick of wood was seen falling from the engine tender of a recent trrin upon the bridge. and the man who went back to pick il up found it in almost precisely the same position as the stick which had such an effect on the doomed Willy Clark must have been in. It don't matter much to him now, but it is a curious illustration of the fallibility of experts and of jurles' decis- ions. s.-tpsTnafSI6 Republican.