The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-06-25
John Brown Pardoned.

counties can convict them. His latest ex-
plot of this kind is the pardon of John c.
Brown, recently convicted in our circuit
court and sentenced for one year in COM
nectien with the stealing of wolf robes from
Wright's stable Brown was convicted on
the evidence of Gard Barker, and sentenc-
ed on Saturday June 18th. On Sunday
the 18th, Barker was induced to make an
affidavit that he had sworn falsely. Brown
was taken to Joliet Oh the 14th and his
lawyers went to work, with Barker's aft
davit, to get our pardoning governor to
turn him loose, which they accomplished
in about a week. Brown lost his curly
hair and fax colored moustache. was in
the state prison week with striped clothes
on, and then the governor apologized to
him and restored him to his privileges as a
citizen, the state furnished him new suit
of citizens clothes, and $40 in money, and
on Thursday he reappeared in Rock Is
land, where everybody believes he and
his harlot Mrs Mary Weir guilty of
receiving and secreting stolen property,
knowing it to be stolen.
After Marshal Halves got clue to the
matter, Homer Lowry (who owned one Of
stolen robes) went to Chicago where Brown
and Weir then were and pounced upon
Brown at once and had him arrested,
charging him with the theft or connection
with it. Brown turned pale, trembled, and
wanted to pay for the robes and purchase
silence, Lowry gave him his optiou-pro-
duce the robes or 60 back to Rock Island
and stand trial. Brown begged, placed
security in the officers hands and prom
ised to produce the robes at once. He
went out, was gone short time, returned
with the robes and was released. Lowry
came home and Charley Wright (who
owned another of the robes) and others in
sisted on the arrest of Brown. He and
Weir were arrested by telegraph, and
brought here and tried
Now, if Brown was innocent, why did not
MIR. Hawley put him on the stand during
the trial and let him testify? He was a
competent witness and Mr.. Hawley knew
Iit-but he dare not trust him on the stand.
. Why did not Brown say to States Atty
Parmenter that he was innocent and tell him
} his story? After Barker had told his story
(which Barker new says was false) why
did not Brown go on the stand and deny it =!
Mr.. Hawley made the point that
Brown could not be held as accessory be.
cause he did not reside in the state when
the crime was committed, and the court
intimated that it would so instruct the
Jury. But Sweeney & Jackson knocked
the wind out of that point by producing {
law of this state which completely covered
!, the matter and made it legal to convict IL
e such cases. This was a sumner to Haw
ley. He had stated his position, got bea
e on it, and had then to proceed to trial. |
Brown was innocent, We again ask, "Wh,
did not his counsel put him on the stand?
Everybody will say that it was becaus
q Brown and his counsel knew that he wa
s guilty.
IN What price was paid for Barker's affida
to Wit?
1t What lawyer got Browns $3.50 watc
d and 500 chain? The engraving insid
the case-"Presented to John C. Brown /
Mary Weir," is calculated to make it MOI
binding"
~ Such an administration of justice an
nc the laws as is shown in this case of Brow
ia and Weir is not calculated to inspire re
lis pect from the people or strike terror
re the guilty or the dangerous classes. B.
We it is calculated to arouse the people
vi such pitch that they will not trust crir
~ inals to such governor as Beveridge, b,
Ut will take the Iowa mode of settling the
w hash on the spot.
Political influence seems to be all tn
is necessary to screen the guilty. Poll
to- cal influence brings more cash than lee
Ter ability, in these latter days. Secure
Eat lawyer who has been to congress, or who
he in some way connected with the state 60
of ernment, or who is leading politician
ich close relations with the governors rim
of get an affidavit from penitentiary thi
the that he lied on the stand, 60 to Sprir
nat field, ''see" Beveridge, and the work
ok. done.
but Beveridge is getting ready to run
governor again. He wants to go to t
e, -: U. S. senate. He is emptying the ST.
ed prison. Every scoundrel pardoned is
itb pected to stand by and vete for Bev
in idge's ring. All his friends are expect
an to do the same.
ann But is it not barely possible that vo
oar will be lost on the other side, from
men who have been robbed? Char
=, Wright has probably expended $3.50
-. bring Brown to justice. Other iDjur
" parties have done something also.
M course they and their friends will sta
VI" n up for Beveridge and his ringl Not to
Ao' so will be ''disloyal" Beveridge and
ring want votes. A penitentiary THE
vote counts. His friends votes cou
Mill And respectable people are expected
,ara stand up for this sort of admi nistratior
r.; law, for the sake of the party
'ns Children's and Boys Li6en White &
ted n town, at Loeb's. "
Tish