River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1876-01-13

grief because of his conviction. lie never
tired of protesting his innocence, and his
eyes were constantly red and swollen
from weeping.
lie was taken to the penitentiary at
Columbus, where he was at first harshly
treated; but his amiable disposition was
not long in making so agreeable an i'm.
preston upon the keepers that many
privileges were granted to him. These
he never abused; on the contrary, he
proved an efficient assistant to the prison
authorities on more than one occasion. so
that they wondered how this good.
natured man could have been capable of
committing so hcinous crime. Five
gears pasSad by, when an event occurred
which proved beyond doubt that Capon
was after all an entirely innocent man.
A cotton broker, named Wilson, at Sa-
vannah. Ga, had long been on bad terms
with his wife. Finally he CHARGED her
with adultery, and sued for orce
The wife thereupon accused him Of
having murdered a man on the 10th of
November, 1871, on tue day after leaving
Plttsuurg, Pa, and of having robbed his
victim of $4,000 in $500 and 81 90 bank
bills.
She said that she had to wash on the
next day when he had unexpectedly re-
turned to Pittsburg, her husbands shirt,
which had been blood.stained, and she
had charged him with having killed some
body. lie had confessed TO her what he
had done, and they had left Pittsburg a
few days later and gone south.
Wilson was srrested, and the authorities
at Steubenville were communicated with
The Sheriff who had arrested Capon,
and who was still in office, came person
ally TO Savannah with u requsition from
the Governor Of Ohio. When he had his
first interview with Wilson, the latter,
who was terrified beyond measure by the
prospect Of the scaliold, asked him
whether a full confession would save HIM.
"lf you are guilty, it may be the only
thing that will save your life, replied the
Sheriff.
Thereupon Wilson made clear breast
of it. lie said he had waylaid Sammis,
who had left his horse at house three
miles from Stenbenville, and had attack
cd him with knife. SammiS had offered
ehO hfob uCSPSIdtS lcSiSlhlNcy anu tluu
compelled him TO stab him so often be-
fore he had succumbed.
When the Sheriff arrived with his
prisoner at Steubenvlle, the exaSperated
people there could be barely prevented
from lynching Wilson.
The Governor Of the State, upon re.
ceivIng certified copy Of Wilson's con-
fession, Immediately granted full par.
don to Capon, TO whom the Legislature,
which happened to be in session at Colum.
bus at that time, voted the sum s 1000
to indemnify him for the sufferings he had
iRnocently undergone.
1t is needless to try to describe Capon's
feelings at this change in his fortunes
lie returned to Steubenville, where the
people received hin. amid manifestation,
OF unfcigned joy.
At the next term Of the Circuit Court
Wilson was sentenced to be hung thu
court saying that the enormity ofthe Grim,
had been augmented by his cruelty suf
fering an innocent man to be punished
for it..
Capon gave proof Of genuine magma
nimity by going TO Columbus and aslIin,
the Governor to spare " ilson S life T; bu
the Governor refused to interfere. s.
Wilson was hung at Steubenville on tn
18th of January, 1877.