New-York tribune., 1878-10-26
AN INNOCENT MAN IMPRISONED.

PARDON OF DONNELLY, WHO WAS WkoNGFULLY
CoNVICrED-CONFEssION OF LOUIS CAELIN.
Terence O'Neill DOnnely was sentenced on
July H. 1878, to two years and hall IN the state
Prison. forgery OF check puGpJrtnE to be drawn by
Edwin c. Litcnfeld, on the Corn Exchange Bu.k 10 c.
T. Peters ORDER tor S9900 under date OF February .
1873. Yesterday, District-Attomey Phelps received
from Governor Robinson full pardon for DOnuely, IL
having been discovered that he was innocent Of the
crime.
Mr. Litchfcld had in his employ a boy named W. f.
Reilly This boy, with his brother Edward and Louis
Carlin had been engaged in forging Mr.. Ltchnclds
checks on varlous banks OF the cy TO the amount OF
$4,000, the check OF 5000 being the largest
with the proceeds sailed for Bdrbadoes In tic
brig o. c. Gary. When they arrived there they
were arrested, brought back here and tired. They
acknOwle ICED Their connection WIN lhe iUrEcrcS
but charged Donnclly with the actual commits
sion OF he orgcrics On their testimony hc was con
viccd and sentenced lhc boys pleaded guilty and were
gent 70 the EImrI RcfOrmatofy.
Recently Louis Carlin has made statement under
oath IN winch declares the charges against DOney
be false and narraes the manner in which the
the SUPERINTENDENT OF the RcformatOry District Att0r
ncy Phelps at sent letter TO Governor Robinson
Iu his confession LOUIS CarIin says:
When we sailed had six 300 bills, and the rest OF
the money was III 81 900 bills, SlOD bllls, 500 cold
pieces aud $40 ILLS and so blls FrecnhacRs We
had SIS 600 aud some odd with Us DOnnelly never
ceiYcd auy Of the money. When We arrived IN Bafba.
does February -. Edward Reilly and were arrested
and searched. mad then p SIX 500 hll; in nv
/
$1,000 IN MS. lie searched, but tnty did get H.
william Reilly WAS concealed IN the hold of the vessel
we hay M made arrangements with the captain OF the
vessel for ihat purpose. They did MN until
The fol oyIu- Gi,y lie mac about 900 ls posses
| sion. of which hc had given $500 TO thc
steward and the rest 10 the second mate. We
were mandrd 10 PRISON TO await cNtradCIOn and after
being there about weeks We became intimate WIN
wu OF the turukcys-Onc whose named Moore ho Is
a short and stout negro We offered 81 900 IL he would
Hbcrucu us lie consented but got scared and refused
10 DO IT, The other mans name Is Wood.
Inc wa, wiling bu hc dd not have the keys. lie was
0ur spccal couhdant. lie sent letter with 5000 tp
NrwNok to pay for counsel fees for H.. The letter
was sent 10 William RCillYs father. Itl nOW believe
bath letter aud nOnry-n his fathers Possession.
Tcfort. leaving Barbadofs lcTt $4,000
and we told him we would either come after u ourselves
or seDd ,OmebOdy and the password was To De "mO,i,-
tache-N erona." ana We were 10 give hm $40
Jnontu for mndine It for III. When we eff
,or Eevy-York we had our minds made up 10 stand
trial but through the advice OF Of our LAWYERS
he yised us 10 plead guilty aud tuIn States evidence
ON n wellknOwn f0rger and We would get on light. But
we finally made up 10 turn states evidence
ana eay DOnnelly was the fOrgor and We dbl
Bnt DGnnclly n entirely innocent either OF forgery
or accessory to forgery my knowledge, and there IA
a number OF people whose names l could mcntOD and
will il YOU think IL necessary who Is well aware that
Mr. DOuuclly Is Innocent.