The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1881-09-16

witnesses TO prove that the watch found L
his possession had been owned by hir
while resident of Minnesota. He lpro
| tested his innocence. and claimed that tn
| verdict was not what it should be, or woul
be, if witnesses could have been secure
in his behalf
/ Judge Glenn, at the conclusion of Gal
| lions remarks, in very feeling manner
passed the death sentence, by which h
was ordered to be hanged by the neck un
til dead on the 18th OF September, between
/ the hours OF 8 a. m. and p. m.
Thus within six months from the tim
| the crime was committed, Clement Gallon
was sentenced to die for perpetrating til
same, after a fair and impartial legal inves
| tigation.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
| Clement Gallon is man 81 years o
| age, having been born in the state of Mis-
souri, on the 18th of December 1850. Hi
parents are unknown to him, as he is sup
posed to be the illegitimate child of SOM
| Missouri farmer who sent him while an in
| FAINT to the Soldiers Home near St. Louis
| His earliest recollections were of that insti
tuition, as he failed to recall any memorie
of either mother or father, and when
mere child found himself without home
relations or friends. When he was sever
years old, he was taken bya farmer, W
A. Gholson and raised by that individual
His benefactor resided in Madison County
Mo-, and on this farm young Gallon re
manned until he was II years old. He at
tended school, during the winter months
and made himself generally useful abou
the place He could read, write, and was al
so somewhat familiar with music. When hi
reached his 18th year, he sought permission
to 90 up north and having received Mr.
Gholsons sanction, he departed for Mime
sofa. Here he located near Wabasha, anC
worked out on various farms as a fielC
hand. After remaining three years in
Minnesota he started down the river in
the summer Of 1880 as harvest hand, and
having made the trip, he started back and
struck Cambridge on the LIST of last De
cember. He was engaged by Mr.. Dilley
on that day to work on his farm and re-
manned with him until the day before the
murder when he was paid off and left the
place.
In stature he was 5 feet 10 1-2 inches
tall, weight $50 lbs, with a compact, solid
figure that made him a very powerful man.
He had black hair, smoothly shaved face.
and his countenance had an Irish caste that
stamped him being a descendant OF a
native of the Emerald Isle.
He had a sullen expression indicative of
determination and anger, but when en-
gagged in conversation, his face was bright
and animated and not the least repulsive
or disagreeable. He was dressed in check
shirt and jean pants, and had the appear
ance of farm hand of ordinary intelli-
gence.
IN THE JAIL.
Through the courtesy of the efficient
sheriff, B. II. Goodell, and his equally
obliging deputy, John Wilson, the repre-
of the ARGUS was taken into the
jail Monday night for the purpose of inter
viewing GALLON, and il possible, to secure
n confession from that individual. Gallon
has hitherto refused to converse with mem
bers of the press, but gracefully submitted
himself to the inevitable. and talked quite
freely with the ARGUS delegate about his
doom and the trial generally GALLON was
found walking about the corridor of the
Jail, his ankles being shackled. He has
been attended night and day since his SEN
tence by one of the deputies, and Wednes
day night, Mr.. Wilson relieved Capt. Scott,
who had been on duty during the day. The
Jail door was securely fastened from the
outside, and the journalist found himself
in well constructed Jail, surrounded by
four prisoners, and GALLON, the condemned
man. The object of the visit was explain
ed to GALLON, but for several moments he
perfectly silent. Two chairs
we're handed the newspaper man, and mo-
sioning GALLON to take one, the Journalist
the other, and initiated con-
versation in the following fashion:
What do you think of your trial, and
,he verdict 2"
II think it was wrong" replied Gallon.
why so 2"
Because l was not guilty of that CRIME,
md should not be made to suffer for it"
''Do you know who did commit the
rhine p
II do not know admit the circum-
tantial evidence was all against ME, but
Know that / am not guilty, and l will die
With that declaration on my lips"
How about the watch said to have been
ound in your possession 7"
81 never had Dilley's watch, as I could
how, if / only had the witnesses from
Minnesota to prove. They knew l had
hat watch long before / came to this |
,lace."
''Why didn't you prove that at your
rial ?"
The prisoner misunderstood the CUES
ion, as he thought he was asked why he
lidn't prove the ownership now. His |
,ipe, which he had been smoking very
was taken from his mouth. |
Ie drew his hands across his eyes,
s if to clear an imaginary mist that was
orming before him. He then said in a
most touching tone:
Too late-it's all over with me now"
The question was then explained, to
which he replied:
II haven't friend or relative that /
now of ON this earth. I didn't have, when
ny trial took place. / didn't have cent
f money, and what could ] do, to get |
illnesses from Minnesota? If had mon
y I never would be in the place you see
he tonight, with only another day to
We"
As if carrying on a train of thought,
tallion continued; My counsel seemed
D think that if | had entered plea of
utility they could have saved my neck;
ut / was not guilty, and would not en-
er such plea; for I know am innocent /
lie evidence was all against me. and what
tile evidence had, some of it was ruled
ut"
where were you on the night of the
lurder?"
Il was at LIE Claire
sfYou were not at Watertown, near the
'illey farm?"
mo sir, ] was not. Why the Dilleys
re the last people in the world / would
aiuk of n,vrflerinr They &raatnd mo