The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1883-09-07
THE LEWIS CASE.
some Expression Generating the CharsessT
OF the Accused from His "Homs
People.


People.
Perhaps there was never more startling
account of murder submitted TO the people
of Montana than the first announcement OF
the death of Eva Clark and the accusation OF
,, Charles A. Lewis Ms her murderer. Even ~
the facts were Mt first alleged, we could not
believe Lewis guilty, and IL was with gratS-
full relief we read that the Investigation
| tended TO confirm his st,tem emit that the girl
committed suicide. If he did murder her no
should hang high as Haman; but If he dio
not, think of the situation of stranger
among us, accused Of so infamous a crime'
aud with no possible defense except circnm-
stances to exculpate him. Of course the law
will hold him guiltless until proven guilty
but we cannot conceive of q more horrioie
situation for an innocent man to be placed In
than accused of SO fiendish q crime in q
strange land and with his greatest possible
exculpation being that the charge is not
proven. We have had placed In our hands
this week number of letters addressed 70
him and to others, two or three from ladies'
who formerly assisted in his entertainments,
and others who knew him well, which would
be fiattering TO the kindest hearted man
alive. In sending these to US, Mr.. Lewis SAID
they were simply for our personal perusai,
rs we had, from our acquaintance with MIN
some years ago, from its lack of motive, ana
the folly as well as fieudishness of the deed,
expressed disbelief i'm his guilt, aid he de-
sired to show US what those more intimately
acquainted with him had said; but one OF
them, of a public nature, testimonial from
citizens of his home in Dowagiac, Mich, we
take the liberty to present below. II Mr..
Lewis is such citizen as therein represent
ed, it is we'll that his good character should
be known to the people of Montana, and II
he is innocent that he should have sympathy
as broad and deep as would be his curses If
he were guilty.
DowAGIAC, Mich, August %, 1888.
To the People Of Montana Territory:
We, the undersigned, citizens Of the city
of Dowagiac, Cass county, Mich, respectful.
ly state that we have been greatly astonished
to learn that Mr.. Charles A. Lewis, formerly
and until recently citizen of this city, has
been suspected o. the murder at Dillon, In
your Territory, of Miss Eva Clark. the young
girl who has been his assistant in his public
exhibitions.
We have known Mr.. Lewis and his reputa-
ton for years. He is of highly respectable
family, formerly residing in this city and
since at Pohagan, village in its near vicin-
ity. His wife, very estimable lady, is OF
one of our most respectable families, and Mr..
Lewis has been known among us since his
boyhood as an honorable and exceedingly
amiable gentleman,a kind hearted, generous
and dutiful son, brother, and husband, and
those of us who have known him and his
reputation are undoubting in our belief that
he is incapable of the crime of murder OF
any other felony.
(Signed)
Joseph Clarke, attorney at law and U. s.
Commissioner.
=. ID Beckwith mayor.
j o. Becraft, city recorder.
Harmon Defendorf, alderman LIST ward.
James Cabman, alderman I'd ward.
c. III. Bigelow, alderman Sd ward.
Wv. Schermerhorn, justice of the peace
Spofford Tryon, attorney at law.
H.. Sprague, manager Western Union
telegraph office
w. H. ArgabrIght, agent Michigan Central
railroad.
John +. Tryon, city attorney.
John Wooster, attorney at law.
Mark Z. Morse, president Dowagiac Man
ufacturing Company.
A. J. Atwell, attorney at law.
ID. Lyle Il Co, bankers.
DIV. Forsyth, city treasurer.
Henry Michael, justice Of the peace.
L. Barlow Jewell, city marshal
E. l.. Knapp, stenograph-r-
Lee & Co, bankers.
G. l.. Sherwood, postmaster.
p. b. White, alderman.
Arthur Smith, supervisor.
+. L. Warner, deputy sheriff.
Il. A. Curtis, NJ. ID.
MANY other names are appendedJ
The letter of transmittal accompanying
the above is as follows:
DowAGIAC, Mich, August %, 1888.
G.. A. Le11s, Dillon, Montana:
DEAR FRIEND-In this, your hour OF an
GU ish and sorrow, we, your friends and &C
gu ,intauees, who have known you so wei
and long. have seen fit to send you the en-
clos ed testimonial in order to show you, IL nc
one else, the high esteem entertained for you
by the whole business portion of this com
munity, together with all who know you.
could have obtained thousand names In
day, but deeming il sufficient, we have only
taken time to see a few of the leading bust
ness and professional men, together with thu
city officials.
assure you, my dear friend, that the re
Spouse was spontaneous and heartfelt from
every one we met, and you can depend upor
every one in the city to defend your charac
ter against any aspersions, from whateve
source.
That the dark clouds of adversely that a
present seem to be lowering over you may b
speedily dispelled by the bright sunshine o
an undoubted viudication is the wish Of
Tour sincere friend, u. @. RIx.
If this is the reputation Charles A. Lewis
bears at home, let us not be hasty In con
demning him in Montana. There are M
fairer people than Montanians. There Is M
better way to evidence IL than by withhold
/ ing adverse Judgment Of man of whom thu
tongue If all report speaks well until 1t Il
manifest he il guilty of wrong. If he i
guiltless, the sympathy Of every fair minded
persen should be with him.