Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1884-04-23
Pardon Of an Innocent Man.

In the Spring of 1879 Mr.. John n. Apple, of
Washington county, this state, moved 10 this
county and rented the farm Of Doctor Eli
Conn, in Butler twp, few miles south OF
town. He was some forty years OF age, and
his family consisted Of a wife, one daughter OF
about eighteen years, and some smaller chill
dren. In the latter part Of July or the first
part Of August OF that same year, the daughter
made an information against her father, charg-
ing him with having on two specified occasions.
committed rape upon her person, and Apple
was arrested aud committed 10 Jail. He pro-
tested his innocence, and declared that the
the mother and daughter had entered into
conspiracy with some other person to get him
out Of the way for a purpose, but he had no
money TO pay for q proper defense and at the
trial the girls story was believed and he was
convicted and sentenced 10 the penitentiary for
fourteen years-seyen for each alleged ofiense.
While yet in Jail in Butler his personal pro-
perty was sold landlords warrant and
left in possession Of the mother and daughter,
and it coming TO the knowledge Of one Of
Apples attorneys, j. +. Britain, Esq, that
the mother and daughter had gone home in
great glee. and that they had had dance and
a high-old time generally at the house that
same night or the night Of the day when Apple
was taken to the penitentiary, he determined
at his own expense 10 investigate the matter.
He visited the part Of Washington county in
which Apple formerly lived and found that
Apples character there was good, while the
girl had bad reputation for both truth and
chastity, and that some people there never be-
lieved her story because they believed her bad
enough 10 do anything. lie found the keeper
Of the hotel in Allegheny county where Apple
usually stopped and where he and the girl
stopped on the day Of one Of the alleged Of
fenses, a few hours after it should have been
committed and he testified 10 seeing nothing
wrong with the girl and that she was looking
all right and said nothing about it. The testi
nony Of these parties and some of those ia this
county who had been at the dance and others
who knew Of the doings Of the mother and
daughter since Mr. Apple has been IN the peni.
tentiary was taken and submitted 10 the Board
Of Pardons together with the recon nendation
Of our Judges former District Attorney, and
others for a pardon. Mr. Britain went 10
Harrisburg twice TO argue the matter, and the
girl and her mother appeared in opposition,
but upon cross examination the girl badly CON
tradic;ed herself and branded everyone who
had testified against her az perjurers. The
Board did not believe her, and they last We'd
aesday unanimously agreed upon pardon.
Apple has been in the penitentary some four
years and six months, and has made little
money within the walls by doing extra work,
must commence life anew, an in case like this
there is no other remedy. Mr. Britain de-
serves great credit Tor the part he has taken in
the matter, as but for his persistence
Apple would have continued in the peni.
tentIary for nine aud half years more on ali
uni just sentence.