The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-03-24
Protesting Innocence.

On the 18th inst. Governor Gray granted
pardon, his first since assuming the Exec
utive chair. to young man, Frank Vaughn,
who has been serving a sentence In the
Northern Prison. His time would have ex-
pired on the 2lst but the prisoner beso ught
pardon. Friends to whom ne appealed ap-
Piled to the Governor in his behalf. The
Directors and TIE Warden OF the prison were
glad to second his appeal by signing a petit
lion, for be bad proven himself so trustwor-
thy, so deserving not only confidence bat
even esteem since he entered the prison, that
they sympathized with his desire to return
TO his home aud friends with a pardon rather
than by mere permission as having served
out sentence.
The case is an interesting enc. Frank
Vaughn has protested his innocence as would
an innocent man, and has backed up his pro-
testations by an honest, manly life at the
prison. He could have attempted escape at
any time within twenty months for he was
allowed all the range of a trusty. Bat he
gave his word of honor to never make such
an attempt, and kept it. And now, with 8
manner bearing out his declarations Of con-
scious innocence, he returns to the city
where he was convicted and announces his
determination to fight out the battle of life
here and prove by it's results the truth of his
declarations
He had been for some time in the employ
of the Indianapolis Office of the American
Express Company. One night several ex.
press packages vent through bis hands, and
the following morning one containing So 600
was missing. When charged with having
stolen it he denied the charge, claiming that
some one must have taken the package from
his desk while his back was turned. He
sought to exonorate himself, even going
East 10 confer with the officials of the COM
pany. He failed to impress the officials, AN d
returned home to meet arrest and prose.
cution. On circumstantiel evidence he was
convicted-this in July, 1888.
Let 1t be supposed for a moment that this
young mans story be true-that he is limo
cent; that he has been punished wrongfu " ;
that he and his family have suffered humili-
alton without cause; that the hand of con-
viction has been laid heavily upon him
where another should have felt its weight;
suppose his story be true, has not his com
munity done him great wrong?
May Lot his protes stations of innocence be
sincere? May not the circumstances which
hedged him In with convictions been fall "a.
cous as circumstantial evidence has finally
proven in thousand other cases before
this2 When prisoner asserts his innocence
II the box and thenceforward acts as this
man has acted may not q presumption be
reasonably raised high enough and strong
enough to stend up in the public mind
! against the circumstantial evidence which
influenced verdict against him?
The Sentinel bespeaks for Frank Vaugha
from the community the consideration the
situation rs We have stated it appears to call
for he is a young man of admirable cer-
iCal ability, competent for efficient work.
There is BIT of romance connected with
his case. Before he was accused troth was
plighted between him and girl whose at
fections be had gained. Through his trial,
conviction and imprisonment her confidence
in him has renamed unshaken, and she, at
east welcomes his return with entire faith
in his innocence.