Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-08-29

AN INNOCENT COUPLE IMPRISONED FOR
ON FALSE TESTIMONY,

AN INNOCENT COUPLE IMPRISONED FOR LIFE
ON FALSE TESTIMONY.
A telegram from Detroit, August 25th, says
Application is about to be made to the state
board of pardons for the release of Freeman p
Cargan, who is now serving life sentence in
the state prison at Jackson, having been con
victed on perjured testimony of one of the most
brutal murders in the history of Michigan
Charles Smith was a well-to-do farmer, living in
Chesaning township, Saginaw county His wife
and young farm hand named Morris Alexan
der made up the regular members of the house
hold. Mrs. Smiths sister was invited from
New York to visit at Chesaning. She came
bringing her husband, Freeman P.Cargan, with
her.
On the night of September -, 1876, soon
was burned to the ground. Little was thought
of that fact, but by a singular coincidence
Charles Smith disappeared on the same night,
and no trace of his whereabouts could be found,
Suspicion was aroused, and careful search OF
the charred ruins Of the b Urn was made Half
buried under quantity of burned beams was
manned, ana these were partially incinerated
A post-mOrtem examination was made OF the
had been hammered almost to a Jelly before
being burned. Most of the bones were splint-
cred into fragments by blows from a blunt in
OF the missing Charles Smith.
All the inmates of the Smith house were ar
rested on charge Of murder. Suspicion cen
tered upon young Alexander and Mrs, Smith.
1t was generally known that the familiarity
between the two had excited Smiths dsapp O.
h bate freeman Z. Cargan was the first to be
Tried before the Saginaw circuit court. During
the imprisonment of Alexander and Mrs.
Smith they had frequent consultations with
the prosecuting officers, which resulted in sew
eral alleged confessions that freed the two sus-
pected parties and fixed the murder on the two
Cargans. On the trial. which was attended
with great popular excitement, Mrs. Smith
swOre that She and Alexander had long con.
templated the murder of her husband, but
deed. She had. therefore, written to her sister,
Mrs. Cargan, in New York, offering $500 If the
latter's husband would come on and
come to Chesanlng for the purpose of
murder, and deliberately accomplished the
object by first clubbing the old man to death
roborated Mrs. Smiths story. These confess
sions were SO conclusive that Cargan and his
life, he to the state prison and she to the De-
trot house of correction. For having turned
states evidence and cOnvicting the Cargans
Mrs. Smith and Alexander were rewarded with
light sentences, the former being sent to the
Detroit house of correction for ten years.
During Mrs Smiths imprisonment Superin-
lendent Nicholson noticed tlrat she was bur-
dened with some secret mental aff1iction. A
cancer OF the stomach reduced her physically,
the superintendent, and said she had DEATH
bed confession to make to him. Her death was
SO near that restOratives had to be administered
10 preserve the Pickering sparks of life In dis
connected but perfectly coherent sentences she
stated that her entire testimony against Car
gan and his wife was perjured: She and Alex
ander had been promised light sentence If
tney would give evidence against the Cargans.
win The hope Of seeing her children again she
determined to swear falsely, and invented the
story which had sent the Cargans to prison for
NE: Matron Garrison also listened to the dying
statement. When it had been concluded the
woman seemed apparently resigned to death.
She resolutely closed her mouth, and never
spoke again.
Superintendent Nicholson is satisfied of the
truth Of the dying declaration. Numerous cir
Sumstances have occurred which corroborate
~ IN many particulars Cargan has always
man OF unusual intelligence, and has q striking
~ nppearance OF honesty and neutrality-suspicious.
i i every line OF his fac. The most affectionate
tney nope soon to be united again.