The Mineral argus., 1885-01-08

There was snow upon the ground. and
the footprints Of the robbers wer,
plainly seen on the snow. The boots of
the suspected man were fond to fit one
set OF the footprints exactly. This cir
cumstance, with the testimony of the
expressman. who swore positively to his
belng the man, convicted the poor fell
low, although he attempted to prove an
ailbl.- He was sentenced to the state
prison for life. Thirty years before he
would have been hanged, for death WE
li.o r..s.., -. ngnway robbery at
that time.
When I brought him to the prison he
declared in the most solemn manner
that he was Innocent. This declara-
ton he persistently adhered too. al
though no one believed him. Three
years afterwards man was committed
to the prison for tho fourth time, on q
sentence of six years. He was . most
expert and desperate rogue, and had
been guilty of more crimes than any
convict ever within tho walls of the
prison. A few weeks after his i'm
prisonmcnt no asked for an interview
with me. "Well, what is it You wish?'
1 asked. when he appeared.
-ss0nly this, Mr.. Warden. You have
an innocent man in the prison."
Indeed, said, "who is it?" sup
posing: of course, that he would name
1T is NJ" he said, giving me the
name of the young man convicted Of
highway robbery.
How do you know that ?" asked.
az 10 know IL
But how can You know anything
about it?"
He hesitated q moment, as il weigh
ing the matter, and then said in frank,
positive tone, II know he is innocent,
for committed the crime for which he
is in prison"
Both of them?" I asked.
"Yes."
O." i said, calling him by
name, do You realize what You are
saving? No one has been tried for the
Watertown robbery. and if you nc.
know ledge the crime, you will he liza
ble te receive a life sentence"
Il understand that. Mr.. Warden,
am bad man. There is probably
hardly crime upon the statute book,
except murder, that / have not commit.
ted. Ihave been a thief all my life,
even from o child. My earliest educa-
ton was to steal, and expect to be o
thief and robber to the last. As You
know, have already served three terms
in this prison, and am well aware what
the punishment is; but bad as l am, l
have no desire that another man should
suffer for my crimes. therefore re-
peat what have said, Ms innocent,
I am the guilty party"
ado you know M" Inquired.
"No. l never saw him. have no
moro interest in him personally than in
man in another country"
lyon were not alone in these robber.
les. Who was the other man with you?'
Again he hesitated, MIR. Warden, I
have never vet betrayed an associate,
but in confidence will tell You his name,
trusting You will not use II
against him, unless he is arrested upon
evidence obtained from other source"
He gave me the name of man who
had served the term in the State Pris-
on. and was then in the house of Cor.
rection at East Cambridge.
At my request, he wrote ont q full
statement of the Watertown robbery,
WIllCu 1 tOOh W tuc kcltlclliWD iOOOCus
who after reading it, returned with me
to the prison, and had an interview with
j. The gentleman left the prison
satisfied beyond doubt that j was
the real criminal.
There was o striking resemblance he.
tween the two men. They were the
came height, and wore the same sized
boots.
Il ID unnecessary TO tell here all that
had to be done TO satisfy the Governor
of the innocence Of the poor fellow who
was unjustly imprisoned, but he was
finally accomplished, but not until he
had served four years in all. j
worked a. hard to prove his own guilt
as he could have done ~ show his limo.
cence.
One more word in regard to him. He
was not prosecuted for either Of the rob-
berries; neither did he serve his six
years. Shortely after left the prison,
he succeeded in escaping from it for
the second time. With another convict,
he excavated the tunnel, twenty-seven
feet in length, from the dining room.
where the two had worked, to the outer
wall, cutting off pile foot in dame
ter, and escaped.
He was soon after arrested in Balti-
more and sentenced to the Maryland
penitentiary for sixteen years, where,
il alive and if he has not escaped, he
can be found today.
This mans career was q marvellous
one. He possessed a good address, and
was an excellent mechanic. Bold and
daring, he hesitated at nothing, and by
his indomitable perseverance surmount-