The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-03-25
prcissiinc innocenoa.


On TIE 1Ttb inst. GoTeraos Gray granted
a pardon, bis fist since assuming tbs Exec
utive chsir. 10 yoang man, Frank Vaughn,
who has been terviDg sentence in the
Northern Prison. His time would have ex-
pired on the 2lst, bat the prisoner beso ught
apsrdon. Friends to whom he appealed ap-
piled to the Governor in his bahalf. The
Directors Nd the Warden of the prison were
glad to second his appeal by signing a petit
ton, for he bad proven himself SO trustwor-
thy, so deserving not only confidence bu!
even esteem since he entered the prison, that
they sympathized with his desire to return
TO lis home and friends with pardon rather
ihsn by mere permission as having served
out 3 sentence.
The Gaze is an interesting enc. Frank
Vaughn has protested his inuoceHcs as would
an innocent man, and han backed up his pro-
tsstatious by an honest, manly life st the
prison. He could have attempted escaps at
sBy time within twenty months for he was
allowed all The range OF trusty. Bat he
gave his word OF honor to never make such
an attempt, aud kept it. And now, with q
manner b, airing out his declarations of con-
seious innocence, he returns to the city
where he vas CONVICTED and announces his
determination to fight out the battle OF life
here and prove by its recalls the truth OF his
declarations
He had bean for some time in the employ
OF the Ihdiarspolis office of the American
Express Company. One night several ex-
press packages Eent through his hands, and
The following morning enc containing s.. 900
wss missing. When charged with having
stolen il be denied the charge, claiming tina t
some one must have taken the package from
his desk while his back was turned. He
sought 10 exonorate himself, even going
East to confer with the officials OF the com-
psny. He failed to impress tbs officials, and
returned home 10 meet arrest and pToss-
cution. On ciTcumst3ntisl evid5nce he was
con vic,e5-tbis ia July, 1888.
Let it be supposed for q moment that this
young mans story be true-that he is limo
cent; that he has been punished wrongful w;
that lie and his family have suffered humili-
alton without caase; that the hand of con-
viotion has been laid heavily upon him
where another should have felt its weight;
supposs his story be true, has not his cJn
muniiy done him great wrong?
May Lot his protsstatioDs OF innocencs be
slnC6Ie( May not the circumstances WnlC0
be dyed him In with convictions b5sn falis'
cious SIS ciTcumstantisl evidence has fiuall y
proven in a thousand other cases before
this? When a prisoner asserts his Innocence
in the box ann tbeDcsiorward acts as this
man tas acted may not q presumption be
reasonably RAISED, high enough and strong
enough 10 stend up in the public mind
against the circumstantial evidence which
il tluenced a verdict sgsinst hin?
TIE Sentinel bespeaks for Frank Viu % q
from the community the consid grafton taa
situation ss we have stated il appears 10 ca |
for. he is yeuDg man of admirable clsr-
icai ability, competent for efficient work.
There is q bit OF romance connected with
his cate. Before he was accused trotd was
pliehted between him and girl who3e af
fections he had gained. Through his trial.
cor yiction and Imprisonment her confidence
in him has renamed mistaken, and she. al
east welco mes MS return with entire faith
in his innocence.