The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-05-05
A Prison ChapIain,s Opinion.

- $ Many who look with a careles eye
may pronounce the work all in vain, that
labor with criminals is useless and that con-
versions to a better life are only pretense.
But | know better | have had too many
proofs to the contrary | have stood upon
the scaffold and seen an innocent man suffer
the doom OF the wicked, with the protest of
his innocence upon his lips to the last
moment and the declaration of his trust in
the truths of Christianity. Newspapers
might scott at the pretended repentance hut
l vas profoundly impressed, and still more
so when years later the real murderer con-
iessed his guilt. An incident occurs to ME,
that happened many years ago, which illus
tra'es at once the liability of the law to err,
and the reality of certain OF these CONVEX
sions. \ young man connected with one of
the best families of Quincy had in early
years been left an orphan, and when about
fifteen years old got into very bad company
One morning young woman, daughter OF
highly respectable people, but later notori-
Gus for her bad character, was found MUIR
dered IN her bed, her head horribly crushed
in and a sum of money, which she was
known to have possessed, gone. The suspicion
of guilt fastened upon the young man, who
was her intimate, who had passed part of
the night of the murder with her, and who,
when arrested, had large sum of money on
his person, and who otherwise had the APP
pearance of the guilty one. The affair
created immense excitement. it was
thought that the boy would be dealt with
more lenienty if he should plead guilty and
his counsel and his uncle fairly implored
him to do so. But he steadfastly refused, all
the time protesting his innocence.
SENTENCED FOR LIFE.
However he was prevailed upon, in the
hope of getting light sentence. Never will
/ forget the blaze OF indignation that shone
from the hnvfS eve vvh In1va Gihlau ell
pronounced the sentence, which was I'M
prisonment for life. He sprang to his feet
and cried:
i will never, never forgive those who told
me to plead in that way, for L am innocent
in the sight of God of this crime with which
they charge me- They have done me cruel
injury"
L am quite sure that even before this the
boy had accepted the truths of Christianity
the only sOlace in those dreadful hours of
affiiction. With the consciousness of his in
nocence and the wrong done him and only
the promises of the Gospel for comfort, young
- entered the prison at Joliet, and i'm the
ten years that he lived in that gloomy abode
laid the foundations of a fine manhood.
There came to light good evidence that the
real murderer was another person altogether,
and Governor Culloms pardon came forth
with. My young friend left the prison on
Christmas day, and Immediately went to Cal
llOfnld. N0eTe ne DtCdllt respected anu pros
porous. His prison experience was the max
ing of him..
ANOTHER CASE.
There was another, more stubborn case,
and with less happy issue. A man had
been found guilty of murder by the jury's
verdict l was with him great deal, and fin
ally he protested Christianity. l attended
him to the last day. l even mounted the
scatfold with him and gave him what Chris
tian comfort | could. To the last moment
he protested his innocence. | saw the cap
drawn over his eyes, saw the rope pulled,
anG in moment saw his lifeless trunk swing
in the air. He had left me legacy, his body,
to prevent its going to the doctors for dissec-
ton. think he met his death true Chris
tian. Yeas afterward his nephew confessed
having committed the crime for which his
uncle had suffered. | could relate to you
numberiess incidents to show you that these
conversions have really taken place. These
spectacles that wear were a present 10
me from a Jew, whom | had once
befriended when he was in Jail. He
took great comfort in praying with me, Jew
as he was. In after years he sent me these
spectacles which are elegant, you see, much
more expensive than would have purchased
for myself. l have since visited him in