Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1886-01-20

that desired Or intended TO give him
more liberty or better treatment than
that extended to the other prisoners on
board. but looking, upon him more -
an unfortunate victim Of circumstances
than as felon. Ishrank from driving
the iron deeper in his soul. s.
THE steamer had passed through
the main channel, rounded Whine
head and was we'll out to sea, when
We reached the upper deck; the city's
lights were far behind us; the clear rays
Of the cape light lent q brillianey
along the steamers course, and the
waters CLASSY surface looked like
FURNISHED silver. The moon was shin
ing clear and bright. mo one could
be seen as we paced the deck fore and
aft except the helmsman at the wheel
and the watch on the starboard bow.
in his movement and written in every
lineament of his pale face. In few
hours ! should deliver him to the war
den to enter upon his solitary contine-
ment before execution of the death
sentence.
I'VE were standing alone just abaft
the wheel-house, looking out upon the
moonlit waters, when l turned, and,
standing before him with one hand
upon his shoulder, l reminded him that
he had been under my charge for sew
eral months; that during all that time
his department had been unexception-
able; that he had been granted q fair
and impartial trial-he had been de-
Tended by able and honest counsel-and
while I doubted his guilt, the presump-
ton was too great and the evidence
though circumstantial, too strong for
the jury to report a different verdict
from the one announced, and said to
him he could have no hope of executive
clemency in his behalf; that he was
guilty because the jury had so declared
and the court had;,so adjudged, and
nothing could be gained now by false
hood or equivocation. I charged him
to tell me the truth relating to the fire,
and the poor condemned man quickly
turned toward me, the light sea breeze
tanning the gray locks back from bis
brow, while the reflection of the pale
moon lent weirdness to his face, so
full of despair, and resting one hand
upon my shoulder, and with the other
| raised toward heaven, he said:
Realizing the awful doom await
ing me-that after the year of anguish
anil torture in my solitary cell, which
| is a part of the sentence pronounced
upon me, am to suffer an ignomini-
Gus, dreadful death-by my hope OF
heaven, swear to you that know no
more how that fire originated than
yourself. OF what avail would false
hood be to me now? l have received
but kindness from you during nv
months of my imprisonment. l can
not say that nv trial was not a fair
one. I find no fault with the Judge or
jury, and my counsel were untiring in
their efforts in my behalf. Yet. l re-
peat-and this is all that is left me
now-that, as God hears me-that
great judge, before whom I am soon
t. stand--I am innocent
1.-The poor man staggered like one
blind, and sank to the deck. Never
shall forget the agony depicted upon
his upturned face ut that moment.
His carnestness and his solemn words
impressed me with awe. / could no
longer doubt his innocence, and then
made a vow that would do all in my
power to save him from the gallows.
II delivered him, with the other
prisoners I had in charge, to the
warden of the prison. with papers oil
| co.
as the coach was waiting for my
return to the steamer. hurriedly
babe him goodbye, AMI to be brave
that would not forget him. 1t wa:
pitiful to see that strong man cling tc
me, weeping like child, until he wa:
forcibly removed by the turnkey.
Upon my return to Portland I Al
once conferred with the county
attorney, and communicated to hin
my experience and my firm belief ii
Mill 8 innocence. He heartily seconded
my efforts, and we soon had petition
signed by the judge who presided a
the trial, eleven of the jury who com.
posed the trial panel, the county
attorney and nearly all the county ane
city officers, with large number o
prominent citizens. The prayer of th'
petition was that the governor com
mute his sentence to imprisonment fol
life. 1t was presented by his counsel
the governor granted the prayer, ant
Mills life was saved.
'Some five years later, at 9 O'Clock
in the morning, wbite-haired man
weighed down with sorrow, came int
my Office and inquired for me. A,
apparent stranger stood in the door
way. He looked earnestly for ,
moment, and seeing no recognition il
my face. with a sad, tremulous voice
he said: lis it possible tina
You have forgotten me?" Not
until then did know that he was tn
same man who five years before had beer
convicted and sentenced TO death TO-
a crime be never committed. Noticing
my astonishment at seeing him again
in Portland and at liberty, he at onc'
explained that the warden had received
a telegram from the governor order
ing his immediate and unconditiona
release.
I'm explanation of this action by tn
executive, will simply state that som
years after Mills conviction a notoriou
character was arrested in the city TO
highway robbery, for which he was in
dicted, tried, convicted, and sentenced
to thirteen years at hard labor and wa
confined in the same penitentiar,
;; where Mills had so long suffered.
His dissipated habits had alread
destroyed his health. consequently b.
, soon broke down under the rigors Q
prison discipline. Death was fas
approaching him; its terrors arouse
' his SCARED conscience to right terribl
wrong. Having sent for the warden
, the dying criminal confessed that
was he who set tire to the dwelling b
throwing a roll of cloth saturated wit
D petroleum through the window an