Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-04-27
jim NEWSOME'S ROMANCE.

The last stage robbery between San
Angelo and Ballinger gives Victor Du-
rand tinge of romance to the case Of Jim
Newsome, the alleged "lone highway
msn" Of last years exploits. Victor Du-
rand, 1t will be recalled. WAS the French
convict, who, though innocent OF the
crime with which he was charged, was
convicted on circumstantial evidence and
sent TO the galleys, 1t being years later
ere his innocence was established. His
story formed the basis for one Of the
most thrilling and cleverly written dramas
that has ever been placed on the stage.
Now Jim Newsome is typical Western
Texas cowboy, who is utterly lacking In
the intelligence and polish that character
| lied Victor Durdnd. Newsome never
studied grammar or anything else but
cropping" cattle and horses and the mys-
teries of poker and seven up, but It be-
gins to look very much as though this
wild, uatutorsd Texin, who is wearing q
felon's stripes and working 9
life's sentence as 3 United States pris.
oner in the psnitentiary at Albany,
New York, is innocent OF the charge upon
which he WAS consigned to thst fate. The
stage that plies between Bsllinger and
San Angelo WAS halted last au-
tumn, twice within period OF less than
thirty days, By one man-.he same mau
esch time-.nd mails and passengers
robbed. After the usual hue and cry the
rangers arrested Newsoms as the robber.
he made spirited defense in the United
States District court at Waco. Not one
OF the people robbed saw the face (Which
WAS mssked) Of the robber, but circum-
stantial evidence was remarkably strong
ag sinst Newsome, and he was convicted,
sentenced to life Imprisonment, and sent
to Albany. The people Of Rlunells
county rallied to Newsome, averring
their belief In his innocence, and mo-
tion for writ of error in tie case, with q
view to securing rehearing, is now in
Judge Pardee's hands. Now, when the
stage WAS robbed last week 1t was again
bya "lone nlghwayman," who seemed
facetiously exultsnt over his exploit and
informed the passengers that he WAS the
bold robber of last year-the perpetrator
of the two offenses for which New
some is imprisoned. The driver OF the
stage robbed last week happened to be
engaged in the ssme duty on one OF the
stages robbed last year, and he believes
that the robber OF then and now is one
and the same man. 1t is an interesting
middle, and gives Newsoms's case ma
tional prominence. The attorneys for
Newsome will no doubt act with renewed
vigor in his behalf, and in the light Of
present developments this latest robbery
ought to prove rather favorable to New
some. The capture of the robber of last
week might throw new light on the case,
but in sny event 1t seems very probable
that Newsome must benefit by this last
exploit. Clrcumstantial evidence Is re-
garded by lawyers IS very strong ev.-
dence, because, as they ssy, 1t cannot lie
AS witness may do. This Is true, but
time and again 1t has been demonstrated
that circumstantial evidence may deceive.
II 1t shall turn ont that Newsome is
victim Of circumstantial evidence, and the
prison doors are thrown open for him, he
will be sort of hero in his western baili-
wick, when he comes home.