St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-26

| legal points has had
the malured opinion of Attorney Gen
eral Clapp Two eminentfy reputable
| citizens of the state made affidavits
| placing an entirely new feature in this
| notorious case, and adductd evidence
| which did not come out at the trial,
which greatly favored the position taken
| by Reid in this matter. These affidavits
were amply substantiated by others,
| and in the interests of Justice, Gov.
| Merriam says. he could see u0 other
way than grant the accused All uncon-
| ditional pardon.
Many prominent citizens OF Mime
ap0Iis and st. Paul have interested
| themselves ON Reds behalf, and
| through their unceaSing efforts the adj
! ditional evidence has been Forthcoming
| Gov. Merriam desired to withhold the
| names of the gentlemen making the
| atfidavits which virtually secured Reds
| release, and stated that the evidence
| contained therein was such as to be unfit
for publication.
SCENE AT THE PRISON.
Hal Reid's pardon arrived al the state
| prison at 1:3O O'clock yesterday after he
had served thirteen months of fifteen
| years sentence on conviction of rape.
His father, in expectation Of to-day's
action of Gov. Merriam, had come oyt r
from Minneapolis in the morning, and
when the GLOBE reporter called at the
warden's Office, SO IN after o'clock.
the doctor was anxiously, yet lightly,
pacing the floor, his eyes continually
turning to the clock ami toward the
space in front of the Office. He was
waiting for the :25 Duluth train from
s.. Paul. on which, if no hitch occurred,
Halls sister, Mrs. leYerlng. would
come FROM the capital, bearing the
precious document. The train
was little ahead of time, and
DIR. Reid was still in the Office, so
that when the conductor stopped
i'll front OF the prison Mrs. Levering
alighted alone, and with the pardon
conspicuous in her hand, hurried across
to the prison and entered the Office, her
face oeathly pale. and her, form treui-
bling with excitement. II have it. 1t is
here" she exclaimed, and II Il moment
the father and sister passed within to
meet the prisoner to whom such good
tidingS had come. tn scarcely fifteen
minutes they reappeared accompanied
by Hal, faultleSsly dressed in black
pants and vest, and all, imposing Prince
Albert. He, too. was very pale and
agitated, but said to the GLOBE repOr-
ter: II have expected it, because i
knew Justice must he done. If it had
been done earlier would not have been
here five minutes" He hastily seized
the pardon and read 1t, saying: 1T is
a complete vindication.. That is right
The document recites that the govern
or's action is based on application for
pardon filed by w. d. Washburn,
Charles A. Pillsbury, S. p. Snidrr, An
thony Kelly and many other prominent
citizens Ut the state, supplemented by
atfidavits now on file in my office show-
ing that Maud Compston, the complain
ing witness, had made statements and
admissions seriously impeachlng her
testimony given at the trial, and where
by am convinced that great injustice
has been done said j.. ii. Reid, and that
he is not guilty of the crime Of which
he was convicted" The outgoing APO
train stopped at the prison for the
Reids, they especially wishing to avoid
trip down town, where News of the
pardon had spread.
DATA OF THE CASE.
Hal Reid was arrested on the morning
of Sept. 9, 1887, and confined in the
county Jail until the DIST, when he was
baiied out by his father. Dec. 5 of the
same year he was convicted and again
confined in the county Jail until the 18th
of January. 1883, when he was conveyed
to the state prison at Saltwater. So he
has served fifteen months upon the SEN
tence OF fifteen years for the conviction
OF the crime OF which he declares he is
innocent.