St. Paul daily globe., 1889-01-08
He SUFFERED IN SILENCE.
Jacob Bird Imprisoned Ten Years fol
Another's Crime.
PARDONED BY GOV. M'GILL.
His Health Is Broken From the Effects
of His Long C0nfinement---Stiil-
water Brevities.

There was released from the state
prison yesterday, on pardon from the
governor, a man who suffered disgrace
and Imprisonment for over ten years for
a crime of which he was not only inno-
cent, but which he actively tried to pre-
vent. The victim is Jacob Bird, who.
when eighteen years old, was convicted
in Dakota county of murder, and SEN
fenced to state prison for life. The
executive document granting the par
don states that ''it appears from the affi
davits Of J. n. Castle, an attorney in
the case, and Stephen Newell, then
sheriff of Dakota county, that the
crime was committed by ia
cob's brother, John, who died in
jail before trial, and that the prisoner
(Jacob) not even assisted in committing
the crime, and was opposed to it. The
governor also states that the applica
tion is signed by w. ID. Washburn, d.
M. Clough, eX-Warden Reed, Alvah
Eastman, John f. Norrish, the Dakota
county attorney; Seagrave Smith, who
assisted him ill the prosecution, and
number of leading citizens of the state,
and that the prisoner was at most only
an accessory after the fact. Bird has
been good convict. but is somewhat
broken down from the effects of his long
confinement. When committed he was
lusty lad.
Willie White, the notorious waif who
was sent to the poor farm by Poor Com
missioner Merrill on the recommends
ton of Judge Nethaway, was sent adrift
Saturday by the superintendent of the
farm. Adam Amos. The latter claimed
that the boy stole tobacco from the old
folks, and annoyed them generally.
Since Amos action the lad has been
given temporary shelter at the home of
Timothy Kitty, son of the county COM
missioner, and at the board meeting
yesterday the latter argued that the
county must see to it that the boy was
kept from want. The commissioners
themselves will now send the boy back
to Supt. Amos.
The annual meeting Of the Washing
ton County Farmers Alliance was held
at the court house yesterday, the SUBJ
ordinate alliances represented being
st. CroiX, Marine, Grant and Oneka.
There were elected as officers for the
coming year Hugh Campbell. of the
Marine alliance, president; John The
Richmond. st. CroiX, secretary; John
Daley, st. Croix, treasurer. A resolrl-
ton was passed with great nnanimity
protesting in strong terms against the
election as senator of w. d. Washburn.
OF any railroad president, attorney Or
lobbyist, the resolution to be placed in
the hands of the Washington county
representatives for formal presentation
to the legislature. As a finance COM
mittee for the ensuing year the chair
| appointed John Thelander, r. Stevens
| and 2. M. Nelson.
At the meeting of the county commits
| sioners yesterday $551.9S was appro-
| priated for the st. Paul Park Improve
ment company road, to be paid to NJ.
W. Dibble for work. Also $500 for the
Grey Cloud road. Bonds of county
/ officers were approved as follows: Sam
Bloomer, treasurer, $4,000; G. P.
Holcombe, sheriff, St, 900; Harvey Davis,
register, $1,000; r. Lehmeike. judge of
probate, $1,000; T. c. Clark and ]. II.
Soule, coroner and surveyor respectively,
$500 each.
The board of audit yesterday, after a
satisfactory examination, turned over
the county treasury to Treasurer
Bloomer, and the other officers recently
elected were sworn in.