Telegram-herald., 1889-06-01
WELCOMED HOME
Calvin Gibbs Returned 70 HIS Old
Home IN Byron Yesterday.
4 COSyICI'S ROYAL RECEPTION
Net with Cheers aud BFaSs band
deception at the Iosn haA-A >slate
of S4anOn-BistoTy OF HIS
Trial zRd Conviction.

Usually, when a msn goes hack % hls
old home, after serving a term IN the
State prison, he goes a. quietly and
unOstentatl0usly a. possible The peo-
pie are not, a. a rule, glad 10 see nun.
such, however, was not the ease with
Calvin Gibbs, Of Byron, the old man
who was pardoned this week by Gov
ernor Luce.
MIR. Gibbs was released Thursday, and
came as FAR As this city the same day.
Yesterday morning he went down 10
Byron Center, where he formerly lived,
and where he proposes hereafter 10 re-
side. News OF has coming had preceded
him, and as the train drew into the
station he found a large crowd assem-
bled To greet him. Three rousing
cheers were given, and few words OF
welcome were spoken by Edwin lde. ON
behalf of the assembly. Youngs' Byron
hand then played a lively selection,
and the people fell into line and
marched To tine town hall. Some two
hundred and fifty people, including
quite a number of ladies, gathered here,
and after the band had played several
airs, Mr.. Idle was again loudly called
for and responded in fifteen minutes
speech, congratulating Mr.. Gibbs on his
release and expressing the belief of the
community in his innocence. Mr..
Gibbs replied IN a few fitting and deeply
felt words, the band played CLONE,
Sweet Home" and after first present
ing Mr.. Gibbs with generously filled
purse, the meeting adjourned with
cheers and another general handshak-
ing, while the young men under direc-
ton of Charles Wescott, who acted
throughout as master of ceremonies,
went out TO fire salute with a cannon.
Altogether it was a flattering ovation,
and a striking evidence of the belief
prevalent throughout the community
that Gibbs was innocent of the
crime for which he was sentenced.
The case Of Mr.. Gibbs is one of the
causes ceiebre of the county. The charge
first brought against him was that of
rape upon the person of Anna Bum, a
girl Is or II years of age. 1t wasalleged
that the Otfense was committed on the
evening of March 81, 1886, at the girls
home, while her parents were absent at
a lecture delivered by VIM. Aldrich
Tateum. Gibbs brought seven or eight
of the best citizens 10 swear that he was
present at the lecture all the evening.
The charge of rape was dismissed anu
he was arrested on the charge of seduc-
ton. On the trial the defense offered
no evidence, and he was convicted. 4
new trial was obtained, and il tisclaimed
that the girl then changed her testi-
mOny 10 correspond with the law
points brought out on the first trial. .
Gibbs was a second time convicted. and
the Supreme Court confirmed the de-
cisiOn. He was thereupOn sentenced
to two years at Jackson, and at the
time of his pardon had served about
eleven months. Meantime he spent
about $500 IN money which he had
saved and his house and lot were also
swallowed up in the litigation. His
wife died from grief and modification.
The little community OF Byron was
agitatcd by the case from center 10 CIR
cumference. The people divided upon
the question and the war of the Roses
never waged more violently or bitterly.
1t got into politics, and local elections
hinged wholly on the attitude of the
candidates on this absorbing issue.
Those who believed IN Gibbs innocence
seemed To be in the majority, and out
of a total of about 325 votes in the
township, POI signed the petition for
Mi release. The petition was also
signed 10y the township board and some
eighty-fivc married women.
The father of the girl was a shoe
maker, and formerly had prosperous
business. but 20 bitter was the feeling
against him that he was finally ylrtu-
ally compelled to leave the burg and
90 to work on farm.
Mr.. Gibbs release has at last caused
a cessation of the fight, though much
bitterness remains. The old man, who
Is now - years of age, was greatly
pleased with ms reception. He ! a
carpenter. and already has had offered
to HIM the Job of building several
houses, and expects 20 begin an extern
sive job of repairing on Monday. He
has always borne an excellent reputa-
ton, and IN his speech sand that hc pro-
posed to live life against which moth
r.,.~ u -,