The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1890-10-08
MUST THEY HANG FORT?
TWO MEN THOUGHT TO BE IN
NOCENT IN DANGER.
Later Evidence In the Harley Russell Muir
der Case Indicates that Calvin Holden
and Albert Durham Are Innocent OF the
[Montlcello nm dispatch. ]

Httle over week ago calvin nOlueH
and Albert Durham were convicted OF
the murder of Harley Russell and SEN
fenced to be hanged Friday, Oct. Il.
Public sentiment at the time demanded
and approved the verdict. Now there is
a strong feeling that the two men so re-
Gently doomed 10 suffer this extreme
penalty are probably innocent, and that
the Governor should interpose his execu-
tive authority.
John Holden and his family lived a few
miles east of town on the Hale farm,
which belongs To the father of Young
Hale, of Cleveland, Ohio, that shot his
brother-in-law i'm Canada. The Hodens
were slow in paying rent and got far be-
hind. Last spring w L. ledger, who
has charge of Mr.. Hale's property, took
the farm away from the Holdens and
rented IL 10 Frank Craig, a well-to-do
farmer, who wanted ii for HIS son-in-law
Harley Russell. The Holdens were com
PEELED TO move. They came TO town and
Harley Russell, with his young wife,
took possession OF the farm.
The murder Occur red upon the even
ing of June 81. Russell and his wife
had been TO town in a buggy, and had
started 10 return. Just outside the town
limits and little beyond the Holden
house two persons stepped out into the
middle of the road. 1t was dark, and
their faces could not be distinctly seen.
One seized the horse by the bride, while
the other fired into the buggy several
times. The horse ran away, and Mrs.
Russell stopped it at the Mitchell farm,
where Russell died a few hours later.
His ante-mortem statement was that Cal
Holden shot him, while "a man who
looked like the man who lives with the
Holdens held the Bride" He did not
know Dunham's name, but il was lie who
was meant. At the trial Mrs. Russell
identified Calvin as the one who did the
shooting. The two brothers look very
much alike, however. She could not
identify Durham, but she identified his
hat and coat. This is absolutely the eX-
tent of the evidence upon which these
two young men were convicted and SEN
tence TO be hanged
Mrs. Holden was sentenced 10 twenty
five years and Ed Holden TO fifteen years
in the penitentiary.
The State set up the plea OF con-
spiracy. and thus had all four indicted.
Mrs. Holden was convicted under the
impression that she was the instigatOr OF
the crime. Ed Holden was convicted on
general principles. Judge Vail remarked
afterward that there was no evidence
against Ed and intmated that If he had
asked for new trial it would have been
granted. but neither Ed nor his mother
wanted new trial.
Calvin Holden and Albert Durham
were arrested by the Sheriff the night of
the murder, on the strength Of Harley
RvcCall'S apta-nartarn sheriff
Miller found them in bed asleep, and he
says now that he was strongly impressed
at the time by their behavior that they
were innocent
Calvin had come home sick during the
afternoon and he went 10 bed early, an
hour and half before the shooting.
Durham was tired with a hard days
work and he fell asleep on the front
porch He was awakened about
o'clock. half an hour before the shoot
ing. by Edwin, who poured some water
in his face TO arouse him. Ed and Mrs.
Holden advised him TO go 10 bed. 1t was
unusual for them 10 display such solicit
tude. He remembers also that early in
the evening Mrs. Holden had asked him
il he had seen Harley Russell i'm town
that day. Durham stumbled TO bed and
was soon fast asleep. His coat and hat,
the Identification of which by Mrs. Rus
sell was the chief point of evidence
against him, were found next day in
Mrs. Holdens room. His shoes had also
been misplaced Durham had no mo-
tive of revenge to crafty, and was not
intimate enough with the Holdens 10
warrant the suspicion that he would
have assisted them in committing a cold
blooded murder.
Mrs. Holden had frequently made threats
that she would have revenge upon Rus
sell and she said TO Durham the day of
the killing, "If Ed don't do it I'll do IL
myself" The attorneys for the defense
knew these things and others, too which
have lately become public property, but
they advised Durham not TO 90 on the
stand, as il would convict Mrs. Holden
md would do him no good. Old John
Holden advised his wife TO ask for new
trial. 81 don't want any new trial." she
made reply. "What do you want TO do?
Hang the whole family" Ed said he did
not want a new trial. Durham and
Cal Holden insisted upon asking for
a new trial, and they asked for it alone.
Mrs. Holden and Ed requested that they
be taken to Joliet at once. The Sheriff
consented and they got ready to go, and
an hour later the two prisoners were
conducted out of the Jail TO the train.
just before leaving, Ed said TO his
mother:
Just rest easy. We had the satisfac-
ton Of getting even"
"For Gods sake, mother" exclaimed
Cal. as they parted, "tell the truth and
save my life"
"Tel Charley Mansfield and DIR. Knott
10 come with me-" she answered. IL
have something TO tell them"
"Can't you tell it here, mother?" he
asked.
mo; I wouldn't live two hours il l told
II now"
Mr.. Mansfield, one OF the attorneys
for the defense, and DIR. Knott, friend
of Mrs. Holden, accompanied her aud
Ed to Joliet in obedience to her request.
Mrs. Miller. the wife OF the Sheriff, who
had won her confidence, had just before
been the recipient OF an oral confession
that she and Ed had killed Harley Rus
sell. and that neither Calvin nor Durham
knew anything about il. A tide OF pub
Tic sentiment has set i'm strongly in favor
of the two men who are condemned TO
die Oct II.
Newsy Paragraphs.
THERE Is prospect for an entire