The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-10-28
Is BELL INNOCENT?
Evidence in His Favor Is Coming
From The East.
Or. Easton Thinks the Footpad Is the Victim
of Conspiracy-Why Burglar Schmidt
Made His Confession.

There is at least one man in this city WHO
has deeply rooted faith in the innocence
OF Sidney Bell, who waits in his cell III the
old Jail on Broadway to be sentenced ior
killing Samuel NJ. jacobson. That man is
Rev. L. Chalmers Easton. DID,. pastor Oh
Calvary Presbyterian Church.
But it has been said that DR.. Easton has
no good reason for iIolding that Sidney
Bells hands are not stained with jacobson
blood. A morning paper has shown up
the reverend gentleman as having no other
reason for believing Bells declaration OIL
innocence than Bells own statement, sup
ported by his oath, and made IN the Sc
clusiOn of his cell.
DR.. Easton believes that Bell has been
converted, but the paper alluded to above IN
sists that the alleged murderer is one OF the
most fOul-mouthed men in the prison, there-
fore he is hypOcrite and is deceiying tile
preacher. Moreover, it claims that bureau
for the purpose of disseminating rumorS ana
theories in Bells favor has been estap-
lished, and says:
A MAN FROM THE EAST.
"When Mr.. Easton first became the friend
of Bell tie bureau started another story.
There was a man from the East coming
1.-The man got here. His name Is D.. a.
Brown. He is private detective from Col
umbus. He was sent here by Belfs rela-
tives to help him out of the moose. Inc
Chief Of Police of Columbus, says that
Browns reputation is not good.
DR.. Easton was interviewed by repre-
sentative of the CALL Yesterday touchlhg
his connection with the Bell affair, aud the
statements that have been made concern
ing him in certain newspapers.
you say it is believed that my on y reason
for believing Bell innocent is the statement
to that effect which he made to me in the
County Jail?" queried the doctor. Let me
tell you then that | have another reason
which will be made known when Bell Is
retired"
IN BELLS FAVOR.
SIS it true that new evidence in Bells
favor has been discOvered?"
st is true, but it would not be proper TO
say at this time just what that evidence is.
We are not going TO post our adVersaries IN
advance"
"How did you become interested in this
case?"
"a became interested in it on the night of
JacobsOn's murder. A young man who was
we'll acquainted with the family was visit
ing me. He was invited before the murder
10 take dinner at the jacobson house
After the murder he called upon the family
and was astonished at their reticence on the
subject of the crime. He thought there was
something very mysterious about the affair,
and lie told me so. That is how | became
interested in the case"
Has the young man of whom you speak
testified in the case?'
mo, he has not. He is now in the East"
"Well," continued Calvary's PASTOR" l
saw Bell in prison, and read the many let
ters of recommendation, and the testlm0-
mails of ability aud good character which
he possessed. | could not believe that such
q POuld hpp0mp q hardened criminal In
q few months. just here let me say that |
am not acquainted with Bells people, and
knew nothing about him until jacobson was
killed. | believe that lie has repented and
is converted
HIS FOUL TONGUE.
How about his foul tougue?"
Chief JalOr Hadeler says there is no
truth in that stOry-no more truth than there
was in the story of the ghost in the corridor
that frightened Bell"
That was made up?"
"Of course it was made up. Bell
was tried and convicted OF JacObsOn'S
murder judge Murphy postponed SEN
tence at my request. Then Schmidt con-
fessed that he commit ted perjury when he
testified against Bell. | was present at the
examination Of Schmidt in Judge Murphy's
chambers and observed that the Judge for
twenty-three minutes closely questioned
him with view 10 ascertainiBg whether he
had not received some inducement to make
his confession. and l am convinced that he
was induced 10y some one to make the dis
closures he then made before the Court.
mot by Sidney Bell?"
"No. Bell knew nothing about the con-
fession."
But you had been talking to Schmidt"
Yes, | saw Schmidt in Jail, and told him
that If he had given false witness against
Bell, and Bell was hung, Bells face was the
firSt that would confront him in eternity.
KNEW HE WAS INNOCENT
Schmidt said he knew that Bell was in
nocent, and that it had never been his pur-
pose to have him hanged for Jacobson's
death. i meant to 90 to Mexico he said,
inst as soon as | was set free, and there
write a confession eXOnerating him, and
send it to the prosecuting attorney"
What DO you know about detective
Brown of Ohio, who is here working in
Bells INTEREST,""
Brown" said the doctor, sis one of the
best detectives in Ohio. He worked up the
| famous Blair case and the Ike Smith case.
| aud believe the opposition to him is in
spred by professional jealousy.
Even if Sydney Bell is hanged, Brown
will not pass away He will remain here
until this conspiracy against Bell is un-
| earthed. But am confident the prisoner
will be given new trial and If a new trial
is not given him we will appeal to the Su-
| preme Court"
Finally DR.. Easton declared that 1.-The
man from the East coming here with proof
| of the footpad's innocence" Is neither }. A.
| Brown nor the young man who was visiting
| Calvary parsonage when jacobson was
| tfrd in the case and will give important
| evidence