Daily Yellowstone journal., 1891-02-24
A FALSE CONFESSION.

l haven'ta bit c patience with that
class of men who are always shaking
their heads in g solemn way and de
claring that mary an honest man has
been sent to safe prison OF circum-
stantial evidence. Such instances have
been known, Of course, but they are
very rare, and it is then the fault of the
accused. ! am about TO narrate the
particulars of a case which excited
widespread interest in 1868, and | ask
the reader TO follow the situations close
ly and TO see what curious eombina-
tons can arise through circumstance.
James Stowe was a merchant in the
village Of G.. Ills. He had been
there fifteen years. He was a church
member, had no vices, and while ac-
counted rather close listed. he was said
to be strictly honest. A year before
the mystery occurred he had taken a
boy named Robert Isle into his home,
the lad being an orphan and his
nephew. Bob, as we all called him.
wa 10 years old when he came. He
went mo the tor as a clerk, and a
bedroom was made for him up stairs.
l was a boy Of Bob's age, and we
came to be ehums. 1t thus came about
that / learned the cause of certain
welts and bruises on his legs and body.
His uncle, while pretending to feel a
great interest in his welfare, and while
speaking to him in the kindest manner
before Others, was beating him on the
slightest excuse and seeking TO make
the place so warm for him that he
would run away. Some boys would
have gone, but Bob hadn't the courage
to get up and face the world without a
shilling in his pocket.
On the afternoon of the 23d day OF
June, 1868, as was sworn to in court,
was in the alley back of the store. and
/ heard Stowe whipping Bob in the
storeroom. | heard him charge Bob
with stealing some money, but the boy
vigorously denied it. After the whip
ping Stowe told three different Gus.
TONERS that he had caught the boy
stealing, but suppressed the fact that
he had whipped him. ] saw Bob
about an hour after the affair, and he
made his denial in such a manner that
l felt sure Of his innocence. then ad-
vised him 10 run away, but a | had
no money TO give hiIns-and as he had
not a penny Of his own, he did not
think it best to go. He wanted me 70
come and share his bed with him that
night, as | had often done before, but
a circumstance prevented. Stowe saw
us together and ordered me away
from the store.
At : O'Clock that evening a maj
named Chadwick arrived in the village
from Chicago to visit a sister. Hehad
g., 900 In money with him, and he asked
Stowe TO keep it in his safe over night.
At 8 o'clock the store was closed. and
Stowe went home. At 9 o'clock | left
home to go to the store, calculating
to call Bob up by throwing pebble;
against his window, a signal often made
before. AS I passed the alley | saw
man skulk away. / afterward swort
in court that / believed this man to bt
Stowe. The sight of him frightened
me, and ! returned home at once.
Next morning 'the mystery" opened
with a grand blast of trumpets. Bot
LisIe had disappeared during the nigh
and the safe had been robbed Of Chad
wick's $1,000. Investigation height
ened the mystery.
There was blood on Bob's pillow. A
trail Of blood led from his bedside Il
TIE b1aa COR o. the store. The safe
had been opened in the regular way
and Stowe claimed that 500 Of hi
money had gone with Chadwiek's Thu
town was at once alive. and the villag'
constable proved his enthusiasm and
worth by arresting two strangers. On'
o identified himself q an homes
man. while the other admitted that h
was a deserter from the army and 1
tramp. On searching him e120 il
Rrsenbacks was found in one Of hi
pockets. He declared that he founs
this money ia the alley in the rear o
Stoves store that morning about day
nght be having passed the night In
nom shed further down the alex .