The morning call., 1891-08-16

- 4 4
yet refusing to speak. because to speak
meant the arrest and conviction of the real
murderer, who is his bosom friend.
The morning set for his execution arrived,
and, while persistng in his innocence, he
still refused TO tell what he knew of the
crime. just before lie was to have been led
from his cell to take his stand on the fatal
trap there came telegram from Washing
ton granting stay of thirty DAYS In the
proceedings. A second telegram from Pres
ldent Harrison informed the condemned
mans friends that unless strong evidence
proving the conviction to have been an error
was produced, no further interference with
the progress of justice would take place.
The man who had. been resuited for a
brief thirty days was only 81 years of age
at his last birthday. His youth and the
good reputation he bore previous to the
murder, as we'll as the way he had con-
Quoted himself during his confinement in
his ayowal OF innocence as the truth. Among
these friends the Sheriff and his wife, Mr..
and Mrs. Rufus Cone the Rev. David Whit
ers and Attorney Thomas +. McMechan
were untirng III their efforts in his behalf.
They worked early and late, and the result
of their self-denying labor is that the SEN
tence Of death has been committed to i'm
prsonment for life, and President HarrisOd
has with him at Cape May mass of aflida-
wits proving Belden's entire innocence, and
datin fro, fo,,,
Miller that an unconditional pardon be
issued.
Mr.. McMechan. the attorney, passed
through Chicago July 2Sth en- route home
from Cape May. To reporter for the Inter
Ocean, to whom he told Belden's story, MIR.
Mcchan expressed full confidence in secur-
lug the speedy release of his client.
Charles Grant, the victim Of the murder
which came near causing the execution of
an innocent man. was about % years of age.
He resided in Kansas for several months
previous to the opening of Oklahoma to set
Element, and when the frenzed rush was
made for that loDg-sought Mecca for "boonl-
ers" he was successful in securing a very
desirable claim about midway between
Guthrie and Oklahoma City. This claim
was made quite valuable by the rapid up
building Of the city OF Redmond ON an ad-
joining section.
Among Grants near neighbors were
Charles Hawley and wife. the Bates and
last named owned a claim that joined
Grants, and between the two there arose
one of those boundary-line disputes that
were so common in that country.
Chsrles Hawley is one of those surly men
who seem doomed to harsh judgment from
the remainder of mankind When he en-
tered Oklahoma he considered it veritable
FL Dorado, and his glowing letters to his
relatives in his old home in Knoxville, H.,
induced his nephew, Edwin Beden, to go
with tha of Inn ,xflti @J,,-,,
ing toward the much-advertised new terri
tory. Belden entered Oklahoma with the
purpose OF buying claim and settling down
to the life of farmer. He took up his
abode with the Hawleys, and at once began
to lOok about for claim that would suit him.
On his first arrival in Oklahoma Belden
made the acquaintance of John Foster. Be
tween these two young men there speedily
sprung friendship which, on Belden's
part, at least, was Of the same strength as
that which, according to the pretty legend,
existed between Damon and Pythias.
In order TO be as near his young friend as
possible Belden determined to purchase the
claim owned by Charles Grant. price
was seton his property by Grant, and Bel
den agreed to take it at the figure named.
Papers were drawn up December 90, 1885,
and it only remained for the signature to
be attached to complete the transfer.
A few days after that Grant disappeared.
Belden then gave it out that he had pur-
Guthrie. This story was accepted by the
public at first, but few days later grave
rumors of a terrible crime began to be whis-
pered about
When Edward Marsden received a letter
from Grants brother, written about the LIST
Of February, which said that Charlie had
not beeu heard from for more than month,
suspicion began to take form. Foster then
headed searching party, which finally dis
covered Grants body badly decomposed,
hui han of nil 10 IF
Hawley's barn.
Beden and Mr.. and Mrs. Hawley were at
once placed under arrest, and feeling ran
high against them. In spite of the fact that
Grants coat was found in Belden's valise
and that he held forged REIMBURSEMENT of
the claim from Grant, the public persisted
in believing that he was not the most guilty
one, and the Hawleys narrowly escaped
lynching. When tho case was brought be-
fore the court the Hawleys were discharged
for lack OF evidence, although it was still
the general opinion that they were the guilty
ones.
In March of 1891 Belden was tried in the
United States court at Wichita before Judge
Riner. The Prosecuting Attorney, Joseph
Ady, made out very strong case, and the
evidence, though entirely circumstantia,
seemed to be without the shadow of a flaw.
The accused took the stand in his own be-
half but could only protest his entire nno-
cence. His attorneys produced expert teSti-
mony in court to prove that Grants sigma
ture to the REIMBURSEMENT had not been
signed by Belden. The latter then Jumped
to his feet and declared that he had forged
the signature, but reiterated his declaration
of innocence Of murder
There could be but one verdict, and that
the jury rendered. With that verdict, how
ever, the jury handed the Judge plea
signed by each member requesting the court
10 use its Influence for clemency for the
prisoner from the President of the United
States. Judge Riner had no choice in the
matter, as under tho statutes of the couatry
he was compelled to give the prisoner a
death sentence. Accordingly Belden was
sentenced to be hanged in the corridor of
| the Wichita Jail on June oath. Then came
| a determined effort in the young mans be-
| half. Every endeavor to elicit from him a
| statement in regard to the murder brought
the reply, e.! know nothing except that l
| am Innocent"
The only concession that could be OBJ
| tanned from President Harrison was res
| pite for thirty days, with the declal alton
| that there would be no fuc;her interference
unless new and important evidence was
| brought forward. Finally Attorney Nc
| Mechan, who took hold of the case after the
| trial. and at the request of sister Of his
| dead partner, the Hon. Charles S. Ebey,
| struck an important lead. He followed it
up, and finally confronted Beden with the
| statement that he knew his secret. and that
| a concealment of the truth would no longer
| be allowed. Then Beldcn broke down and
| made the following remarkable confession,
which is given in his own language: