The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-16
WAS WILLING TO DIE.
rowrN BELDEN OFsEsS HIS LIFE
TO SAVE a FRIEND.

pi4 secret is Discovered and Friends
Secure For Him a Fun Pardon.
From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
"Greater love hath no man than this,
chat he lay down his life for his friend" has
bsen exemplified by remarkable case just
discovered at Wichita, Kan.
The great west has ever been prolific of
,omarkable men. 1t has been said that
nature produced these illimitable stretches
NJ prairie that man might absorb from
,hem those qualities that in a moment
transform the commonplace individual into
: hero. Whether that be true, it is often
| tba case in the west that a man who has
never been suspected of possessing a strong
character unexpectedly develops and stands
| forth Spartan.
There is now confined in the United
States jail at Wichita young man named
Edwin Belden, who has for months stood
within the shadow OF the nangman's rope,
knowing that he could prove his entire
innocence, and yet refusing to speak, be-
cause TO speak meant the arrest and con-
yction of the real murderer, who is his
bosom friend.
The morning set for his execution ar
rived, and, while persisting In his inno-
cence, he still refused to tell what he knew
OF the EIlHe. JuSS OCLOTO ub was W udVS
been led from his cell to take his stand on
the fatal trap there came telegram from
Washington granting stay Of thirty days
in the proceedings.
A SECOND CALL
from President Harrison informed the con
dAmned mans friends that unless strong
evidence proving the conviction to have
been an error was produced, no further in
reference with the progress OF justice
would take place.
The man who had been respited for
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 well as the way he had con-
Quoted himself during his confinement in
the jail, made him many friends,
who accepted his avowal of inno-
cence as the truth. Among these friends
the sheriff and his wife, Mr.. and Mrs. Rufus
Cone, the Rev. David Winter and Attorney
Thomas F. McMechan were untiring in their
efforts in his behalf. They worked early
and late, and the result of their self-deny
ing labor is that the sentence of death has
been committed to Imprisonment for life,
and President Harrison has with him at
Cape May a mass of aff1davits proving Bel
den's entire innocence, and a recommenda-
ton from Attorney General Miller that an
unconditional pardon be issued.
Mr.. M'MECHAN, THE ATTORNEY,
passed through Chicago yesterday en- route
home from Cape May. To a reporter for
the Ilter-Ocedn, to whom he told Belden's
story, Mr.. McMechau expressed full conf
dence in securing 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 Okla
homa to settlement, and when the frenzied
rnsh was made for that long sought
Mecca for boomers" he was successful in
securing very desirable claim about mid-
way between Guthrie and Oklahoma City.
This claim was made quite valuable by the
rapid upbuilding OF the city of Redmond
on an adjoing section.
Among Grants near neighbors were
Charles Hawley and wife, the Bates and
Marsten families, and John l.. Foster. The
last named owned a claim that joined
Grants and between the two men there
arose one of those boundary line disputes
that were so common in that country.
Charles 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 a vertable
Ell Dorado, and his glowing letters to his
relatives in his old home in Knoxville, Ill,
with the tide of humanity which was flow
ing toward the much-advertised new terri
tory.
BELDEN ENTERED OKLAHOMA
with the purpose of buying claim and
settling down to the life of a farmer. He
took up his abode with the HawIeys and at
once began to look about for a claim that
would suit him.
On his first arrival in Oklahoma Belden
L ,kI,. - I'll. D.
tween these two young men there speedily
sprung up 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 new friend as
possible Belden determined to purchase the
claim owned by Charles Grant. A price
was set on his property by Grant, and Belden
agreed to take it at the figure named. Papers
were drawn up Dec. 20, 1889, and it only re-
manned for the signatures to be attached to
complete the transfer.
A few days after that Grant disappeared.
Belden then gave it out that he had pur-
chased the claim and that Grant had gone
to 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 Marsten received a letter
from Grants brother, written about Feb.
I, which said that Charlie" had not been
heard from for more than a month, sus-
picion began to take form. Foster then
headed searching party, which finally dis
covered Grants body, badly decompoSed,
buried beneath pile of loose manure near
Hawley's barn.
BELDEN AND MR.. AND MRS. HAWLEY
were at once placed under arrest, and feel
ing ran high against them. In spite of the
fact that Grants coat was found in Bel
den's valise, and that he held a forged re-
hnquishment OF the claim from Grant, the
public persisted in believing that he was not
the most guilty one, and the Hawleys mar
rowly escaped lynching.
When the case was brought before the
court the Hawleys were discharged for lack
OF evidence, although it was still the gen.
eral opinion that they were the guilty ones.
In March of 1891 Belden was tried in the
United States court at Wichita before Judge
Rlner. The prosecuting attorney, Joseph
Ady. made out very strong case, and the
evidence, though entirely ciroumstantial,
seemed to be without the SHADOW Of a flaw.
The accused took the stand in his own be-
half, but could only protest his innocence.
dis attorneys produced expert testimony in
court to prove that Grants signature to the
relinquishment had not been signed by
Belden. The latter then jumped to his feet
ana declared that he had forged the sigma
ture, but reiterated his declaration of inno-
cence of murder.
There could be but one verdict, and that
the jury rendered. With that verdict.
however, the Jury handed the Judge plea
hUnad hu NH boz Nha