Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-12-31
A LEGAL INCIDENT.
A TRAGIC ENDING or AN UNJUST
CRIMINAL CONVICTION.

What strong CircumstantiaI Evidence
Did IN the Case Of Trusted Clerk.
He Died when Hs Learned That He
Was Innocent Before the Law.
The following thrilling story comes
from the lips Of well known member
Of the Pennsylvania bar:
A very bad and dishonest failure had
occurred ia which certain trusted
clerk seemed to have been guilty of the
larger share Of the crime. He, with his
employer was arrested and charged
with the crime. The clerk stoutly pro-
tested his innocence and denied all
knowledge of the fraud or any connec.
ton with his employer.
However, there was a chain of cir
cumstantial evidence woven around him
which was exceptionally strong and
which his counsel could not break down,
although he was firmly convinced him
self Of his innocence. The clerk was
convicted and sent TO Jail for term Of
years.
After being confined in prison for
about a year the poor fellows mind be.
gan to weaken, and finally he broke
down completely. He was taken from
/ prison and transferred to hospital for
/ the insane. All the time the clerk con.
/ tinued TO protest his innocence. After
he had been confined in the hospital
three or four years. certain facts in the
failure We're ELECTED which clearly proved
that the unfortunate clerk was entirely
innocent of having committed any crime.
OF course steps were Immediately
taken to secure the pardon of the man
the facts We're laid before the pardon
board Mt their next meeting and an order
was given for his immediate release.
Ii now became the delicate duty OF
the counsel IN the case to break the
happy intelligence to the pardoned clerk
But the question that confronted then
was what could be done to restore hii
reason, and would he believe the news
III his mind could not be restored h,
could not be taken away. What could
be done? After consultation between
the counsel on both sides of the case il
was agreed to call upon the poor clerl
and make an attempt to rouse him from
the apathy and lethargy into which h,
had fallen. This they decided to do by
accusing him again of the theft of tn,
funds. Whenever this subject wa
bIoached Inc always reused himself ant
became greatly animated always vigor
o,lsly denying il.
While his mind was aroused Nv thi.
stimulus it had been decided that one o.
, the counsel was TO announce that tn,
matter had been fully investigated ant
: his innocence fully established. TIL,
parties TO tkis strange drama assembled
: in the room OF the stricken man. HI
, sat silent AMI immovable, with his hea,
, IN his hands.
E "A the old and ever ranking charg,
G Of dishonesty fell upon his ears the ef
: feet was exactly that which had beel
foreseen and expected. He slowly raises
e his head. Looking his pseudo accuse
! straight IN the eve he repeated, in
! loud tone Of voice, with rising infiec
( tien aud with great energy. 1T is a lie.
The critical moment had come. Tn
lawyer who had prosecuted him and sc
cured his incarceration then stepped N
!, to him and said: "Yon are right. 1t is
lie, and yon stand before the communit
). vindicated man. | have the order TO
! your release in my pocket"
Then the lawyers stood off to waite
. the effect, hoping that the joy at tn
! prospect of release and vindieation woul
. have the effect of putting the clerk agai
! in his right mind. But no sign of 10
g overspread tue mans features. His fac
. bore its usual stolia expression.
= seemed TO have no apparent effect npo
him.
! The clerk turned hI- face toward til
!. speaker, as If it did not understand hin
= Then his mead fell forward, and the ma
u was preeipitated upon the floor at th
e feet Of the lawyers. A single glanc
= sufficed. He was dead.-tireen Bag