The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-30
NJ DUNLAP RELEASED
Mrs. Mary Scott Rowland Secures a
Pardon for the Famous Bank Robber.
After Years of Importuning She Fulfllsa Mis-
sion Imposed on Her by Her Dying Hus-
banda Pathetic Incident

lacking two days. confinement. James
Dunlap left the Charlestown State Prison
to-day. q free man. He was accompanied
by Mrs. Mary Scott-Rowland and George
Abbott James, his warmest friends. IL is
mainly to the indomitable will and per-
servance of Mrs. Rowland that Dunlap
owes his release.
It was fifteen years ago New Years day
when Dunlap and Robert c. Scott entered
the prison to serve out o sentence of
twenty years. Scott lived but q few years,
and died in prison. When Scott was slowly
dying he made will. leaving to his wife
many momentoes for friends and relatives.
Among these was q cameo ring which
he asked her TO place on the finger
of James Dunlap, bis acoomplIce. on
the day of the latter's liberation.
For Scot always regarded Dunlap as his
pupil in crime-one for whom he was him
self morally responsible. and he bcsought
his loving wife to take upon herself the
solicitude of a sister for the man he had
wrongly influenced. and labor ~untiringlysnd
devotedly for his pardon. This was nearly
ten years ago. for it was in April. 1882. that
Scott. weighed down by his shame and the
prospect of years of prison life. died of q
broken heart-of consumption the physi-
clans certificate said. And through all the
Intervening years. this trust from her con-
trite husband; although she has since re-
married, and Is now living in another
State. Mrs. Scott-Rowland has never for
one moment forgotten. During all these
years she has labored to this end. impor-
tuning obstinate Governors and council
ors, and securing the aid Of influential.
men in her behalf. and the elimination of
her labors was her happiness to-day.
Almost as soon as DunIap's pardon was
granted yesterday, Mrs. Rowland was tele-
graphed to in New York. She ut once
fastened to Boston and went to the State
house, where she was given the official
papers according the release of the now
famous prisoner. This Is an unusual pro-
ceeding. The papers are usually sent to
the warden through the mail. but In this
case they were held back. the Governor
thinking that the woman who had worked
so hard for these papers would esteem il q
privilege to be permitted to bear them to
the prison. 1t was just $50 O'Clock this
morning when she entered Warden Lever
ing's house and handed him the official en-
velope, saying simply: Here's the paper"
The warden unfolded the bulky docu-
announcement of the pardon that he had
received. The warden went to Dunlap
and said: Jim. your pardon has been
granted" The prisoner betrayed no emo
kAoh liz koo ho"o ~ NV
bowling his head. and remarked: well,
Pm glad il has come ut last" He went to
WORK as usual this morning. and remained
at his post until an officer apprised him
that his labors there were over, and led
him away to dress.
While Dunlap was preparing to leave.
Mrs. Rowland was introduced to the squad
of reporters who were in the warden's Of
to say. gentlemen" she remarked. II hin
L have said about sll l care
to-" When. Dunlap walked into
the room Mrs. Rowland rushed across
beaming with delight. Dunlap appeared
to be dazed az he grasped the outstretched
hands. With tear-dimmed eyes he thanked
her. II an too much overcome" he said,
for your efforts In my behalf. 1t Is true
that my time was nearly mp. but it is none
the less welcome to me aud to you. dear
friends. who have worked so hard for me.
tion in knowing that your efforts were not
ended in vain. To this dear woman | owe
much, and | will try and repay, as far as
possible, the obligation" Dunlap then
sat down, overcome by his emotion.
Then Game one of the most pathetic incl
dents of the morning. Mrs. Rowland
opened her pocket-book. and taking the
ring out said to Dunlap: MIR. Dunlap.
my mission has been fulfilled. Ii it was
fifty years instead Of fifteen l would have
worked with as much energy. / had about
given up hope. but I meant TO be true to
the promise i made my dying husband"
Then she reached for his right hand and
placed on the third niger a thin plain gold
ring. When this was done she gave way
TO a flood Of tears. She composed herself
in a moment, and then the trio were es-
corted into the clerks Office. where tine pa
pers were duly signed and Dunlap was
formally released from custody.
Dunlap was ono of the men apprehended
of the gang of Uank robbers who abstract
ed over $1,000: 600 in securities from the
Northampton Bank JAM 5, 1876. One of the
men turned States evidence, duplicating
Dunlap. He Is now fifty years of age.
From the prison Dunlap, Mrs. Rowland
aud Mr.. James were driven to the Pinker-
tons Office in this city, where Dunlap wns
that the agency was willing to back him
in any enterprise he might undertake. In
company with Mrs. Rowland, Dunlap was
then driven TO the depot. where the tram
in ON interview said: What / lave done
for this man | would do for any one else
who 1 thought was deserving, and who l
thought could be saved. Dunlap only need
to give it to HIM. | don't like the noto-
riety, but i am willing to bear it for the
sake of my husband. When. as an inno-
cent school girl. 1 fell IN love with Scott. /
knew nothing about his character such as
was developed afterward. When he was
arrested for this crime IL nearly broke my
heart. My family was highly connected,
and the shock was donbly great. Bnt l did
not desert him in his trouble. and when he
was dying in prison. | felt it my duty, as his
wife, to be at his bedside. / was willing to
face the notoriety and social ostracism. and
when j promised him to be a friend and a
sister TO James Dunlap l meant to do il. no
matter what the consequences were. Now
that he is free he will have my aid and
money to start him in an honest business"
Dunlap. who bad q creditable war record.
will receive about $1,000 back pension. In
reply to the questions of a reporter he said:
Il have no plans yet as TO what | shall do.
j shall! probably 60 into business either in
New York or Chicago. l have done all |
could IN reparatIon for my crime. | am
not q criminal by instinct. l fell into this
crime by force of circumstances 1 have
paid the penalty. | have not q dollar in
my possession to-day which has not been
earned by honest methods. If / had been
dishonest In ms heart | might to-day be a
rich man."
Decision I'm n Novel Advertising Case.
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