Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-02-04
GAVE UP HIS LIFE
Sad Story Of Edward murphys
Suffering.
FULL 81 YEARS IN PRISON
he . Released Win HIS Mind I'm
balanced and Meets Ills Death
From Railway Accident.

JAcKS0s, Mich, FEB. "A remark
able story OF Tie lite OF al ex-eonElcg,
who suffered half MS lifetime a.
prisoner behind the walls Of TIE state
pElson here TOR a crime OF when ne
Mas lnnocsGt. and was then pardoned,
has been revealed IA the compilations
which ex-N arden General Humphrey
has Just made public. Edward Murphy
- the Eams or this modern can Va lean
wno met nls death day or so ago Ia
railroad accident near here. He Was
born elghty-tW0 years sgo IN Ireland.
but ran away Unen lad. working his
passage To America. lie followed the
seA Ter some wears. Going To Chicago
Later, ne fell IN love and was married.
Having saved little mOuey, ne puI-
chased a small farm near LockpoFts
Ill. several cBlldren were born 10 the
couple, then the mother died. Two
wears after he married Bridget Mehan,
bat a little over = year alter the second
marriage MurDhy suddenly left home
aud salled on vessel up the lakes.
The first mate, John Williams, was
a drinking man and abused the sailors.
MaFphy among the number. AT Mae
mae Murphy quit the vessel IN the
night, aud within two hours OF his
gong, Williams was stabbed and killed.
In the solitary. .
Three years later Murphy was
rested IN Chicago and identified as the
murderer by a sailor named Carson.
lie was convicted on tne testimony OF
carson and the reward OF 500 was
paid TO those who arrested hlm. tie
spent seven year. IN the life solitary"
" hen be went ia his hair Was as black
a. n; when ne came out, on the aDoll-
ton of the solitary system, u was white.
lie knew very Att!e. ms mind beng
affected. Many moves were sgbse-
quently made 10 have him pardoned,
hat nothing came OF the efforts, as all
believed him guilty. After many
years, Jack Carson, dying III Chicago
from stab received IN a saloon row,
confessed that DC killed Williams and
caused the arrest OK Murphy for the
double purpose OF screaming himself
aad securing half the reward. At once
movement was set on foot tor
Murphy's release. anu seven years ago,
after al Incarceration OF thirty-=even
years, The much-wTonged man was
freed. When Murphy left the prison
he either bad forgotten all about his
family ~ Illinois. or WAS plqued 10
them, for ne did not 20 near them. He
became burden on the country, ana
later nis case WIS taken TO the Legisla-
tnre and by special enactment he was
granted life annuity OF $500.
spent Money fooiishiy.
He spent much OF his money fool
ishly buying what be did not need.
lie always dressed N rags, carried
dIlapidated umbrellas, and wore q big
hat. either white or black, far tastically
oedecked with red-w hIte- and NIB
bons or pieces of flannel. lie had been
familiar figure about the streets for
the past seven years, followed BY Il
crowd of children, of whom he was
fond. Many letters were found on his
person after death from relatives in all
parts OF the world, which he had kept
secret from those who knew him.
Charles Murphy, wealthy ranchman,
writes 10 him from Bungerse junction,
Australia, under date Of May 20, 1885,
calling him brother. Mary Street,
"No. ii Plckwick street, OFT Park road
Liverpool and Ann Considine, "Bal-
arst, Australia" both sisters, and Mar
gsret Leary, Longshlny, Liverpool,
also a sister, wrote, sending him n
sdocket for half sovereign" Bar.
nahy Murphy, = son, sent n letter
dated August 8, 1893, from Gooding:
Grove. VIII county, H., saying he
could get n lawyer 70 get his father
out OF PRISON for 500.