Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-04
John Loosmore Is an Inno-
cent Convict.
A San Luis Obispo Man Rail-
r0aded to Prison.
His Conviction the Result of a
Fraud.
Tho Wife and sons of the Prosecuting
Witness Tell of Fraud in the
Evidence-A Strange
story.

There has been brought to the at
tention OF Governor Markham by Rev.
A. brahms, the chaplain of San Quentin
prison, story OF one Of the most glar-
ing and fragrant outrages ever perpe-
trated in California in the name of law
and justice, by which young man was
railroaded into state prison in order
that his enemies might possess them
selves of his property, says the San
Francisco Chronicle of Saturday. From
an article in that paper the following
extracts are taken:
In speaking of the matter yesterday,
Rev. brahms said:
'The story seems almost incredible,
but l have investigated it fully and have
filed with the governor the most pos
tive proofs of its truthfulness. Here
is the story: In April last there ar
rived in prison from San Luis Obispo
county young Englisman named John
Loosmore.
lone day about month or more ago
Loosmcre received o letter from
England, and when he read it he broke
down completely. 1t had been for
warded to him from his old home in
Kern county, and told him that his
sweetheart in England, not hearing
from him for months, had concluded
that he was faithless to her. and had
married another. It was then Loos-
more told me his story, which has since
been proved true in every particular.
He said he came to this country from
England seven years ago, when but IL
years of age. His parents, who are still
living, had little farm in the old coun-
try, and he had been raised farmer.
He wanted to marry a girl, but her
parents were unwilling until he had
made home for her, and for that rea-
son he got together all his savings,
about $1,000, and migrated to Cali
fornia.
couldn't take up government claim,
but he found man who had claim of
l60 acres down in remote part of Kern
Luis Obispo county, on which he had
proved up and which he wanted to sell.
Loosmore bought the land for $500 cash
and at once located on it. He found his
land being used by neighboring cattle
men as q range and had considerable
trouble with them, but finally he got his
little farm fenced in, built himself a
house and went to work in earnest. AS
soon as possible be became a citizen of
the United States and he at once took
up l60 acres adjoining the farm which
he had bought and moved onto it.
"Loosmore's nearest neighbor was
man lamed John Allen, who lived eight
miles away, just across the line in San
Luis Obispo county. Allen was a former
resident of San Francisco and very
wealthy man. His family consisted of
his wife, aged about 65 years, and two
grown sons.
lone day in 1888 William Allen, one
of the sons, rode over to Loosmore's
ranch and asked Loosmore to come over
to his fathers place with his rife, as
they wanted wild steer killed, and
having tried to kill it several times and
failed, had concluded to get crack shot
to tackle the job. Loosmore went back
with him and killed the steer, which
the Aliens at once dressed.
t'About two years after the incident
related, Loosmore, anxious to acquire
wealth, rented one of Aliens ranches.
He seeded the rented ground, but no
sooner had he got the seed in than Allen
went to him and told him the lease he
held was worthless and that he, Loos-
more, must vacate the rented farm.
Loosmore refused and lawsuit followed,
which he won, his lease being declared
valid and binding.
"Allen vowed vengeance, and told
Loosmore that he would have him off
the place dead or alive. Allen repeated
these threats to others, but, being a
wealthy man and Loosmore a poor
stranger. people contented themselves
by warning theAlatter to look out, as
Allen meant him harm.
ssOne day Loosmore was at work on
the farm rented from Allen, when he
was pounced upon, arrested for grand
larceny and taken to San Luis Ooispo
for trial. Loosmore then investigated
the charge against him, and imagine his
surprise when he found that Allen had
him arrested for killing the steer which
he had sent for him to shoot.
"Loosmore sent word to Mrs. Allen
and to Aliens sons, and they at once
agreed to testify in his behalf, but Allen
prevented them, and theresult was that
when poor Loosmore came to trial he
was convicted.
''Loosmore was at once brought to
prison, and the same week his little
farms were jumped by the cattlemen,
who turned their stock in on them.
Not wanting his parents or his sweet
heart to know of his trouble and dis
grace, Loosmore ceased writing home,
and it was only the news that the wo-
man whom he loved was lost to him
that made him open his lips.
ssAt once" continued Rev. brahms,
81 started in to investigate the story,
and have found it true in every par
ticular. first found that Mrs. Allen
and her sons had left Allen on account
of his actions togard Loosmore. I
found Mrs. Allen was in Brentwood,
Contra Costa county, and at once wrote
TO her what have told you. Here is
her answer
Rev. A. brahms:
DEAR SIR y How can ever express
my gratitude to you for your kindness
to poor John Loosmore and your efforts
TO release him from prison and lift him
from the degration be has been thrown
into through the spite Of mean man,
although he is my husband and the
father of my boys. / cannot but admit
that no greater wrong could have been
done any man than has been done John
Loosmore. He is as innocent OF any
crime in killing that animal as you are.
The facts as you have them written are
correct in every particular. He leased
the land from Mr.. Allen in good faith