Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-01-07

Affecting Incident Of the Meet
i'm Between Her and
the Prisoner
Great Bank Robbery Of Many
Years Ago Recalled by
the Liberation.

| years confinement lacking two days,
| James Dunlap, the Northampton bank
/ burglar. has left the Charleston state
J prison free man. He was accOmpan-
led by Mrs. Mary Soott-Rowland and
George Abbott James, his warmest
/ friends. 1t is mainly to the indomlt-
able will and perseverance Of Mrs. Row
land that Dunlap owes his release,
1t was fifteen years ago New Years
day when Dunlap and Robert q. Scott
entered the prison, TO serve sentence
Of twenty years Scott lived but few
years and died in Jail. When Scott was
slowly dying he made a WILL leaving TO
his wife many momentoes for friends
and relatives Amo these was a
cameo ring, which he asked her to place
on the iiuger of James Dunlap, his ac-
complete on the day of the lattcr's
liberation. Scott always regarded Dun
lap as his pupil in crime-one for whom
he was himself morally responsible
and he besought his loving wife TO take
upon herself the solicitude of sister
for the man he had wrongly influenced
and labor untiringly and devotedly for
his pardon.
That was nearly ten years ago, for
it was in April 1888, that Scott, weigh
ed down by his shame and the prospect
OF years of prison life, died Of a broken
heart-of consumption, the physicians
certificate said. And through all the
intervening years this trust from her
contrite husband, although she has since
4
state, Mrs. Rowland has never
for one moment forgotten.
During all these years she has labor
ed to this end, importuning obstinate
governors and councillors, and securing
the aid Of influential men in her behalf
and the elimination Of her laDors was
her happiness today.
Almost as soon as Dunlaps pardon
was granted Mrs. Rowland was tele
graphed to in New York, She at once
hastened to this city 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 proceeding.
The papers are usually sent to the
W aAAhNAA AAAipASAA Aii- man. bhb III NAllo
case they were held back, the governor
thinking that the woman had worked
so hard for these papers would esteem
it a privilege to be permitted TO bear
them to the prison 1t was $3.50 o'clock
In the morning when she arrived ut
Warden Coverings house and entering
handed him the official envelope simply
saying, Here's the paper"
The warden unfolded the document
and read it, 1t was the first official |
announcement OF the pardon that he |
had received. He went to the prisoner
and said: Jim, your pardon has been |
granted"
The prisoner betrayed no emotion. |
He received the news by simply bowling |
his head and remarked: We'll, I'm |
glad it has come at last He went TO
work as usual and remained at his post |
until an officer appraised him that his |
labors there were over, and told him |
to dress.
When Dunlap walked into the rotun |
da Mrs Rowland rushed across the room |
with extended hands and face beaming |
with delight. Dunlap appeared to be |
dazed as he grasped the outsretched |
hand. With tear-dimmed eyes he thank
ed her
II am too much overcome" he said |
"to give proper expression to my graft !
tude for your efforts in my behalf. 1t !
il true that my time was nearly up, |
but it is none the less welcome to me, |
and to you, dear friends, who have |
worked 50 hard for me, / am glad that
you find 50 much satisfaction in know
ing that your efforts were not ended |
in vain To this dear woman ! owe
much, and I will try and repay as far
as possible, the obligation"
his emotion. Then cane one Of the
most pathetic Incidents Of the morning.
Mrs Rowland opened her pocket-book
and taking the ring out, said to Dunlap:
Mr. Dunlap, my mission has been full
filed If it was fifty years instead Of
fifteen, / would have worked with as
much energy, but meant to be true to
the promise / made my dying hus
band"
Then she reached for his right hand
and placed on the third finger a thin,
plain gold ring. When this was done
she gave way to a flood Of tears. She
composed herself in a moment and
thnn the trio were escorted into the
clerks office where papers were duly
signed and Ounlap was formally re-
leased from custody Dunlay IL 80
years old.
On the night Of January %, 1876,
seven masked men entered the house
of John Whittlesey, cashier Of the
Northampton, Mass, bank and took
charge Of seven inmates, handcuf1ed an
bound them, and forced Mr.. Whittlesey
to give the combination to the lock on
the vault door and on the iron box on
the inside Of the safe The burglars
took gsOO.0O0 In coupon and registered
bonds. $500. 600 in certified stocks and
$4,000 In bank bills.
The robbery was slillfully planned