The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1893-12-28
new LEASE OF LIFE
One More Chance for Painter to
Establish His Innocence.
MYSTERIOUS MAN IN TEXAS


CHICAGO, Dec 26-In statement for
publication Major Blackburn, attorney
for George M. Painter, condemned for
the murder Of Alice Martin, says:
New evidence is coming to light
every hour, and / have no doubt we will
be able TO prove Painters innocence of
the crime II new trial Is granted.
There is no doubt, in my mind, that
Painter Is victim of circumstances.
A man named Buckley came to Theo-
dore Case and told him he saw the Mar
tin woman and man enter the house
night of the murder. The description
of the man seen by Buckley tallies ex-
actly with that of the man seen by
Nellie McCabe and Mary Slattery. Both
of these women saw Alice Martin and a
mau so into Sc Green street at II 80
O'Clock that night.
"Mrs. Augusta Roth tells remark
able story In this connection. At one
time Painter and Alice Martin rented
rooms from Mrs Roth on Randolph
street. One day, shortly before the
murder, Mrs. Roth says she told the
Martin woman that she would have to
vacate the rooms During the absence
of Painter, while he was at work, man
used to call on the Martin woman, and
Mrs. Roth did not like this. When told
she would have TO move out the Martin
woman began to cry and admitted to
Mrs. Roth that the man who was In the
habit of calling upon her was desper-
ate character. She spoke of him as
Dick and said he had frequently
threatened to kill her. She was com
pletely In his power and used to give
him small sums of money from time to
time.
1.-THE Saturday night before the muir
der Mrs. Roth and another woman
named Graham were walking along
some street on the west side, and Just
ahead Of them were man and woman.
Mrs. Roth recognized them a. Alice
Martin and the man known as Dick.
She heard Dick say to Alice: i will
come to your house tomorrow night and
1: you don't have the money for me
win NIX you so that you will never give
Painter another cent
"rhe next night Alice Martin was
murdered and there is no doubt but
Dick Is the man who killed her. One of
the most prominent lawyers In the west
read Of the case in tue papers and he
came to my office to tell rue what he
knew OF Dick Edwards, who, we think,
Is the man who killed Alice Martin. A
short time ago Mr.. Haynes, Of Deni-
son, Texas, came to Chicago to get an
expert on chirography. Dick Edwards
was under arrest at Sherman, Texas,
for the killing of Mrs. Haynes, and her
husband kad dropped everything to
prosecute the case. Mr.. Haynes went
to the lawyer refer to and asked his
advice In the matter OF securing an ex.
pert IN handwriting. The lawyer re-
ferred him to Professor Tolman.
professor Tolman went to Texas and
was a witness In the case. He returned
from there about two weeks ago.
saw him and the description he give,
of the Dick Edwards who was convicted
there for the murder of Mrs. Haynes /.
an exact description of the man seer
by Mr.. Buckley and the two women or
the night Alice Martin was murdered.
81 understand Edwards lived at the
time at Salt Lake City and from there
came to Chicago. He was known II
Utah as desperate and was credited
with having killed half dozen per
sons.n
The gallows erected for the execution
of Painter has been taken down. The
jail attaches have no confidence In the
affidavlt of Nellie McCabc and Mary
Slattery, upon which the respite was
granted by Governor Altgeld. Both
women are known at the jail and TO the
police, especially to officers Of the Des
PLANES street station. They are cele
brnted in their way, being members OF
the Nellie OBrlen and Emma Fole,
gang, dangerous and troublesome
crowd of pickpockets and burglars
Nellie O'Brien, the leader of the gang
was sent to Joliet some time ago on a
three years sentence.