Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-25

in spite of all entreattss declared they would
not go back. When they were asked where
they were going to stop they would let their
chains fail with q great deal Of clanking on
the deck and say they were going to put
up at the State Hotel
Mans Hard Fate.
while they were having all this sport I
noticed that the fourth man never said a
word. but sat with his hat pulled down
over his face. and as looked more clearly
at him noticed that some tears had fallen
on his hand. / spoke to him. and as he
looked up 1 found that he was a very good
looking young man. and the last in the
world that would be taken for a criminal.
What are you sent up forr asked.
Highway robbery he replied.
You don't look like it, 1 replied. Why,
man. when 1t Ii SO easy to make money In
this country: why dc you go into that kind
"T never did It, he replied. It's all
wrong. But am in for 1t. and there Is no
escape. My life Is lost. 1 am sent up for
ten years. and there will be nothing left for
me when that time has elapsed
became interested In the man. and
asked Kretcher about him. He assured me
that 1t was q remarkable case. He had
known the man for several years, and he
was the last man in the county that he
was no mistake. The man was guilty, and
there was direct evidence to the effect that
he had committed the robbery. / then got
the man to tell me his story. His name
gulch with others. but. being very fond Of
hunting. and as fresh meat was scarce. his
mates were always glad to have him go up
In the mountains and get q deer. One af-
ternoon he had quite q long tramp before.
he got a shot. He wounded the deer but
did not kill him. He followed the trail,
keeping just In sight. but he did not catch
up with his game by nightfall. and then
fYna Ha do
his return slowly over the mountain. and II
was after 10 O'Clock when he finally reached
camp.
Circ1mstantiaI Evidence.
The next morning while he was at work
the sheriff came along and arrested him on
the charge of highway robbery. Those
were days Of quick trials. In the court he
was confronted with a teamster. who swore
that Beck had stopped him on the road on
the opposite side Of the mountain range.
where Beck had followed the wounded
deer. and had robbed him. He described
the gun which Beck had carried. and the
unusual clothes which he had worn on that
occasion In the most minute detail. Beck's
rifle was of q peculiar pattern. and yet the
man described II exactly. His fellow min
ers were brought in and testified to the
absence Of Beck on the day Of the robbery,
and that he did not get back to camp until
after 10 o'clock that night. The robbery
had taken place about o'clock in the after
room, giving Beck time enough to have
been at the place and to have returned.
That's the case against me- he said. de-
jectedly. I have had two trials, and been
convicted both times. More than that,
have an old father in Philadelphia, and
his entire fortune has been spent In my de-
tense. I have never robbed the man. and
I am at q loss to account for the testimony
against me-
IT told the man I believed his story"
continued Senator IOnea w Il 1pf
him I gave him 80 and a supply Of tobacco.
More than year sfterward I was elected
to the state senate. I was selected as chair
man Of the committee on claims. 1t was a
committee which had a great deal of bust
ness to do. as there were many claims
before the legislature. After the appoint
about his duties. and told him to arrange
the bills that had been introduced in order
for consideration. He did so. and I then
had him read the titles Of each. The first
said. read that again. No. give 1t to me-
/ looked through the bill and 1t began with
list Of whereases. showing that Levi
Beck had been convicted of crime which
he had never committed, and had served
for a year in the penitentiary, when his
innocence had been proven; that he had
been a most exemplary prisoner. and now
having been restored to his liberty. 1t pro-
vided that he be recompensed by the pay
ment OF 1900. The matter interested me,
and began an Investigation.
The True Criminal Found.
Il found that some time after his in
generation one Of the toughest characters
of the country had been convicted Of muir
der and was In prison awaiting execution.
The day before the event he allowed
Catholic priest to come to him. being In
his early days a member of that church
He began telling some Of his past crimes.
and was finally admonished by the priest
that he should endeavor to make restitution
to any persons he had wronged.
There's q fellow doing time down at
San Quentin for Job did, said the hard
ened culprit, and related the circumstances
The priest telegraphed the bishop to
know II he would be at liberty to use what
was told him In confessional to nberate an
innocent man In prison. The answer was