Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-06-06
THAT SCHOOLMATE.

\
be hear the words Alright, that white faoed
boy standing before that crowd of upturn-
ed facesi All. yes, he heard theml
II can die" he thought. Then his eyes
sought among them all for one face that he
could trust, for one that might believe him
innocent of the crime for which they would
hang him. Was there such facei Had
he in all that crowd single friend' II SO,
he knew it not.
HE doesn't look like murderer" said
a lady who had been present at the Last
hearing. Hes handsome and not over Is,
they say"
But the evidence was most conclusive"
said the man at her side.
Eyes, / suppose SO, and YETI
The evidence had been most conclusive
No one knew that better than the con-
demned, who turned his hopeless eyes upon
the crowd that seemed hunting him to his
death.
Was it only six months ago he had been
working in that little mining camp with
Pete and Jim, as happy and careless as the
birds among the trees? And now he was
to be dragged off to Jail, to remain there
short time, when he would be sent to the
penitentiary. where some months later his
execution wonld take place.
1t was horrible! horrible! Why had he
ever been bornf And such short time be-
fore he had fancied himself so happy and
prosperousl How cruel was fate!
This was the story Of the tragedy as the
public knew it. The murder had been COM
mitted on an obscure street. The victim
was a wealthy citizen who had started to
walk home, taking near cut that led
through a rather unpleasant quarter Of the
town. When in the shadow of tall build
ing, he was waylaid and shot, then robbed
Of the 81, 600 he was known to have left his
office with. Not only was the shot heard
by policeman near, but the murderer was
seen by him as well as by two others, and
when arrested, before he could flee, the
money was found on his person-the exact
amount, q, 600 in plain white envelope
without mark of any kind. The revolver,
with it's empty chamber, lay near the muir
dered man.
All this was proved at the trial-all this
and more Not link seemed wanting. The
jury hesitated only on account of the youth
of the prisoner but every one knew it would
be murder in the first degree from the start.
The boys version of how it all occurred
was too preposterous to think about This
was what he said over and over when ques-
toned:
my name is Edward Niles. When quite
young, lived in a city somewhere with my
parents. When was 10 years old, my ia
ther moved out west, where we wandered
about from town to town, getting poorer
and poorer My mother died, then my ia
L tv.l .trft old ,tt,ar
who kindly cared for me and taught me to
work in the mine. One day Pete found
pocket We divided the pay dirt equally
and went to the nearest town, where Pete
had it changed into bills. That is how
came to have $1,000 upon my person when
arrested. The money was my own and
honestly earned-at least it was given me
as my part of the interest in the little mine
we owned and worked"
But your appearance upon the scene of
the murder2" was asked.
Accident. accident wholly. Foolishly
desired to see something of the world and
came to the city, intending to invest my
little fortune and add to it if possible. l
had been troubled with longing for city
life ever since was taken from it. l came
here the very day was arrested. l was
passing through the street named when the
shot was fired. The next instant was ar
rested. If l turned to fee as they said, it
must have been from fright. / have no re-
membrance of It,"
But when asked to produce evidence to
prove the truth of his words he shook his
head sadly.
II cannot. Jim and Pete intended to go
far to the south, know not where. l did
not try to find out. l cannot think of a
way In which they could be reached"
perhaps an advertisement" was sug-
gested by the prosecuting attorney, who
really wished he could believe the youthful
criminal.
No" the boy said. They never look at
a paper-don't see one sometimes for six
months"
And thus it was that in the darkness of
his cell he languished and wondered if ever
there was or had been person more hope
less or ffiendless than himself in the wide
world.
His crime was published far and near.
Pictures of the murdered man and of the
prisoner appeared. One of these papers fell
into the hands of sch oolgirl in a southern
village, who read with startled gaze the
name Of the criminal.
"Neddy Miles, Little Neddy Niles! Papa,
oh, papa, listenW
Yes" said her father, extending his
hand for the paper, you are certainly right.
But we did not think he would grow into
murderer, did we, Roser'
"Oh, papav'
49," he continued, glancing over the
paper at her, the boy has one friend who
believes him innocent"
Read it all, papa, and he will have two"
A few minutes later the paper was tossed
aside, and the man arose hurriedly and
took up his hat.
what are you going to do, papa'" In
luired his daughter.
'.See if l can find Pete or Jim, but Pm
afraid there won't be time"
"Oh, yes, there will-there must be.
They won't hang Neddy when I know he's
innocent"
But If Pete or Jim were in the land Of
the living they could not be found, at least
20 it seemed. Rose Clayfield and her ia
ther were indeed trying to reach them by
every available means.
"Thsy could not clear the boy of murder,
but they could prove how he came by the
money, and that might stay his execu-
tion," said Mr. Clayfeld. II am undecided
what to do, but will write to the chief of