The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-10-09
STRANGE AND TRUE
DIR. HOLMES Is DONE JUSTICE AZ
TER TWENTY YEARS.
Conscience of King Price in the Mich
igan Penitentiary Overcomes Him
and He Exonerates the Old Wich-
ita Postmaster Who Served His
Time UEjustly for Theft.

There is one happy man in Wichita over
the receipt of letter from an unexpected
quarter. In fact the letter brought such
joyful tidings that the reel pien wept tears
of joy.
That man Is J. II. Holmes, row con.
nected with the undertakers establishment
Of Ii. c. Dunbar on North Main atreet.
1t will be remembered that in 1872 Mr..
q dimes was postmaster at Wichita, and
bore the respect of every citizen OF the
place. Imagine the surprise of all when
Mr.. Holmes was arrested one morning by
John NJ Cromwell. who was postofiice in
spector at that time The charges were
for taking registered packages to the
amount of $4,000. In vain did Mr..
Holmes declare his Innocence and make
good all loss TO the government. He was
at That time doing "a fourishing business.
and while all believed that Mr.. Holmes
was innocent of any Illegal transaction,
yet upon the trial il was shown that Mr..
Holmes had receipted for the packages IN
his own name and handwriting. Now, at
this time there was young man named
Price. who had Charge of the register bust
ness, and was highly recommended by
Jack Peyton, who was one OF the leading
merchants OF the city.
King Price Was a well educate young
man. aud an expert in the handling of
mail. 1t was frequently noticed that
Price spent large amount of money, but
his family being wealthy nothing was
thought Of the matter until the arrest of
Mr.. Holmes. Iu vain did he officer search
for young Price, but he was never heard
OF but once in Texas from that day TO this.
There was no doubt but that Price was
the criminal. and not Holmes. IL appears
that when Mr.. Holmes signed the receipt
for the registered package that King
Price extracted the same from the mail
sack.
At the trial which was held in the
United States court at Topeka, Mr..
Holmes was sentenced to the penitentiary
for term Of ten years. He Was after
wards pardoned by President Grant after
having served term of seventeen and
one-balf months. He returned to Wichita
and has been connected with the under
taking establishments of this city large
portion of the time. Notwithstanding Mr..
Holmes upright life he has been compelled
To lie under the stigma during all this
time-upwards of twenty-five years.
or course his own innocence Was known
to him, but when it is reflected that he
was cast from one of the most prosperous
any fault of his own, the
real saduess Of the case becomes
apparent TO all. He has never heard a
word from the man who did him the great
wrong for which he has suffered so much
until he received the letter yesterday from
the postoffics.
Tue blow was great one, but when Mr..
Holmes handed the letter TO a representa-
tive of the EAGLE yesterday, be said: I
would not lake thousand dollars for that
letter. aud believe / can say that il has
brought such JOY 20 me that can freely
forgive the mau who has ruined me-"
The following Is a copy Of the letter in
full:
MICHIGAN PENITENTIARYl
LANSING. MICH, SEPT. 70.
J. L. Holiness Wichita. Kansas.
DEAR SIR:-At last write to you TO in
a measure. undo a great wrong did you,
my best friend In 1872. | was then en-
p Dyed by you in the postotfice at Wichita,
Kansas, and l was led estray by the VAR
ious gambling places then running. At
first | used my own money, hut this being
lost, began appr oprIatiug money belong
ing to the Office. l did not intend TO rob
you or the departm mt. but found that
had soon over-reached myself aud making
a frantic effort broke opeu registered pack
ages with the hope of winning Now
guess my CONSERVATION while playing that
night Wn-n L overheard brownie say that
the postoffice inspector was in
the city l knew my theft would be found
out and left that night. | WAS taken
very sick in Texas aud when | thought my
time had come ] made statement fully
generating you from every blame. /
would have sent it 10 you or had il sent to
you in case l died. / however got well
and have run my checkered career but was
finally overcome by being connected w tn
a party of counterfeiters plying our trade
in Detroit. l was sentenced 10 five years
in The penitentiary 10y the United States
court at Detroit. Now, my friend, want
TO set you right before the public. You
were m ade to suffer for my trausgressions
aud You had nothing To 10 with the short
age whatever. How sad | have felt when
/ knew that you were held for my doings,
but what could | do: Should | come for
ward and tell the truIhi NV liberties
would have been gone. aud | VIII say that
i enjoyed my wild life too well to surren-
der. You would hardly know me. | am
now an old msn-brokeu down at forty.
One cannot lead the life that | have, with
on, tmpairing his heal b.
Write to me for any statement that
will place you right before the people and
will gladly sign It. Your administration
was wholly blameless excrps that you had
too much confidence in your friends.
Il abused that confidence and you were
made TO suffer. Hoping this may meet
your approval am yours, etc.
''kING PRICE"
The champion btse ball pensnt will 90
TO -. ? The championship for exc-l-
ence in baking powder has goue to DR..
/ ri q rs mar fac Ha