The Red Cloud chief., 1895-11-15

OF granting Il pardon on such grounds.
Still. feeling that the matter should
have a thorough investigation. the Gov
ernor and Council considered he case
carefully. and finally appointed Coun-
cIllor ClGson n committee Of n to
visit tho scene Of the tragedy at Dex-
ter. to examine the bank thoroughly
and inquire from the citizens of Dexter
~hnt was really the popular sentiment
there. Mr.. Clason faithfully performed
this duty In behalf of the Governor and
Council. and was amazed to find an
overwhelming sentiment against the
bank officials, and n full and settled
conviction that 10 interfere In behalf
Of Stain and Cromwell would be to
overthrow Justice. Councillor ClasOn so
reported. and at an executive session
II was unanimously decided TO refuse a
pardon to tho murderers.
When this decision reached Dexter II
aroused the greatest enthusiasm anlf(ig
tho lifelong friends Of the murdered
cashier. Popular Indignation at the at
titudc Of the bank officials at one time
threatened the President with tar and
feathers, but as this last scheme of the
| oHlciais of the Dexter Bank TO blacken
the reputation OF their murdered cash
| Ter has failed. 1t Is believed that no fur
ther efforts will be undertaken TO set at
liberty the guilty men.
Briefly, the part played By u reporter
In the conviction Of Stain and Cron.
we'll was as follows: In September,
1857. a member of the Worlds staff
learned that Charles Stain, son of Da-
vId Stain. had made a partial confess
sion to Sheriff Mitchell of Norridge-
wock, Me-, In which he gave names OF
| the robbers Of the Dexter Bank. Sheriff
| Mitchell had had this confession for
nine months, hut had rot acted on 1t
because of lack Of money. The reporter,
backed by the World, went there TO cor-
roboratc young Stains startling story.
In Medheld, Mass, David Stains house
was ransackcd and In the neighbour
hood bits OF evidence were gathered
proving tho existence of n criminal
gang. Another reporter meanwhile
watched the movements of David Stain,
who was then o cobbler, at Franklin,
Mass.
After several weeks OF investigation
Stain and Cromwell were arrested. The
reporter leading the officials In every
move.
On the trial In Maine many witnesses
identified the prisoners as having been
In Dexter on the day of the murder.
which was W%ashington's Birthday.
1878. There could be nc doubt about
these identifcatlons. The holiday and
the peculiar aptitude Of country folk for
remembering strange faces, together
with the horror Of the crime, combined
to fasten the memory Of the strangers
faces upon the witnesses minds.
Charles Stain was corroborated by
John Harvey and the II. G.. Sanborn re-
ceipt was produced. The movements
of the gang on the way to Dexter were
traced from hotel registers. This and
a mass OF other less important testi-
mony gave overwhelming proof Of
guilt. Tho defense stuck to the suiciue
theory 10 far as Barron was concerned.
and to an alibi In the case Of the pris-
oners. They failed In making any i'm
preston In either instance. The YER
diet of guilty would have been followed
by a sentence OF execution were It not
that Maine had abolished capital pun
ishment.
There were rumors Of a confession by
Cromwell, duplicating stain, hut he
would not confess. II was said that he
was promised a pardon II he confessed,
but that he was afraid TO confess be.
cause he believed he would be arrested
when released for a crime In Massa-
chusetts.
Mr.. J.. Walter Spalding has leased a