The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1895-12-20

Of granting a pardon on such grounds
stlll. feeling that the matter should
have o thorough investigation. the Gov
crnof and Council considered the case
carefully. and finally appointed Coun-
ellior Clason committee Of one to
visit the scene OF the tragedy at Dex-
ter TO examine the bank thoroughly
and Inquire from the citizens OF Dexter
what was really the popular sentiment
there. Mr. Clnfon faithfully performed
,hls duty In behalf Of the Governor and
Council. and was amazed to md an
overwhelming sentiment against the
bank cmcials, and full and settled
conviction that 10 interfere In behalf
OF Stain ana Cromwell would be 10
overthrow justice. Councillor Clason 80
reported. and at an executive session
Il vas unanimously decided TO refuse
pardon to the murderers.
When this decision reached Dexter Il
aroused the greatest enthusiasm among
the lifelong friends o! the murdered
-,shier. Popular indignation at the at
utudc Of the bank officials at one time
threatened the President with tar and
feathers. but Is this lest scheme Of the
officials OF the Dexter Bank to blacken
The reputation o. their murdered cash
lcr has failed. Il is believed that no fur
Their clorts will be undertaken to set At
liberty tho guilty men.
Briefly she part played by reporter
In the conviction o. Stain and crom.
well was as fellows In September.
1857. a member Of the Worlds star
learned that Charles Stain. son OF Da-
vld stain. had made a partial confes-
sion 10 sheriff Mitchell OF Norridge-
woek. Ne. In which he gave names OF
the robbers Of the Dexter Bank. Sheriff
Mitchell had had this confession for
nlne months. but had not acted on Il
because OF lack OF money. TAe reporter.
backed BY the World. went there 10 cor
roborate young Stains startling story.
In Medheld. Mass. David Stains house
was ransaeked and in the neighbor-
hood bits OF evidence were gathered
proving the existence OF a criminal
gang. Another reporter meanwhile
watched the movements Of David Stain.
who was then 4 cobbler. at Franklin.
Mass.
After several weeks OF Investigation
stain and Cromwell we're 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 washlngton's Birthday.
1873. There could be no doub, about
these identiGcations. The holiday and
| the peculiar aptitude OF country folk for
remembering strange faces. together
with the horror Of the crime, combined
I 20 fastcn the memory Of the strangers
faces upon the witnesses minds
I Charles Stain was corrobornted hy
John Harvey and the b. C. Sanborn re-
cclpt was produced The movements
Of the gang on the way to Dexter were
traced from hotel registers This and
mass Of other less important testi-
mouy gave overwhelming proof Of
b GUILT. The defense stuck TO the suicide
theory go Oar aa Barron was concerned
and 20 an allbi Ga the case OF the pris.
oncrs They failed In making any i'm.
preston ia either instance The yer.
! dict OF guilty would have been followed
by sentence OF execution were q not
that Maine had abolished capital pun.
/ ishmcnt
There were rumors Of a confession By
Cromwell. duplicating Stain. but h,
would not confess. Il was said that he
was promised a pardon II he confessed
but that he was afraid 10 confess be.
cause he believed he would be arrested
when released for a crime IN Massa.
I ch1ssos.
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