The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-01-09

&R WS<(/S ing would bring
S5cS(, go happiness to one OF
e. SSEJVA the oldest and most
81 respected families
in Saratoga County For sixteen years
the family and it's connections have 1
been tainted by fellow-townsmen with
the imputation that young Welsh had
been hanged for murder While it is
certain that he did not die so disgrace
fully, no word has ever been received
from him since he left home seventeen
years ago, and many have taken his
long silence as proof of his guilt and
execution.
The missing mans father is John
Welsh, of Saratoga, once farmer and
now aged and retired. There were
eight children, three boys and five girls,
and of the latter Mrs. A. G. Sheppard
and Mrs. S. D. Hayden have set about
to fiLd their lost brother.
1--WE have been able to hear the ma
1icious hints and open assertions all
these years." said Mrs. Sheppard to a
New York World reporter the other
day, "but now all the girls are married,
and grandchildren are growing up.
We want to save them from the shame
we have suffered, and we must find our
brother. We have delayed giving the
matter publicity on mothers account.
She has always believed John would
some day come home of his own accord,
and set the SANDER at rest. But now
we have given I'm hope of his voluntary
return. Beyond the stigma of the gall
lows that certain element in the viii
lage has cast upon the boy we have
been deeply grieved at his unexplained
absence, and we shall never feel mo-
ment's peace until he is found and
brought home.
John had an ambition to own big
baking establishment and was taught
that business in New York city. He
paid a visit home just after his eigh-
tenth birthday, in 1878, and was soon
followed by a woman twice his age, who
said she was his wife. John declar~
that she did not tell the truth, but he
was SO deeply mortified that he fed.
AS the woman could bring no proof Of
the marriage, we repudiated her. She
left with the threat that she would
make us suffer.
I'm the following summer an article
in local paper said that our John was
to be hanged at Jefferson City, Mo, for
a murder. We were crushed by this
terrible news, and an uncle fastened to
Jefferson City. He found the story to
be a hoax. Several years later we re-
ceived from Sheriff Thomas B. Mahon
and Clerk w. H. Lusk, of Jefferson
City, a letter which certified that not
only had no one of the name of Welsh
been sentenced to die there, but that
there had not been an execution in the
county for twenty years.
1--WE made the letter public and it
was supposed that the tongue of gossip
would be silenced. 1t was to some ex-
tent, but there were persons so wicked
and heartless that they would not be-
lieve it. AS children, I and my sisters
and brothers were constantly coming
home in tears, the result of jibes and
taunts of other children and their ell
ders.
Ever since the miserable day when
the story appeared we have been made
to suffer, and know that if John could
know what has been going on nothing
would prevent him from coming back to
remove the terrible stain from his and
our names. The cruel part of it is that
such a boy-for he was then barely
nineteen-could be accused of such a
crime. He was gentle and kind hearted
and mother says that as a youngster he
was always bringing home sick and
manned cats and other animals for
treatment, and would go about saving
flies from drowning. How could a boy
like that be a murderer?
1--WE could never trace the authorship
of the slanderous item, which gave no
details of the alleged crime, but we
know that it was inspired by seme
enemy I'd on no foundation whatever.
"Our brother was five feet ten inches
in height, with broad shoulders, erect
in bearing, regular features, fair skin,
dark brown hair and hazel brown eyes.
The letters ]. w. were pricked in India
ink on his right forearm, just below the
elbow, and there was scar from a burn
on the back of his neck at the top of
the shirt collar.
when a boy, Johns dream was to
go to Australia to make fortune, and
we think he is there now, too proud and
too much mortified about his escapade
with that woman to let US hear from
him. No doubt he intends in time to
return, but has not made up HIS mind
to do so yet. His father and mother
are getting very old, and unless he
comes soon he will not see them. The
constant prayer of his sisters, both as
he will come home. We will welcome
him, no matter what his condition may
be, and will be joyous at word of him,
nc matter how low he may have fallen
or under what circumstances he is iv-