Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-01-30


Ss respected families
in Saratoga County. For sixteen years |
the family and its connections have |
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 a farmer and
now aged and retired. There were
eight children, three boys and five girls,
and of the latter Mrs. A. &. Sheppard
and Mrs. s. D. Hayden have set about
to find their lost brother.
1--WE have been able to hear the ma
licious hints and open assertions all
these years." said Mrs. Sheppard to
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
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 up hope Of his voluntary
return. Beyond the stigma of the gal
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 visit home just after his eigh-
teenth birthday, in 1878. and was soon
followed by a woman twice his age, who
said she was his wife. John declared
that she did not tell the truth, but he
was SO deeply mortified that he fled.
AS the woman could bring no proof Of
the marriage, we repudiated her. She
left with the threat that she would
make us suffer.
In the following summer an article
in local paper said that our John was
to be hanged at Jefferson City, Mo-, for
murder. We were crushed by this
terrible news, and an uncle fastened to
Jefferson City. He found the story to
be 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.
I'VE made the letter public, and ii
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, 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 wher
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 L
remove the terrible stain from his anC
our names. The cruel part of 1t is tina
!. such a boy-for he was then barrel,
nineteen-could be accused of such {
, crime. He was gentle and kind hearted
and mother says that as youngster HI
was always bringing home sick ant
manned cats and other animals fol
treatment, and would 60 about saving
flies from drowning. How could BIO!
: like that be murderer?
I'VE could never trace the authorship
;. of the slanderous item, which gave NJ
details Of the alleged crime, but w
!. know that it was inspired by SOM
y enemy and ON no foundation whatever
"Our brother was Ave feet ten inche
in height, with broad shoulders, cree
: in bearing, regular features, fair skin
" dark brown hair and hazel brown eyes
The letters ]. w. were pricked in Indi
8 ink on his right forearm. just below tn
> elbow, and there was scar from a bur
on the back of his neck at the top o
the shirt collar.
- when a boy. Johns dream was t
KO 10 AuStIdIld " MdnC q tuuC, du
we think he Is there now. too proud an
too much mortified about his escapad
- with that woman to let us hear fror
:. him. No doubt he intends in time t
return. but has not made up his min
. to do SO yet. His father and mothe
are getting very old. and unless b
comes soon he will not see them. TIL
- constant prayer Of his sisters, both q
- little girls and grown women, is tins
- he will come home. We will welcom
= him, no matter what his condition ma
:. be, and will be joyous at word Of hin
no matter how low he may have falle
or under whct circumstances he Is Ii,
= ing"
The Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army has now, in di
~ fere ut parts Of the world, 291 shelter
ho,.,oc Labor hureauc and nj nor hon ovs