Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1897-12-16
The Dusenberry Case.
THE PRISON GATES WILL SOON
OPEN AND HE WILL BE ONCE
MORE A FREE MAN.
Some Strong Petitions in Dusenberry's
Favor Presented to the Governor
He Will be Released January
IL, 1898, and Will Live
in st. Louis.
Correspondence of the Ledger.

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo, Dec. g.
Gov. Lon V. Stephens, on Dec. 8,
commuted the sentence Of Dick Dus-
enoerry from 35 years to So months
imprisonment in the penitentiary.
This will release Dusenbcrry Jan. I2,
1898. 1t will be remembered that
Dusenberry was convicted under an
indictment charging him with rape on
girl, or a woman, whom proof shows
was % years of age at the time the
alleged assault was committed. At
the time of the trial local option was
an issue and a great deal of bitter
feeling ex:seted, on the part of
the general public toward the saloon
element. Dusenberry was employed
as bar keeper by his uncle, and the
alleged assault was committed in the
bar room. This tended, in a large
measure, to convict him, as there was
nothing whatever in his past life to
lead anyone to think that he was cap
able of such q vile crime. Dusenberry
was on Wabash train returning to
Montgomery City from visit to his
wife in st. Louis when he met Bette
Sira, the woman who was his accuser.
The conductor OF the tram testified
that when he came to take up her
ticket the woman showed him a ticket
to Benton City. He informed her at
once that his train did not stop there,
but he would take up her ticket and
give her check from Montgomery
City, the last place his train would
stop before reaching Benton City,
which would pass her on either the
train which followed his that night or
she could wait over at Montgomery
City until the next day and take the
slow train in the daytime. The con-
ductor also informed her that she
could find hotel right near the depot
platform and advised her to stop there.
Soon after leaving st. Louis he saw
the woman, or girl, flirting with Dus-
enberry and later observed them oc-
cupying the same seat. They left the
train together at Montgomery City,
and the evidence showed that the con.
ductor again advised her to go into
the hotel and not go in the direction
she was going with Dusenberry. She
deliberately ignored this advice and
followed Dusenberry off across the
railroad to the saloon where Dusen-
berry tended bar, where she remained
all night with him. 1t was shown con-
clusively on the trial that the night
watehman passed and repassed the
door of the saloon during the night; in
fact, the prosecuting witness admitted
she heard him frequently, and she
made no outcry whatever. The evil
dence further showed that early the
next morning, after remaining all
night together in the saloon, they ex-
changed names and addresses and
promised to correspond with each
other. Dusenberry gave her his cor
rect name on card in his own hand
writing and she gave him her name
and address. He also sent her to the
hotel where he boarded to wait for the
Wabash train which would carry her
to Benton City. The hotel keepers
wife asked her some questions and
owing to her ignorance of the time
trains were due she became confused
and finally admitted to the hotel keep
er's wife that she had been with Dus-
enberry, and to take the blame off her
shoulders accused him of rape. This
was shown at his trial, but sentiment
was against him. His conviction was
foregone conclusion. Time has, how
ever, wrought a complete revulsion ir
the feelings OF the people, and at the
present time fully nine tenths of the
people who were SO bitter against hin
want to see him pardoned.
About three years ago Webster
| Gordon, a Columbia attorney, WHIT
was q class mate of Dusenberry's, be
lieving him innocent, commenced tf
work on his case, and ever since hii
efforts have been untiring. His wori
has been without any hope OF re-
ward, present or future, and he ha
moved heaven and earth in his efforts
to have his friend released. Below
we give some of the many persona
letters and endorsements sent to Gov
Stephens in behalf Of Dusenberry
Over two hundred letters of this clas
were received and the writer's invari
ably did not believe Dusenberry guilt!
of rape.
Letter of r. e. See, ex-sheriff o
Montgomery county:
"To his excellency, LonV. Stephens
Governor of Missouri. Dear Sir: A
sheriff of Montgomery county I ar
rested r. l.. Dusenberry when he wa
charged with rape. was q witnes
for the State at the trial. am famil
liar with the evidence against him an
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