Mexico weekly ledger., 1897-12-09
Dick Dusenberry's Discharge.
GOVERNOR STEPHENS C0MMUTES
HIS SENTENCE OF 35 YEARS
TO Z YEARS.
Under the Three-Fourths Rule Dusen.
berry Will be Released January l3,
1S9S-It Will be Happy New
Year to Him.

Webster Gordon, of Columbia, was
in town Saturday en- route home from
jefferson City. Mr.. Gordon informs
the LEDGER that Gov. Lon V. Steph-
ems commuted the sentence OF r. l..
Duesenberry, now confined in the
penitentiary, from 35 years to years.
Under the three-fourths law Dusen-
berry will be released on Jan. 13, 1895,
that day ending 6a months impris-
onment.
There has been systemized effort
for several months to effect the par
don which was granted late Friday
evening. w. W. Fry was one of the
leaders of the movement, and on a
petition for an absolute pardon six
members of the jury which convicted
Dusenberry registered their names.
Besides this, DR.. j. T. Groves and DR..
Hudson, of Montgomery City, who
testified for the State in the case, had
letters with Governor Stephens COM
mending pardon. Prominent men
all over the State entered the move
ment, which had been kept very
quiet. The attaches of the peniten-
tiary all enter in the expression of sat
isfaction of the action of the Cover
nor. They say that he was an exem-
plary prisoner and also skilled work
man in the shoe department.
The case was this: On Nov. 2, 1883,
Bette Sira, then of Tazewell county,
Virginia, came west to visit relatives
at Benton City. She met Dusenberry
on the fast Wabash on the night of
the second and when the conductor
told her that the train did not stop at
Benton City and that she would have
to get off at Mexico or Montgomery,
Dusenberry told her that he would
show her to the hotel where be
boarded. When the couple arrived in
Montgomery they went to Ferguson's
saloon, where Dusenberry tended bar,
and stayed there until O'Clock the
next morning.
After she left the saloon she told
Mrs. Rombeau, the wife of the hotel
keeper, that Dusenberry had abused
her and that he had told her that she
was going into the hotel when they
| went into the saloon.
Dusenberry claimed that the girl
said she had the toothache and after
learning that Dusenberry was saloon
keeper, she said that she wanted
some whiskey for it. They then went
to the saloon and the girl went behind
the bar and set out the drinks "just
like man would" She then said
that, as some one might want to get
in at that late hour, it would be advis-
able to lock the door and turn down
the light. He did as directed and got
a chair for each. He took one and
the girl put basket, which she car
ried, in the chair provided for her
and went and sat in his lap. She sat
there about 20 minutes and then he
made advances to her to which
she assented. They then went to
sleep and in the morning he accom-
panied her up the street and pointed
out the hotel. Later in the day he
was told by his employer that the girl
had charged him with rape and, as the
girl was very little over 16 years of
age, he decided that he mad better
leave. He went to Kansas City, WHARF,
he was arrested. An indictment was
returned Dec. IL, 1888, and the trial
was set for the third Monday iu jan
uary, 1889.
On Jan. II, 1889, in vacation, a
change of venue was allowed. On
Feb. 6, 1889, the Circuit Court of Au-
drain county continued the case to the
June term and on application of de-
fendant, it was then continued to
August. On the I'd Monday in August
the defendant applied for continu-
ance on account of absence of wit
nesses; overruled and Grial set for
Aug. rs, when on application of de-
fendant WINS then continued to Au-
gust. On End Monday in August the
defendant applied for a continuance
on account of absence of witnesses;
overruled and trial set for August 26,
when on application of defendant
1889, it was again continued to the
November term, 1889, when it came
up. The trial lasted several days and
much testimony showing the good
character OF the defendant was intro
duced. He was given 35 years. An
appeal to the Supreme Court was ar
gusd in October, 1892, and the lower
courts decision was affirmed.
On October 13, 1892, the prisoner
started on his long term of imprison-
ment, which, by the clemency of the
Governor, will cease on Jan. 13, 1898.
The action of the Governor meets
with the appreciation of the Supreme
Court.
The Sira girl then instituted $780,
600 suit against the Wabash railroad
for alleged damages incident to her
not being put off at her destination,
Benton City. Judge Hughes sustained
demurrer to test the case and the
Supreme Court sustained the iudg-
ment. She soon after disappeared
and has never been heard of by those
interested in the case, who made
strenuous efforts to locate her.
Dusenberry told Mr.. Webster Cor
don that he would go to st. Louis af-
ter his release and enter some shoe
factory. His wife and child live there
now.
The attorneys in the case were: for
the defendant, Judge Elijah Robinson,
of Kansas City, David Ray of Ver-
sailles, W. w. Fry, w. A. Edmonston,
and Judge Barnett, of Montgomery
City.
For the prosecution, Prosecuting
Attorney Jesse, J. NJ. Barker, Nat
Dryden, deceased, and Sol Hughlett,
deceased.
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