The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-05
IN PRISON, BUT INNOCENT.
sUCH Is THE CLAIM SET UP IN
BEHALF OF LLFRED CHENEY.

Supposed TO Have Boen Connected with the
Prysr's Creek Traits Robbery Tor which
Ius Tive BROTHERS Were BnnHed-Tie ana
Diamond sack sentsncca 20 Prison for Life.
Alfred Cheney, one of the famous Cheney
brothers., Is making an effort TO get out OF the
Kings County Penitontiary, where he Is serving
= life sentence. The brothers were well known
in the West several years ago. but since the In
dian Territory train robbery. for his alleged con.
nection with which Cheney is now in prison.
they have been almost forgotten. Chency's two
brothers were hanged for their share In the train
robbery and he camo near sharing their fate.
There was some doubt as to his actual participa-
tiou In the robbery, however. and this savedhim
from the scaftold.
A number OF prominent men have interested
vAe,fselves In Cheney during the past two years
en6 arc doing their utmost to get the President
~ pardon him. They have looked carefully into
kis case and say that II looks very much as
though Cheney was a victim OF the prejudice
against his family in Indian Territory. His
claim that ho was twenty miles away from the
scene Of the robbery on the night it occurred
seems TO be true. and there Is a possibility that
when the President has q chance to weigh the
evidence he will pardon Cheney.
The holi.up took place at Pryors Creek In the
fall OF 1888. II was one of the famous train
robberies OF recent years, not on account OF the
morous features. At least two of the Cheney
boys. and a desperate known as Dyne-
S Paasas 5net h, w train engaged (, in small If T rs2 . ..%.
Creek was realized essse Fho @en had Msfn r%eroivers
illuminating them with real firearms. He had
and fuii OF Whisky. He Wiped this out
and made The passengers throw up their hands.
i heSh sh the en Dasssn 1Sys S OF their Go yaiu shs s'''' re-
o.. When they had secured everything. OF. valno
in the car, dynamite Jack pulled the bell rope.
revolver on the floor and smashed il. Then he
laughed in the faces of the passengers. called
them n lot OF ours and towards. and. with tho
Cheney boys. jumped from tho train.
When officers got on The trail OF the robbers
thrsse s0o after a light now" Which ins shots tsV were ex,
changed. Alfred Cheney was arrested the next
day at his home. He was planting corn in q
lAifred's arrest. They insisted that be mot only
know 1t was going to take place.
The people OF Indian Territory were getting q
men nSae had at9 to 81 suffer. dynamite iS% JACK got the s iGas
sentence as Alfred Cheney, although the broth
ers while on the .catfold swore that the latter
and placed in tho Kings County Penitentiary
about four years ago;
tally. Twice since he has been in Brooflyn he
has been taken to the. Flatbush Insane Asylum
last time about four months ago. and the physi.
clans say that unless he is released soon his
mind will give way entirely.
Gardner Matthews. a Brooklyn dry goods
missioner Bnrtis Of Brooklyn lave ali taken an
interest In Cheney's case and are using their In.
fuence to secure him q pardon. Warden Hayes
Of the prison is also helping Cheney's case
along. He believes the man to be the victim Of q
bad reputation. He says that, since tho day
Cheney entered the prison he has persisted in
declaring his innocence. Dynamite Jack, who
has little or no chance Of ever getting outside OF
the penitentiary. declares that Cheney had
davit is part Of tho evidence to be psesented to
the President.
made an affidavit to the effect that her husband
was at homo with her whom tho robbery tool
place. It Is asserted that her evidence ant
other evidence adduced at the trial established
an abso ute alibi for Cheney. but that It wal
not needed.