Richmond daily palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1876-1904, 1898-12-07
A HOME STORY.
Hcw a Wayne County Man Came TO
Be Imprisoned.

Persons familiar with the history OF
this city and county for a period lead
nag back twenty years or 30 are aware
that a certain man of this county, for
merry OF this city, was once Imprisoned
in q state prison IN neIghboring state
and are content to stop with that state
ment. not once taking into account the
possibility of that imprisonmsnt's hav-
ing been unjust, or the other fact that
he was actually pardoned out as inno-
cent. before he had served any great
length of time. The story of his i'm
prisonment. the unjust cause thereof,
and his release, make interesting read
ing.
At the time when the trouble arose
the mai in q iestion was mail agent
bet Seep two of the large cities or tbs
| west. One day by some mischance he
lost lis stamp. This was considered
| a mark of carelessness, and the clerks
were required TO replace the stamps
| lost, at their own expense. 1t also
CHANGED that another railway mail man
or the same run had lost q stamp some
time previous and had replaced his
with new one, shortly after which
be had found his sid one and conse-
gu ntly had one for sale. This was
noised quietly along the line, and
when the Wayne county man had lost
his for good be sent word to the man
with the extra stamp til 1t he would be
his customer. The word was pass Led
back that when the trains met and
stood side by side at a certain point
for the exchange of mail,
thu money and the stamp were
also TO be exchanged. The
price was s. 80. Our friend passed
the other man So bill. and the Other
handed back the stamp and $3.50
The stamp he began to use AMI the
money our friend put into the p ckei
of his vest that was hanging In the
! ear, as IT WAS warm day.
/ Now it CHANGED also that railway
mail service detective was in the ca
with our friend, thro ing mail at tina
t very moment After awhile he wen
to the vest hanging in the car. tool
out the 50 bill. found the decoy mark
on it and confiscated both it and on
friend. In vain are explanations whel
it is Uncle Samuel we have to dea
With The other man was also arres
ted and taken to prison, pleade,
guilty. cleared our friend and wen
TO the penitentiaIy at Columbus
10. However they would not IL
him be Brought west to testify, so on
friend had to go to the prison in tn
state where the offense of the othe
man had made him its innocent victim
Pressure was brought to bear, how
ever. information was given the pr pc
parties from authoritative sources, an
eventually friend who liveng then il
Chicago succeeded in getting pardo
for tie man. The victim of the in
prisonment and injustice was kept i
the dark with regard to the plans fo
his rescue. His wife was sent fo
from this county. She went to tn
home of the friend in Chicago, aud t.
gether they went to the prison in al
other city some distance away. Whe
they arrived there and told the warde
what their errand was he was deligh
| oa. H~~--.a.
, Prisoners are IN tho sss.x.e--.~,
ipg they are innocent, but this ma
explains it in a way that makes N
know he's telling the truth. I'm gla
you've got the pardon"
, Our friend was then sent for. Whe
i he saw his friend and his own wife b
cried like school boy. He had u
i idea he was to be pardoned. He ws
: told by the warden that he might g
! into the next room and put on a suit {
citizens clothes and go up tow
: with the two friends. He did so, AT
; when he came back into the room vii
t his citiz ms clothes on he was show
E the pardon. He went wild with JOY
/ He leaped and danced aud yelled. II
: asked what was the first train out {
i the city and the three got way frol
y the place of unpleasant memories {
E rapidly as possible.
And that is the truth of the stor,