New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-08
AN INNOCENT MAN RELEASED.
GEORGE OGLE. CONVICTED BY PERJURY
OF MURDER. FREED FROM SING SING.
erpyrn ELEVEN YEARS FOR CRIME HE DID
NOT COMMIT-POLIcEMAN oRoCRKES
SENTENCE COMMITTED

NOT COMMIT-POLICEMAN O'ROCRkES
SENTENCE COMMITTED
George Ogle. who was sentenced to State
prison for life for a crime he did not commit
was released from Sing Sing prison at ! o'clock
Yesterday afternoon on a pardon granted by
Governor Black.
A messenger arrived al the prison from AL
bany with the certificate OF pardon Issued by
the Governor and as soon 1t was presented
TO Warden Sage the latter went 10 Ogle and
informed him that he could leave the prison. a
free man. without further delay.
Ogle who had served eleven years imprison-
rnent. lost no time in getting ready TO go out
into the world. After he had dressed himself
in a complete new outfit provided by the State
including a new suit Of clothes and warm
oyercoat he went into the Wardens office
where he met his mother and brother. The
meeting between them was affecting. and all
three wept with joy.
John McCullagh the former Chief OF Police.
and now state Superintendent of Elections in
the Metropolitan District, was instrumental! in
securing Ogle's pardon. Seve- onth' ago
he presented to Governor Black what he thought
was presumptive proof of Ogle's innocence Of
the crime OF murder. and asked for the pardon
Of the convict Governor Black examined the
papers but did not arrive at decision in the
case until Tuesday when he talked with Mr.
McCullagh at Albany Mr. McCullagh went
over the case with him. and then the Governor
called for a pardon blank and signed it in the
presence Of Mr.. McCullagh.
Oge. who Is yet young man. received $40
in money from the chief clerk in the Wardens )
office. Part Of this money represented por-
tion OF his earnings during the eleven years he
had served the State a convict, although
he was an innocent man. Oge. who Is un-
married shook hands with the Warden and
then started for the railroad station, accom-
panied by his mother and brother He said
he was going direct 70 his mothers home IN
Mlwood
In 1sSj Ogle while living with his parents.
in Twenty-hfth-st.. near Eighth-ave.. at
tended a ball given by the Linwood Social
Club While he was drinking with some
friends in a saloon in Eighth-ave. near Twen-
ty-thrd-st. there was free fight. in which
James Brown was stabbed dying soon after
ward. Several arrests were made. and Ogle
was one Of those taken into custody Nothing
came Of this Until Two years later. when he
was rearrested on statements made by two
men. who swore that they had seen Oge stab
Brown. on this evidence Ogle was convicted
and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He
protested his innocence. and the first evidence
was a confession made by one Of the men who
accused him. This man was arrested for a
crime. and when taken before Chief Of Police
McCuaeb admitted that he had perjured him
self 10 fasten the murder OF Brown on George
Ogle The case then brought 10 the at
tentlOn Of Governor Black BY Mr. McCullagh
Ogle was no happier his release than
was another convict in the prison yesterday
afternoon over the prospect Of his release in
June next Like Ogle. the other man had ex-
pected to spend the rest of his DAYS within the
walls Of the State Prison The messenger
who came from Albany with Ogles pardon
brought with him a second paper. Warden
Sage examined it after he had started Ogle
away free man. 1t a Communication Of
the sentence Of William J. Rourke. another
life-term man. Rourke has been in the prison
since February. 1887. Governor Black COM
mutes his sentence to twenty years and al
lows him full allowance for good behavior II
he be entitled TO any The records show that
Rourke has never given trouble. and that he
has been what the guards term a model
prisoner. Therefore he is entitled 70 the full
limit, which on a tWenty-year sentence means
seven years and eight months. This taken
from the twenty years. leaves twelve years
and four months to be served so Rourkes re-
lease viii come in June next.
Rourke was a member OF the New York DO
lice fore" and convicted OF killing his
rOundsman