The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-11-02

"NhNp' Z hbN" ANtA
ing of his condition and the result Is
that instead of Kearns "going home
to die" he is rs healthy appearing to-
day as any man in the great city of
Ottawa, as the following dispatch from
that place clearly shows.
The statements made by Kearns
were made to A. Il. Taylor Of Platts-
mouth, who went to Canada and saw
and talked with Kearns. Mr.. Taylor
was bailiff in the court at Plattsmouth
when Kearns was tried and had charge
Of the prisoner during the trial. Mr..
Taylor is m Of the oldest and most
respected citizens of Cass county and
any one who doubts that Kearns is
alive and well will be convinced to the
contrary by consulting Mr.. Taylor.
Following is the dispatch:
MURDERER TELLS HIS STORY.
Ottawa, Ont, Oct. 17.-Without even
a blush upon his cheek or tremor Of
his lip, John Benwell Kearns, muir
derer of Matthew Akeson of Cass
county, Nebraska, today told the story
Of that shocking tragedy and the story
concerning the manner in which he
was released from the penitentiary.
Kearns resides here at Al Lyon
street with his parents, who keep a
boarding house. He is employed as
a bOokkeeper in the leather and har-
ness store conducted by s.. & II. Bor-
bridge, SO Rideau street. He has been
employed there over five months, quail
flying himself in a local commercial
college beforehand. He was pardoned
and "sent home to die" but of the 16
months he has been free he has de-
voted ten months to mental and physi-
cal labor and today is as healthy ap-
pearing as any man in this city of Co.
600 people; tall, erect and in fine physi-
cal proportion. Nothing is known here
of his history in Nebraska. The fam
lily guard his record with utmost care.
When Kearns' household was visited
last night persistent inquiry failed to
elicit any information concerning the
identity of the murderer. Kearns adj
IltItCu tHdI HC IL pCCh dN " thC
states, but denied ever having been
in Nebraska. Despite the denials the
different members of the family ap-
peared to be nervou about something
and this was what enkindled a very
remote ember of hope in the matter of
solving the mystery.
INVESTIGATION PROVES FACT.
The investigation was renewed bright
and early this morning and diligent
efforts, in which assistance was rem
dered by Detective Foster and Chief
Sherwood of the Dominion police, re-
suited in such an array of evidence
that Mrs. KearnS, mother of the muir
derer, finally acknowledged that he
was the man.
81 have tried to keep the whole thing
a secret from the public" she said.
"but 1 see you have the facts pretty
we'll in hand. John is working right
along and has a good job"
"How did he happen to get par
doned? was asked.
81 really don't know. 1 never asked
for it and l don't know who did. He
used to work for a rich man named
Brown in Montana, but 1 do not
know whether he helped him out or
not. Yes, l heard that it was reported
back in the states that he bought his
pardon. l don't know anything about
it. The first 1 knew he was in prison
was when l got a letter stating he was
there and was sentenced for three
years. 1 wrote to him about two
years later and asked him if he was
soon to be out and he then wrote me
he was sentenced for life. He mis-,
represented the facts to me in his first
letter."
"Do you mean to say that you alone
of the family know of his troubles"
"No; his father knows about it and
way from there here. Nobody else
here in Ottawa knows about it and
1 hope nobody else will"
DECLINES TO DISCUSS PARDON.
When asked how she heard that the
report was in circulation that he
bought his pardon she could not say,
though it is evident hat she has been
advised by somebody at Lincoln as to
certain conditions and further advised
tt refrain from talking on this subject.
She admitted receiving Il letter from
Governor Poynter last June asking.
her to furnish a physicians certificate
as to her sons health, but she failed
to comply with the request, ostensibly
for fear the secret would get out, but
in reality because the dying man"
was in excellent health and was at
work.
KEARNS TELLS HIS STORY.
John Kearns, the son, after learning
that further efforts to hide his iden-
tity were useless, made a signed state
ment in substance as follows: Il was
pardoned out of the penitentiary May
%, 1899. l had been sick prior to that
time, but was co~nvalescing at the time
I uaS nardoDod uac FONT in tho