Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-11-02
OFFERED A PARDON.
Oliver Cromwell Declares He
Would Not Lie.
Says He Was Requested to Turn
States Evidence.
Cromwell and Stain Are Now on Quite
Friendly Terms.


a reporter that two members OF for
mer Governors Council offered him
pardon if he would confess. He de-
elares he refused 10 buy liberty by tell
ing lie The interviews with the men
are interesting and appear in the Bos-
ton Herald.
Stain is now Il. but rugged-look
ing man for his age. despite the tremb-
ing nerves which tell Of advancing
years. His hair and moustache are
snowy white. He was formerly in
charge Of the shoe manufacturing de-
partnent but he is now the bookkeep
er in the broom shop. An injury TO
the cord OF one OF his fingers prevent
ed him from being of further active
service in the shoe shop.
Until within TWO years the prisoners
refused TO speak - each other, but
they are now friendly to the extent OF
exchanging the compliments Of the
day.
Cromwell was asked 10 explain the
cause OF this unfriendhness- 1t datee
back 70 a period before the time Of
their arrest Cromwell married Stain :
elder daughter and rented a cottage
which Stain owned in Medfleld. The
rent was s. a month and in addition
Stain was 10 have one-half the product
OF the orchard. But the rent was not
paid promtly. and Stain. also charged
the Crornwells with keeping the better
apples Out Of this simple incident
grew an unfriendliness which lasted
for years.
When my counsel died almost lost
hope, and when his father also died l
didn't know who would take up our
case" said Stain. You turning =
his present legal representative were
only boy al school. But somehow
felt that this matter would be rightec
II were guilty l could stand il with
out a r1urmur. but when a man is limo
cent its terrible. can't begin To de-
scribe TO you the sensation. Do you
think you will succeed ne anXiously
asked Mr.. Barker
Il have no doubt Of il" was the lat
;er's reassuring reply. Il have got cyl
dence which VIII convince any UMPIRE
JUDGED body OF men. and I have no
fear of the result"
Il hope So softly commented stain
Then Mr.. Barker outlined some OF
the facts he had ascertained. When
he reached the point describing the
events surrounding the Hamant horse
theft in Medfeld. on the morning OF
Feb. -. 1873, Stain listened intently
and hung his head as he replied 10 Ba-
ker's questions regarding the stories
he had circulated against Mr. Thomas.
Il know they were living in the
house at the time of the horse rob
berry" he said. and I remember Very
distinctly being out nearly all night
the night before the horse was stolen.
] went down to Margaret Steele's. Her
sister was sick and l stayed there I'M
III some time early in the morning
But / never stole that horse. Mr.. Bar
ker. and had nothing 70 do with IT.
It's too bad that you didn't, was
Bankers laughing rejoinder. Had you
done so you wouldn't BE- here.
Stain discussed several aspects Of
the case and reiterated his oft-repeated
declaration that until he was brought
TO Maine in 1881 he had not been in the
State since 1875. when he came down
to see his Old mother. After long
chat he babe his visitors goodbye,
and Cromwell was sent for
Cromwell is thinner than Stain. AT
the time OF the trial he was represent
ed BY P. II. Gillin OF Bangor, but young
Baker has joined Cromwel's cause
with that OF Stain. because their fate
is inseparably connected.
Mr. Barker is putting his own time
and his own money into his researches
The prisoners are practically without
means The Hon. Lewis \ Barker
VINO defended Stain, spent several
thousand dollars out OF his own re-
sources in trying to find evidence 10
acquit his client and his son is work
ing on the same unselfish basis
Crornwe, frightened up as the new eri
aence vas yehearscd ID him. ana then X
told the story Of the offer made 10 him BY
two members of a former Council. II ap
pears thai they ac,ed simply upon -hyli
oan authority in making the offer bu
there is no doubt that they had reason tl
relieve that they could fu.hl the contrac
PRESENTED
You know" said Cromwell That be
fore and during our trial there vas a ~
OF talk that I had offered % turn STATE
evidence l don't know how il started.
certainly never made any such offer. bu
the ruror was used 10 our injury. 20
course. NeOp4t >alu, a. ~ V-iI y ST 49,
to turn States evidence that shows the.
are guilty Eu; I didnc make any sucl
offer.
The only thing can trace that rumo
to was this: lots of people We're comm;
INTO tlle Jail 10 look a; US, and one day
man I don't know came up 20 my eel
door and said:
Why don't YOU confess and turf
States evidence and they'll LEI you go
Il said: / don, want no further tan
with you. sir.
With that turned on my heel an
walked away
"A few ears ago TWO members Of tn
Governors Council came 20 see me. an
had a talk with me. One OF them brough
up the matter Of turning Safes evidenc
and. as near as l recollect. he went o
90 say:
murder Barron
Because there's nothing TO confess.
replied.
Come. now. Cromwell whats the US
of talking that way? You had bette
make a clean breast of it. II you do. I
guarantee - have you in M.dteld, mex
week
Il looked AZ him. and said: DO you bt
lieve thai ! had anything to do with III
murder of Barron
7 =.