The St. Louis Republic., 1900-07-01
Strange Sequel to a Murder Com.
mitted Twenty-Five Years
Ago.
PLEA OF GUILTY REFUSED.
Abjcct Condition of the Accused
Man Moved the Judges Heart
-Robinson's Long Flight
From Justice.
REPUBLIC SPECIAL

REPCBL1C SPECIAL
Helena. Ark. June so.-When death found
his way into a narrow cell of TIE county
Jail at this place one day this week and
claimed Jim Robinson. alias John Harper.
there ended an interesting murder case, tho
history Of which extends over twenty-six
years. Whether guilty or not. whether
John Harper, as he professed TO be, or Jim
Robinson. wanted for murder In the first
degree, the man died from fear of death.
with abiect fright protesting his innocence
10 the last.
The history Of the case runs back to the
dark period Of reconstruction days. On
the night OF October Il. 1874. there was a
big Republican speaking in Helena, and
the negroes for miles AROUND nocked into
the city. feeling their supposed importance.
Among others. there were most OF the ne
groes from Colonel Hoggatt Clopton's place.
four miles west OF Helena.
Three at least who did not attend tho
meeting were old Als. Washington, a young
negro named Robinson and a friend OF
Robinson The last named two went court
ing that night 1t was In the fall of the
year. and old ALI Washington. who was a
thrifty negro. had considerable cotton IN d
cotton-house close to his cabin. So he was
accustomed to sleep there TO guard It.
On the morning following the speaking"
old All. was found In his cotton-house
dying. He was weak from loss OF blood The
lower half OF his face had been chopped
almost of. and his lower jaw and tongue
hung down On his breast. He was con-
scious, but could not artioulate. could not
tel who had dealt him the fatal blow, evi-
IDENTIFY with pole-aI.
Colonel Clopton was sent for. He had all
the hands called and brought them before
the dying man.
Was 1t this oner'
A shake OF the head.
This one?'
Another shake Of the head
Finally he was asked,
Was It Jim Robinson?"
Washington at once showed great excite
ment. violently nodidns his head and trying
hard to speak
Robinson's Flight.
Robinson was standing a short distance
away from the awe-stTuck negroes that
composed the crowd At this incrinlnatns
turn OF affairs he oolted through the TALL
cotton and escaped across the tields.
FROM tnat thirteenth day OF October until
the summer OF 1889. period of twelty-iiv
years. RcpinSon waS seen no more III this
section. Then. one day last summer, two
faithful old negroes VINO had remained on
the Clopton place al these years. when i4
Heiena--as usual for the negroes on Satur-
days ltheir holidays throughout the South
noticed man whom they Immediately
took TO be the long missing Robinson II
required but . short while to decide that
It was their duty TO report the matter to
an officer.
They did report It, and in a few minutes
the suspected man WAS under arrest and
was taken before a magistrate for a pre-
liminary hearing on the charge OF murder
IN the first degree The regro's terror was
pitiable. He was not able TO bring forward
any witnesses 10 prove his identity as J0ha
Harper. nor could he account for his whore
aboGts during tho last twenty-five or even
-Four or five witnesses swore positively
that he was Robinson. Colonel Clopton was
one Of these witnesses. The prisoner had
just cause for fear. He could prove moth
Ing, and the States witnesses were IN
prejudiced and as reliable as men can be
on a question Of identity after twenty-five
years
When given the privilege of questioning
the witnesses. Robinson or Harper, COM
pleteiy gave up and could only mop the
perspiration that streamed from hts fore
head and heiplessly ask: Did you say 1
was Jim Robinson?'
He was bound over TO await the action
of the Grand Jury, and was by that body
indicted for murder in the first degree.
When Circuit Court sat IN October and
his case was called, Robinson, or Harper.
completely collapsed and was unable to ap-
pear before the court.
HI From Terror.
1t was thought that he was ''possuming,"
but the county physician examined him
and stated that the man was really critical
ly I'll from nervous prostrstion. caused sole
iy by fear. The terrified man never after
" ftCOEtISl MS nerve OF EtGdlEtu
strength, except partially. Then he began
to slowly pass from worse to worse.
When the time approached for another
term Of the Circuit Court, with the pros
pect Of his trial terrifying him anew. he
again collapsed. An attorney had been ap-
pointed by the court TO defend him. and
he was advised to plead guilty TO murder
in the second degree, by consent of the
attorney.
So whep tho court was sitting in the
April terra tho man whom fear was kill
ing, was again summoned TO appear to
answer the charge. He was brought into
court on a litter, an abject. pitiable OBJ
1ect and was about to enter a plea OF
guilty OF murder in the second degree,
when the heart of the Judge was moved
with compassion.
mo" said Judge Hutton, that man Is
In no condition 10 enter any kind OF a
plea or 10 be sentenced"
Death had too plainly marked the man
and was sure to take the punishment out
Of the hands Of the court.
Accordingly. Robinson or Harper, still
protesting that he was the latter. was re-
turned TO his cell in the Jail to await the
end While there was n complication OF
several diseases, II is almost certain that
his fear is responsible for his death, for,
moross and llstless. he would lie IN his
bunk week after week. refusing to get up
or take any exercise. and naturally drain
ing his system by his absolute inertia,
making it impossible for his condition to
Improve.
Thi. week the end came. and the man