The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1900-11-02
kEARRS IS LOCATED.
Governor Poynter Pardons Muir
derer Kearns Under Suspi-
ciouS Circumstances.
The Cass County Murderer, Living In
Ottawa, Canada, Tells His Story.


wa, Canada, Tells His Story.
Omaha, Oct. 29.-In no instance has
the pardoning power of the governor
been more shamefully abused than by
Governor POynter in pardoning John
Benwell Kearns, the murderer of Mat
thew Akeson of Cass county. With the
facts relating to this most awful crime
shocking in its brutality, most of the
people of Nebraska are familiar, but
there are few who are aware of the
fact that Kearns was pardoned under
very suspicious circumstances, cir
cumstances Indicative of shameful col.
fusion. if not downright fraud.
Governor Poynter pardoned Kearns
on the claim that he was dying" but
it now develops that KearnS is living
in Ottawa, Canada, and is in perfect
health. Sixteen months have elapsed
since the brutal murderer of old man
Akeson was clandestinely and secretly
sent home to de- but he is not only
not dead, but is working every day and
has been for the last ten months and
is, as shown by the following dispatch
from Ottawa, in perfect physical con-
dition.
GOOD TINE ALLOWED.
Perhaps the most glaring imposition
is the allowance of good time" to a
! .r;,n,,n. .nr{nn.nI fo, Iifn Thic ir o ~
irregularity, an inconsistency, a dis
crepancy so difficult of mathematical
calculation and logical analysis that it
is passed up to Governor Poynter for
! an explanation. Is it not a fact that
the good time allowed was allowed
so that tile convict might be released
about two years before even the end of
the committed sentence, seven years
and six monthS? KearnS was SEN
fenced for life, Governor Poynter COM
muted his sentence to seven years and
| six months and then, to make matters
worse, reduced his term more than
two years by allowing him good
time" In other words, the perpe-
traitor of One of the most deliberate
and co~ld-blooded murders ever COM
mitted, who was tried, convicted and
sentenced for life was turned loose
by Governor Poynter inside of five
years afterward. Kearns was re-
leased from the penitentiary while the
soil was yet fresh on the grave of his
| victim. What inspired such an act on
fho nort of Corornp- pnvpfor ic n nvS-
terry which the Certificates of the
warden and physician do not satisfac-
torily solve. Kearns himself says that
he had no thought of securing a par
don until Warden Leidigh preached
the subject to him. Kearns said that
at the least he estimated that he
would not be able to secure recogni-
ton in the way Of clemency for ten
years. He knew upon what charge he
was convicted and reasonably COM
puted his penalty on the sentiment of
society and the eXactions of law and
order. He knew he had committed Il
monstrous crime and it is no wonder
that he had spent five years behind
the bars and expected to serve five
more before he himself could in his
mind Justify his right to relief. He
knew, too, that his partner, Harry
Hill, no more guilty than he, paid the
penalty with his life. Knowing all
this he had no reason to expect, and
did not expect, to gain his freedom
inside Of ten years at best.
Just what caused Warden Leidigh
and the prison physician to take such
IN interest in securing a pardon for
Kearns, before he had ever asked for
or expected it. is unknown. Why he
was pardoned by Governor POINTER Sc
cretly and clandestinely, without no.
tice being given the people Of Cass
county before the pardon was granted
as required by law, allowed good
time and hurried out of the state. is
also a mystery. The murderer had
wealthy relatives and it is presumable
at least that they had something to do
with securing his release.
Kearns says if his pardon was
bought and paid for he does not know
it, though he admits that a wealthy
friend from Montana named Brown
came to Lincoln and perhaps "inter-
ceded" for him. Kearns has two
uncles in Montana in the mining bus
mess, Patrick and Michael Kearns.
who are reputed to be wealthy and it
is possible that the Mr.. Brown was
none other than Patrick or Michael
kearns.
Governor POINTER attempts to play
upon sympathy by saying that Kearns
was dying and that in such cases "hu-
mainly usually dictated that the pris-
oner be sent home to die"
Did humanity dictate when poor, old
Matthew Akeson was cruelty murder
ed in the presence and before the eyes
of his own family? Was it any less
humane for Kearns. with his hands
stepped in the blood of an aged and
helpless victim. to die in the penitcn-
tiary than it was for Matthew AkeSon.
Il L.. 90 J.