The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1901-11-11
INNOCENCE PROVED
Vermont Man Wrongfully Sent to
Penitentiary.
PERJURY CONFESSED BY A GIRL
Conviction on a Charge Trumped Up
Because Invitation to ElOpe
Was Declined.


Rutland, VT, Nov. 11.-Toiling away at
hard labor in the Vermont state prison at
Windsor, forsaken by all of his former
friends, is Seamon l. Witherell, once one
OF the leading citizens Of the town OF
Grafton, but now convict with four years
of his sentence passed and fourtenn more
years of confinement yet to be served un-
less he is pardoned. Witherell is an inno-
cent man, according to the confession of
the girl whose testimony, given under
solemn oath, was entirely responsible for
his being sent to prison for this long term
of years on a heinous charge.
During the summer of 1897 Witherell,
who, with his family, resided in a large
and comfortable farmhouse at Grafton,
which has been owned by his ancestors
for many generations, decided to advertise
for summer boarders. The advertisement
was seen by Mrs. Nettie Walker of
Providence, r. l., who, after some cor
respondence with Witherell, went to
Grafton, taking with her her 14-year- -old
daughter Mabel. Arrangements were
made for Mabel to board with them, and
Mrs. Walker, leaving her daughter with
the family returned to Providence.
During the summer Mrs Walker paid
frequent visits to the Witheren home,
often remaining several days at a time.
During these visits, according to the story
told by WitherelI, he and Mrs Walker
became intimate. Mrs. Walker, as time
went on, became more and more infatu-
ated with Witherell, and frequently urged
him to leave his home and family and
elope with her. This Witherell steadfast-
ly refused to do Finally Mrs Walker
threatened that she would wreak veng-
eance upon him if he would not then
and there elope with her. He could take
his choice. Witherell chose to remain
with his family, and then the persecution
began
On the following day he was arrested
on the charge of committing criminal as
sault upon Miss Walker. The girl was at
that time II years and months Of age
The warrant was sworn out by Mrs. Nettie
Walker. According to the confession
made under oath by the girl, her mother
came on the day of her last interview with
Witherell and told her, without any ex-
PLANTATION, to pack up her belongings. Her
mother took her to the village hotel.
Upon entering their room her mother
locked the door, and then told her daugh-
ter the full details of the plot. When the
girl was told of the part which she her.
self was expected to play she fatty re-
fused to do it. Her mother, she says,
then beat her severely and told her that
unless she did as she was ordered she
would have her placed in an asylum in
Providence. Under these threats the girl
consented TO take ner part IN the con-
spiracy.
WttherelPs trial on the charge of
criminal assault was held at Brattleboro
Sept. 6, 1897 Miss Mabel Walker, the
alleged victim, had rehearsed her story so
well that every member of the jury be-
lieved it. The girl described in detail
how Witherell had assaulted her in the
dead of night. Mrs. Walker corroborated
her daughters testimony and confessed
her own intimacy with the prisoner.
Everybody considered Witherell a fiend,
and there were cries OF Lynch him!''
around the courthouse during the trial
He was found guilty and sentenced to
fifteen years at hard labor on the charge
OF criminal assault On the charge of
adultery with Mrs. Walker he was given
three years more, making his total SEN
tence eighteen years. For that crime the
woman was given a short sentence. the
court believing that Witherell was largely
to blame.
Mabel Walker, who has since been mar
ried to Providence man named Kender,
now voluntarily, at the advice Of her hus-
band, to whom she recently told the story,
has come to Vermont and made clean
breast of the whole affair. Her mother.
she states, it now housekeeper for a man
in Providence. WitherelIs attorney has
made application to Governor William w.
Stickney for pardon for Witherell The
governor has ordered a hearing On the
case for next Tuesday.