New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-05-12
A BOOK FAST BEING MADE RARE.
A CURIOUS WORK. OF WHICH NEARLY ALI
COPIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.

COPIES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED
Lewiston letter in The Boston Advertiser.
That queer book AN Innocent Man in a
Felons Cell" 10y A II. Dunton. late of Belfast.
author of the DuntOnian system of penmanshlp.
is not included in the photography OF Maine
However, if a person should go to the State
Library with one of those volumes in his hand
j have an idea that the institution would pay
Sloo or 5000 for the work. Fact is. there is
probably a larger premium on that book than
any other by a Maine author. For twenty
years certain parties have been engaged
sedulousy in destroying the books that it is
scarcely ever that one is turned up. Mr.. Dunton
didn't write that book in any dilettante spirit.
He wrote il for a purpose, and was so much in
earnest that he paid for the publishing of the
book, and for the most part gave the edition
away The volume is as large as the ordinary
novel, and therefore il may be seen that Mr..
Dunton was very much interested in what he
was doing. The story is too long to tell here,
and, for that matter, il is not wise to rake up
too many Of the details. Briefly, woman was
found murdered in a small town in Knox Coun-
ty some twenty years ago She had lain several
days in her home when she was discovered by
some OF the neighbcrs Beside her a bit
Of paper which was written, Il did it,
The man who then county attorney Of
Knox County brought to A. II. Dunton this
scrap of writing and with it vessels logbOOk.
The attorney declared that this book had been
kept by Nathan Hicks. Mr. Dunton
at that time a well known expert in handwrit-
ing After examination he declared unhesitat
ingly that the writing en- the paper and in the
logbook WAS by the same hand. He declared
chirOgraphy he ever had submitted TO him. He
went the stand and testified to that effect
Hicks was sent to prison for life
In a short time after the trial Mr. DuntOn
found cut that deception had been practised On
him, and that he had unw!ttngly sworn away
the liberty of one whom he had reason 10 believe
did not Kill the woman. He learned that the log
book had been written by prominent sea cap
tain. retired, living in the town in question.
DuntOn endeaYOrei to secure a pardon ior the
man Hicks, but, not meeting with much sue
cess he set about writing a book on the matter.
He directly charged several lawyers with con-
spirscy convict Hicks in order that the really
guilty man might go free During the progress
OF the controversy Hicks died in the Maine State
prison Dunton brought out his book and for
short time il produced quite stir. But the
parties who were named in such an uncompli-
Inentary way set about buying up the books and
DESTROYING them. They claimed that they had
been cruelty slandered, and asserted that they
had a right 10 destroy one Of these books When
ever they came across il. They dlc so. II che
of the men entered a home and saw one OF Dun
toms hooks in sight anywhere, into the lire II
went without a word. Situations We're fire.
ouently uncomfortable for both parties, but the
LAWYERS were determined TO put these books cut
OF existence.
They believed long ago that their object had
been achieved, but a stray one OF the books kept
hobbing I'D every and then. During tho
last session Of the legislature one OF the accus-
ing volumes was floating about the State House
10 the Hxtreme disgust OF the two lawyers VIE