The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-04-30
"FRENCHY" Is PARDONEO
He Was Convicted of "0ld Shake.
speares" Murder.
Governor Odeli Thinks Thcre Are Grave
Doubts OF His Guilt-Now Evidence
which Indicates Hts Innocence.

Albany. n. Y.-Governor Odell ha!
hardened Amer Ben Ali. better knowt
as "Frenchy." who has been serving
n life sentence in the Matteawan STATE
Hospital for Insane Criminals for tht
murder of woman called 'Olt
Shakespeare" In New York City it
1891. The pardon was granted by th'
Governor because he believes ther'
are grave doubts Of the prisoners
guilt. much of the testimony being oi
n peculiar character. and "Frcnchy.
being placed al disadvantage. being
unable to speak English. The pardon
was asked for by several Influential
and prominent men. including th'
Hon. Jules Cambon. the French Am
bassador: Frederic X. Coud"rt. j. 3
Martin and others.
"Frenchy" was convicted OF murder
In the second degree In 1891. He Is NJ
Algerian. and 1t Is said will go bac:
to Algiers.
New York City.-About twelve years
murders committed by a Jack tht
Ripper" in London. The press at thai
time printed interviews with police
chiefs and famous detectives on the
possibilities OF such crime being com
mitted In this country.
Superintendent Thomas Byrnes. ir
an interview. said that crime OF thai
sort being committed In this city was
out Of the question. A few days aftei
the White Chapel murder in London
however, woman. known as "Olt
Shakespeare" was found murdered II
the Fourth Ward Hotel. ut Catharint
and Water streets. Immediately the
question became prevalent In the pub
lie mind that New York City had o
Jack the Ripper"
Superintendent Byrnes and his en-
tire detective force set to work to un
ravel the mystery. and 4 few days
after "Old Shakespeare" was discovered
murdered. George Frank. a sailor
known as "Frenchy." who had been
stopping at the Fourth Ward Hotel
was arrested charged with committing
the crime.
"Frenchy." being an Algerian. n
that time he could speak no English
He steadfastly maintained his limo
cence. but he was indicted and placed
on trial. The jury returned verdict
of murder In the second degree. and
"Frenchy" was sentenced to life I'm
prisonment.
At the time Of the murder neculiaf
key which "Old Shakespeare" had for
the door Of her room In the Fourth
Ward Hotel. was found to be missing
and. although detectives attached the
greatest significance to the loss Of the
key It was never found.
About a year ago. after several vain
attempts had been made to have
"Frenchy" pardoned. new light was
thrown on the murder. A man who
said he had had In his employ Dane
whom he suspected Of having com
mitted the murder Of "Old Shakes
peare." told some facts which declared
"Frenchy" innocent In the public mind
This man said that the day "Ol6
Shakespeare" was found murdered his
Danish farmland came home with o
peculiar key. He had read OF the
murder. and when his farmland dis
appeared that same night he suspected
that he might have been connected
with the crime. He did not. however
make known his suspicious until year
ago. when newspaper reporter got
In communication with him. The new
facts In the case were made known tt
the lawyers who had defended
"Frenchy." and an appeal was made
to Governor Odell to pardon the con
victed murderer.