Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-02-15
FIN Exception,
.....To a Rule
[Original.l

lOr1SlnalJ
How did become a barrister in Eng.
land? That's q secret, but since you
are my son / will tell you. The story
Illustrates how man must take risks
in his decisions, but l believe it is
always safer to act from conscientious
motives.
Soon after I was admitted to prac-
tice in Chicago one Christopher Row.
an was accused of murder. l had
a fancy for criminal practice and took
his case; but, despite my best efforts,
he was convicted on circumstantial
evidence. l was not only convinced
from the mans manner that he was
innocent, but he told me certain facts,
which l was unable to get before the
jury, that confirmed me in my opinion.
secured stay Of proceedings and in
one way or another delayed the execu-
ton, but finally there was nothing
more to do for him, and / saw the day
near at hand when he would have to
swing. The matter had terrible eff
feet upon me, not doubling, as have
said, that the man was innocent.
A few weeks before the execution a
letter came for him from a distant part
of the world. The sheriff took pos
session of it and instead of giving 1t to
the condemned sent it to me. 1t con-
tanned official information that Rowan,
through the death of a cousin, had
fallen heir to an entailed estate worth
nearly a million. 1t was in itself proof
that the man about to die came Of an
excellent family. This he had told me,
but hoped that if he died on the gal
lows the matter might escape the no.
tice of his relatives.
For awhile was in quandary; then,
suddenly coming to resolution, l call
ed a cab and hurried to the Jail to de-
liver the letter to it's owner. l was not
surprised that it did not have any very
great effect upon him. The truth is he
was stunned by his misfortune and the
near approach of death, which he had
for some time considered inevitable.
Instead of returning to my office
went to my room-I was then bachelor
and, locking myself in, considered
what would do. In an hour had made
up my mind to use what money was nee
essary to save the mans life, though it
must be applied illegally. l cabled in
Rowan's name to know for how much
I might draw on the estate and good
" sum was named. Then told Rowan
of my plan, and he signed draft.
In due time the prisoner was put
through the process, or, rather, an ap-
pearance Of the process, the law had
directed. The newspapers told of the
brave manner in which the prisoner had
met his death, though he had refused
spiritual consolation. The name was
spelled (as he had given it when ar
rested) Rowan, SO that his relatives
might not know Of his fate. The coro-
ner pronounced him dead, and his body
was turned over at my request to me
for burial. Instead Of burying it sent
1t In the guise Of negro to New York.
where it sailed alive for Liverpool.
Rowan before leaving offered me any
portion Of his estate that I would
accept, but 1 declined to take a penny.
After his arrival in London he wrote
me renewing the offer. l still declined.
He made me different propositions at
different times, but declined them all.
Meanwhile he had entered various en-
terprises and doubled his capital. FL
nally he wrote me that If l would come
to London and practice he would
see that l had the most lucrative eli
ents. 1t was ten years after had been
the means of saving him from an ig-
nominious death that l went to London
and consented to act as his and his
friends attorney. In time 1 became a
barrister.
l have left out the most important
part Of the story? How did cOntrive
Rowan's flight, the sham hanging and
all that? Money, my dear boy; money.
1t will accomplish anything. We don't
need to go to Russia for corruption;
there is plenty Of it in the United
States. But it costs big sum. paid
1t all to one man in gold-$3O0, 900
though / didn't pay more than sixth
Of this at the time Of the hanging, and
the 60 betweens paid all the rest. Be-
sides the sheriff, those In attendance
and the coroner 1t was necessary to
give plenty of hush money to any one
who might have the slightest suspicion.
How did they fool those whose duty
it was to see the man executed? Come
here. The evidence has been in this
safe ever since you were born. Do
you see this rope loop? 1t fitted around
Rowan's chest. I'll put it on and show
you how 1t worked. / have no horror
Of 1t; it saved a life instead Of taking
one. You see it passes across the chest
and under the arms. Higher. where
the ends join, Is hook, small, but
strong. On the hangman's rope close
to the knot was little loop made Of a
hundred fine steel wires. and just be-
fore the condemned was swung Off the
hook was pulled up under the coat
collar and fastened to the steel loop.
Hook and loop were lost in the hang