The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-11-27
NOHAN'S EVIDENCE
LIBERATES PRISONER
Sentenced TO Hang, Governor
CommuteS TO Life I'M
priSOnment.
THEN COMES STORY
THAT SETS HIM FREE
FaithfulneSs of Father in His
Search for an Alibi Factor
in Case.

DIES MONIES. Iowa, Nov Z7.-Withfn
e few days George Weems, age thirty
TX originally sentenced TO hang, Will
step forth from the Iowa State prison
at Fort Madison a free man, after six
teen years serv1tude- He was convicted
OF the murder OF L B Ridpath. a con-
ductOr on the Chicago Great Western
railroad.
The liberation OF Weens is one be-
hind which is mystery and romance. he
was saved from the gallOws by the
psychological effect Of a dream upon
General Drake. then governor Of low
He is restored TO society because a
woman consented 10 tell Gov. A b
Cunnn1ins that Weems was with her
when the fatal shot was fred
Asserts InnOnce.
George Weems Professionally maintained
his innocence He had been with John
CrOut and HammiH earlier in The even
ing, but claimed he left them for
visit with woman known by the name
OF Kitty Leary. II was while IN the
wOman's company. he claims. he heard
a shot fired IN the street, rushed into
the open and saw the conductor stag
sering in the street
He helped the man to the curb, out
frightened by the cIang Of the police
bell fed before the officers arrived.
When arrested next day II was discov-
cred that the woman BY whom he could
prove an abb had left the city and de-
spite every effort her WhereabOuts could
George Weems was convicted and
sentenced to be hanged. by the neck
until death.
A peculiar psychological incident oc-
CURED in connection with The Ridpath
murder It was the means Of saving
Weems life On the very night on
which the murder occurred the father
OF George WeemS. who lives at Adel,
twenty miles from Des Moines, had 4
dream Rising from his bed he hastily
dressed and started 10 walk out into the
country, as II he. could get away from
the memory Of his Authorization
He was stopped by several friends
who were attracted by his looks, and
asked II he were ILL., He turned them
aside until one had the courage 70 drag
him into his house and make him sit
down TO breakfast From over the
coffee cups Weems c0n6ded TO his
friends his dream Of the night
It was that be had seen his son
George. with two other persons, laid
out for dead, that strangers had placed
them all in one coffin, the one upon
the other, with his son at the bottom
IN spite Of his protest that his son still
bTeathed, they carried his casket TO the
grave and let il down to the bottom
Then he cried out for some one 20 help
man whom he did not know stepped
forth and said, Il viii save your boy
from the grave whereupOn he said
they jumped down into the grave,
lifted the corpses out one by one, and
found his son was alive.
II was the next day that Mr.. Weems
was called to the assistance Of his son
accused Of murder IN the work Of
securing lawyers gathering evidence
and doing everything possible to vindi-
cate his son, the dream passed from
his consideration
Recognizes" Governor.
It was not until after the death sen
tence had been pronounced that il came
to him Only then did il come back
when he stepped into the private office
Of Governor Drake 10 plead clemency
for his son. he had never seen the
governor, but when he entered the room
he threw up his hands and cried,
Governor, I know you, you are the
man in my dream who helped lift my
boy out OF the grave
Then the father recOunted his dream.
whereupon the governor, with tears in
his eyes, said
boy out OF the grave" and he signed
Of hanging to life Imprisonment
ThereupOn the father Immediately
retained Attorney Joseph Dyer to dis
cover, Il possible, the whereabouts OF
the woman who knew his son TO be