The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-31
Ed. AsCHER WEEPs|
As He GREETs HIS ]
ACEO PARENTS
faroied LITER Breaks Down When Ia;
Reaches Home-"God Knows I |!
Deserve Freedom Because I'm !
Innocent" He Says.
declares He'll Stay in Detroit and
Try To Live Down the Past
Hayes On Way Home.

Accompanied by his brother. Abs.
VINO went to Jackson to meet him, Ed
ward Ascher sentenced a second time
10 Jackson prison for life, seven years
ago, on conviction of the murder Of
Valmore c. Nichols, returned to De-
trolt early Saturday afternoon. The
orothers came on the Michigan Gen.
tral train due al 1926, which was AZ
minutes late, and TO avoid meeting re-
porters and others who, they figured,
would be at the depot, left the train
at West Detroit and came In by troll
ley.
The reporters, however, were not
10 be so easily foiled They hurried
TO the Ascher home at No. I'll Mont
calm-st. east, and finding that Ascher
mad not yet arrived decided to camp.
on his trail. Just before o'clock.
the brothers hove into view and the
press delegation went ahead to meet
them.
m glad TO get back, mighty glad"
said Ascher, as he smilingly shook
hands all around. He did not have
the appearance of man who has
just finished long term In prison.
lie was fat and sleek and might pass
anywhere for an alderman or a tray-
cling salesman.
MY, but how everything has
changed he continued, taking a CON-
prehensive view around II would
scarcely have known it was the same
town.
Il certainly am grateful TO my
friends aud to my old father for the
interest they nave taken in me. They
have done nobly. and | will try to
show my appreciation. But God knows
! deserve 1t. | am an innocent man."
Ascher Breaks Down.
Nearing the old homestead, which
he had not seen since his first ar
rest, in 1898, Ascber broke down. His
aged father was waiting on the steps
for him and at sight OF the venerable
form, tears came TO the eyes of the
ex-convict. He stopped then and put
out his hand to the reporters who had
been walking along with him.
swell, goodbye, boys. I'll see you
some other time. want TO hurry
along now and see pa
And Ascher was gone.
Before he reached the house bis
mother came out on the porch to
lOuh lOI MIN anu, SttiiS TIC CTOWu VI
strangers up the street retired into
the halk Her husband followed her
example and the happy reunion that
took place in the hallway of the old
homestead was not for the eyes OF
strangers.
Ascher has no intention OF quitting
Detroit. He will remain here and try
to live down the past. He has a good
Of Nh nd .
he will try TO get job.
The past is gone and | am going
TO try TO forgetit. said Ascher rAll +.
am interested in now is the future and /
am going to try to make the most OF
It, | am going To try to make up for !
those years lost in Jackson"
Frank H. Hayes, slayer OF Fred
Kelley, who is also released on
parole. will arrive in Detroit during
the afternoon on his way to mis-
mothers no mein Trenton.
Robert A. Copeland. ID. u. X. motor
man, living at No. 626 Cavalry-ave..
Is one OF the Ascher jurors who de-
clined 10 join I'm the efforts of Aschers
friends TO secure a parole for him.
"Ascher.' said Mr. Copeland TO The
Times. Saturday afternoon. should
HCl nave DtCH given IlS lltVuOHi. uh-
der the circumstances He was guilty
OF the crime on which he was tried.
according to the evidence We were
out SO hours and we weighed the testi-
mony very carefully. ] was convinced
that he was guilty and | am sure every
other Juror was OF the same mind
IEbeneZer Day. of Greenfield. Mich.
who was foreman OF the last Ascher
jury which sent him to prison for life,
says that the sanitary conditions in
he jury room caused the Jurors 10
hasten verdict for conviction the
reporter told Mr. Copeland.
Il don't think Mr. Day has any right
% talk that way MIR. Copeland re-
piled 1t is true that the sanitary
conditions We're not perfect but they
we're not so bad that they caused the
Jurors 10 vote for a conviction 10 get
out Of the jury room. The verdict was
reached after careful and patient de-
liberation. nothing aside from the tes-
imony in the case had the slightest
affect or influence on the jury. More
than that. feel that Ascher got fair
tContInued on page 81