The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-01-02
Ed. AsCHER WEEPs
As he GREETS HIS
AGED PARENTS
Paroled LITER Breaks Down When He
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
Protest From Juror.

Accompanied by his brother, Abe,
who went to Jackson TO meet him, Ed
ward Ascher, sentenced a second time
to Jackson prison for life, seven years
| ago, on conviction OF the murder of
Valmore G. Nichols, returned to De-
troit early Saturday afternoon. The
brothers came on the Michigan Cen
tral train due al 1925, which was AZ
| minutes late, and to avoid meeting re-
porters ana others who, they figured,
would be at the depot, left the train
at West Detroit and came in by troll
ley.
The reporters, however, we're not
TO be so easily foiled They hurried
to the Ascher home at No. I'll Mont
calm-st. east, and finding that Ascher
Lad not yet arrived decided TO camp
ON his trail. Just before 2 o'clock,
the brothers hove into view and the
press delegation went ahead to meet
them.
I'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 a long term in prison
lie was fat and sleek and might pass
anywhere for an alderman or a tray-
cling salesman.
My. hut how everything has
changed" he continued, taking a com
prehensite view around. II would
scarcely nave known it was the same
town
Il certainly am grateful TO my
friends and 10 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 Il. | am an innocent man..
Ascher Breaks Down.
Nearing the Old homestead, which
he had not seen since his first ar.
rest. in 1898, Ascher broke down. His
aged father was waiting on the steps
tor him and at sight or the venerable
form, tears came to the eyes of the
ex-couvict. He stopped then and put
out his hand to the reporters who had
been walking along with him.
We'll, 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
look for him and, seeing the crowd Of
strangers up the street retired into
the hall. 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
trade, that OF upholsterer, and says
he will try 10 get job
THE past is gone and | am going
to try TO forgetit. said Ascher "All |
al interested in now is the future and
| am going TO try TO make the most of
it. I am going to try to make up for
those years lost in Jackson"
Robert A. Copeland, d. U. r. motor
man. living at No. 626 Cavalry-ave..
is one of the Ascher jurors who de-
clined TO join in the efforts of Ascher's
friends to secure a parole for him.
"Ascher," said Mr. Copeland TO The
Times, Saturday afternoon. should
not have been given his freedom, I'M
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 testt-
mony very carefully. | was convinced
that he was guilty and | am sure every
other juror was Of the same mind"
"Ebenezer 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
the jury room caused the jurors to
hasten a verdict for conviction" the
reporter told Mr.. Copeland.
Il don't think Mr. Day has any right
| % talk that way" Mr.. Copeland re-
piled. 1T is true that the sanitary
conditions were not perfect, but they
we're not so bad that they caused the
Jurors to vote for conviction to get
out of the jury room. The verdict was
reached after careful and patient de-
| liberation: nothing aside from the tes-
! timony in the case had the slightest
affect or influence on the jury. More
| than that, feel that Ascher got fair
trial. and that his conviction was In
accord with Justice"
Foreman Days Statement.
| jury FOREMAN Day says tnat the
,nitary conditions in the jury room
we're SO bad that the jurors came to
| the conclusion that they would be
| taken from the jury room in rough
| boxes did they not agree and get out
| OF the place. He says the jurors were
made sick by the plumbing In the jury
room giving way. He is one OF the six
| jurors who signed an affidavit for
| Ascher's release. and now that Ascher
is free, Day feels that q load OF re.
sponsibility has been lifted from his
shoulders.
| Stephen Fallon. another juror who
was doubtful as TO Ascher's guilt. was
the last man to give in. Day says.
| Fallon had said he would remain In
the jury room until he rotted, but the
air I'm the room anally caused him 10
give in. Day explains