The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-12-22

AlJSI serving seventeen years al
Folsom Prison for completely in a fata
train-wreckng job perperated near
Sacramento during the A. r. L. trou
bles of 1894, Samuel d. Worden, who
was convicted Of murder for the part
he played in the tragic affair, and who
escaped the moose only through the
intercedence of former President Grov.
er Cleveland, has been paroled by the
State Board of Prison Directors, and
now bowed by the weight of more
than three score years, is on his way
to Japan to join younger brother
who has promised to take care of him
for the remaining years Of his life.
In the crime for which Worden was
convicted five men lost their lives, and
a few weeks later charges Of murder
were filed against six defendants, all
of whom either were members or sym
pathizers of the American Railway
Union in its fight with the Southern
Pacific Company. After a sensational
/ trial at Woodland, in Yolo county.
which lasted several weeks. Worden
alone was convicted and sentenced to
! be- banged
! Worden came of a good family in
! New York, and in his earlier days iiGd
known Grover Cleveland well. At the
. time of the train-wrecking incident
Cleveland was President, and inter
coded with then Governor Budd TO
prevent the inniction Of the death pen
atty on Worden. He was successful
and the sentence was committed to life
Imprisonment.
Parole Petition Granted.
Negotiations looking toward secur-
ing a parole for Worden were begun
more than two years ago
1t was pleaded that he was not real
ly the moving spirit in the train
wrecking episode and that his nature
was more erratic than vicious. Dur,
ing his long period of Incarceration at
Folsom he had been an exemplary
prisoner, and without exception the
officers and guards of the institution
spoke highly Of him and recommend
ed his parole. His age, which is GO
/ years, was also II his favor. The pris-
on directors finally agreed on his ap-
plicatiOn, and the order of parole was
signed November 26 last
Prior to this, however, considerable
correspondence had passed between
the Board and the American Consul at
Japan, where Worden has a brother
who is anxious to care for him. 1t
was found that this brother is a physi-
clan of high standing in the oriental
empire, and the board concluded the
aged convict would be in good hands
! for the remainder of his days He
will, however, observe the rule for all
paroled prisoners and report regularly
each month to the prison directors.
/ The provision i'm the parole which per-
mits the prisoner to leave the State
is one within the discretion of the
directors, but is exercised only on rare
occasions.
Five Were Killed.
The train wreck which resulted in
Worden's conviction took place on July
In, 1894, at a time when the great
railroad strike was being prosecuted
with much bitterness. A train drawing
two Pullman cars and carrying a
strong guard of United States soldiers
was ditched from a trestle few miles
out of Sacramento The engineer and
four soldiers were killed and several
others soldiers were killed and several
others injured.
1t was found that a rail on the tres
tie had been loosened and a portion
of the wooden superstructTe below
cut and so weakened that the train
would be sure to fall through Worden
had employed team from a Sacra-
mento livery stable on the morning
of the wreck and, in company with
several other men, had been driven
by a stable boy to a spot near the
bridge. The authorities quickly found
other conclusive evidence against him
and he was taken in custody on the
evening Of the wreck.
Wordens parents were married by
Grover Cleveland's father, a clergy
man i'm Fayetteville, n. Y, in lSiS,
where Wordeu was born year later
His mother came to fayetteville from
Massachusetts .n boarded with an
aunt Of President Cleveland. His
father was a practcing physician il
Central New York for many years. II
Syracuse he was Mayor, Supervisor
member Of the assembly and state sen
ator. and closely associated with His
cock and Mccarthy, prominent Repub
IHcans and abolitionists,
An Old Railroad Man.
Wordeu claims relationship Wit
l Worden of Monitor fame, who distir
grisbad himself Ina the fight with tn