The Washington times., 1914-06-21
"L|FER" EX0NERATED
BY FELLOW-CONNCT
Man Twice Condemned to Death
for Murder Is Cleared in
Strange Confession.

TRENTON, n. J.. June 21.-Two men,
confined in separate cells in the New
Jersey State prison here are principals
in a remarkable story which may have
as its moral a grateful acknowledge
ment that in one case at least the boast
ed Jersey justice" was not as swift as
II is reputed TO be.
John Edward Schuyler. one OF the
pair of prisoners, sat in the death
chamber of Hunterdon county jail at
Pennington one June day seven years
ago and heard the ominous pounding Of
hammers that were shaping his gailows
in the yard outside. Today he stands
a chance of walking out Of his prison
free and vindicated man.
The other man, the instrument in
Schuyler's vindication, is Frank Burd.
scarcely twenty-three years old, who be-
gan a life of crime with jail sentence
when he was only seven years old, and
who has passed the greater part OF his
subsequent sixteen years behind prison
Briefly, Burd has confessed to the
murder of Manning Riley, at Califon,
n. J., on the night Of January ID, 1907,
a crime for which Schuyler was con-
sent to prison for life.
In the meantime a woman lawyer IS
taking steps to have Schuylers case
taken before the board of pardons, which
does not meet until November. She Is
Miss Eleanor R Gebhardt, daughter of
Supreme Court Clerk William. c. tieo-
hardt Miss Gebhardt, who has been
practicing attorney for some time,
will base her plea for schuyler upon
the confession OF Burd- -
The people of Hunterdon county never
were so incensed over n crime as on the
day the body of Manning Riley was
found on Upper Parker road. Riley, a
young farmer, was extremely popular In
the community. The indignation was In
creased by the brutal manner in which
he was killed. The evidence pointed to
the proha bility that the murderer. lying
in wait by the road, had torn picket
from 4 fence and beaten Riley to death
Schuyler. who lived at Venoy, near
BY town, was arrested ut bis mothers
home OF tine following day. charged with
the crime. II was believed that District
Attorney George Knowles Large. who
conducted the prosecution, fOrged
good chain of circumstantial evidence
against Schuyler.
The prosecution introduced testimony
apparently substantiating long
cherished motive for crime. producing
witnesses who swore that shortly after
Riley was killed Schuyler went into
hotel barroom at Califon and, spre aiding
out a pair OF bloody hands on the bar.
his old enemy.
In spite of his protestations of inno-
cence. a plausible alibi. his explanation
that his hands were bloody that night
from 4 hemorrhnge, and his denial that
he toasted OF killing Riley, his trial was
victcd him after Eve hours deliberation.
and he was sentenced TO death.
Schuyler's lawyer appealed for a new
triaI. but it Was refused. The condemned
nan carried his appeal to the board OF
pardcns, and while the board was hear
ing his case Governor Stokes granted
a repricve.
The delay ausered certain factions
in Hunterdon county. who complained
that Jersey Justice" was lagginS. \
by the Rev. Dr. Baker Smith, a Pres
byterian Clergyman. went to Trenton
to protest to Governor stokes ana to
insist that Schuyler be hanged for the
crime. The unusual fact OF a clergy
man pleading for the execution of
prisoner stirred nationwide comment.
The board of pardons refused the
appeal and Schuyler again was SEN
| fenced to be hanged In the Fleming
ton jail yard on June s. 1907.
a few hours before the time OF the
execution message from the board
| of pardons came to the sheriff chang
ing Schuyler's sentence from death to
life Imprisonment. Four days after
ward Schuyler was in cell in the
State prison here where he has been
kept from that day to this.
Burd cannot even write his own
| name. So when he wanted to confess
to the murder of Riley he sent for
| Robert Darken. who wrote down
what Burd told him.
Later to Sheriff H. David L. Hol-
combe and Judge II. B. Herr of Flem-
ington Burd told this story:
Manning and l had a fight in Log
| town right after I got out of the re-
| form school. II was in a stable there.
was only a small boy. He beat me up
bad and said would get square with
him. and did.
II saw him coming out OF the hotel
| the night he was killed and followed
him. looking for a rock to soak him
with. but 7 could NOT md one because
! il was dark and there was snow on the
ground. Then ! took a fercn paling
OF the fence and hit him with il. He
dropped and I soaked him again and
| then got away.
The next dsy went down to High