The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-07-07
r0NVICTED LIZ ~ BANK ROBBER
DIES AVOWING IL 'CENCE OF CRIME

L
to do with the robbery of the bank
at Lyerly. When that happened I
was in Knoxville, Tenn. Mark Nc
New, who was also convicted. is as
innocent as am. He had nothing to
do with it. I do not know who robbed
the bank at Summerville. I will adj
NIT that l have been a thief. l have
even cracked safes, but not those
two-not those two -
Continuing his story Stedman says
that Matthews was a very appreciat-
i've patient for any attention. He
repeatedly thanked God that he did
not die in jail. In his last statement
he said Now that I have to die
I am very grateful for one thing, and
that is that do not have to die in
jail. But is almost worth dying to
find out how good some people can
be. Judge Wright has been good to
me by not making me die in jail. I
want the Judge to know that I did
not crack the safe at Lyerly."
Story of the Crime.
The Bank of LerIy was robbed at
1 o'clock on the morning of January
80. Thieves blew the safe and Sc
cured $4,000 in cash and valuable
papers. The papers were recovered,
but no trace of the cash has ever been
found. Before blowing the safe the
yeggmen barricaded the bank build
ing with barbed wire and behind this
shelter bombarded the citizens when
ever a light appeared. They made a
clean getaway, but were trailed by
dogs. On the next day Mark McNew
and five others were arrested. Matth
ews was arrested on Feb. 2, while
endeavoring to get a buggy to take
him to Lyerly. He was sick and ap-
peared to be suffering from shock.
Suspicion was directed toward him
because it was thought that his con-
dition might have been caused by in
juries from nitroglycerine when the
safe was cracked. After being held
few days all of the suspects except
Matthews and McNew were released
Then followed a tangled skein of
events that shook Chattooga county
to it's very center, that aroused the
people and even became political
issue. Because of fears of violence
and on account of Matthews physical
condition he was removed to the
Tower in Atlanta When it was dis
covered that he had tuberculosis
Sheriff Mangum of Fulton refused to
keen him. Sheriff Wimpee of Chat
tooga went after him in March. When
the train reached Rome Matthews left
if. but the sheriff remained on board.
Matthews made no attempt to es-
cape. but went to the office OF his
ATTORNEYS. He was kept at the Elmer
gercy hospital for a short time, and
was taken back to Chattooga. Sheriff
Wimpee explained his failure to leave
the train with his prisoner by saying
he was taken violently Ill before
reaching Rome from eating spoiled
oysters for breakfast in Atlanta. The
matter became an. issue in the cam
'paign for sheriff in Chattooga, and
Wimpee was defeated in his race for
reelection.
Another startling circumstance
was an alleged confession by McNe"'
shortly after he was taken into Gus
+odv he confessed completely in the
robbery. and repudiated his confess
sion. saying it had been given under
nromise of immunity from prosecu-
tion and $500 in cash if he would adj
nit the crime and swear against
Matthews. He named L. ?. WHIT
field Burns detective ,as the alleg-
ed person who had made the oner'
During the interim between his
arrest and trial officers had prob
lem of what to do with Matthews
He was for a time kept in the Chat-
tooga court house, and upon protest
of the people was removed to jan
Deeming it inhuman to keep MIN IN
close confinement in his WeaKeneu
and diving condition Judge Wright
sought a place to keep him IN tne
omen air. A tent was erected on
the outskirts of Rome, but residents
of that section protested, and ne was
finally located II miles from Rome
Here he was kept in a tent until ne
died. The county commissioners Il
nally refused to pay for his mainte-
nance except in the jail, and recently
Judge Wright and the sheriff nave
personally paid the expenses OF the
case.
Matthews was convicted at spe-
ciaI term of Chattooga court on April
-. He was sentenced to ten years.