The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1915-07-23
Man Who Went
ALONE TO PEN
WAS INNOCENT
Partner Confesses Neil Mac.
Kinnon. Now Serving In
Walla Walla Is Innocent.
WAS HONOR PRISONER
Boyhood Friend OF Sheriff
Hodge: Went TO Peniten-
tiary Without Guard.

When Nell McKinnon. n big
listed. bonnie lad from Scotland.
carried his own commitment pa
pers from Seattle to the state peni-
Tertiary at Walla Walia last May.
no felt certain in his heart that he
had been convicted OF a crime OF
which no was innocent
lie was sentenced 10 serve ak
months 10 10 years. lie had helped
rob a man Of $50. tho jury found.
In a saloon downtown. But Nc
Klnnon himself could not believe IL
confidentiaily he told Sheriff
Hodge about Il.
"iie looked me square In the eye,
said Sheriff Hodge. held up his
hand and said he would swear
under oath he thought no had moth.
he couldn't prove Il, lie had been
drunk. and told me he didn't remem.
Der what transpired.
says Partner Could Tell
Il believed him. lie said there
was only one man who could tell
the true story Of the robbery. That
was John Mcdonald. who had been
convicted ms hia accomplish and
sentenced 10 serve year.
Eve were school Kids together.
Mcktnnon and |. He called me
Bob and ! always called him
'Scotty.' We used 20 go swimming
In tho same hole back In Scotland.
We played bad tricks on tho school
teacher together and wcni 10 the
same Sunday school
when h. told mo about the rob
berry asked Gov. Lister that. II
Scotiy couldn't be pardoncd out.
/ right. he might be allowed 10 serve
his time as my truHty In tho county
jail. Tho governor refused my re
quest"
"scotty" went 20 prison. but no,
By the accustomed formula
The ordinary way 90 break Into
tho pcnltcntiary Ia 20 wait until the
travelling guard comes after you.
Hut "Seotty" didn't.
Goes 20 Prison Alone
He went alone. carrying hia own
commitment. morally certain that.
/ II tho truth were known. he would
DO n free man.
Yet he did not falter. lie was re.
ported missing at the county Jail
one morning
i know he hasn't run away" de.
elarcd Sheriff Hodge.
And he hadnt
Next morning word came from
Warden Drumm OF tho pcnitcntiary
tina; "scotty" had arrived there safe
and sound. had asked 10 be locked
Up IN q cell. and had been accommo-
/ dated.
Macdonald. the accomplish. held
his peace concerning the robbery,
/ probably because he hoped TO clear
his own skirts. until there was no
chance left.
Today Sheriff Hodge received the
I following letter:
To Sheriff Robert HODGE
Dear Sir: would call your at.
tension 20 the fac, that your
friend, Neil hackinnor. now In
confinement here. 10 serving
! sentence for crime he never
Z committed. Whatever Scot.
ty's" career has been In the
past OF which know but very
little, ! certainly know that he
had nothing 20 do with taking
couple OF dollars from that
old s~edc that he was tried
and convicted Of.
In writing TO you thus
merely do 90 az friend and
fellow eountryman. In the hope
that you. with your ehsraeteris
tic love for justice. Will use
your Influence In his behalf.
30 that he will get on, OF hers
at the expiration OF hie -tnl.
mum sentence.
The pardon board convenes
here next month. at which time
"seotty's" minimum Will have
been served.
Trusting you will feel Justi.
fled In giving the matter your
earnest attention. am.
Yours sincerely.
JOHN MACDONALD
Hodge will attempt to have Nc.
kinnon paroled or pardonod.