The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1915-08-26
GRANTED PAROLE
AFTER % YEARS
FRANK AND NATHAN RAiNssAR.
GER TO LEAVE PRISON TODAY
CASE FAMOUS IN IOWA ANNALS
Brothers Have Ever Protested Their
Innocence. Conviction Was on
CircumstantiaI Evidence.
Strange Connections.

Strange Connections.
'Anamosa, Aug. 25.-Frank Rains.
barger, aged SIS, and his brother, Ma
than, aged 81, for thirty years in the
state reformatory here serving life
sentences for the murder of Enoch
Johnson in Hardin county in 1884,
walked from the state reformatory
here this morning, free men, subject
to a conditional parole signed by
Governor Clarke yesterday. For three
years the men must refrain from talk
ing OF their case and must not harbor
revenge against those who secured
their conviction under penalty of be-
ing returned to the prison by the gov
ernor. After three years the parole
will become pardon. Both men were
dressed in new suits &C clothes made
in the prison shops. They shook
hands with Warden G. McCloughry
and departed without making a state
ment. No one was here to meet them
and they left no word where they
were going. 1t is expected they will
visit relatives near Iowa Fails after
a brieft stop at Cedar Rapids. Ward
en- Mcf loughry said the men have
been food prisoners and were very
much pleased with the parole granted
over ma jority vote of the members
of the parole board Nathan Rains
barger at first said he would refuse
the parole and not leave the prison
until an unconditional pardon was
given but the thoughts of freedom
and the advice of the warden made
him change his mind and he marched
with his brother to be measured for
his new, clothing.
Governor Grants Parole.
Des Moines, Aug. 24.-Frank and
Nathan RSInsDarger, sentenced to life
Imprisonment in the Anamosa refor-
matory for the murder of Enoch John
son in hardin county in 1884 were
pardoned conditionally yesterday by
Governor Clarke.
Frank Rainsbarger Immediately ac-
cepted. Nathan Rainsbarger refused
to accept his pardon. He told Warden
c. c. McClaughry at the Anamosa
prison that he will not leave the re-
forTAatOry until he receives a full par
don, with no conditions He repeated
that he is innocent of the murder and
that he is entitled to 60 absolutely
free.
May Le,lVe PriSon Today.
The pardon papers issued by the
governor provide that the two men
may leave the prison this morninR
While the officials marvel at the atti.
tude of Natsa n Rainsbarger, they are
of the opini IN that he will cb< ge his
mind about refusing the pardon be
for the set line today for his release.
A few yearS ago when bother of
Fh,uk aBA- Adthan Rainsba. ger died
application was made to the governor
for permission for the two men to
leave prison and attend the funeral
under guard They declined to go.
They declared that when they leave
prison they will go forth absolutely
free men.
The conditions attached to the par
dons sfe considered very reasonable.
}Governor's Statement.
In outlining the conditions, the
governor says:
Exercising the prerogative with
which | am clothed by the constitu-
ton, and believing am fully justified
in doing so, | do hSreby grant to
Frank ami Nathan Rainsbarger a con-
ditional pardon or parole, conditioned
only upon the requirement that they
conduct themselves as honorable, up
right and peaceful citizens and in
dulges in no threats or expressions of
resent ,ent, or acts If hostility
againsc Any who may have been active
in their prosecutions, Or who may
haN hnir Il tpin
compliance with said conditions for
a period of three years is to convert
this act of clemency into a full and
complete pardon. The governor of the
state shall be the sole judge of the
violation o this condition and such
violation 81 all va k an immediate re-
vocation Of the pardon granted and
be followed by an order for the return
to the prison of the one violating it"
History of Crime.
Nathan Rainsbarger Is 81 years OF
age Frank is 55. They have served ex
,actly thirty years of imprisonmet,
two years in Jail before being sent to
the reformatory, and twenty eight
years a. the Anamosa prison.
The crime of the Rainsbargers,
which was committed in Hardin coun-
ty a quarter of a century ago, was one
OF the most famous in Iowa history.
1t was the elimination of a long per-
iod of outlawry during which citizens
of the vicinity had been terrorized. q.
Killing of johnson.
Muf->rs a1d robberies had been
brazenly perpetrated and the authori.
ties had been unable to apprehend the
guilt men. Detectives traced box
of counterfeit money from Steamboat
Rock, which seemed to be the seat OF
Operations, TO South Dakota and then
back to Eldora. and arrested Enoch
johnson within few minutes after II
had been delivered to him, Frank
Rainsbarger had married Johnson's
daughter. After Johnson was in jail
some time he sent word to the Rains,
bargers that they better bestir them
selves. as II he had to be punished he
wouldn't suffer alone. Thereupon the