New-York tribune., 1918-05-11
Stelow, Free Man, uzzled
To Find World Is F riiendly

Irene, the baby, who was born the day
after Stielow was arrested.
1t was then shortly after 8 o'clock,
and Governor Whitman's messenger
who brought the release order from Al
bany had been in the prison only few
minutes.
Stieow and his wife embraced and
wept. Nelson Green did the talking for
the whole party.
Mrs. Stielow, Mrs. Green and Mrs.
Ollie Smith, the latter's daughter, had
travelled far with the children during
the day from Royalton in to Buffalo
and then on to Auburn. O'Grady, who
accompanied the party, decided to rest
for the night at Rochester.
Word had gone ahead, and at mid
night, when Stielow arrived, the lobby
1t was then that Stielow got the first
taste of his new popularity. Strangers
congratulated him and told him they
knew all along he would come out all
right-identically the same folks who
Il few months before had refused to
believe Erwin Kings Concession that
It was he and Clarence O'Connell, not
Stielow and Nelson Green, who had
committed the now famous murders at
West Shelby.
O'Grady Takes Charge
At Buffalo, where Stielow, Green and
O'Grady arrived in m;dafternoon, they
were met by David A. White, the
Medina lawyer who conducted the origi-
nal defence and who has been Stielow's
stanch champion. The women and chill
dren were sent on to Royalton. Stielow
and Green were to have followed them
there tonight. but C'Grady made
change in his plans.
There are people down in New
York." he said, who want to get hold
Of Stielow and put him on exhibition.
Pm under orders to see that they don't,
and I'm going to stay with him for
month if necessary. Well stay over in
Buffalo tonight because I've got busi
ness here in the morning. After that is
out Of the way We'll motor to Royal
ton"
Mr. White said he did not know what
action the Orleans County authorities
might take against Kino and O'Connell,
who are now serving time in the same
prison from which Stielow and Green
were freed.
~ am not prosecuting officer" he
said. "My connection with this matter
has been the defence of stielow. Some
one should pay the penalty for the
murder of Charles Phelps and Mar
garet Wolcott
"Stielow was convicted on confess
sion that never believed was true
At the time of his trial, there was no
available evidence that tended to show
the positive guilt of persons other than
Stielow and Green. Before the Court
of Appeals passed on the case, Mrs.
me the first information against King
and O'Conncll. After the Court Of
Appeals refused to grant a new trial
l acquainted the Governors pardon
clerk with the evidence that had gath
cred.
| upon this information and the
friendly Offices of Dean Kirchwey, then
warden of Sing Sing Prison, Stielow
was granted his first reprieve. Suisse
quently made a motion for a new trial
before Justice Wheeler, of Buffalo, and
fore Justice Cole, of Buffalo, and Site
low was granted a reprieve on each oc-
casion. Both of these motions were
denied. but the information against
King was not presented to these JUS
tces because it had not been fully de-
vcloped.
Gave Governor the Evidence
"The night before Justice Guy in
tervened l laid before Governor Whit
man the accumulated evidence against
King and O'Cennell, but the Governor
was not Influenced to act. In New
York City | made affidavit embodying
all the facts that l had learned show
ing the connection that King and
O'Connell had with the crime, and Jus
tice Guy granted a stay Of execution
and issued the order that was return
able before Judge Rodenbeck at Roch-
| ester
"It was after Judge Rodenbeck had
first considered the case that King made
his startling confession at Little VAL
ley. The persistent efforts of Detec-
tive O'Grady and the masterful investi
cation conducted by Mr.. Bond have now
established the truth and two innocent
men are liberated.
II believe that Stielow and Green
have been terribly wronged, but know
that the public officials of my county
were sincere always in their belief that
Stielow and Green were guilty"