Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Nebraska advertiser. (Nemaha City, Neb.) 18??-1909 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 2, 1900)
ffjtgjsm i i.wii.rr.w The Nebraska Advertiser Citizens of Hastings Protest Against the Vile Slanders Circulated on their Fe ' low Townsman. Chrlri II. Dietrich Knilomnd by III Nttlgliltom mil i Miui of Sjilrndld. Cliuriu'ter. HnHtlngs, Nob., Oct. 80. The people of this city, Irrespective of politics, are ' Incensed unci Indignant over the cruel falsehoods put In circulation by scan dal mongers of the fusion party, con cerning the character of Charles II. Dietrich, Republican candidate for governor, and for nioro than -'0 years n beloved and highly esteemed citi zen of fhls town. There Ib not n re putable citizen here who does not pro nounce the attackH on Mr. Dietrich raise and monstrous. An a means of silencing the putrid lips or minor and exposing the vicious falsifiers who have been Imposing upon public credu lity with vile and shumeful stories about Mr. Dietrich, the following statement, signed by citizens of Hust ings, Is offered. Among those whose names npjwar as Blgners are many of the leading men and women of Hast ings, many of whom are prominent In business nml religious circles. Hero ro Mr. Dietrich's neighbors who havo lived In the same town with him for many years. Hero Is whnt they say of him over their own Blgnutures: Wheren, Upportu lmvo boon circulated for the pnnioup of lntlurnchiK vott'H HKnlnut our fellow lowummui, Hon. 0. II. Dietrich, cnndldiite for governor, churning him with bolnir ndillctod to the uhp of llyuor, nml nln flnylng Mint his reputation In tluit nf a II centlouis man, we, thu unrioiRlfoied cltUeaij ?f llimtlntpi, Ncbrnskn, deBlro to niaku tlin ollowlug Htntetuent: Mr. Dietrich him lived In HnntlnBH for 22 yenrs. We nre thorouubly acquainted with him nnd wo embruco. this opportunity to re im)1 the vIcIouh uttackN on Ills character. tic U not n drinking man. In the ordinary aeeentntton of thu term, llu In not a fre quenter of HiilooiiB, and his reputation Is NOT that of a licentious man. Mr. Dltttrlch Is a man of In rife tiBlncsn In tcrosts. lie linn been a potent factor, moral ly nnd financially, In the upbuilding of our city. As n litiHlneon man his reputation Is eod, nnd we believe that If elected to the Ish olllce of governor, ho would bring to thu discharge of Its duties such thorough business methods, cnpaclty for unlimited work, and devotion to Its duties, ns would give to the people, n wise, safe, prudent, economical administration. As citizens of bis town, wo commend him to the people of the stato. WAV. HiamiY sr&ICMAN, Lutheran Minis- ter ItnV. C. A. PKITZI3. Lutheran minister. ni3V. C. WILLIAM WKItHCIIMIDT. Luth- eran minister. nKV. A. WICHMANN, Ocrman Evangel- leal Minister. ItBV. 'J. It. WHIOriT, Oermnn Kvangellcal. IIBV. A. C. BTAUK, Tresbyterlan Mlu- Inter. REV. WILLIAM McDONALD, Catholic. St. Oclla. KEV. A. BRAUeni-.fi. 1'renldlng Mlder, Oermnn firnriKcllcal Church. Mrs. W. n. nillon Mrs. M. B. W Miles Mm. C. V. Mnrnv Mrs. II. II. Cherrv Mrs. L. R. Terrllt Mrs. A. Nelson Mrs. A. 0. Mclntyrc Miss Tloru FNher Mrs. Fred Praso MlfB Addle Renfrew Mrs. W. J. Comley Miss Harriet FyfTe Mrs. Tercv Renner Strn. Dr. Vnn 8lckle Miss Cnrrle Renfrew Jennie Renfrew Mrs. Merer Renfrew Mrs M. C.Cohin Mrs. J, A. Tnwnsend Mrs Kntlc M. J. Mrs. wm. RrneU Dutton Mrs. K. C. Follett Mrs. A. V. Ronton li. Gertrude Yocnm Mrs. N.u. Adams Mrs. P. n. Dnvchy Mrs. W. 1. McCrenry Mrs. W. M. Lowmnn Mrs. L. A. Ed Mrs. John Sinker wards, M. D, Cntherlne Blntor Mrs. Allen Rrown Mrs. A. C. Hollow Mrs. S. N. Yocum Mrs. T. J. Lawson Mrs. L. V. Il.IIolloway Mrs. T. H. ICkunrt Mrs. n. M. Piirmenter Oeorgla C. Fowler Mrs. V. U. Ash Ai.ss Amy Ash Mrs. Frd Renner Mrs.M.L. Jorgoason Mrs. W. B. Bt. John Mrs. DU Ryan Mrs John M. Ferguson Mrs. Oeo B. llnye Edna O. Cramer Mrs. A. H. Crumer Mrs. Jiiuob Rumhard Mrs. L. J. Cmp Mrs. F. J. Donedlct Mrs.W. F.Bncbansn Mrs. B. E. Lndd Mrs. J. n. Bplcor Mrs. C. E. Pratt Mrs. B. N. Hamen, Mrs. C. J. Miles Mrs. 3. M. Betoll Mrs. n. W. Bcott Mrs. Chas. Cameron Mrs. F. Bchnufcl Mrs. F.W.Drummond berger Mrs. J. J. Hnrhsnun Mrs. 3, J. Relnap Mm. W. Foruuson Mr. J. R. bmltU Mrs. O.C.7,tnn Mrs.W. B. Andrews Mrs. W. J. Riles Th following nre few of the umny clt Is?nfl, business and professional wen who lmvo signed tha above statement: rwnld Oliver Mark Levy Leopold Hnhn John II. Flynn llnrry Klein 1 A. McDonald F. A. Mcnihanty C. K. Lawson a. Mcuiuanty 3. Btiuedlct A. Citmnlfcll T. J. Btfuedlit Oeo M. Kimball ?. A. Cnuipbell Wm Madicett H. C. Kerr 13. 8. Fowler Gen. A. V. Cola Hnyncs Bros. C. A. Tlndull w. II. Ferguson K. C. Wvhilnr C. B. Rlsslow VJ. u, Slitter M. Eaves ft Bon JB. M. Mnniulfl A. U. Crumer H. A. RWnklron II. B. Rrown Cad Ksuf H. W. Main Arthur M. Udwardo, Eiru Lanevln 1st Llout. Wfn. u. Lowmnn Adan Cr(vd Clurenct J. Mile jonn m, inner John M. Ragan scab Ralley J. n. Cnnna L. J. Cspps J. H. Plowing Hnrry Klsrn B. C. aiccox J. It. Unmet t T. A. Mrnnnnlrl m. a. i-eruus, m. v. Jonn Hfctkcr "B. C. Ilnvorlr M. II. CutUr K. Morledgo A. Itnmsny W. Staley A. Monsu 0. E. Wilson v. m. w i. W. R Cans. Kl li 1. He Richardson C. H. Wsner Malford nnrnes C. W. Wilson. Jr. Henry Rntenburgh L. J. LoI Wlltr lUms C. K. Art B. C. Heneox C. W. Wilson Percy B. Oould "v. K, Uuebansn Jacob Ratify E. B. Marquis J. p. Mines John M. Boyd H. B. HouHutolIng win. Croft W. E. St. John Klch nrnna E. J. Rluknutnn J. i. Hiater Krnuk Kesly T. R. Ingls J. R. Blius Oeo. H. LnXfonte O. F. Howctnell Ed Uurton T. L. JoInuoq C. P. Webibor J. R. Me.unhlln J. C. F. M11U&B Jnmes Wlone Bl hi s Clnrk JB. J. Penso usrry Ueurtwcll m . ED Governor Poynter Pardons Mur derer Kcarns Under Suspi ciors Circumstances. The Cimi County Murderer, Living In Ottuua, Cuniulu, T11 III Moiy. Omaha, Oct. 2!). In no Instance hns the pardoning power of the governor been more shamefully abused than by Governor Poynter In pardoning John Uenwell Kearns, tho murderer of Mat thew Akcson of Cass county. With the facts relHtlng to this most awful crime, shocking In Its brutality, most of the people of Nebraska are familiar, but there are few who nre aware of the fact that Kearns was pardoned under very suspicious circumstances, cir cumstances Indicative of shameful col lusion, If not downright fraud. Governor Poynter pardoned Kearns on the claim that ho was "dying," but It now develops that Kearns Is living in Oltuwa, Cnunda, and Is In perfeit health. Sixteen months have elapsed filiiir the brutal murderer of old man AUeon was clandestinely nnd secretly released from the penitentiary and "sent home to die," but ho Is not only not dead, but Is working every day and has been for tho last ten months ami is, ns shown by the following dispatch from Ottawa, In perfect physical con dition. GOOD TIME ALLOWBD. Perhaps tho most glaring Imposition is the allowance of "good time" to a prisoner sentenced for life. This Is an Irregularity, an Inconsistency, a dis crepancy so dllllcult of mathematical calculation and logical unalysis tlmt It Is passed up to Governor Poynter for un explanation. Is it not u fact that the "good time" allowed was allowed so that the convict might bo released about two years before even the end of tho commuted sentenco, seven years nnd six months? Kearns was sen tenced for life, Governor Poynter com muted his sentence to seven years and six months and then, to make matters worse, reduced his term more than two years by allowing him "good time." In other words, tho perpe trator of ono of the most deliberate and cold-blooded murders ever com mitted, who was tried, convicted and sentenced for life was turned loose by Governor Poynter Inside of five years afterward. Kearns wns re leased from tho penitentiary while the soil was yet fresh on the grave of his victim. What Inspired such an net on tho part of Governor Poynten Is a mys tery which tho "certificates" of the warden nnd physician do not satisfac torily .solve. Kearns himself says that he had no thought of securing a par don until Warden Loidlgh broached tho subject to him. Kearns said that at tho least he estimated that he would not be uble to secure recogni tion In the way of clemency for ten years. He knew upon what charge he was convicted and reasonably com puted his penulty on the sentiment of society nnd tho exactions of law nnd order. He know he had committed n monstrous crlmo and it Is no wonder tluit ho had spent live years behind tho bars and expected to serve live more before ho himself could In his mind Justify his right to relief. He knew, too, that his pnrtner, Harry Hill, no more guilty than he, paid the penulty with his life. Knowing all this ho had no reason to expect, and did not expect, to gain his freedom Insldo of ten years at best. Just what caused "Warden Leidigh and tho prison physlclnn to take such nn Interest In securing a pardon for Kenrns, before he had ever asked for or expected it, is unknown. Why he wns pardoned by Governor Toynter so cretly and clandestinely, without no tlco being given tho people of Cass county before the pardon wns grautod as required by law, nllowed "good time" aud hurried out of the state, hi also n mystery. The murderer had wealthy relatives ami It Is presumable nt least that they had something to' do with securing his release. ivearnB says if tils nardon wns bought and paid for he does not know It, though he admits that a wealthy friend from Montanu limned Ilrown camo to Lincoln and perhnpo "inter ceded" for him. Kearns has two uncles In Montnun In the nilulug bus iness, Patrick aud Michael Kearns, who are reputed to bo wealthy and It Is possible that the Mr. "Ilrown" was none other than Patrick or Michael Kcarua. Governor Poynter attempts to play upon sympnthy by suylng that Kearns wns dying and tlmt In such enses "hu manity usually dictated that the pris oner bo Bont home to die." Did humanity dictate when poor, old Matthew Akeson was eruolly murdor ed In tho presence and tyjfore tho eyes nf his own family? Wtis It any lens huuinno for Kearns, with his hands iteepod In the blood of nn aired nml I helpless victim, to die in tho pentten flajy than It wus for Matthew AUeson, I I m Hi ..-"". i iBWt JWtyg who throughout his 00 years of life hud never wronged n child and who wns universally esteemed as a good citizen, to die by the hand of a brutal ( murderer In his own home? Did humanity dictate to Kearns, when for the purpose of robbery, lie entered the Akeson liome nnd shot down helpless victims? Governor Poynter tirtsjudges nubile sentiment when he nsumes to placate and nppensc It with any such excuse. MndKenrnsbecn dying and the governor cw of his own personal knowledge .hat such wns his condition, he might anve pur-olod him on the condition that e bp re-lmprlsoned if ho regained his henlth. But according to Konrns' own words, Governor Poynter know noth ing of his condition nnd the result Is that Instead of Kearns "going homo to die," ho is us healthy njpearlng to day as any man In tho great city of Ottnwn, ns the following dispatch from that place clearly shows. Tho statements made by Kearns were made to A. II. Taylor of Platts mouth, who went to Canada and saw and talked with Kearns. Mr. Taylor wus bailiff In the court at Plattsmouth when Kenrns was tried aud had charge of the prisoner during the trial. Mr. Taylor Is one of tho oldest nnd nioftl respected citizens of Cass county nnd any one who doubts that Kearns is niivu nun wi-ii win uu cuiiviiiiuu u u' u contrary by consulting Mr. Tuylor. Following Is the dispatch: MUItDKUKU TKLLS HIS STOHY. Ottawa, Out, Oct. 17. Without even a blush upon his cheek or trelnor of his lip, John Uenwell Kcarns, mur derer of Matthew Akesoil of Cass county, NelruBka, today told the story of that shocking tragedy and the story concerning the manner In which hu was released from the ienitentlur.v. Kenrns resides here at 41 Lyon street with his parents, who keep u bonrdlng house, lie is employed as a bookkeeper In the leather nnd har ness store conducted by S. & II. 15or brldge, V-8 Hldcnu street. lie has been employed there over live months, qual ifying himself in a locnl commercial college beforehnnd. He was pardoned out of the penitentiary May 23, 1S!)D. and "sent home to die," but of the 1(1 months he has been free ho hns de voted ten months to mental and physi cal labor and today Is as healthy ap pearing as any man In this city of 00, 000 people; tall, erect and In fine physi cal proportion. Nothing Is known here of his ldstory In Nebraska. The fam ily guard his record with utmost care. When Kenrns' household wns visited Inst night persistent Inquiry failed to elicit any lnformutlon concerning tho Identity of the murderer. Kearns aa mltted that he liud been nway to the states, but denied ever having been I In Nebraska. Despite the denials tho different members of the fmnily ap peared to be nervous nbout something nnd this was what enkindled n very i remote ember of hope In the matter of solving the mystery. INVESTIGATION PROVES FACT. The investigation was renewed bright nnd early this morning and diligent efforts, in which assistance was ren dered by Detective Foster nnd Chief Sherwood of the Dominion police, re mit led In such un array of evidence tlmt Mrs. Kearns, mother of the inur-1 derer, dually acknowledged that he was the man. "I have tried to keep the whole thing a secret from the public," she snld, "but I see you have the facts pretty well In hand. John Is working right nlong and hns a good job." "How did he happen to get par doned? was asked. "I really don't know. I never nsked for It aud I don't know who did. Ho i used to work for a rich man named I Ilrown In Montana, but I do not know whethor ho helped him out or not. Yes, I henrd tlmt It wns reported , buck In the states that he bought his pnrdon. I don't know anything about It. The llrst I knew ho was In prison ' wns when I got n letter stating he was there and was sontenced for tlireo years. I wrote to him about two years later and asked him If he was soon to be out and ho then wrote me he was sentenced for life. Ha mis represented the facts to me In his llrst letter." "Do you menu to sny that you aloue of the family know of his trouble?" "No; his father knows nbout It and , he put In part of tho money to pay Ids way from thero here. Nobody else herd In Ottawa knows nbout It and 1 hope nobody elso will." i DKCLINES TO DIS0US9 PARDON.' When asked how she heard that the report wub In circulation that he bought his pardon she could not say, . though it is evident that she has boon i advised by somebody at Lincoln as to ' certain conditions and further udvlsed to refrnln from tnllclng on this subject. Sho urtmlted resolving a letter from Governor Poynter Inst Juno usklng her to furnish, n physician's certltlcate us ft hep son's health, but sho failed to comply with Uio request, ostensibly for fear tho secret would get out, but In roallty because tho "dying man" was lu uxcallaut health and was at work. KEARNS TKLLS HIS STORY. John Kcnrus, the son, after learning that further efforts to hide his Iden tity wore useless, made u signed state ment In substance ns follows: "I wns pardoned out of the penitentiary May L'.'l, IS!)D. I h-nl been sick prior to that time, but was convalescing nt tho time I was pardoned. I was kept In the ho. pllitl up o the time I wns released, but I wnp up and around four weeks before. Of course, as long us they let mi stay theie I would have been a fool to have asked to go hack to tho coll." "Who Interceded for you or asked for your pardon?." "I do not know. Ilrown of Montana was down to see me once, but I don't know whether he made any special effort to get me out." "Is Is not a fact that Brown's money Inspired your pardon?" LEIDIGH SUGGESTED IT TO IIIM. "I could not say. I know tlmt there was considerable talk about prisoners getting out through Influence nnd tho use' of money, but I can't sny in my ense. Wniden Leidigh is tho llrst innn that ever mentioned pardon to me. 1 had flgiwd that I was there for ten years at lccst nnd 1 never hoped or thought of getting out sooner. I never dreamed of pardon or thought I would tfet one until n few weeks before I got It. Governor Poynter did not see me but once after I was convicted and that was one day when he wns thero on a visit. He did not know of his personal knowledge what my condi tion was at the time I was pardoned. "Leidigh hnd n good pull with hint nnd he helped me out. I wrote a let ter thanking 'them both on rnchlng here. I wns releused late im.dto after noon and was taken to tha depot in u carriage. They bought mo a ticket through to Ottuw.i and I lost no tlmo In getting inwiy. At Chicago I bought n suit of clothes and sold my prison eult to n sccond-hnnd dealer. "I had a good appetite the last four weeks I wis In the penitentiary hos pital and was getting on my feet when 1 got out. My hemorrhages stopped long before I was pardoned nnd I liuvo never had any since," he said, with a squint of the eye. "You nre n pretty rugged looking corpse," was remarked. "Yes, I urn in pretty fair shape, though I don't feel exactly like my former' self." "Is that not duo to worrlinent and thoughts about the awful crime you committed?" "Well, there are some things that worry mo aside from the condition of my henlth. Of them I would rather not speak." "When did you last hear from Ne braska?" "About 12 weeks ngo, Mother got a letter from Governor Toynter, In which he nsked for u physician's cer tificate. She tore tho letter up, or I would show It to you. She asked mo what to do abort It, und I told her to do the best she could for him, for I thought he wanted to use it in poll tics, and us he had helped mo out I wanted to help him out. Mother an swered tho letter, but 1 think the cer tlllcute wus never sent. 1 hnvo, worked steadily for over five months since I got a job und have not lost a day. As to the pardon, 1 can only say that I owe my sucess in regaining my lib erty to Leidigh and governor Poynter. How or why the scheme to get me a pardon started before I or any of my relatives a&kod for one 1 cannot ex plain. It may have started while I was sick, but at the time it was grunt ed I wus recovering rapidly. If thero wns such a thing as money used to get It, it wns without my knowledge. No doubt such things hnvo been done nt that same place, but I can't say It wus lu my case." "How did you happen to give your name us lionwell when you were ar rested?" "The other follow gave tho name of Harry Hill. That was not his right immo. Noticing that ho gave a wrong name I gave ono too. I knew, how ever, thnt if I was caught nt It that an nuns would make it hard for me, so 1 gave my name as John Benwell Kearns. When you came to the house last evening I thought that you want ed me for some railroad job. While I was In tho pcnlteutlnry u railroad de tective had mo connected with a Job thnt hud been dono nnd I expected you Intended to prosecute mo should I ever get out. "When I got out It wns so arranged thnt nobody should know It, and my first thought last night wns thut ho had followed mo up. I wns moro In terested In keeping my Identity a se cret on that account than on accouut of notoriety. "I have nothing to sny nbout tho Cass county affiUp," camo the roply when asked about it. "I was con victed, sent to the penltentlnry and pnrdoned. Thut Is tho story of record nnd thut Is nil tho lUory I'll give you. I mu a free man, and I hope to get along ns If nathlrjg of tho kind had ever happened. I wlf) forgot It, whether other people do or not." WHAT THEY TfIIKK OF KEARNS. "There foes a ruiip with straws and nwiwinj"i fjj4 ryg dangerous criminal itr'tlnet!'," remark ed Detective Forter, one of the shrewd est ofllcers of the Dominion of Cannda, as Kearns left the room. "I think so ciety Is better off without such char acters. Look at his firm Jaw. low fore head and cat-like eyes. I'll watch thnt mnti from this on, Hint's certain." It Is evident from Kenrns' conversation thnt he did not tell nil he knew In con nection with the purdop. It Is qulto evident thnt the murder of old niit.i Ake son Is not the only crime which con cerns hlin. That he committed other crimes for which he hns never atoned or been nppreheuded Is quit" ccrtnin. Nevertheless ho drosses well, loolfs trim ns n successful stock brokernud outside of his fnmily, Chief Sherwood nnd Detective Foster nobody he're In Ottawa knows nny of his dark history. Ho weighs nbout 1R0 pounds ttiftls u perfect picture of the Ideal emote. Kearns incidentally spoke of affairs connected with the mnnngentent3 of tho penitentiary, and said that officials nnd 'attaches smuggled In opium, whisky nnd morphine to certain in mntes nnd sold it to them. It is n common thing, he snld. for them to take money nway from prisoners, nnd while the law Is that this "money should go Into the library fund most of It went Into pockets of oflicinls and employes. IT IS BOGUS. Frank Curpenter, llrst vice president of the Antl-Snloon League, and a member of tho Carpenter Paper com pany of Omuhn, one of the largest con cerns of this kind In the west, when usked if the league had authorized Thomas Darnull to issue and send out clrculurs urging temperance voters to vote against Charles II. Dietrich, said: "Positively no. On the other hnud 1 consider Mr. Dietrich un Inmost nnd thorough business man und u very good citizen. lie would make an ex cellent governor." Tito Advertiser ami tho S?t Louis Globo Democrat both one year for only SI. 00. THE OMAHA DAILY NEWS AM INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER 312 ISSUES BY MAIL ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR Special Offer to Mail Subscribers THE OMAHA DAILY NEWS Is tho greatest newspaper success of recent years. Six months apo it was started; today it nas lS.WU circulation in Omaha and suburba B nnd leads all Omaha pnpers, tinners. H morning or ovening, in local circu- . . f u latlon. Wo want 10,000 out-of-town subscribers In the next 30 days and mako thU Unprecedented Offer to Mail Subscribers Wo bollovo that agriculturalists, merchants, professional and work ing men in small towns appreclnto a daily paper and no one who de sires to keep in touch with what is going on in tho world at largo need deny himself any longer Ida -dally newspaper on account of coBt. 4 Sena ono dollar for ono year's sub- scrlptlon, 75 cents for six months, BO cents for throe months, 25 centa for ono month, cash in advance. This spoclal offer is bona ndo and will bo carried out on our part ab solutely. Do not fall to subscribo at once. THE OMAHA DAILY NEWS is an Independent aftornoon nows paper. "Wo print all tho news that's fit to print and print it fearlessly. Wo admit no fako or obnoxious ad vertising to our columns. Tho paper is clean and up-to-dato in every way. Our market reports oro re ceived by telegraph every day and are conceded tho oest and most To llable In tho state. Wo havo per fected our mail arrangements nnd all subscribers will get tho paper samo day ns published. The Great National Election Excitement la nbout to begin and every Intelli gent man after subscribing for hl local weekly should havo a llrt class dally nowspaper containing tho latest marketf stato, en eral and foreign news. Ho wants to keep posted on tho Boer war, the Philippine Insurrec tion, tho eastern question and tho other stirring events that nro mak ing tho year 1900 one to bo memor able in history. Tho Omaha Daily News prints all tho news and this speelal offer gives it to you at less than ono-thlrd tho prlco of any other dally newspapor In tho field. Send $1.00 Today and you will recolvo Tho Omaha Dally News every day for a whole year, postago prepaid. Do not hesi tate to accent this remarkable offer ut onco. This advertisement may not appear again. Address THE DAILY NEWS, Circulation Dept OMAHA, NEBRASKA. 114 South 14th Street i ijraCnrirsr mHc.mmmJimmtv' imx'S MlVf M-'fc UK4