Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1915 — SYMPATHY INFLUENCED MESSENGER’S RELEASE [ARTICLE]

SYMPATHY INFLUENCED MESSENGER’S RELEASE

Man Charged With Robbing Frank Fross Coes Free When Jury Considers His Dependents.

Clarence Messenger was clear d at ivenuanu .uunuay ol cue charge ol navjpg iopbea r rank Fross or on the zna. oi iast August, it rs believed, however, that ine verdict ot tiie jury was luhuenceu not oy a conviction ot inessenger s innocense out by the tact that he has a good wile and tmee small children. Mrs. Messenger was there and testified for her husband, holding their youngest child in her arms. _ It was charg 'd by the state, Reuben Hess and C. M. Sands appearing for the state, that on the morning of Aug. 2nd Messenger, Fross and a man named Smith got off the train at MoOoysburg. Fross loafed in town a short time and then started for the home of his brother, Millard Fross. He had gone only a short way down the road when he saw Messenger and Smith lying in the shade of a tree. They told him to come over and lie down and he did so, saying that he was not feeling well. They offered to give him a massage treatment and he was rolled about under the tree and later led out into a cornfield and it was there that his money was taken. The state proved that tracks led away from the scene of the robbery in two directions and came together on the opposite side of the field. It was understood to be the tracks -6f Messenger and Smith.

Smith skipped out and has never been apprehended. Messenger edmitted having rolled Fross on the grass and claimed they were just teasing him, It was all a joke, according to the defense. Messenger and his wife testified that after the “massage” Incident Fross came to the Messenger home with Messenger and Smith. Fross, however, testified that he did not go with them but went .back to town. It seems quite conclusive that Smith got the money. The jury was out about an hour and members are reported to have stated that believed the defendant guifty but felt sorry for his wife and the children. It is also said that some of the jurymen talked with Messenger and urged him to devote his time to their protection and* never get caught in a trap like.this again.