Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1906 — INNOCENT IN PRISON? [ARTICLE]

INNOCENT IN PRISON?

Unknown Person Writes Declaring Amsden Not Guilty as He Was Charged. WRITER SAYS HE IS GUILTY Chtrography Identical with That of the Forgeries—Charles Denby’s i Widow Head—ltems. Shelbyville, Ind., Dec. 27. —Interest has once more been aroused In the case of Charles E. Amsden, ex-secre-tary of the Shelby County Joint Stock Agricultural association, now confined In prison, convicted of defrauding the association, by the receipt of a letter by Sherff Thomas Newton, which was mailed at Noblevilie, and bears the signature of J. P, Jason, the writer acknowledlng that the name Is fictitious. The letter says that Amsden Is innocent of the charge for which he was convicted, and that the writer, aided by two other persons, a man and a woman, whose names are omitted, are responsible for the forgeries. Writing Resembles Amuden's. The letter goes Into details, and tells how and where the blnnk warrants were obtained, a part of them being taken from the desk of Amsden’s successor, J. W. Elliott, while Elliott kept the books and papers belonging to the nsHociatlon In the Jeffersonian office, where he was employed In an editorial capacity. The letter also says that, but for the disgrace falling upon the old mother of the writer, he would acknowledge his error and see that Amsden was released. The most interesting feature of the letter is the hnndwritlng, which closely resembles that of Amsden, and Is Identical with the writing on the forged warrants. Prosecutor Is Impressed. After spendng some time in making comparisons Prosecutor aßssett says that the ease is giving him much thought, nddng: “The writing on the forged orders or warrants and the writing In the letter looks so much alike that I am almost ready to say that the same hand guided the pen in both, and if Amsden was not confined in prison I would think lie had written the letter. That, however, Is impossible, under the circumstances.” Sheriff liooking fbr the Writer. When lie was asked what hearing he thought the letter would have in Amadou's behalf, the prosecutor replied: “ To he frank. T think this letter will do more toward securing Amsden’s release from prison than anything yet produced." Sheriff Newton is doing all In his power to ascertain the Identity of the writer, hopeful that It may benefit Amsden. HIGH PRICE FOR ONE MEAL Fifty Dollars a Plate and There Was Only One Course— Story of a Wager. Columbus, Ind.. Dec. 27. A tramp who a few days ago left SSO at the door of the home of Dr. A. F. Wright, of Nineveh, for Mrs. Wright in payment for a meal that lie had liegged has been Identified by a letter received here as Frank Green, of Barron, Wls. He and his uncle, Edward Green, got into an argument as to which was the more rapid and enduring walker, a white mnn or an Indian, when the uncle offered to wager .ft .000 that the nephew could not walk from Barron to Franklin, Ind., a distance of 000 miles, in thirty days, with no money and being obliged to beg his food. The wager was promptly taken by the nephew and a start was made on Nov. 11 and two horn's before midnight on Dec. 11 the nephew appeared at Franklin, where lie was met by his uncle, who paid the wager. It was on the last half day of the Journey that Mrs. Wright gave the tramp the meal for which he paid SSO. Will Make His Dad Famous. Terre TTaute, Ind.. Dec. 27. —Economon Berk man, n Hungarian coal miner, has sent by express a pair of rubber boots to his father in Hungary. The hoots cost SB, and the express chnrges were $.1.40. By the time the import duty is paid on the other side the total outlu.v will be $lB. Berkman says his father will he the most-talked-of man In that part of the country, for no one tliere has ever seen such boots. Suspect«-d of Poisoning Her Mother. Alexandria, Ind., Dec. 27. Mr*. Berthn Powell, of Monticello. Ind., wns arrested at Anderson, Ind., and will be brought here to attend the coroner’s Inquest over the body of her mother, Mrs. Cynthia Shaw, who died here with symptoms of arsenical poisoning. The accused woman professes her innocence and declares that she made an Ineffectual effort to restrain her mother from taking the fatal dose. Death of Cha*. Denby’s Widow. Evansville, Ind., Dec. 27. Mr*. Martha Denby, widow of t* late Chat. Penby. ex-T’nlted States minister to China, la dead at a local hospital, where she baa been a patient for sev- , -* t-cck*. Death was due to com- **.■ i« resulting from old age. Mrs. ss born at Logansport, lad..