Rensselaer Journal, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 October 1901 — MESSENGER WANTS OUT. [ARTICLE]

MESSENGER WANTS OUT.

An Effort Being Made to Secure a Pardon for the Murderer of Charles Nelson. An effort is being made by Bert Messenger, brother of Wm. Messenger, a former resident of Rensselaer, to secure his pardon from the state prison, wthere he was sent in 1898, for the murder of Charles Nelson at San Pierre, in August, 1897. Messenger and his brother had been makiug hay near San Pierre, and went there for a spree. He got in a quarrel with Nelson, an inoffensive young farmer, and during the quarrel shot Nelson through the heart. Messenger fled, but was finally captured at Marion and taken to Knox, where he was tried, and given a life sentence. Messenger has been in prison nearly four years, and is now foreman of the clothing department, and is said to be a model prisoner, being permitted to wear clothing without stripes in recognition of his good behavior. As Messenger’s crime was so crnel and unprovoked, it is hardly likely that he will receive a pardon at this early date.