A Suspension of Judgment Asked

New York, 1895

To the Editor of the Long Island Farmer:

Referring to the great sorrow which has fallen upon one of the most upright and best beloved families in our village, and which extends through sympathy over us all, I ask you to print a few words bearing upon the untold history of the case.

A searching study of all the facts developed thus far will lead to the conclusion that the accused man, through whose act so many hearts have been made to bleed, has by no means been shown to have done anything worse than to ruin himself and his family to shield others. It is said that he confessed to guilt. This I am in a position to deny. There has never been any such acknowledgement, and even should there be one made it will not shake the conviction of those who know him best, that he is sacrificing himself and those he loves to a mistaken sense of duty and good faith.

In asking for a suspension of opinion, I offer the above suggestion, convinced that should the mystery of this case ever be lifted, the accused man will be found to be guilty of no selfish crime. Let those who read this ponder it well and be charitable. I have not written it hastily.

JAMAICA, April 23rd, 1895.

H. A. FREEMAN.

—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, April 26, 1895, p. 8.