This article was on Trove and I thought it to be a brief, if tragic, story. It had been reprinted in the 'Riverine Grazier' of 27 January 1888 and it came originally from the New York Sun. I was surprised to find that there is quite a bit more published about the story of Robert Evan Sproule and about his efforts to defend himself.
THE FATE OF ROBERT E. SPROUL
When on the Gallows he Heard that A Fortune Had Fallen To Him
"This story was made public for the first time in the Supreme Court of New Haven lately. Lawyer William L. Bennett went before Judge Andrews and made a motion for the sale of certain personal property belonging to the estate of Robert Sproul, who was hanged about two years ago in British Columbia, for having murdered a miner named Thomas Cannell. Sproule was born and reared on a farm in Kennebec Country, Maine. In 1854 he became tired of the drudgery, of farm life, and in company with several friends, went West to try his fortune in mining. Sproul learnt that a company had been in Connecticut for mining in Kootenay, British Columbia, and he purchased an interest in their claim, and as a representative of the Connecticut corporation went to Kootenai. He built a cabin, which he shared with Thomas Cannell.
On New Year's Day, 1885, Cannell was found dead with his body riddled with bullets. Sproul was arrested on suspicion, and was tried in Victoria. Having no money, he appealed to the corporation in Connecticut which he represented, and procured a loan of 1800 dollars, for which he gave his stock in the mine as security. After a long trial he was convicted. An appeal was taken to the Supreme Court of Canada, on the ground that additional evidence had been found, and Justice Henney granted a motion for a writ of habeas corpus. The Sheriff who had the keeping of Sproul refused to deliver up his charge, and in August, 1886, the same attorney obtained from Justice Henney a discharge for Sproul.
At this stage of the proceedings Sproul found himself in the singular position of being, a free man in theory, but in fact a prisoner of the Canadian Government. Having been unsuccessful in his own effort to procure Sproul's release, his attorney appealed to the United States Government, and an application for Sproul's release was made.
About that time the Attorney General of Canada, recognising the peculiar position in which Sproul was placed, appeared before a Justice of the Supreme Court and had the decision of Justice Henny reversed and Sproul's imprisonment, made legal. He at the same time had a date set for the hanging.
A large part of the evidence which had convicted Sproul was given by Charles Wolfe, who, when he heard that the date for hanging Sproul had been determined upon, came forward and swore that all the evidence which he had given was utterly and absolutely false. In addition to this, a witness was found who made a sworn aftidavit that he was in Sproul'a company at the time the murder was committed, and that they ware fifteen miles from the scene of the tragedy. A motion for a new trial was refused, as was an appeal for a respite.
On the day set for the hanging Sproul was led to the gallows, and from the platform addressed the assembled crowd, affirming his innocence. The noose was adjusted to the neck, and the hangman was about to spring the trap when someone in the crowd caught sight a horseman riding at full speed towards the scene. He waved a paper in his hand, and it was supposed he bora a respite.
On dashing up to the scaffold he handed Sproul a message, which he scanned eagerly, and falling backward, said:
“Too late! Justice claims the blood of an innocent man.”
A moment later the trap was sprung, and Robert E. Sproul was launched into eternity. The paper which had been handed him bore the information that by the death of a relative in Boston he had become heir to 100,000 dollars.— N.Y.Sun."
Publication Title: Riverine Grazier, Source: Trove [National Library of Australia]
Country/State of Publication: NSW,
Australia
UPDATE:
'must either be a lunatic or a fool. The story of the horseman "dashing up to the scaffold" is only another instance of the wonderful imaginative power of the ordinary American reporter.'
Victoria Daily Colonist is the local paper of the area where Robert Evan Sproule was hanged, and they covered all of the trial and aftermath of this story.
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