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WITH SWEETHEART
Trefethen’s Use of His First Free Day.
His visit to Rose Lindsay.
He Will Settle Down Into the Ruts of Business Presently – A Talk With a Post Man.
All the beauties of Indian summer time yesterday greeted the first day of freedom which has come to James A. Trefethen in nearly two years. He was out early in the day, refreshed and invigorated by the draught of liberty, going about among his old-time friends and picking up the threads of acquaintance which were snapped by his summary arrest and imprisonment one year ago last January.
The passing from under the death noose into the bright, free world has changed Trefethen. The contrast between the Trefethen of today, and the man who sat in the Cambridge court fighting for his life, is very marked. His face has been flushed with a ruddy color, his eyes have filled wit the light of confidence; he steps lightly and smiles with inconcealable satisfaction.
The night after his acquittal his little store was not deserted until the small hours of the morning were near, and it was very late when he enjoyed the novelty of a home-like couch, and retired with out feeling that grim Law kept guard about him.
Yesterday afternoon he visited the jail in Cambridge, and called upon his counsel, ex-Governor Long. But business was not the attraction that drew him to Boston. Down on Dorchester avenue lives Rose Lindsay, whose name has been linked in with the earlier story of his case. She was his sweetheart; she refused to believe him guilty, and declared that she would have confidence in him, no matter what might be the decision of judge or jury.
And so when Trefethen hopped on the steps of a Dorchester avenue car, there was nothing problematical about his destination. The car was fairly well occupied, but when Trefethen entered no one appeared to recognize him, except a young and handsome lady, who stepped quickly across the aisle and clasped hands with the late prisoner.
Trefethen seemed unconscious of his position. He was dressed just as he had appeared during the trial, and carried a small valise. It is probable that had Trefethen been recognized he might have been subjected to a critical examination.
A Post reporter sat beside him and conversed with him. Trefethen said: “I didn’t sleep much last night. I suppose I was nervous, and then the change, of course, affected me. I propose to resume my work at once. I may spend a few days in visiting friends, but after that I shall have charge of my retail store, and may go into the wholesale business again.
“I realize that I have many friends, and I think public sympathy is with me. Many people whom I have never seen called to congratulate me. It encourages me very much.”
When Mt. Vernon street was reached Trefethen left the car and went into the Lindsay residence.
When the Post reporter entered their little store a few minutes afterward Trefethen was established in the rear parlor surrounded by his hosts.
Miss Lindsay peeped out for a second and vanished again. Her brother said that the family all felt greatly elated over Trefethen’s discharge, but that they wished to avoid further notoriety.
Miss Lindsay is an accomplished pianist, beside being a very beautiful young lady, and no doubt Trefethen appreciated the music which was produced for his entertainment. Altogether Trefethen spent a very pleasant afternoon at the Lindsay home yesterday. He says that he has nothing bitter to say against his enemies or the prosecuting counsel. He is willing, he says, that their own action should measure them in public esteem.
So James Albert Trefethen steps again into his old life and his case rests in history.
The expense of trying the famous case has been very heavy, and Treasurer Hayden estimates the entire cost to the county as fully $15,000.
The expense up to the conclusion of Trefethen’s first trial was $6000 or $7000. The second trial will cost the county at least $2000 more than the first. A very large item in the second trial was the getting of government witnesses from Ireland.
Boston Post – Oct 1 1893 – Page 3