Lane - Robert - paraoled for killing Good - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Frankfort News: A movement is on foot among the relatives and friends of Robert Lane, now serving a life sentence in the northern prison for killing Thomas Good, to secure his release on parole. The movement is led by Mr. Lane’s wife, who still resides on her Jackson Township farm, and Capt. Wm Lane, of Crawfordsville, a brother, assisted by Attorney W. R. Moore. Mr. Moore informed a News representative today that he had received a letter from the prison authorities stating that Lane’s prison record was the best. The old man has been a “trusty” for several months and is employed about the farm and garden of that institution.

Lane, it will be remembered, killed Good in Jackson Township, October 30, 1897, after a quarrel in Lane’s corn field. There was no witness to the killing, Lane testifying that he only used his revolver after he had been knocked down and choked by Good. Lane was fifty eight years old at the time of the killing.

While Lane had his faults and was addicted to the use of intoxicating liquors to an excess, he had a splendid record as a soldier during the rebellion, and there is a belief among many that taking everything into consideration connected with the unfortunate affair, the fact that there was no witness to the killing, etc., that the old man should be released. If the movement is successful, Lane will apply for admission to the Soldiers’ Home in Lafayette.

The understanding is that a majority of the gentlemen who composed the jury have expressed a willingness to sign a petition to Gov. Mount, asking that Lane be paroled.