Doing genealogical research leads to many strange tales. The story below is a story about the husband of a 2nd cousin of mine and took place in Nebraska in late part of the 1800's.

You be the judge...

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Jackson_Marion

Portrait of Marion from the 1880s

William Jackson "Jack" Marion (May 13, 1849 – March 25, 1887) was an American man who was convicted of the 1872 murder of John Cameron, a Kansas native and a friend. Marion and Cameron were railroad workers who embarked on a trip to Kansas to work on the railroad in 1872. During the trip, Cameron went missing, spurring an investigation into his whereabouts. In 1873, a decomposing body was discovered in a Nebraska riverbed wearing clothing that some claimed to have belonged to Cameron, leading authorities to believe that Marion may have murdered Cameron. Years later, following a two-month trial and conviction, the state of Nebraska executed Marion for Cameron's murder in 1887.

Four years after Marion's execution, Cameron reappeared alive. Cameron's reappearance proved that Marion was wrongfully executed for Cameron's murder. On March 25, 1987, the 100th anniversary of his hanging, Marion was granted a posthumous pardon.

Early life

Marion was born in Mahaska County, Iowa on May 13, 1849 to Tipton Marion (1824 – 1909) and his wife, Margret McMains (1823 – 1868). On November 6, 1871, he married Lydia Jane Finley in Gage County, Nebraska.[citation needed]

Wrongful arrest, prosecution and execution of William Jackson Marion

In early May 1872, William Jackson Marion and his friend John Cameron began a trip from Liberty, Nebraska, to Valley Falls, Kansas (formerly known as Grasshopper Falls), to work on the railroad.[1] They stopped for the night in Wild Cat Creek, Nebraska and stayed at the home of Marion's mother-in-law, Rachel Warren.

On May 5, 1872, Marion returned to his mother-in-law's home with Cameron's team of horses, but without Cameron. Marion's mother-in-law suspected that he had killed Cameron, and eventually Marion left Nebraska. In March 1873, a decomposing body was found in a riverbed in Gage County, Nebraska, wearing clothing that unidentified witnesses claimed to be John Cameron's. Marion was named a suspect, although he was not then located.[2]


Marion at the gallows shortly before his execution

During December 1882, Marion was located in a county jail cell at Sedan, Kansas, in Chautauqua County, awaiting trial on a charge of stealing.[3] He was taken to Beatrice, Nebraska, where he was indicted for the murder of John Cameron. A jury convicted him, and the judge sentenced him to death.[4][5] The trial took two months.[6] On appeal, the Nebraska Supreme Court vacated the conviction[7] and ordered a new trial, noting that by Nebraska law at the time of the murder, a death sentence had to be decided by a jury, not a judge. Upon his second conviction, Marion was again sentenced to death and, after losing a second appeal,[8] was hanged in Beatrice, Nebraska, on March 25, 1887. An article in the Omaha Daily Bee on March 26, 1887 declared there to be "no doubt that he was guilty and also guilty of other murders in the Indian Territory."[9]

Re-appearance of John Cameron

Four years after Marion was executed, in 1891, John Cameron was found alive and explained that he had, during the nearly twenty years since his "murder", traveled to Mexico, Alaska, and Colorado.[10][11] In a written statement provided by Marion's uncle William Wymore, Cameron explained that he had fled due to fear of a paternity allegation.[10] John Cameron said he had sold his team of horses to Marion and still had the note Marion had given him for payment of the remainder.[12]

Pardon of William Jackson Marion

On March 25, 1987, Marion was pardoned posthumously by the State of Nebraska, on the 100th anniversary of his hanging.[13][14]

In the news

A February 2013 documentary entitled "...until he is dead. A history of Nebraska's death penalty," discussed at length the hanging and later pardon of William Jackson Marion.[15]

So there you have it...

Garry-

That wasn't the last time that the sheriff wrongfully convicted folks of murder here. At least the beatrice 6 didn't get fried and eventually got released.

Well at he was pardoned so what's the problem? Talk about a raw deal.

A bit odd the murdered man never sent his mom a letter to say hi here is what happens and why I left.

Also got to wonder whe the lady was that he was running from and her families power/ mad dad was to make him run like a rabbit vs. sticking around.

At the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall he that is worthy of death be put to death; but at the mouth of one witnesses he shall not be put to death. Deuteronomy 17:6
Or in this case 0 witnesses.
Goes to show you how fallible man's law can be.

Interesting story. Thanks for sharing.

I was told by my land lord that a sheriff from Minnesota chased a thief here to Henry county Iowa ,SE Iowa, caught and hanged him from a cotton wood tree near here.
Dunno.
just

Great story Garry,at that time the guy was probably lucky he actually had a couple trials before being executed,Like AKA said.

Dern that stinks... cool read though.

Garry, here's his Family Search designation and photo.

William Jackson Marion
Male
13 May 1849 – 25 March 1887
•
K2QX-FX5



He's not one of our shared cousins.

Keith

Thats pretty crazy my nname is william marion lol

Wonder what happened to the charges he was actually caught for and what was the charge of stealing for? The outcome may have been the same.

Will the real William Marion, please stand up.

I hope You don't meet a Cameron

You need a hair cut.....jk