NEW BEGINNINGS

“So with two dead and two imprisoned for life, the plan of the vigilantes to make Hardin and Marshall counties a no-man’s-land for the five Rainsbarger brothers seemed to be succeeding. The counterfeiters were never charged or indicted. However, the battle to secure freedom for Frank and Nate continued.” 

“Of the many efforts directed toward freeing Frank and Nate, the most effective were by S. T. Waterman, a detective from Marshalltown employed by the Rainsbargers. His report to Governor Clarke and the Iowa Parole Board detailed the fact that Enoch Johnson and Milton Biggs were leaders in the counterfeit ring, which also included the names of more than 25 prominent Iowa Falls, Eldora and Steamboat Rock business and professional men.” 

“Waterman obtained over two thousand signatures to the petition for pardon from the most upstanding citizens of Hardin County plus many affidavits and communications in their favor. And indications pointed to the fact that W. V. Wilcox, former Sheriff, was opposed to their release, even to the extent that business men and citizens of Eldora presented a petition to the State Board protesting the right of Mr. Wilcox to represent Hardin County.” 

“Many affidavits in the request for pardon showed Wilcox to be the leader of the vigilante group.” 

“Detective Waterman unveiled a startling report that three unnamed members of the counterfeit combine had prematurely informed the Secret Service that Enoch Johnson had been murdered on November 17, 1884, when in fact his death took place late November 18 and he had been seen in Steamboat Rock three hours before that. This was felt to be an outstanding bit of evidence that would attest to the innocence of the Rainsbargers.” 

“Finally, after a quarter of a century a pardon was granted in 1914 by Governor G. W. Clarke. During the course of the years it had been appealed to six governors. When Governor Clarke finally studied the case, he said they never should have been found guilty.” 

“In granting the pardon Governor Clarke made several observations. He stated that Henry Johns had been assassinated by the counterfeiters, that he was a likely target because he was the Jury Foreman and vowed to wipe out the counterfeiters, “which,” the governor said, “proved the Rainsbargers weren’t responsible for every murder in Hardin County.” He believed Johns’ murderers also killed Enoch Johnson; that evidence clearly showed Frank and Nate were in Cleves at that time and should never have been convicted. In addition, he said the brothers had no part in the bogus coin scheme and the story that the Rainsbargers attacked the doctors was fabricated to arouse more hatred against them. He ended by saying that the jury “had no, business finding them guilty.”