The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-02-23
WADE WEAKENS,
And Pleads Guilty to Murder In
the Second Degree.
Judge Heller Sentences Him to the
Penitentiary for Life.
An Interview With the Prisoner
Who Says He is Not Guilty,
But Would Rather Go to Prison for
Life Than Hang.

Yesterday afternoon Joseph w. Wade alr
reared in the Criminal Court in company
with his attorneys, Messrs. Gordon, Alex
ander & Herr. The prisoner, as soon as
Court was called to order, arose ana
said he plead guilty to murder in the second
degree. After this statement, Judge Heller
sente. ced him to the Penitentiary durng
the term Of his natural life. After the SEN
tence of the Court, Major Gordon the attor-
ney for Wade, asked that the following pa
per be filed with the papers of the case not
as part of the record but simply with il,
in order that IL might be preserved:
have pleaded gully to murder IN the second
degree aud of course expect AMI snail accept the
consequences of nv plea sui, desire 10 say
and leave upon record In this Court and as part
of the papers In this case, my most earnest pro
test against the circumstances ina. environ me,
and render IL hopelessfOr me 70 conteSt again the
question of NV Innocence with the State in an
other trial / am notguilty of the crime OF muir
der rs charged in tbs indlctment IN elt .1 ae
gree: but have no means Of dispIoyfng the evil
dence against mr. ! was so connected
with the real Perpetrator Of the crime
ACE over me i'm this case, and
while wholly innocent of the murder, so aided
her afterward rs 70 become accessory after the
fact TO her crime that am satisfied that IL would
be useless nOV To Try TO avoid the consequences
accept them so far therefore. as TO say ! am
guilty of murder in the second degree, while in
truth am not In the hope that, In the course Of
the future the truth will be spoken and justice at
last be done. And, as my final word OF protest
EMMY aver that had neither lot nor part In the
murder of John q. Brown, but am to-day utterly
innocent Of any participation in It. even III
thought JOS. W. WADE.
After the sentence was pronounced, Wade
was taken back TO Jail, where he will
remain until Monday morning, when
he will be taken to Michigan City. Sen
tinel reporter called at the Jail at . O'Clock,
and by he kindness of Jailer John Glazier
was permitted TO see Wade. On entering
the inside of the Jail, the reporter was met
by Wade who said:
Il am glad Ia see YOU; | like to see news
paper men, bat don't believe l have any
thing to say about myself
RepOrter-iIOw came you to take this last
step?
Wade-WelI, you see 1 have no
money, and, in financial way, have no
friends and am unable to procure at
tOrneys for another trial, and rather than to
die BY the hangman's hand | would rather
do what ] have to-day and spend
the remainder of my life in prison. was
advised By several persons who i know are
friendly toward me to take this step, but
don't want you or the public to think that
] killed Brown, because as true as there Is
Cod in Heaven, have the blood of no man
woman or child on my hands.
Rep.-Have you anything to say abou
the deed.
Wade-No only that she Mrs. Brown)
did it. knew nothing of it Gntil after the
fatal blow was struck. l knew that they
had been at outs, but / did not think it
would end in murder. There would be no
need of me telling you falsehood about
the matter as things now stand, and L swear
4 ! i q. Il, Mrc
has swindled me out of a lot and what little
money had, and now she is sending me to
prison for life for a crime that she knows
did not commit
Rep.-Have you anything else you would
like to say?
Wade--Yes; / want to return thanks
to my attorneys who have been so
good and true TO me. ! am not able
give them anything but my thanks. l
tell you was afraid to stand another trial,
for | am pretty sure | would receive a death
sentences with such fine lawyer against me
as Mr.. Elan. The Sheriff has been kind to
me, and thank him and his good wife.
Now, p lease say this for me, that leave this
Jail with the kindest feeling toward all con-
nected with it. BY the way, | want you to
have history of my life. Come upstairs
TO my cell, and l will give you one
The reporter accompanied Wade tohis cell,
said, after entering the cell, "You see am
preparing to leave here for my future home,
snd(things are kind of torn up; but gener
any keep my room clean. Here is q sketch
of my life; take it and read it. 1t gives you
many points in my history that will more
than likely interest you. You see L never
went to school much and can't do much at
writing but what you read in that book is
the truth. so help me God. You must
know how l feel over going to prison for
the remainder of my life, and l do hope
that you will, as far as you can, set me at
nights before the public Send me a paper
tomorrow, and if you ever get a
chance to say a good word for me through
the columns of the Sentinel, please do so for
il makes me feel good to have some one
think kindly of me. Yes, if this thing
had not happened 1 would now be mar
ried to one of the best little girlsin thecoun-
try. She knew all about my preparing TO
leave Browns, and might have thrown some
light on the murder but told her that
would rather go tai prison for life than have
her put on the witness stand. Now | have
talked too much TO you. Please send me a
PAPER"
The reporter then babe Wade goodbye.
and left him standing at the grated doors
trying 10 force back the tears that were rush
ing TO his eyes.
River Superstitions.