The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-01-04
LIE WAaEs o. DC.
AIrs Nary Isabella Martin Receives
the Deefh Sentence for the Murder

A-lAs nary A4A00AAA m4ElAA LtEcLlNG8
the Deefh Sentence for the Murder
OF LOrian NJ. keiger.
District court convened in this city
at O'Clock Friday afternoon to hear the
report Of the medical commission ap-
pointed TO ascertain the mental condi-
ton OF Mrs. Mary Isabella Martin, con-
vlcted Of the murder. by poison, Of
Mrs. Lorian NJ. Keiger
Mr. Sedgwick, the county attorney,
requested that the prisoner be brought
into court, and she shortly made her APP
pearance in the custody Of Deputy Sher-
in Beers. Mrs. Martin is = short, stout
built woman, with dark hair and COM
plexion and an eye that indicates great
resolution Of purpose. She seemed
somewhat agitAted upon entering the
court room and before taking her seat,
said 10 the court:
Judge, am glad u see you; have
been waiting TO see you for long time;
want you TO take care Of my son; Mr..
Sedgwick has murdered me and now he
wants to murder my son."
The court commanded the prisoner 10
take her seat, and she obeyed, and ceas-
ed talking.
Mr.. Sedgwick then suggested that the
court pass again formally upon the mo-
lion for a new trial which was over
ruled some weeks ago. Argument fol
lowed by the counsel for the defense but
the court resffirmed his former decis
ion.
The following report Of the medical
commission appointed to ascertain tbs
mental condition of the prisoner wa:
then filed with the clerk of the districr
court:
To the Honorable Charles GrGUes, Judy
If tie district court of LION county:
We, the undersigned, appointed by
your Honor, TO investigate the menta
condition OF Mrs. II. /. Martin, respect
fully report that from q careful inyesti
| cation of the case, we are of the opinion
that her apparent insanity il feigned ant
that she is really sane.
GEo. W. Frost,
J.J. WRIGHT,
G. II. WETMORE,
l.. ID. JACOBS,
W. w. HIBBES.
The court, in pursuance of the find
ing Of the above commission, then ask
ed the prisoner If she could give an.
reason why sentence should not b
passed upon her,.,and as she assigne,
none he proceeded to address the pris
oner as follows:
Mrs. Martin, you have been tried an,
convicted Of the highest crime know
TO our law, and the evidence Statistic
the jury of your guilt and the couI
thinks the testimony warranted ihei
finding. You were zealously d.
Tended by able counsel and stil
the verdict stands against YOU
This is the first time in my il
dicial experience that woman has eve
been convicted of such a crime, an
the first time that it has ever devolve
upon me to pronounce the sentence {
death. But 1t becomes my duty to d
so in your case, sand the sentence of tn
court is:
That you, MARY Isabella Martin, b
taken to the penitentiary of the state {
Kansas. there to remain for one year {
hard labor; after which and at sue
, time as..shall be fixed by the:goYernor {
the state of Kansas, in his warrant Law
, fully issued, you shall be taken by til
warden of SAID peniteniiary, or som
! person by HIM lawfully authorized, an
within the walls OF said penitentiary, b
, hanged by the neck until you are deaf
And may the Lord have mercy on you
soul
During the pronOuncing of the sen
tence the court seemed much moved bI
the prisoner gave no evidence of sgitt
ton, and the words which cut her o
forever from the world fell upon he
cars.wiIh apparently little effect
AS no executive has ever issue
death warrant against criminal !. i
the history OF Kansas, the sentence
equivalent to that.Of imprisonment fC
life, which is light atonement for III
terrible crime of which the: prisonG
stands convicted by the most unmistal
able evidence.