Wichita eagle., 1886-11-27
IN THE DISTRICT COURT.
Hard Labor in the Kansas State Peni-
Tertiary for Forty Years
Is the Sentence Received by John Mckinney,
tho Valley Center hurdere-.-Thc Mead
Divorce Case.

Divorce Case.
After the disposition of some routine bust
ness the case OF John Mckinney, the colored
man who so foully and brutally murdered
his father-in-law, Munroe Clark, a short time
ago at Valley Centre, was taken up A mo-
ton to quash the Indictment was made by
his attorney, Mr. Comfy, but was overruied.
motion was then entered for change Of
venue, but this too was overruled. A con-
sultatiop was had between his attorney and
the prosecutor, and it was agreed that
the prisoner should withdraw his
plea OF not guilty and enter the plea
of guilty. AT the converting of the after
noon session Mckinney was brought before
the Judges bench, and the indictment read.
He plead guilty, and asked that the judge
would read some letters received from his
wife begging him to return to her. His
honor glanced at them and said that he
already had an understanding of the case
and asked Mckinney to stand up
'You have been prosecuted for murder in
the fiIst degree, but upon arraignment you
have pleaded guilty to murder in the second
degree. Have you anything to saya'
Mckinney hesitated for a moment and in
a low voice said he did not consider it of any
use for him to say anything. Mr.. Comfy
then at his clients request stated that he had
nothing special to say, Except that he
wished to call the attention of the court to
the fact that this mans trouble was brought
upon him by the Andeavor Of the man whom
he murdered 20 separate him from his wife.
At the time Of the killing he was so agitated
and excited rs to be unconscious Of what he
really was doing
Prosecutor Balder jton then arose, referred
to the crime and called for a sentence.
The prisoner was asked to stand up and
receive sentence, which Judge Wall pro-
nounced in the following words:
This was one of the mos. brutal and IN
Sedgwick county. The defendant was ar
raigned for murder in the first degree and
pleaded guilty to murder in the
second degree. For thefirst degree, as I'M
1erstand the law, the punishment is death;
yet it is not at present executed but impris-
onment for life substituted; for
the second degree confinement in the
for not less than ten years. -
You have been represented by counsel "a
enjoyed all the privileges that law allows.
You have not be assigned young and mex
member of the bar, but one who
las had experience in criminal cases. You
nave committed heinous crime, and it is
low the duty of the court to pass sentence,
Ind the punishment of the law be inflicted.
t is the sentence Of the court that you be
aiken to the county Jail, from there to the state
and be kept in close confinement
md at hard labor for period of forty years.
Several unsuccessful attempts were made to
'elease the prisoner; it is a good thing for
we're unsuccessful.
There is no state in the union where crime
S so certain of punishment as in Kansas. |
The jury always finds a guilty man guilty.
In e case Of this kind the passions are
TIRED and aroused. The deceased was re-
pected member OF the community and his |
lie was brutally taken without provocation |
This man MUST now answer for the crime |
nd his blood be u1on no ones hands"
Mckinney received his sentence |
With tears in his eyes He was
Immediately taken in charge by the sheriff
nd remanded to the Jail.
The HEAD divorce case which was ccm-1
nenced in the forenoon, was then resumed. |
irs. Mead, who was upon the stand before |
djournment for noon, gave testimony as to
he adultery and cruelty of her husband.
fr. Mead was first called in the afternoon.
ie lives in Eaton township, Sumner county;
vas married to the plaintiff in 1865, lived
n a 12xl4 house on his farm; his wife, two
hildren, hired girl and himself all
lept il this room; denied in toto
be charges of adultery aud cruelty
The daughter, now Mrs. Dobson, was put
pom the stand and testified to going with
er mother to Topeka; to her mother giving
firth there to a child: having number of
entlemen visitors; her mothers relations
nth Frank Strong, and denied the charges
rought against her by her mother
The son Charles, was next called He gave
estimony as to the actions of his mother and
he way in which she treated his father
The sheriff of Sumner county testified to
rresting Strong on the charge of adultery.
Samuel Bronfnk, Jesse Hall. and James
Iall all gave damaging testimony against
Irs. Mead.
Mr.. knobloch and Christopher Beard, Of
lie City hotel testified to Mrs. Meals con-
uct while stopping at that hotel.
Mrs Mead was recalled and denied tie
nth OF the statements made by Broonfnks
4 / the two Halls
The testimony being all in. the Judge said
4 account of the preponderence Of the evi-
ence in favor OF the husband he would be
-anted divorce, but that the amount Of
imouy, if any AZ all would be granted
ould be fixed upon further consideration
the case.