Wichita eagle., 1886-11-19
THE FIRST IN YEARS.
4 Judicial Hanging in the State Of
Kansas.

From the Commonwealth.
Yesterday Deputy United States Mar
shall George Sharritt departed for Wichita,
where he goes to prepare for an event
which will be somewhat of an anomaly Ill
Kansas-a judicial hanging.
On the second day Of February next
two murderers will be hung at the city OF
Wichita, and the object Of Mr. Sharnlts
visit there is to put up a st0ckade to keep
out the crowd.
1t is understood that prominent Wichita
real estate spectators made determined
hut unsuccessful effort to have the hang
ing made a public affair. This was done
with the anticipation that perhaps few
people might be attracted to that town on
the strength Of being able to witness an al
fair Of this kind.
But the United Slater officials were deaf
to all entreaties and refused to hear any
idea other than to make the hanging IA mere
private affair. The Wichita people were
sore displeased at the action OF the of!
Gals. as they recognized the fact that 1t
would be quite boom to have pubic
hanging bee in their midst.
THEIR CRIME.
The following is history of the occur
3
hung: John Washington and Simmons,
two Seminole Indians, aged 81
and % wears respectively, crossed over
into the Pouawotonie nation in the Indian
| Territory and came to the house Of james
Bartlett a cattlcman, who was away AT the
time. There was no one at home except his
wife. She az the time was pregnant
several months The first intmauOn
Z IL. Ill. l.,I - ha "a
/ two men was when they entered
| the door and began TO make motions
and speak to her in Indian. She supposed,
! from their threatening attitude, that they
were going to murder her and started 10
run. She was seized by Washington and
! Simmons got on the outside Of the house
and pulled the door to, holding 1t and
standing guard She finally comprehended
the base design Of the savage and made a
terrific struggle to make her escape. Wash
ington finally called in Simmons to assist
him to overpower her. The two brute>
finally overcame her and accomplished
their hellish designs.
As soon as she reganed her conscious
ness she left her house to seek her nearest
neirhbor. three miles distant.
Being crazed with fright and shame she
lOSL ntT WY, anu WIS ltuiu hdh'4ol 'i' :
over the praire by a stage driver carrying
tn. Unite States mail.
He took her into his conveyance anC
carried her to place Of refuge. where she
related her revolving experience, Pursuit
was then Instituted and the two brute,
were captured the next day in the Seminole
nation They were tried al 4 recent tern
of the United States court at Wichita auG
convicted Of the cline OF rape. the jury
being out only 4 few minutes, As the evi
dence was of the strongest character.
John Washington il seems was DIES
perate character, having served "A term III
the peuitcntiary, and having beer
convicted twice under the laws Ot
the Semiuoles for the crime Of rape com
mitted in the Seminole nation. His las
sentence was eighty lashes upon his bare
back. to be delivered by the strongest maj
Of the Seminole police force He was tiet
to stake and the sentence Of the court in
fiji cted.
This is a notable case. in this, that it i
the first sentence Of death ever passed hy
the United States district court of Kansas
Ii viii be the first Judicial han sing in Kan
s4s since the passage Of the very un-atls
fsctory law that is now on the statute book
which practically does away with capita
punishment