The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-02
THE ADAMS AND COUCH TRAGEDY

OKLAHOMA CITY, Ok, March 80, '91.
To the Editor of the Eagle.
In Sundays EAGLE | was pleased with
your comment upon the address of j. c.
Adams, before sentence was passed.
Nearly every one who read your article
expressed qualification of the fair and
favorable comment. The truth of the
matter is, no honest fair-minded person,
who has been here, questions the integ-
rity of any part of Adams address, none
except those he referred to as the old
Seminole Town company, and their pur-
chased allies, who from the most sinister
motives and purposes Joined issue with
them, think the verdict anything less
than an outrage, and express their
establishment, at the verdict, the charge
to the jury as repotred to us, and the re-
marks of the court in overruling the
motion for new trial.
Adams, as he admits, was in the terri
tory before the opening day, bat that he
went out and came in, as he persistently
says, on the legal hour and day. To say
the least, he makes a better showing of
integrity and correctness, than either of
those contending for the land in controv-
ersy. That a conspiracy existed and
still exists, its object being to terrorise,
and thus compel Adams to accede to
their terms and conditions, cannot be
denied, nor is it questioned by truthful
citizens of this place, that the very act of
W. l.. Couch, which resulted in the I'M
fortunate tragedy, was part and parcel
of the plan of the conspirators, whereby
it was intended and expected to drive
Adams to terms, thus the unfortunate
W. L. Couch was caused to do, what
otherwise he would not have done.
What you say of Adams, not possessing
above medium talent, is certainly true
1t is also true, his temperament is such as
should commend him to pity, and not
an exacting spirit of vindictive feeling
from any source, viewing his case in
fairness and truth, to very great
extent the same can and should
be said Of the victim of the unfortunate
tragedy, W. l.. Couch, for he did not
possess more than an equal degree of
natural talent with Adams, while great
ly inferior in point of acquired Informal
ton and education The writer of this
would not detract a scintilla from his
merits. All know full well who were
acquainted with him he was unfortunate
in his temperament, impetuous and un-
guarded, and of such a nature that evil
minded, designing men could tiatter and
manipulate to the extent of causing him
to believe he was almost superhuman,
and could accomplish anything he under
took, and right here let it be said it was
and is this class of men, who, from
sinister designs, motives of greedy gain,
caused the poor unfortunate Couch to
venture upon the rash and utterly I'M
justifiable work that resulted in his I'M
timely death. Couch was an uneducated
man, who had spent much of his time
with men of wild, adventurous habits.
should have been influenced by those of
his associates here who had enjoyed bet
ter advantages against rash and super
tiuous display, but they did not. All
during the latter part of April. Nav and
June, 1899, while going over the city as
mayor, W. L. Couch could be seen with
revolvers strapped around bin, when, if
his advisers and associates had done their
duty by the poor unfortunate man, in
stead of encouraging such foolish, absurd
display, they would have caused him to
abandon it. Well may it be said and
will be supported by the best citizens of
Oklahoma City, that the death of W. L.
Couch and the consequent trouble of j.
{. Adams is to greater degree charge
able to the conspirators referred TO by
Adams, than to anything else.
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