Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-11-08
"NOt Guilty"

| jury room a verdict of mot guilty.
was handed in at 1l:25 p. m. Saturday,
setting free William and Gideon
Thompson.
In the summer of 1856 the Thomp.
SONS were arrested with other parties,
charged with the murder of James B.
McQuinn, and were acquitted at the
preliminary examination. Some time
afterward Depew was arrested for kill
ing cattle and was afterward sent up
to Lansing for burning the Jail here.
During the past year it became known
that while Depew was serving his SEN
tence he told of the murder of Nc.
Quinn. claiming that the Thompsons
did the deed and that he (Depow) was
an eye witness. Upon this new dis
covery the Thompson's were again ar
rested last spring and have been await
ing their trial ever since.
The state undertook to prove by its
witnesses that McQuinn had money
with him when he was in this country
in the spring of 1886, and that up to
the time of his disappearance in April
he was intimate with the Thompson's.
Some time afterward he was missed
from the community body was found
in Ford county answering the descrip-
ton of McQuinn, concealed In a small
Tavine and covered with weeds. 1t was
buried after an inquest had been held,
but was taken up for Identification in
July, too late to be recognizable. Sus.
picion was attached to the ThOmpsons
shortly after the disappearance and
the premises were searched, revealing
two blankets that had apparently blood
stains, and a bed railing containing
two bullet holes. Connecting these
and other circumstances the state en-
tered into the prosecution, intending
to weave chain of circumstantlal evil
dence that would convict the ThOmp-
sons of murder Ill the first degree. The
witnesses for the state consumed all
the time up to Wednesday night, when
the prosecution rested its case. Incl
dental facts relative to McQulnu
coming to this county, his relations
while here and the sudden disappear
ance were brought out and enlarged
upon, any attempt at the detailing OF
which would consume more space than
we have to spare.
The skeleton Of the man found in
Ford county and the clothes that were
on his person were produced in court to
add to the strength of the states case
and witnesses were brought to prove
the Identification Of the body.
The defense began its examination
Thursday morning and continued il
until noon Friday. The advantage was
all on that side as dispelling circum
stantial evidence is much easier &C
complished in the minds of jury than
proving it. Whatever may be believed
as to the guilt of the accused, it re-
quires proof and evidence that places
it beyond question or a doubt before
they can be convicted of murder in the
first degree. The arguments Of the at
torneys continued until Saturday after
| "
went to the jury.
4ATqOng the witnesses who were moi
examined was w. r. Knisely, mining
boss of the section in which DepeW
whose testimony would have had more
circumstantial evidence than any 9th
er witness. He told the story to us a:
Depew told in his confession. and it i;
by far the most interesting Of all
MIR. Knisely says that it is genera
among some prisoners to relate the
dark deeds Of which they have knowl
edge and that he had heard from time
to time that Depew could tale of muir
der unfold. One day he spoke of 1t t.
Depew after hearing that the latte
was planning to Kill him, whereupol
Depew told the story. He had been of
tered two hundred dollars, he said, tt
do the job, but had refused. He sai(
that on the day previous to McQuinn'
killing that the latter had ridden hi
sorrel pony to Lake City and that b.
had returned to his own ranch; that th,
Thompsons had enticed him oyer in tn
evening to play game Of cards; tina
when he arrived he dIsmOunted ant
that William Thompson struck him il
the head; that the body was carried in
side and upon showing signs of return
ing consciousness was shot; that he wa
de posted in secluded place on Coop
er's ranch that night and taken after
ward to Ford county on a trip whicl
was made ostenslbly for the purpose o
visiting a claim in Clark county. H
also said that before removing the bod
the clothes were changed. In the evi
dence the details corresponds almos
exactly with Depew's story, says MI
Knisely, to say the least.
, The prosecution was unfortunate i
not having sufficient material evidenc
to elpcidate the mystery surroundin
, McQuinn's disappearance, and there
no reason to question in any name
the judgment of the twelve men VIII
composed the jury. After the verdiC
was in the Thompsons were llberate
and stepped forth as tree men. The
started Monday for Colorado in
wagon. Upon recommendation of th
county attorney Depew was discharge
Monday morning, and he departed tn
same day for his Arkansas home
Thus ended the great murder tria
3 upon the result of which hung III