Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-11-21
Donnelly to Hang.

Prosecuting Attorney j. G. Trimbb
received a telegram Tuesday evenig
stating that the Supreme Court hd
affirmed the decision of the Audrsn
County Circuit Court against pc
Donnelly for the murder of Sam ar
ner in July, 1898, and had fixed Ties-
day, December 81, as the day. his
execution. The crime of whichDon-
nelly was convicted is in brief, s fol-
lows:
About II O'Clock on the right OF
July IS, 1898, Joe Donnelly afd VIII
liam Mckinney, both of thisaty, and
Sam Turner, a wood chopper from
Thompson Station, walked east on the
railroad tracks. Turner vas under
the influence of liquor at the time and
from the evidence given byMcKinney,
who turned States evidence after his
arrest, Donnelly asked Turner several
times if he had any money, to which
Turner sometimes answered "yes,h
and sometimes "no.s When neal
Pollock's mill Donnelly picked up a
rock and struck Turner on the head
behind the right ear. He fell and
Donneny reached into hIspockets and
took lis money. Then Mckinney
suggested that they pour some water
on Turner, but Donnelly said he was
not seriously hurt and 80 they left
him. A few hours later two colored
boys, Charlie and WI Burks, who
were stealing a ride4Bowling Green,
saw the body andfbming to town
notified the authorities, who imme-
diately went out and brought Turner
to the City Hall, where he died In a
few hours.
Donnelly and Mckinney we're both
arrested the folbwing morning, and as
stated above, Mckinney turned States
evidence, his story being the same
as the above sccount. Both we're tried
in January, 1894, and Mckinney was
acquitted, while the jury stood seven
for conviction and five for acquittal
in Donnely's ase The next trial
took place in Sept, 1894, and the jury
this time found Donnelly guilty OF
murder IN the first degree. The case
was then carried to the Supreme
Court with the above result. Prose-
cutting Attorney James G.. Trimble
vas assisted by R. D. Rodgers in the
prosecution and Edmonston and Gull
len were the attorneys for the de-
PENDANT.
When told that he would be hanged,
yesterday evening, Donnelly said
nothing and fatty refused to e any
newspaper representatives, saying
that he had nothing to say to them
The date fixed for the hanging is q
peculiar one, as nearly all executions
in this State have heretofore taken
place on Friday. If Donnelly is hang
ed the gallows will be erected in the
Jail yard and only a few persons, in
vited by the Sheriff, will be allowed
to witness the execution. The last
hanging which took place in Mexico
was that of two colored men for muir
der on April 16, 1880, and the gallowf
we're erected near the G. & A. rail-
road pond southeast of the city.
seen by q LEDGER reporter
this morning Messrs. Edf1olston and
Cullen said they would not make any
statement in regard to the decision OF
the Supreme Court until they had re-
ceived the opinions, but that in ali
probability q petition would be cir
culated, asking the Governor to par
don Donnelly.
Donnelly's attorneys this afternoon
informed a LEDGER reporter that q
motion for a ~rehearing would be filed
as soon as possible. This would al
least defer the date Of the execution
and might result in a different decis-
ion from the Supreme Court.
THE JURY THAT CONVICTED poNNELLy.
Donnelly was convicted at the Sep.
TENDER term, 1894, OF the Circuit
Court by a jury composed of the fol-
lowing citizens of Audrain county:
R. A. Lake, A. L. Smith, James Hen.
derson, J. T. Beatty, W. T. Asberry
John Hickerson, W. H. Blythe, A. B
smock, George Bartee, Brack Gentry