The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-12-18
HIS CHILD DID II
STRONG SPEECH OF JUDGE HARRIS
AT PERRY, O. T.


Sewers, when Given Privilege to Speak, De-
clares that He has Always Tried to Care
for His ChiIdren-The Judge Replies
that whep the Testimony OF q Child
Sends a Father to the Penitentiary there
is Something Wrong with its Training
Sentenced for Nine Years-6eneral
News of Oklahoma.
Guthrie, o. T, Dec. 17.-At Perry
when court convened yesterday morn
ing the attorneys for James C. Sewers
presented a motion for a new trial, and
Judge Harris argued the question at
some length. citing several cases where
in II had bene held that the grounds on
which he asked a. new trial were sus-
tanned and motions for a new trial
granted He also, among ether rea-
sons, asked new trial on the grounds
that the Indictment was improperly
drawn, and the Improper examination
prosecuting attorney.
which the defense applied for new
trial, the court overruled the motion.
a notion for an arrest of judgment
was also overruled. exceptions being
taken and allowed. Sewers was then
asked 10 stand up, and if he had any
thing to say why judgment of the court
should not be pronounced upon him.
The defendant arose, advanced a step
or two and in low but distinct voice
said: "I am innocent: I know I am.
I nave always tried to care for my
children"
In passing sentence the court among
other things said: lone of the same lit
tie girls wrom you say you tried to de-
fend was one of the witnesses against
you. and by her testimony you will be
landed in the penftentiary. When a
child comes upon the witness stand and
so testifies as to so land her father in
the penstentiary, there is something
deplorably wrong in the raising OF that
child The court believes you have had
a fair trial and will sentence you TO
nine years in the Kansas penitentiary at
Lansing" Sewers appeared unmoved
and by mis- demeanor indicated that
the sentence by the court was not unex-
peoted.
His attorneys gave notice Of an ap-
peal to the supreme court. Court fixed
the defendants bond at $4,000 and al
lowed ten days to procure bond, and
ninety days for the attorneys to pre-
pare the case for the supreme court
WEE ADKINS VERDICT.
At Oklahoma City the Wee" Adkins
jury returned verdict Sunday at noon
of guilty with the penalty fixed at i'm
prisonment for life. The jury retired
~ a n; 81 ~
Wednesday afternoon and remained
out until Sunday noon, a period Of al
most four days.
When the verdict was read no change
in the countenance or demeanor Of Ad-
kins could be noticed. He has shown
utter Indifference from the time OF his
arrest up to the present moment. al
though he is a negro of some inteli-
gence His attorneys were present and
gave notice that they would argue for
a new trial.
The case was vigorously fought both
for the territory and the defendant.
and everything was done TO save the
negro that attorneys could do, while
every scrap Of evidence that tended to
convict was laid before the jury.
The crime for which Adkins stands
convicted is the murder of Mrs. Mitch
ell, near her home in Chactaw township
in July last. She was murdered about
8 O'Clock in the evening while return
ing home from Van Winters about a
half mile distant She was killed by a
blow from a bludgeon, and the testi-
mony of the examining physicians was
that She had not been ravished.
Adkins was working in a clearing
near the spot where the murder occurr-
ed, and was in plain view OF more than
q 1877 .,I, Nf--c f1e1l
travelled. He had had trouble with
Mitchell and said that he would get
even with him. He had also expressed
! to another person a desire 10 raviSh
! Mrs. Mitchell. He testified in his own
/ behalf that he had not seen Mrs. Mitch
/ ell pass along the road, and denied any
> knowledge whatever of the murder I'M
/ I'll informed of ii the following day.
! Cunningham. VINO went to the Mitchell
! home about O'Clock on the day Of the
tragedy, swore that he saw a man and
| woman coming down the slope in the
vicinity of the murder, and that the
woman was taller than the man, which
was in defendants favor. as he is nine
/ inches taller than Mrs. Mitchell Cum
ningham also swore that on the follow
/ ing morning he saw tracks in the sand
made by a No. S shoe. while Adkins
wore a peculiarly run over No. II. In
: such case the defense has the advan-
! tage in the trial because the prosecution
must formulate a theory and estab-
! lish its correctness by evidence, while
( the best defense is a general denial.
II will be an exceptional case if new
/ evidence does not com TO light soon
/ either TO confirm or discredit the theory
/ OF the prosecution.
! REDDICK IS ASSAULTED.
At Oklahoma City Saturday night
/ while standing at the bar Of the Grand
! Avenue saloon. Judge Reddick was as
! saulted by man who walked up be-
( hind him and struck him a hard blow
I over the head with a stove poker. but che
aim was bad and the instrument glanc-
/ ed doing little injury.
/ The assaulting party aimed another
/ blow at the bartender. but missed him
and struck the bar blow that made
an indenta Dion half inch deep.
The assaulting party was quickly
! taken in charge and proved 70 be A. 3.
! Matthew's OF Ardmore. grain buyer
who sta nds well at home. The man
was crazed by drink. He had never
met Judge Reddick before and could
have had no motive in the assault.
Mathews formerly lived in GAINESVILLE
and many people here knew him well