The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-02-01

AS he left he said for me TO tell the
whole truth and TO keep nothing BACK
Weeks passed on, oh, how slow, and
one day he came 10 me with that cock
and-bull story told by that crazy old
soldier, Jordan For a time this made
me feel little blue. I knew If l had
had money 1 could have sent my attor-
ney to the home and have secured sufti-
cient affiidavits to have proved the man
liar, but l could not and was forced 10
rely upon my own innocence.
About this time Dir. Helm asked me
if had no relatives. l told him had
a sister living in Illinois, but l had not
heard from her for over two years, and
| had heard that her husband had lost
everything by going security and
hated TO tell her, knowing ii could but
cause her pain. We concluded TO wait
awhile in hopes she would see il in the
papers, but when We did not hear from
her l wrote her a letter telling her all
about it, and in return received the
following:
Hayes. Ills. Jan. !, 1895.
Dear BrOther-We received a letter
from your lawyer; he said you We're
without means to make your defense.
am sorry TO say that il is impossible
for Us 10 help You, as We are entirely
broke up. We have lost our home and
all we had by going securities. We are
very sorry to hear of your trouble We
hope You are innocent; if you are not
innocent confess il out 10 God, and 10
the people and cry nightly unto God
until he forgives you your sins. God
is merciful. and He viii forgive You.
Fear not the man that kill the body,
but rather fear God who has power 10
destroy both soul and body in hell.
If you are guilty God can save you;
this life is nothing but a vapOr which
soon posseth away. So pray day and
night until God fOrgiVes you your sins.
My heart is grieved and burdened for
you on account of your situation, but
we hope you are innocent OF the crime
and viii come clear. Marion, we would
like TO hear from you, so write soon
Goodbye. From your sistes,
SARAH ]. KNAPP.
"When this letter came I showed it
TO Mr.. Helm and he said: You do
what that letter says. If you are
guilty state it, but if innocent rest as
sured I viii stand by you. and some
way will be opened up I have follow
ed the advice given in that letter clear
through, and / want TO say I am pray
ing man and 1 know God hears and
answers prayers. His hand could be
seen clear through this case.
when that old crazy soldier swOre I
had talked TO him about the murder he
was led 10 pick up a date which made
it an impossibilty. He said away up
in October, and the poll book showed 1
had registered in Wichita on October
4. He said he was glad / had told him,
and yet, if his story was true he set by
and let a crime be committed which he
could have prevented.
Il viii never forget last night Dur
ing the day I had been in the crowded
courtroom all day and when l came
back to my cell there was something
different came over me that had never
experienced. I can't say that 1 was es-
pecially uneasy. 1 felt that I had done
what l could. ] had told the truth as
far as [ knew; my attorney had pre-
Sented the case in a mastery manner;
Judge Dale had given as favorable ad-
vice TO the jury as ii was possible for
him to do, and yet I can not describe
how felt. 1t seemed as though l was
obvious TO all my surroundings, and I
was at rest, yet L could not sleep.
Il wanted morning to come and when
1t came felt as I did when a boy about
to start off on a big journey for the first
time. Just then a thought came TO me
testimony of the crazy sailor and / was
only awakened, or rather arising, to
meet my doom. 1t was a horrible feel
ing and l fell on my knees and prayed
earnestly to God that he would give me
fortftude TO stand whatever might be
the result. For the first time l was
nervous and trembled and shook as
though l had the ague
In a short time breakfast was ready
and l felt better after eating. and was
ready to go 10 the court house at any
time. When the clock struck S I felt
certain that the jury had arrived at a
verdict and ! tried to make myself he
lieve that l had been found guilty. but
l could not. L knew L was innocent |
and believed. in spite of my reasoning, |
that it would so be decided.
'At last Lee Cone came and told me
to get ready. and l tel you 1 never
obeyed an order so gladly in my life !
felt like skipping instead of walking as
1 went TO the courtroom
Finally the jury came in. and
watched them closely. and when they
said, or somebody said. they had YER /
dict l felt that l knew what II was.
Charley Luling began reading the |
verdict and there was a peculiar. sensa- |
ton almost ike l had touched a gal |
Vanic battery went through me- For |
a moment my heart came up in my
throat My eyes filled with tears. my
knees trembled, the chairs and Judge
Dale began swimming about the room. /
l was perpleXed. I wanted to catch each !
WORD, my shoulders leaned forward as
Though the lump in my throat had left |
a vacancy in my chest, and 10 save my |
life l could not hear a word
Il realized that there was a buzz Of !
some kind and 1 was sorry l had the |
rush Of blood 10 my head at the time |
and / turned and asked Lee Cone what |
il was. He told me and then the tears !
began rolling down my cheeks. l un- /
derstood all but il was different 10 any /
thing l had ever experienced.
please bring Eagles having every |
thing in about the trial. ] want 70 keep !
them and don't forget 10 bring me back |
my sisters letter. on how I would !
like 70 have seen her today when she |
received the dispatch sent 10 her by Mr. |
Helm. ! can not express my gratitude /.
- my friends who have stood bv me-. .
! feel as though I loved everybody. but !
the guilty person who has caused me 4
such suffering shah be brought 10 ius- /
tce. Murder viii out, and this case I
VIII be no exception"
The reporter then went 70 the cell Of
Mrs. Leonard, hut she was on the bed .
crying as though her heart would I
break. She sent word 70 Sheriff Cone F.
not 10 release Williamson until saa /
could have q chance 10 talk % William
son.
OrvIlle. t'la hoy. has been changed /
from the rotary n better quarters and 4
when asked T ne mad anything u say.
said: NO, chis = two trials and no .
conviction. \ hung jury Is better than .