Kansas City daily journal., 1897-01-31
TWO MEN HANGED.
Continued From First Page.

vented from coming on account of sick
ness.
At $40 the march to the scaffoId was
commenced. Inks leaned upon the arm of
Rev. J. H. Keplinser. his spiritual adviser,
and the sheriff and deputies followed. Be
fore leaving the jail Inks kissed the baby
of Sheriff Edwards. After this he wept, but
only for moment. This was the only Vis-
ible sign of emotion evinced by the pris-
oner. On the line of march, Inks shook
hands with u number of acquaintances ana
told them he was going home.
When the doomed man had mounted the
scaffold, which he did with firm step, he
read a few verses of Scripture and then
implored the sheriff to promise him that,
after the execution, he would repent and
lead a better life. 4 pathetic scene was
enacted when Inks kneeled down in front
of the sheriff and pressed his appeal fer
vently. Inks arms and legs We're shackled
by Deputy Sheriff Frank Graham and City
Marshal James NJ. Wickersham. While this
was being done, the murderer said: Il am
going home now" EX-Sheriff John Lincoln
gave Sheriff Edwards a signal and that Of
ticer sprang the trap so suddenly that the
forty-three spectators scarcely realized
what was going on.
Undertaken Denny took charge of the re-
mains and ID. y. Young conveyed them
TO Mound City, where they will be buried
Monday forenoon.
murdered by Inks, arrived at the Sallows
after the man was dead. He said he was
satisfied now, and could say nothing more
State Senator KenniSh, VINO defended Inks
and two of the murderer's children arrived
from Mound City an hour after the execu-
tion. Kennisn was a little wroth because
the hanging took place at such an early
hour.
James B. Inks shot and killed John Pat
terson on the streets of Mound City, Mo,
May 10, 1895. He was arrested and brought
to oregon. where his preliminary trial was
held May 20, before Squire William kauch-
er. He waived examination and was bound
at the following August term of the cir
cut court, at which time an Indictment
fornmurder was returned. Attorneys asked
fora continuance to the January term, but
the court overruled the molten and set the
trial for October Is, special term.
Inks defense was that Patterson had in
that the real cause was that Patterson
had dispossessed him of some property that
ne had rented to him. After a trial of four
days duration, the jury returned a verdict
OF murder in the first degree.
The attorneys for the defense. Knowles,
hennish and Kelly. Immediately filed mo-
by Judge Cyrus a. Anthony, who sem
fenced him to be hanged January D. 1886
His attorneys then filed an affidavit for ap-
peal to the supreme court. The supreme
cision of the lower court and set the execu-
ton for December 80, 1896. a petition was
then circulated by his attorneys, which
was numerously signed. and sent to Gov
ernor Stone, asking for executive clemen-
cy, and that his sentence be commuted to
life, imprisonment. The governor refused
to interfere, but respited him to January
so. 1887.
The murderer comes from one of the old
est families in Holt county. His father,
William Inks, came to Holt county from
st. Louis in 1S49. where he was engaged
for several years in the milling business.
and 1t was here, on the 2Sth day of Decem-
ber. 1SS2, that James Inks was born. In
1874, at the age of p, he went to California,
returning to this state in 1875. He was
married on September II. 1876, to Miss Liz
zie GroeSbeck, four children being the re-
suit of the union-three girls and one son.
While a resident of Mound City he was
engaged as follows: Three years, saloon
keeper; four years under William Mccoy
as assistant surveyor; five years, city mar
shall of Mound City, after which he was
engaged in buying stock for a commission
firm there until the time of the tragedy.