Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1897-10-24

ana was T0UOveQ 10 Ja1l.f M Il
A janitcr wiped the blood from the
floor and sprinkled sawfdust over the
dark stains. VIM, MORALLY wounded,
but vowing vengeance against Reed,
was carried to the residence of friend.
Within half an hour after the shooting
Judge Herndon ordered the attorneys
to proceed with the trial, and Cross
resumed his argument. at the point
where he had been interrupted by
Wfnn With the plaintiff dying and the
defendant in Jail for murder, the hog
case went to the jury and verdict for
the defendant was returned.
VI
Winn never lived to know that he
had lost the case after having won it
twice. All that medical skill could
do was done. An eminent specialist,
summoned by telegraph, came from
Kansas City to his bedside and per-
formed number of difficult opera
tions. They were useless. The large
| bullet had cut the entrails into fifty
pieces. On the following morning
Winn died. His body was taken to
Plattsburg and buried in the family
lot. The funeral was attended by
thousands, and no citizen of the coun-
ty was more regretted than Newt.
VIM.
Reed was confined in the Jail at
Platte City, but it was feared that an
attempt would be made to lynch him,
and he was taken to Kansas City for
safe keeping. There his lawyers be-
gan habeas corpus proceedings before
Judge Henry to compel the authorities
to release Reed on bond. Judge Hen
ry refused to admit him on bond
Two weeks later similar proceedings
were brought before Judge Wofford,
but were likewise unsuccessful. By
this time the excitement at Platte City
had subsidized and Reed was brought
back to the Platte county Jail.
VII.
At the April term of court 1896.
Reed was brought to trial on charge
OF murder in the first degree Judge
Herndon was witness in the case, and
SO Judge Rucker presided. Over three
hundred witnesses testified and the
trial lasted ten days. Never before had
such number of eminent lawyers ap-
peared in the trial of a case in the
county. Francis M. Wilson, who had
been one of Reeds attorneys, when the
killing occurred, and who was an eye
witness to the murder, was forced by
being Prosecuting Attorney of Platte
county, to lead the prosecution against
his former client. He was assisted by
his father, Hon. r. p C. Wilson. mem
Der of Congress; NJ. B. Riley and J. w.
Coburn. For Reed appeared Ras Hall,
A. D. Burnes, Roland Hughes. of Kan
sas City, and Judge Thomas Porter. of
st. Joseph. Reed set up two pleas
defense of his attorney and self-defense.
After considering Il hours. the Jury
returned verdict of guilty of slurder
in the second degree and fixed the pun
1shment at SO years in the penitentiary.
But Reed was still game His attor-
neys applied for bail pending an aD-
peal tC the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Judge Rucker refused to accept bail.
The application was then made to the
supreme Court on a writ of habeas
corpus, and after hearing lengthy ar
gument the court admitted Reed to bail
in the sum of S22,500 Reed personally
assured the court that he would make
no attempt to escape. He was out On
bond until January, 1897, when the
Supreme Court affirmed the judgment
of the lower court. At this time Reed
was in Kansas City. One of his law
yers telegraphed him the decision of
the Supreme Court. The next morning
a fine-looking man, pale, but determin-
ed, presented himself to the warden of
the penitentiary at Jefferson City.
Il have come to surrender myself
he told that astonished official
'Who are your" he asked.
Il am Wat Reed, and / have come to
serve my sentence"
Explanations followed, and Reeds
career as a convict began that day.
Within an hour after receiving the mes
sage from his attorney he had taken
train for Jefferson City and boldly
entered the portals of a prison, where
he knew he was to spend the remainder
of his days.
But his servitude was to be shorter
than he dreamed. From the day he
surrendered Wat Reeds health began
to fail. His powerful physique seemed
to waste away and the physicians were
powerless. He was apparently indif-
ferent whether he lived or died. In
lt W lHdl1y vi Ills lIlSluS tIlCuSuC UDdC
he welcomed death. He had not long
to wait In just four weeks from the
day he voluntarily entered the gate Of
the big prison he was carried through
that very gate in a coffin. The body
was taken to Clinton county and
buried in the same cemetery that held
all that was mortal of Newt. VIM.
And the men who were such warm
friends and bitter enemies in life now
slept within few yards of each
other
VII
The case Of Winn VS.. Reed still
grinds along in the courts. The YER
dict in favor of Reed, found an hour
after the murder of Winn. was set
aside by Judge Herndon. The court
gave as its reason misconduct on the
part of John Cross, Reeds attorney.
ms necessitated new trial. Reeds
attorneys appealed from this order of
the court, and this appeal is now pend
Ing In the Kansas City Court of APP
peals. AS both plaintiff and defend
ant are dead, the cause is being car
ried on by administrators
The original issue has long been lost
sight of. Both sides would be glad to
let the case drop did not such action