The Wichita daily eagle., 1897-12-14
HAS NOT A REGRET
STORY OF REMARKABLE W0NAE'S
REMARKABLE DEED.

| arc ut Least Two Opinions, One OF
which . DiabolicaiIy wronKcd Girl
Holds as Against the Law, Even thosEh'
Possibly, Not Against the Essential
Humansness Of Humanity ut Large-A
Master Tragedy in Homespun.
Waverly, Iowa, Dec. 13.-Saturday,
when Deliiah Fails was sentenced 70
twenty years in the penitentiary at
hard labor, attendants piled the girl
with stimulants to keep her from swoon-
ing. Her sobs echoed through the court
room and were taken up by the specta-
tors.
TIE face Of Delilah Fails wore a hue
of aslen palor as she faced Judge Clyde
to receive her sentence. The eyes that
had burned with revengeful triumph on
that eventful August morning, as with
smoking pistol in hand she glowered at
the PROSTATE form of her life's tor
mentor, were redeemed and dimmed
with prolonged weeping. At her right
side sat her attorney; at her left the
sheriff's dark-eyed daughter whispering
words of comfort and consolation.
Death-like stiffness reigned within the
courtroom as in scarcely audible voice
Judge Clyde reviewed tine status Of the
case and asked the defendant If there
was any legal cause why judgment
should not De pronounced upon her.
PLEA OF CLEMENCY.
In response Attorney Smailey arose
ard made brief but eloquent plea for
tis clients lack Of early training, and
pleaded most earnestly that this life
which had known so little sunshine,
should not now be consigned to the
blackness Of despair with no ray Of
hope to cheer f1er dreary pathway. He
asked that the minimum sentence be
given her-ten year< Imprisonment.
She is not % years Of age. For ten
years she had heroically suffered that
which was worse than imprisonment.
the tormerlts of the brutal and design
ing man, who, by Gods help as in her
ignorance she believed. she had finally
slain.
Again the faltering voice Of the judge
was heard. He said that he had care
fully studied Miss Fails confession and
the evidence before the grand jury and
spoke at some length, concluding with
sentencing her to the penitentiary for
the term of twenty years.
A murmur arose from thu spectators.
which was quickly stilled by the sheriff.
II was evident that the sentence was a
heavier one than was expected. The
broken woman listened to the sentence
with bowed head, and as she was led
from the courtroom sobbed piteously.
No sooner had she gone than deputy
appeared with young William Kern,
who seemed as little disturbed as ever,
and slouched into his chair with an air
betokening indifference. He was quite
the coolest man in the courtroom. His
cause was pleaded not less eloquently
than that of mis- sweetheart by a. NJ.
Potter, his attorney, and at the conclu-
sion OF a stroug appeal, in which it was
urged ahat the young man, reared I'm
ignorance fourteen years, was lacking in
moral responsibility; that he was mere
boy, and had not the moral stamina to
hold out against the wiles of the
woman who had made him her dupe.
How old are .you?" Judge Clyde
asked the young man when counsel mad
concluded. ,.-ss-
Seventeen the 10th OF August last"
''Are you well and strong?"
eyes, Sir"
rs there any statement that you de-
sire to make?"
Kern twisted uneasily in mis- chair and |
that
1.-THE judgment Of the court in your |
case" said the Judge, els that you are |
sentenced to the penitentiary for twelve |
ears at hard labor"
KEN received his sentence without |
changing expression, and as he passed |
out OF the courtroom he burst into a |
laugh at a remark made by !
mis- escort.
HOPED FOR A LIGHTER.
Miss Fails was in a more cheerful |
mood this afternoon than she mas been |
for several days, and received numerous |
neighbors who called TO see her. she |
does not complain OF the severity OF !
the sentence. though she had hoped 1t |
might be lighter. Sheriff Parrot will /
convey the prisoners to Anamosa tomor-
row night.
the murder" said her attorney.
was justified at the hands OF the girl |
Kern had ruined and waDse hopes he
bad hiighted.''
The woman and the man confessed
before sentence was passed upon them
81 killed him with premeditation and !
ieiiberation. 1 prayed to God 10 give |
me strength to do it with all the earn \
sstness that could command.
'T have suffered no pangs Of con-
science.
az never slept so we'll as I did the
night after fired the fatal shots
WRATH OF WOMAN.
o< hi