The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1897-05-28
THE CHANUTE TIMES.
C.S. NATION, Editor and Prop.
FRIDAY, MAY %, 1897.
rJ1iIIie Sells.

II
~ The interview with j. j. Hurt
who was clerk of the district court
when, Sells was tried,as given in Satur-
days Tribune comes the nearest sta
ting,the sentiment of Neosho county
people of anything yet seen. The fol-
lowing is part Of the interview:
'What were your opportunities to
earn the facts?"
II was clerk of the District court
that tried the case and heard all the
evidence"
"Do you think Sells guilty."
eyes"
"What particular evidence do you
consider the most convincing?"
"Willie's false statement and the con-
ditions Of his clothing. He swore
that he had not washed his hands,
but his finger nails were clogged with
blood, the wristband of his shirt had
bloody finger prints where he had
pushed them up, the wash pan was
bloody and the towel was bloody,
showing he had washed. Someone else
could have used the pan, but no one
else washed him without his know
ledge or consent. All the blood was
not off his wrist. His shirt front was
sprayed with blood; the band Of his
drawers was sprinkled with blood.
The pants could not be found that he
wore that day."
"Were they ever found?"
IT understand the same pants were
found when the corn crib or hog pen
was moved about one year afterwards,
but this was not in evidence. His
socks were bloody, but his shoes did
not seem to be bloody. He did not go
to the nearest neighbor for help but
went three or four times further to
get help. He spoke of running man
off but no man went the direction
Willie gave. 1t was soft and muddy"
''Mr. Hurt, it is claimed that small
boy could not have done the deed"
'He was a strong, vigorous boy, |
think sixteen years old; weight 12O
pounds, used to work. l could see
nothing to hinder him, with large
Ratchet and butcher knife and four
people sleeping-a man, woman, eigh-
teen year-old boy and little girl. He
was shrewd and knew how to accom-
plish the awful crime.
eyes, l think it was premeditated
He marked passages in the Bible up
at the church pertaining to murders
of fathers and mothers just before the
murder, showing the trend of his
mind. Clay Todd has the Bible.;'
"What could have been the mo-
tive?"
"He expected to get the farm and
the girl his brother was with that |
Sunday, and have things his own
way"
"Was the case rushed through, as
reported?"
"No, sir. 1t lasted about four days. |
1 think probably forty witnesses testi-
fed. His attorneys did the best they
could. He had a tair trial.
Those fake interviews by the repre-
sentatives of the Kansas City World
are all buncombe, and most of them
are with people who know little or
nothing about the case whatever, many
Of them simply desiring notoriety.
Ninety-nine per cent of those who
heard the Sells trial thinks him guilty,
the jury thought him guilty, the judge
thought guilty, G. f. Hutchings, the
leading attorney of Neosho county at
that time after consulting with Willie
Sells, refused, from some mysterious
cause to take the case and defend him.
Sells had fair trial and was regular
ly convicted, and While petition was
signed by few people asking for his
pardon. A petition twenty-five
times as large can be secured asking
that he be hung. 1t is time for the
Kansas City World to ring off on the
Sells matter and give us something
new.