The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-10

meant the release and restoration 10 /
civil rights Of woman charged VIM /
tried and convicted Of the Wanton.
motiyeless murder Of a husband ana
wife. and tie attempted murder oil the'r
children. II meant even more, Tor the
victims OF the deadly drug administered
IN the food prepared for the evening
meal had taken In the murderess. thus
carrying cut the command OF the "a
yior 10 shelter those In need.
The Jury OF Cook county business
men who passed upon the guilt OF the
accused woman decided that the re-
naming years must be passed WITHIN
prison walls in order that justice might
be satisfied. After six years penal
seryitude the then governor OF the
state. John p. Altgeld. taking into con
slderation the birth within the prison
Of a daughter TO the convict and the
falling health Of the mother. commute
Cd the life sentence 20 tern Of twelve
years. Under the Communication Law OF
the state this would release her by ac-
ton OF Law In something over seven
years from the date Of admission 20
the prison By direction OF the pres
ent governor OF the state. John Z. Tan
ner. she was discharged a free woman
/ only a few days ago. but for the fact
that few iuries could be induced 10
assess the death penalty on a woman.
I there IL little reason 20 doubt that she
would have been 80 condemned and
possibly executed a trihe more than
seven years ago.
The crime o. which Mamie Starr was
convicted was slngularly revolving
Not a full day had passed from the
moment she was received under the
shelter Of the roof Of F. W Newland
al 623s Wabash avenue when her res
cuer and protector. Mrs. Belle New
Land. her husband. son Frank. and
daughter Grace. all the family. were
writing In the agonies Of death caused
hy the poison placed In the food the
new-found servant had cooked for sup
per when the fateful April 5. 1890
dawned the Newland family was not
aware Of the existence OF Mamie Starr
When the morning sun % April rose
from the bosom % the lake. the spirits
Of the father and mother had fed and
the devoted children we're lying In the
throes OF dissolution. Motive there
was none. unless a mild reproof might
have been sufficient 20 inspire ths
mind Of the girl 10 murderous hatred
Mrs NeWland was charitable. benev.
olent philanthropic She was a noted
worker in the rescue % her fallen sis
ters. well beloved among the best PEG,
pie OF Hyde Park and Englewood. mem
Der OF the central W c. T. L. and 1
director In the Anchorage mission. ~
Third avenue To this latter fact sh'
owes indirectly her brutal taking OF
Her husband vas a business man o
prominence. and her two children. re
spectiyely AGED Is and rs years. ver,
popular In the best society Of the dis
iricts wherein they had lived. Il va
this happy home which was 90 fright
fully broken mp by a woman none hal
seen before The day OF fate. and for "a
cause that men yersed In tracing tn
workings Of the deprayed mind cuul
J az upon.
Mamie Starr was an outoast. home
lees. friendless. penniless. She was
performer In the disreputahle theater
Of that day. a woman with an lmmora
record. one whose life was one q
shame. hut maternity was soon .
come 10 her and she sought for som
, shelter In her time Of greatest nee
She went 20 the Anchorage missio
and was received. for no wanderers
. however miserable her past was eve
I turned from its doors The girl wa
4, fairly well educated. was intelligeu
and bright. although physically No
! pretty. She impressed Matron SnydC
iayonbly This was on april 4
Mrs Newllni needed O servant an
. Mrs. Snyder know 81 this need. IN
4, mex, morning carly Mamie Starr M
, goared 40 ,ho Nowlaud home with
. note from Ma'ron Snyder She va
taken ln aud after Airs. Ncwland Ia
talked with her she was accepted O.
cook and assigned 20 her duties Sh
. prepared luncheon Tor the family an
. made a good impression. She va
t, asked 20 DO some sewing during a
: afternoon bu, bunglcd Il badly an
was required 20 do Il over again an
. was also subjected 20 a mild reprot
t. Tor her lack Of care This reproof
the only cause which has ever bee
, discovered as q motive for the attcml
. ~ "a