The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-09
ROMANCE FROM KANSAS
NOBLE MEXICAN KILLS A MAN. GOES
TO THE PENlTENTIARY,
Falls in Love with the MatrOn and
Marries Her. After Being Released
by Her Untiring Efforts.

KANSAS CITY. Mo. Feb S-A scion of a
noble Mexican family languishing unknown
in the Kansas State Penitentiary for six
years for murder done in sef-defense; his
pardon after three years of untiring effort
ON the part of the matron of that institu-
ton and their final marriage by a justice
of the peace eliminating in a revelation
of his identity. the chapters in most
remarkable story of real life made public
here to-day. The principals are Presciiana
L.. Corpio, whose late father, Presciiana
Corpio, was a millionaire and expostmaster
general of Mexico and Mrs. Matte t..
PEBBLES, of Dispatch, Kan. a widow
The story is most interesting. In the
early eighties young Mexican who gave
the name of Camilo Lopez came to Kansas
City with shipment of cattle from GUIANA
juato, Mexico. his home. He was hand
some, dashng fellow who dressed we'll and
spent money freely. In a short time his
money was gene. He went to Wichita. Kan.
and made a living as street vendor. One
night, after an unusually good days bust
ness he was lured into resort by Mrs.
Sam Dodson. Dodson soon arrived on the
scene and began making trouble for the
Mexican. Mrs. Dodson claimed in court,
later, that Dodson was demanding an ex-
PLANTATION of the Mexican's conduct, and the
Mexican said that Dodson and his wife had
tried 20 rob him. AT any rate Lopez
stabbed Dodson to death with q long bladed
knife Lopez could not talk English, and he
did not know how to go about making a de-
Tense. The court assigned an attorney, and
in the trial he was convicted of murder.
Judge Christopher Reed sentenced him to
thirty years in the penitentiary The gen.
eraL opinion was that the sentence was un-
just but Lopez had neither influence nor
money with which to secure new trial.
At the penitentiary Lopez learned to talk
English fuently. He worked at the tailor
trade but was sent into the library frequent
with the matron, Mrs. Matte PEBBLES. The
matron became interested in the cookbook
ing Mexican and, as they often worked to-
gether, she drew from him his story. Feel
ing positive that Lopez was innocent, Mrs.
PEBBLES set about TO prove so to the Gov
ernor. She visited Wichita and gathered
facts to show that the killing of Dodson
was done in self-defense Then she OBJ
tanned the signatures of prominent men to
ago this month that Mrs. PEBBLES began
to interest herself in Lopez's behalf, and on
Jan. 10 of this year he was pardoned by
Governor Leedy. In the meantime Matte
PEBBLES had left the penitentiary and was
living with grown son and daughter near
Dispatch, Kan Both of her children, how
ever. recently married, dnu LOT d llile SHe
has been living alone When Lopez was
freed he wrote her a long letter. II resulted
in bringing Mrs. PEBBLES to Kansas City
Sunday morning and yesterday it was given
out they were married by Judge Ebert in a
room in the BreevOrt House, a second-class
hotel. Then followed the revelation of the
mans identity.
The groom is short and slender. He has
delicate features, long, straight black hair
and piercing black eyes. The marriage IL
cense places his age at forty-one years and
that of his bride at fOrty-SiX. She is rather
tall Her face is round and full, while her
dark brown hair is fecked with gray. The
couple have started for Mexico, on their
honeymoon, to visit the Carpios family.