The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-20
LOPEZ IS PARDONE D
Wichita Tamala Peddler Goes
Free.
WAS A STlLlETT0 FIEND
Story of His Strange Crime
on South Fourth.

a telegram was received yesterday
from Topeka stating that Governor Leedy
had pardoned Francisco Lopez from the
state penitentiary. sentenced there for
life for the murder OF & colored woman
on South Fourth avenue. Wichita, in the
winter of 1880.
Lopez was at the time a hot tamala
vender in this city and had been here
some two years before the tragedy which
resulted in his being sentenced TO hang.
The eoIored woman was living with her
husband at 219 South Fourth and always
bore a good reputation. One night late in
January she was aroused by a noise of
some one stealthily walking across the
room. She was alone and attempted 10
arise and find out the cause of the dis
turbance. She had hardly made the first
move when a strong bony hand with
grip like steel seized her throat and for
a time prevented cry for help or alarm
ing the neighborhood. During the strug-
gle the womans husband appeared on
the scene. The midnight marauder at
once left the almost Hfeless woman and
with the ferocity Of a baffied animal
sprang upon the man. When the battle
began TO look like the chances were
against Lopez, he drew a long knife from
his leather belt and slashed into the fray
with deadly effect. The husband of the
woman was terribly cut and hacked. and
was left for dead on the floor, literally
wallowing in his own blood. Supposing
him done for, the mad man again gave
his attention TO the woman who in the
mean time had s-otten up and was trying
to make her escape out {, the window
by which the Greaser had made his en-
trance. Whatever his intentions had
been when he entered the house can
only be surmised. but murder seemed TO
be his purpose. Without a word or threat
or warning. he seized the woman's arm
as she was escaping through the raised
window, and plunged his already dripping
knife into her abdomen and fled. The
cries of the woman and the noise Of the
scuffie had already aroused the entire
neighborhood and Tom Mcnamara, then
chief of police. and several patroimen
were soon on the spot. The man was APP
pretended before morning, and<he turned
out TO be the tamala pedler Lopez, who
up to this time had lived quietly alone
never molesting any one and considered
by the police good citizen. The woman's
husband, after a fight for life, finally
pulled through though fearfulIy SCARED
up and disabled for life. The woman died
after two days of delirious agony, and
Lopez was held. without bail. on the
charge of murder. Able counsel defend
ed him, and he got all the justice and
fairness to which he was entitled. The
jury very promptly returned a verdict OF
guilty as charged. Before he was SEN
fenced and while awaiting the courts
action. Lopez appealed to the Mexican
minister at the legation at Washington.
Secretary Blain, then secretary of state.
had some diplomatic correspondence in
regard to the matter. but no more def
mite results ever came of 1t than the de-
cision OF the Mexican republic that as
criminal while in America. Lopez was
amenable to United States laws. and our
courts should take their usual course.
Judge Reed then sentenced him TO the
state prison, and he was taken there
without delay.
What grounds either the board Of par
dons or the governor can possibly have
for this strange act OF clemency Is not
stated in the dispatches. The man was
fairly tried and the case was clear. and
the deed was heinous and bloodthirsty.
It is limited if he eevr comes back here
hot reception win be rendered him by
the coIored race who still remember the
horrors of that night in January eight