The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-22
CONVICT WANTS To BE HANGED
Taylor Cook AsGs Governor Stanley
to Order His Execution.


Topeka, Kan. Sept. Ex-Governor Stan
ley has received a communication from
Taylor Cook, a life-term convict in the
state penitentiary, asking the governor to
sign his death warrant. Cook has been in
the penitentiary more than ten years and
is doomed to remain there the rest of his
days He was convicted of murder in the
first degree in Osborne county in May,
1889, and was sentenced to be hanged.
The death sentence in Kansas is. how
ever, equivalent only to life sentence, as
no governor has signed death warrant.
In his letter TO the governor Murderer
Cook says he is tired of life. He can see
no ray of hope to strengthen him for the
future. and he would rather undergo the
dread letter of his sentence, Hanged by
the neck until dead" than to endure all
the years of gloom and despair that
otherwise are in store for him. 1t is a
common matter for some convict to seek
a pardon from the governor on the
ground of innocence or excessive rigor of
the law or mitigating circumstances. Such
appeals arouse no particular interest.
But Cook does not set forth that he is
innocent On the contrary, the omission
may be accepted as half an admission Of
guilt. He is the pathetic and tragic sup
plication of a condemned soul, who would
rather take chances in the next world
than endure the punishment that is in
evitably his in this.
In response to Cooks letter Governor
Stanley makes answer that if Cook can
persuade the county attorney who prose-
cuted him and the judge who sentenced
him to join in the request, his wish may
be granted. Following are the two let
tC-s:
To His Excellency, W. E. STANLEY, Gov
ernor OF Kansas:
Sir: I am in the penitentiary sentenced
to be hanged, and L want you to sign my
death warden and order the warden to
hang me- I am thoroughly Disguised with
this life and everything in this world and
don't want to I've any longer. 1 hope
you will lcompy with my request. 1 have
fully made up my mind to end my own
life if you refuse to sign my death war
rant. OF course 1 know there are a good
many extenuating circumstances con-
nected with my case, but you can be
guided by the judgment of the judge and
jury and pay no attention to anything
else. I have been here over ten years
and think it time for some action to
be taken in regard to my case. Hoping
to hear from you soon in regard to this
matter, I remain. Very respectfully
TAYLOR COOK.
Governor Stanley replied as follows:
Dear Sir: I am in receipt of yours of
recent date, saying you have been con-
fined for ten years under sentence of
death. and wish we to issue my warrant
for your execution. I have a rule in this
Office that before 1 will entertain an ap-
plication for pardon. the petition must
have the support of the judge who SEN
fenced and the county attorney who
prosecuted. or some good reason given for
their omission. 1 presume I ought to ap-
ply this rule where person wants to be
| hanged. If you desire execution kindly
procure the recommendation Of the judge
and county attorney, and such other re-
| sponsible parties in the county where
you were convicted as will give the ap-
plication weight, and I viii then give II
due consideration.