People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-05-25
TO FREE Ike REED.
The Wellington Lawyers Friends to
Work for His Release.
A Systematic Course to be Pursued by the
Lawyers Of Kansas. R. Burton's
Letter to the Governor In
Reeds Behali-A Pa.
thetic Incident.

According to the Kansas City Star.
ageneral movement among the law
yers OF Kansas, looking to the release
Of Isaac G. Reed, who is serving a life
sentence in the penitentiary for kill
ing Isaac Hopper, has begun. The
'awyers are to exert their influence
upon The governor, and the plan is to
ilo1d the executive with letters. The
iii petition and evidence are already
on file and the lawyers will waste no
words. A letter from ]. r. Burton
to the governor is sample OF all:
IL believe Isaac G. Reed has been
sufficiently punished and ought to be
pardoned," ne writes. IL hone Won
HIil find an opportunity to give his
case early consideration" Isaac G.
Reed was a lawyer Of Wellington, one
OF the foremost Of the Sumner county
bar. He was married, but for some
reason his wife did not live with
him. She made her home with her
father in Boston and Reed fell in love
with another mans wife. She re.
turned his affection and soon came
the inevitable trouble with the
wrOnged husband. The latter was
Isaac Hopper, an humble citizen Of
the town, who, after the scandal
became a subject Of public comment,
complained to Reed. But Reed per-
sisted In his attentions and finally
Hopper made threats. One day the
two men met on the street and Reed
killed Hopper. This was eight years
ago.
Reed was tried in Sumner county
and found guilty of a minor degree OF
murder and the court sentenced him
to twelve years in the penitentlary.
The case was taken to the supreme
court and reversed and the second
trial which was held in Cowley county
on a change OF venue resulted in the
death sentence, which means life
Imprisonment. Right here occurred
a pathetic incident Of the case. Reed
wanted to 60 to the supreme court
again and his father in-law sent him
SSOO to pay for the transcript. He
gave this to his lawyers with instruc-
lions to prepare the case for the
supreme court, but instead of so doing
they appropriated the money to their
own use. Meanwhile the statutory
year In which case may be taken to
the supreme court elapsed and Reed
was left helpless and moneyless in the
penlGenIlary Tor ll1e.1
Reeds wife was with him during
the two trials, but when he was taken
to the penitentiary she returned 10
Boston and has not been 10 Kansas
since. Mrs. Hopper was faithful to
Reed and did all she could TO shield
him at the trials. Three years ago
the State Bar association took up the
case, but, although ihdiyidual senti.
ment favored a pardon for Reed, the
association did no: make any recon-
mendation, on the ground that 1t is
not the province of the association to
interfere with justice. However, it
was agreed to individually help Reed
at the proper time, and it seems that
tue time has now arrived.
One obstacle in the way of Reeds
freedom Is Governor Stanley's rule
that before he will grant a pardon he
will insist upon letter OF recommen.
datlon from the presiding judge who
tried the case in the district court,
and 1t is understood that A. NJ. Jack.
son, the trial judge in Reeds case,
will not make such recommendation.
He believes Reed had fair trial and
was justly punished. Another obsta-
Gle is the governor himself, who Can
lind no excuse for man who violate,
anOther'S family honor, and has SAID
that he believes Reeds punishment
was just. But notwithstanding these
objections there are many meu
throughout Kansas who hope par
don, or al least a liberal commute.
tion, will be granted.