The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-10-16
DOOM IS FOR FLYNN
Continued from First page.

tive of Mrs. Leard, living about twenty
five milees away, was sent for. Mr..
Mathis, near neighbor. Of Mr.. Roper,
and acquainted with Mrs. Leard, accom-
panied Roper to the place. The posse
was gone on the search. Roper and
Mathis assisted in earring for the dis
tressed family, gathering Mrs. Leard's
goods together and placing them in safe
ty They never saw the Indians until
after their capture. How then could they
be guilty Of Kidnapping?
I represented to Mr.. Flynn the condi-
ton of Mr. Mathis and mis- family. Mr..
Mathis is not robust man, on the con-
trary is below the average as to weight
and strength; is of sensitive nature,
very kind hearted, a loving husband, an
affectionate father, q consistent Chris
tian and modifying neighbor. A wife
and five children constituted his family.
Two of the children have died since his
imprisonment. He is a poor man and
his limited means are greatly lessened
by the expense of his arrest and trial.
In fact, his family would be IN a suff-
ering condition were it not for the SYM
pathy and assistance Of friends. His eld-
est child, eleven years old, was at birth
a normally healthy child. AT about one
year old it was taken with a fever, from
which she received a paralyetic, imbecile,
invalid, unable to move hand or foot;
cannot talk or assist herself even In the
calls Of nature; her food is masticated
by the mother; water is taken by pour
ing into its mouth as into jug. more
helpless or burdensome being cannot be
imagined. None but a mothers loving
heart could be trusted to minister to its
wants But to the credit OF humanity
and honor of maternity that mother,
though a loved husband is sentenced to
a felon's cell for ten long long years.
though she followed two of their child
rem to their graves without the sustain
ing arm of her husband and their father
to lean upon, though denied the mourn
full satisfaction of mingling their tears
over their babes corpse, though COM
PEELED to labor in the corn and cotton
field for support of their children; in ad-
dition to all this, a thought that wrings a
that mother and wife's heart, is, that a
censorious and carping world, forgetting |
the generous impulse-her husband con- |
signed to a felon's cell, will taunt her |
children with their fathers fate. And /
yet with all this wretchedness, that lone
ly, distressed mother discharges her oner- |
Gus duties faithfully, never. either by. |
look, word or action leading her little I
ones to suspect that it is other than a
Of the crime imputed to him, the punish
ment already inflicted is sufficient to vim
dicate the majesty of the law. Justice |
and mercy demand that he be restored to
his patient. heroic wife, to console her in
misfortune, and, as heretofore, aid in the
support Of their children.
Of Mr. Mathis himself, I asked Mr. |
Flynn to imagine himself in Mathis sit
lation, condemned to a prison cell for
ten long years, conscious Of innocence,
unable to condole with the wife and
mother over the death Of their children,
cnowing the poverty and helpless con-
1ition Of their first born, prevented
rom laboring to relieve the one or assist
Is in the past, in administering to the
wants OF his unfortunate child. All these
I urged upon Mr.. Flynn,
and reached him while on a speaking tour
n Kansas The appeal was not in vain.
with the promptitude Characteristic Of the
nan, without waiting to consider the cost
ne Immediately wrote the department,
the application for pardon.
While his letters to me are simply pri-
rate correspondence I take the liberty
II quoting a few extracts, and If there
,e any improperly, I alone am to blame,
is Mr.. Flynn has not been consulted. He
writes: This is a work far beyond poll
les. I will say that no matter what the
esult Of the coming election may be,
hat from this time on I shall devote
What little energy and influence 1 pos
ess in endeavoring to see that justice
$ done Mr.. Mathis and Mr.. Roper My
ttention has never been called to their
ase before in so vivid a manner"
Knowing my politics and knowing that
did not vote for him two years ago,
tote the delicacy with which he absolves
ii concerned from any claims of politi-
al nature: 81 do not care, however, to
lave this made public, as it plight be
onstrued as q bid for votes. If every
ne of these me nand their friends vote
gainst me. they can never erase from
NY mind the picture you have dra wn.
from now on their interests and welfare
is my duty to protect. and I am con-
dent you will be satisfied with the re-
ult."
Evidently the subject had weighed upon !
lis mind. for two days later he writes
s follows: AZ thank you for bringing :
ne subject to my knowledge. Up to the
eceipt OF your letters and statement I :
ad no information except paragraphs in :
he papers. But the circumstances, the
haracter of the men, the condition of
ONE OF the families. excite my uveliest
ympathy and I assure you that my
tmost efforts will be truly put forth to !
id those parties believing that the law
: sufficiently indicated. Please inform
le in what way I can most effectively
id Your friends. Believe me that in
ase of this nature, 1 am sincerely your b,
o-worker." 1,
Upon receipt of this letter I wrote Mr..