The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-20
.QDEENAN CASE mixed
One Juryman Proves to Have
Been Disqualified.
VERDICT SCENE IN COURT
Argument Against the Validity
of the Conviction.
VERDICT SCENE I'M COUR7

Guthrie, O. T.. March lit seems GER
tain that complications will arise in the
case of Tom Queenan Of Oklahoma City,
who has been found guilty of murder
with the penalty fixed by the jury at
death. One of the jurymen having re-
manned silent on the subject when he was
qualifying, confessed in the middle of the
trial that he was once convicted in Ne
braska Of felony and was consequently
not competent to serve. Pride had kept
him from saying so at first. AfRr a few
hours delay all parties consented to go
ahead and try the case with the confess
ing juror remaining.
The verdict the jury brought in IS as
follows: I'VE. the jury in the case in
which the Territory of Oklahoma is
plaintiff and Thomas P Queenan is de-
PENDANT, find the defendant guilty as
charged in the Indictment and fix the
penalty at DEATH"
The Oklahoman, of Oklahoma City, thus
describes the scene at the rendering of
the verdict: AT ] o'clock Saturday
morning the jury in the Queenan muir
der case came to an agreement, and soon
after notified Judge Burwell. At o'clock
Jailer Dixon was telephoned to bring the
prisoner into court At 2:30 the Judge and
clerk took their seats and the Jury filed
into the room and took their places The
father and brothers of the prisoner were
at his side and father of the murdered
woman sat at little distance. Quite a
number of persons had heard of the
jury's action and were in the court room
1t was a moment of profound interest to
all. Judge BurweH asked if the jury had
found a verdict. Mr. Olmstead, the fore
man, answered in the affirma tive and
handed paper to the judge, who read
it and passed it to the clerk The latter
read it. The words fell solemnly on all
ears, but the prisoner, who leaned for
ward with his head resting in his hand,
did not change his attitude in the least.
Judge Burwell then asked each juror if
that was his verdict, and each answered:
Yes. sir
. The Judge-Are you still satisfied with
it?
Each one answered in the affirmative.
Then the judge asked them as body
and they all said: Yes The Judge
then thanked the jury for their faithful
work and discharged them. The prisoner
was taken back to jail, his father whis-
pering words of encouragement as they
left the room''
The crime for which Tom Queenan has
been found guilty was the murder of his
wife at noon on Saturday, January 18,
last Queenan had been gambling, win
ming and losing heavily, a few nights
previous to the day of the murder On
that day without a word of his intention
to anyone he left the saloon where he
was employed as bartender. and went di-
rectly to his rooms, two blocks distant.
As soon as he arrived, he pulled a re-
volver and shot his wife four times. kill
ing her instantly. From statements made
afterward by him it was always sup
posed that he intended killing his baby
daughter also. Immediately after the
murder, he went into an adjoining room
and jumped from the window, two stories
high, carrying with him the frame and
glass but he was careful to put a pillow
over his head before he jumped so as not
to cut himself. He fell on box beneath
and received injuries, which, with re-
morse, kept him at the point of death for
several weeks.
The verdict and the complications
which will ensue on account of the one
juror are causing much comment T. ].
Kearful of Oklahoma City, in a COM
munication, maintains that the verdict
cannot slant. He writes in part:
Tho FadaroI oopsti+utioD artfcla Q nm