The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-01-25
UNDER DEATH SENTENCE.
Tragic story OF Judge rssac g. Reed,
Formerly of nssop, Kansas, who
Has Just Received a Pardon I'm That
state and Been Restored TO IA.
Family.
(RossoD Transcript. J

After having been sentenced to be
hanged for murder and having served
tive long years In tie kansas State -Pent-
tsntiary, Judge Isaac q. Reed has been
restored TO his family IL Melrose broken
in health, hut . free man. Less than ten
.esrs ago Mr.. Rsed was . successful prac-
Using lawyer In Wellington, ka'. He
was c.ty nttorneY and township clerk. In
the pursuit of his profession MIR. Resd
became the attorney OF real estate
desc OF Wellington and also legal adj
visor Of che mans wife. In the course Of
the court proceedings Mr.. Heed advised
the vile to invest money and make set
Elements contrary to hr husbands wish
ss. AZ the Lady had much property Of
her own and placed great confidence In
the judgment OF her lawyer she followed
his advice. This and other simiiar cir
oumstanoes which prevented the bus band
from making certain spsculations ooin-
plioated tho finances Of the real es.ats
dealer. he made many threats against
Mr.. Reed and nttactei him on the street.
One day in May. 1892, he became par ticu.
larry infu lated and pursued Mr.. Reed
into his offlcs. hut was repulssd. Later
on the same day the two met on the street
and the man Immediately attacked the
lawyer. In defending him s,lf from the
attack Mr.. Reed draw pistol and
wsrned his assailant of, but without
effect In seuffls for the possession Of
the pistol It was discharged and the man
was killed.
Mr.. Resd was Immediately arrested and
came up for trisl In January, 1898. before
the District Court OF Cowley County, of
which he was for merly the Judge. Owing
to the sickness Of one Of the jurors no
decision was given, but II was later
learned that ten OF the jurors were Tor
complete soQuittal. The next trial was
In April Of the same year, before the
same court. At this time M. Resd was
convicted Of murder IN the second degree
and was sentenced to twelve years Inn
pIisonmept. Acting upon the advice Of
friends, Mr.. Reed appealed to ths So
preme Court OF the State. which reversed
the decision Of the lower court. At the
surprise of both lawyers and judGs, the
jury returned a verdict OF murder in the
frst degree, and Mr.. Reed was sen tenoed
to be hanged, on day to oe set BY
Governor W. h. Stanley. In tire mean
time the accused WAS to be confined In
the State penitsntiary. As time passed
ON no day was set and Mr.. Reed made
preparations for an appeal He raised
funds for this purpose. being aided by hts
father In this State. But Just as be was
preparing TO appeal, tbs lawyer whom he
had engaged to conduct his case appro-
priated the money to his own uses and
left Mr.. Reed in prison. His sentsnce
was considered an outrage by most Of the
people Of the State, and no was advised
to pttition for pardon. This he did.
and on Dec. 80 1s9a, received his liberty
from the hands of Governor Stanley.
Although free, Mr.. Resd was broken
In health and without money. de at
once went to his former home In Yelling
ton, where he was warmly received by
his old relghbors aud friends. Here he
was fitted out with clothing. and mo ey
was raised for hiu by subscription. On
Jan. II, knowing that his wife and two
chiidren were In the East under the pro-
tsction Of bis father, he left Wellington.
As his disease prevented him from travel
ling continuously. Mr.. Heed did not
write to his family as to the exact date
Of his arrival, but after many delays he
reached Melroee one day last week.
AIR Reed said this morning that his
plans for the future were iudshDite. AS
soon as he can recover from his illness he
will take up the practice of law either In
this State or In the West DE may re-
turn to Wellington. Mr.. Read WAS born
In Aoton, Mass. In 1886. He studied at
the public schools of his native town and
at Phillips n lover. and WAS graduated
from Yale College with the class Of 90.
After leaving college he studied law In
the office Of Ranney a. Morse Of Boston,
being ad mitted tn the Suffolk bar in 1870
Up 20 1879, when he went to Kansas, Mr..
Resd had an office In Court square, this
oity. In 1879 he went West and estab-
lished q FOOD practice in WELLINGTON.