The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-13
JUDGE REED At HOME
Story of His Troubles Told to
a Boston Paper.
KILLED WELLINGTON MAN
How He Felt While Waiting
To be Hanged.

Judge Isaac G. Reed, who killed q
prominent citizen of Wellington in 1898,
was sentenced to hang and pardoned by
Governor Stanley on last New Year
day, has reached his old home near Bos-
e. ard IS enjoying the great devotion
of his faithful wife and family. To a
reporter for the Boston Post Judge Reed
told the story of his sad experience in
Kansas. The Post says:
Since May q. 1893. Judge Isaac G.
Reed, of Melrose, has passed through a
series Of experiences that seldom falls TO
the lot of men On that day he acciden-
tally killed a man in Wellington. Kan.
Later he was sentenced TO be hanged by
the neck until he died. After spending
five years in thg state penitentiary he
was pardoned by Governor Stanley. The
pardon came as New Years gift Now
! he is at home, the family is reunited; but
the gladness OF the home coming is dark
ened by broken health, by shattered pros
poets and by the gloom of dark expert
ence.
! Through all this he was comforted by
the knowledge of his innocence OF intent
| to kill fellow man, and by the unswerv-
! ing constancy OF his wife and children.
J There were two trials, the decision of the
! lower court having been reversed in the
first, and at both his wife was present.
! When the jury in the first case brought
in verdict Of guilty IN the second de-
gree Mrs. Reed tainted and had TO be
carried from the court room When it
was announced at the second trial that
the jury had reached verdict Mr.. Reed
refused to allow his wife to be present in
the court room.
LESS than ten years ago Mr.. Reed was
successful pracdcing lawyer in the
Kansas city. He was the city attorney
and township clerk. He also held a prom
inent office in the Episcopal church, at
one time being its treasurer. He was re-
spected in all the walks of life, and the
news of his arrest for murder created no
end Of sensation.
He has told his story for the Sunday
Post, and gives a glimpse of how a man
feels to be charged with murder, found
guilty, sentenced to be hanged and liber-
atad:
" In the pursuit Of my profession be-
came the attorney OF a real estate deal
er Of Wellington and also legal adviser
OF the mans wife. In the course of the
court proceedings l advised the wife 10
invest money and make settlements con-
trary to her husbands wishes. AS the
ladIr had T7I1rb IF bay OWN
placed great confidence in my Judgment
she followed my advice. This and other
similar circumstances which prevented
the husband from making certain specu-
latons complicated his finances. He made
many threats against me and attacked
me on the street. One day in May, 1892,
he became particularly Infatuated and
pursued me into my Office, but was re-
pulsed.
1.-The man seemed determined to infict
some punishment upon me, for he took
up a position on the opposite side OF the
street intending to await my coming.
had occasion to go out on business, and,
having been repeatedly warned against
the man, put a revolver in my pocket. I
had not thought of killing the man, but
carried the revolver for safety. The man
Immediately made a show of fight, and
1, drawing the revolver, warned him He
made the attack and IN the melee the re-
volver was discharged. The bullet enter
ed the mans stomach and he died
at Immediately gave myself up and
came up for trial in January. 1893. be-
fore the district court of cowley county.
of which I was formerly Judge. Owing
to the sickness of one of the jurors no
decision was given, but It was later
learned that ten Of the jurors were for
complete acquittal. The next trial was
in April of the same year, before the
same court. At this time I was convicted
of murder IN the second degree and was
sentenced to twelve years Imprisonment.
Acting upon the advice Of friends. sp-
pealed to the supreme court Of the state.
which reversed the decision Of the lower
court.
The prosecution claimed that I had
been paying undue attention to the wife
Of the killed man, and that this had so
enraged the deceased that he determined
to call me to account. The Jury rendered
the verdict entirely through prejudice and
passion. They were led TO believe that I
had been unduly intimate with the wom-
an, my client II was false The fact
Of the matter is that the man stated in
writing that he never impugned his wife's
virtue
AT the new trial in September, 1884,,
much TO the surprise OF both lawyers and
judges, the jury returned verdict OF
murder in the first degree. and I was
sentenced to be hanged On q day 20 be set
by Governor Leedy. IN the meantime
was 10 be confined in the state peniten-
tiary As time passed on no day was set
and made preparations FOR an appeal
raised funds for this purpose being
aided by ny father. But just as I was
preparing 20 appeal the lawyer whom
had engaged TO conduct my case appropr1-
ated the money 20 his own uses and LETT
mo n prison
Others would have suffered more under
Ike conditions Miss Julia Morrison. who
shot Frank Leidea on the stage Al Chat
tanooea. Tenn. was acquitted. She has
been telling tas people hoE & fees 70 81
tired fo- murder Size pictures most Wv
idly how the accused watches TIE fares
% TIE 3u5Fe and the jurors. SIC says:
"Oh- you cannot imagine the horror q q
al. nor can I picture u 20 y0s."
Julia Morrison IS emotional. irna gfnstiTs
and ELUSIVE; Judge Reed IA rot- Ills *
Periencs On the tenca ard rs legal career
trained his mind 20 take things IN Eense-
what % philosophical strain TIE terror
q the EslsoTs ID n0s ir2F-ss Hizs VIA
IS awz1lnsss- Throug50-ls = al r. sI-
vectsd that truth s1t rghteo1szess Eoold
ultimately prevail TITS was che buoy
that had bin - amid tse gsrzt1S wares
- .-nasstor al nretfpEtce :.