The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1901-11-28

he dates the beginning of his down.
fall from the death of his second wife.
He then became addicted to the use
OF morphine and whisky. Ifwhat he
said was true his knowledge OF and
acquaintance with public men is sim
ply wonderful: he was a representa-
tive in the Texas legislature, was
sheriff, collector, probate andcounty
Judge of his county. Coming down
to the history Of the crime for which
he will pay the penalty with his life,
he said he was discussing the Curtis
bill, opening up the new Indian coun-
try, in a drug store in Kansas City
when stranger approached and
asked ii he was going down to the
opening Of that country. Said he
wanted to but was not prepared Just
then. Stranger said his name was
Burns and invited him and his son
to go with him through in a wagon
and team, that he would furnish the
means and the Gartrels could pay
him back their part when they reach
ed that country. He went with
Burns To the Dinky horse market and
saw him purchase the team. The
first day out he occupied the spring
seat with Burns and during the day
had n discussion about the late war,
in which he expressed sympathy with
the south, and also views antago-
nistic to catholicism, to all of which
Burns took exception, beinga north
ern sympathizer and catholic.
From that time on Burns was I'M
friendly to defendant and did not
treat his with proper consideration.
The first night they stopped in a
town and Burns took all the blankets
and slept in the livery stable, while
he and his son went to a cheap res
taurant and spent their last quarter
for a bed. The second night they
camped near corn field and defend,
ant and son were compelled to cover
themselves with fodder The third
night they reached the log cabin on
the banks OF the Marias des Cygnes
river. Donagan took all lthc blankets
and slept on the inside. while defend
ant and son slept on the outside. To
wards morning it began to rain and
they went on the inside 1t rained
all that day and by night the wind
had changed to the north and it was
sleeting and showing. Defendant,
during the day while gathering and
cutting wood, had taken off an old
overcoat which Donegan had given
them befoye starting. Donegan took
it and wouldn't let him have it any
more. After supper Donegan pre-
pared his bed on the east side, the
only plnce in the cabin where there
were no openings. Will Gartrell,
who was suffering with smallpox and
had high fever. was asleep. De-
fendant was keeping up the fire,
when Donegan ordered him to desist,
said he wanted to sleep When de.
fpndant asked for the return of the
overcOat and the loan OF a blanket,
Donegan cursed him and ordered
him to leave the estbiff- Eiewrftt ,rt
and tried to sleep in the wagon but
soon became convinced he would
freeza ta-daathy- hy-Se- -weHt-haek
again and stirred up the fire, when
Donegan raised up, called him IA vile
name, picked up Il wrench and start.
ed toward him. Defendant picked
up the AK which was setting near the
door and as DOnegan advanced
struck him on the head with it. He
fell to the floor. Defendant examined
the wound and saw the skull was
crushed in and pressing on the brain.
Being a physician he tried to relieve
the pressure by inserting his fingers
and raising the bone. DeHegaH died
in few minutes. He then woke Will
up. who seeing the body exclaimed,
"My God, was afraid of this, know
ing your condition" he then tainted.
Defendant then wrapped the body
up las described by previons witness
es who found it) loaded it in the
wagon, made a cup of coffee for Will,
sat down and waited for daylight
and then admitted going over the
route as formerly described by wit
nesses for the state. and depositing
the body in the creek, where it was
discovered. Defendant claimed to
have been without morphine or
whisky for two days, and was in
nervous. wretched condition. men,
tally and physically. Said he took
$500 or s265 out of Donegan's hip
pocket while wrapping up the body.
Admitted to appropriating the
money and Donegans other proper
ty to his own use.