Mexico weekly ledger., 1901-11-28
FIRST DEGREE
THE JURY IN TIE GARTRRLL
MURDER CASE OUT FOUR
HOURS.
The son LOST HIS NERVE.
As the Verdict Was Announced the
Spectators Cheered, but the 20
Year-0ld Defendant Showed
No Concern-Killed his
Travelling Companion.

out four hours, the jury IN n tfial
of DR.. j. L. Gartrell for the murder of
d. B. Donegan, brought in a verdict
of murder In the first degree. The
defendant was perfectly u~nconcerned
and read a newspaper while the yer-
dict was read. II. @. Clark made the
closing argument in the case
At the close OF his speech man,
Of the spectators cheered and the Judge
ordered them arrested. The sheriff
could not find the offenders.
W. P. Gartrell, the son Of Dr.. Gar
trell, viii now be tried on the charge
OF completely In the murder. 1t isthe
theory of the prosecution that the
Gartrells ~conspired TO kill Donegan
for his money and outfit.
The crime of which Gartrell was
convicted was the murder Of d. B..
Donegan, a miner from Victor, COL,
near Amoret, March is. DR.. Gartrell,
who is 70 years old, was on his way in
a wagon to Oklahoma accompanied by
his son. W. p. Gartrell, and Donegan.
The party left Kansas City early in
March. Two weeks later DR.. Gartrell
returned to Kansas City alone and
April 30 the body Of Donegan was
found in a creek at Amoret. Gartrell
and his son were arrested and made a
confession.
THE SON LOST HIS NERVE
The murder was committed in a
cabin nine miles east of Amoret, where
the men had gone into camp for the
night. The younger Gartrell lost his
nerve when he saw bis father strike
the fatal blow and tainted. After
DR.. Gartrell had revived bis son the
two men loaded the body Of Donegan
into the wagon and drove to a point
three miles south OF Amoret, where
the body was thrown into the creek.
Donegan had been working for hf'
teen years in the mines at Victor
Col. He had accumulated some money
but was in poor health and a change
OF air was advised and be decided to
90 to Kansas City and make an over
! land trip to Oklahoma, to be present
: at the opening Of the new territory.
Donegan was a free, open-hearted mi
! ner-a typical man Of the West. He
was staying at the same hotel where
Gartrell and his son were staying
D0negan told them be was going e
! the territory. They told him they hac
thought Of going to Oklahoma.
"Come with me" was the heartl
invitation extended by the big-heart
5 ed miner from Colorado. II wan
r company and il won't cost you bu'
) mighty little. I'll buy the team AM
wagon and you can chip in on the ez
penses.H
{ THE TWO CONFESSIONS DIFFERED.
Ell 1t was so agreed. The confession
slof DR.. Gartrell and his son, as toi'
S slater the arrest, were signed by tn
1.-TWO men. The confessions differs
materially in that the son asSerte
that the murder vas committed J
cold blood, while DR.. Gartrell sal
: that he killed Donegan I'M elfdefens'
1t was clear that Donegan was struc
from behind with an ak, while he wa
asleep in a cabin where the men ha
taken shelter for the night.
DIR. Gartrell admitted striking Don't
gan, but said Donegan had ordere
him from the cabin. The az wit
which the blow wa struck was f0un
le in Mulberry creek, nea where IL
i body was discovered.
20 "Donegan wa q~uarrelsome, sal
Gartrell. ''The night that he wi
te killed we quarreled about SON
clothes. 1t was about midnight. d
s. son had small pox and was asleep
the room. While we we're fussir
&c Donegan threatened TO strike n
or with a monkey wrench. l struck hi
~ on the head with an ak. He fell ovl
81 on the pillow"
e. Young Gartrell told quite a diffe
y ent story.
II "When l woke upfather was stan
Of ing over Donegan, who lay on the p
ey low where ! had last seen him aslee
D. His skull was crushed and father h;
K an AK In his hand.
x. "'What have you dOneg asked
re "'Hush', said father, we need u
ne money"