Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1901-05-09
MEXICO AUDRAIN COUNTY MISSOURI THURSDAY 9,

chances. / have no wife, but eight
children. One son is in prison with
me. Postmaster Danforth of Goliath,
Tex, married one Of my daughters.
An unmarried daughter lives at our
old home in Mexico. A son resides in
Fredericksburg, Tex, and is well-to-
lido. Another son is in business In Vic
toria, Tex. The editor Of the Bay City
I(Tex.) Breeze is another son Of mine.
1.-TWO years ago | declined a nomina-
tion for the Senate in Victoria. l in
tended to return to Texas before
finishing that last journey. l have
never held public Office, but personally
have had dealings with two Presi-
dents, six Governors, was nominated
for State craftsmanship and practic-
ed medicine. Latterly l have been
trading occasionally in horses My life
is wasted. have it to-day merely be-
cause / defended it against the on
slaught of that most dangerous Of
men, Donagan.
D. B. DoNAGAN WAS MARRIED.
d. B. Donagan, the Colorado miner
who was murdered by DIR. J. l., Cart
rell and his son, W. p. Gartrell, near
Amoret, Mo-, on March 10, was mar
ried man and his widow is now living
in Kemmerer, Wyo. Late yesterday
afternoon telegram was received
from her by Chief of Police Hayes.
She said she had just heard of the
murder and wired for particulars.
Chief Hayes has sent her newspaper
clippings containing accounts OF the
murder.
This morning Detectives Kenney
and Halderman received notices to be
in Amoret tomorrow, as the two
Gartrells would then be arraigned be-
fore justice Of the peace.
HIS COUP AT THE HosPITAL.
On February 26, 1900, a we'll dressed,
dignified appearing man applied to
the city physician for admission to the
city hospital. He seemed somewhat
dazed and apparently could give very
little information about himself. He
was sent to the hospital by DR.. Coffin
and put in bed.
The next day he said he had re-
covered his faculties and was pre-
pared to tell all about himself. He
said his name was DR.. J. L. Gartrell,
his age So and that he was special
commissioner to the Philippine Is
lands, appointed by President Nc
Kinley." Healso informed the atten-
dants that, of course, the city hospital
was no place for man of his stand
ing, but that, as long as he was there,
he might as well remain until cured,
and when that took place his check
for substantial sum would be at the
disposal of the city.
"Dr. Gartrell' could not account
for his illness, but said he had been
suddenly overcome while passing
through the city on his way to San
Francisco and recollected nothing
more until he woke up in the hospital.
1t was necessary to perform an ope-
ration on the alleged Philippine Com
missioner and until the following
August he was well cared for by the
nurses and other attendants, who
were proud to wait on SO distinguished |
patient Even after he had fully
recovered he fingered at the institu- |
tion, until it was discovered that the
distinguished patient was just an
ordinary rounder from the north end.
Then he was fred out.
This "Dr Gartrell" is the same
man who was yesterday taken to But
Ter, Mo-, to stand trial for numbering
d. B. Donagan-only now, it seems,
he is go years old and Confederate
veteran with a long and honorable
political record in Texas.
DIR. GARTRELL TALKS.
The correspondent of the st. Louis
Post Dispatch, who lives in Butler, says;
DIR. Gartrell is no ordinary criminal,
and is willing to talk of his past life
and explain why he committed the
murder.
To a reporter DIR. Cartrell said:
"Ah, indeed, it is an unfortunate
affair. l am nearly 10 years of age,
and my life has been very full of
activity. You ask the reason for all
this? 1t is drink drink, and, above all,
politics. Drink mastered me and then
| took the Keely cure.
"Politics started me to drink. Were
it not for drink and politics could
easily have been a millionaire. l
made 100000 in one year in Abilene,
Texas"
While DIR. Gartrell told these things
he spoke calmly and fluently. He was
very nervous. Headvised those about
him never to drink. His hands trem-
bled so that he could hardly hold
paper. He had been given but
small amount Of whiskey, and the
lack of il caused him great distress.
After he had swallowed large tumb-
ler of the stuff that had poisoned his
life he became instantly another man.
WANTS DoNAGAN's BODY.
KANSAS CITY. NAV 2.-The follow