The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-27
Scheming BigamiSt Failed in
Only One Respect
He SAYS He is INSANE
But Will Make No Defense
When Arraigned.

alias John COX, mas DeSp aEASSISN az
awaits trial in The Lyo1 county jail at
Emporia, Kan, On tt. charge CT hiSauy
He has confess ID that he is guilty, say 5
q dispatch from that city. Mrs Grace
ObIey-Morris of 32I Merchant street
syore out a warrant fo- the arrest or
James Pendleton of Gentry Mo. small
town len miles from Albany, Mo, alter
the mystery was cleared zap and she was
sure that James Pen5leton was her hts
band TO whom she was narrie1 June u
last in Emporia. PendIcton'.s confession
Is the climax to one Of the most glorious
" tangled up mysteries that the officers
of won and Logan counties ever had to
deal with, and began a week ago last
Friday, when a newspaper item from
Guthrie told Mrs Morris that her hus-
band had been killed in runaway near
Orlando, 0. T. The end came with the
xnI confession Of James Pendleton that
he was Coda Morris, John Cox and also
Names Pendleton. mayor OF Gentry, Mo.
The clue that led TO the arrest Of Pen
vleton originated from one break he
made in his complicated burial scheme
in Orlando on August Is, and that was,
when he was supposed to be John Cox
he bought q crate Of peaches at Perry
o. T., and sent them to Gentry, Mo,
the same time he sent the coffin and 200
pounds Of ice for the burial Of Coda Nor
r-is from Perry to Orlando. The peaches
were addressed TO Brs. James Pendleton,
Gentry, Mo. The crate Of peaches gave
way on John Cox and the mystery was
solved when last week II was found that
James Pendleton arrived home at Gentry
from Oklahoma after nearly eight
months absence. A telegram from there
stated that Pendleton was married, had
q wife and FIVE children. When Sherin
o'Connor discovered these facts, the the
orr that Coda Morris scheme OF bury
ing himself was one TO elude his Emporia
wife looked very probable and the Gen
try marshal was wired TO arrest Pendle-
ton on charge Of bigamy. The mar
shat answered that he would not arrest
him, as Pendleton was mayor of the
town. Fortunately the sheriff of the
county in which IS Gentry is a friend OF
Sheriff O'Ccnnor and O'Connor immedi-
stely wired his friend Sheriff Berkeley Of
Albany. ten miles from Gentry. to arrest
Pendelton. Berkley drove to Gentry on
Saturday night and arrested his man.
Sheriff O'Connor went TO Albany, the
county seat, TO get Pendleton Saturday
night. Mrs Grace Obley-Morris also
went to Albany and identified Pendleton
as the man to whom she was married
June L. The prisoner wilted when he
stood before the woman he had wronged.
Sheriff Berkeley said TO Pendleton: Did
you ever see these people bfore?" point
ing to Sheriff O'ConnOr and Mrs Nor
ris. Yes" rkeplied the prisoner. Mrs
Morris and Pendleton exchanged looks.
but no word passed between the two.
Pendleton did not speak further. but
gave up TO the inevitable and did not
try to get out OF the muddle he is in. He
was a good prisoner and made no trou-
BILE for the sheriff Sheriff O'Connor,
Pendlston and Mrs. Morris returned to
Emporia last night.
Sheriff OConnor said today that in
Gentry, Of which town Pendleton is
mayor, the Pendleton family is much
thought Of and respected. Mrs. Perdle-
ton comes from one Of the best families
in that part Of the state. and the five
children, the oldest of whom is a daugh-
ter about IS years old. are educated and
good looking The story Of the Pendle-
ton family is that James Pendleton's
family was very wealthy when he came
70 Gentry many years ago. The Pendle-
tons were heavy dealers an cattle and at
one blow lost all their property a few
years ago. James Pendleton, the mayor
Of Gentry. is considered queer" but was
much respected. He came to Madison.
nd }.
made several visits TO his former home
since he came TO Kansas. In Madison
he always went under the assumed name
OF Coda S. Morris. He was in no other
business than farming and shipping
chickens. In Madison the story is that
when asked what his business was he
cut inquiries short by stating that he
got so month for minding his own bus
mess.
When interviewed this morning. says
the dispatch. Pendleton was not feeling
his best, but was quite communicative.
He is a typical Aiissourian. about six feet
taal. muscular and weighs about $50
pounds. He Is light eomplexioned. has
light hair. blue eyes and slightly aque-
line nose. When arrested he had not
the appearance he did two months ago
when in Emporia with matrimonial in
tentions- At that time he dressed well
and was smooth shaven; ne now wears
a months growth OF beard and is
dressed like a working man. with wide
hrim straw hat This morning Mr. Pen
dleton lay on a bunk in the jail and con-
tinually kept his hands over his face
He was paying the fiddler"
He said: Il am not feeling very well
today. ard my hesd has not been just
right Tor some time. ! would willingly
write an article FOR publication. but do
net feel well today. For over year !
have been doctored Tor slight trouble
OF the brain and know al times that ]
an a little or"
You remember your marriage 10 Miss
Obey last June. don't youc" was sskes
20. yes" he said and rolled over in
his bunk.
''wm you put up any defense in your
trial."
Cnhesitatingly No
How big place is Gentry. Mr.. Pen
dleton?"
About three to FIVE hundred"
You are mayor OF the town. are YOU
not?"
No" At first ne replied.
You say nots This mornings papers
sad you arc the mayor
Did they9 haven't seen morning
paper"
Is that correct that you are tn,
mayer
wei. yes. guess so. and again h,