The Washington times., 1902-10-31
OCOkNUTE SENTENCE
Of INDIAN MURDERER
Solomon Hotema, Choetaw,
Will Not Be Hanged.
BELIEVES HE SLAYED WITCH
Attorney General Became interested
and Recommends Life 1mprison-
ment Instead of Death.

Attorney General Knox has recon-
mended to the President that the sem
tence imposed upon Solomon Hotema be
commuted to life Imprisonment Hotema
is. Choctaw Indian, condemned to be
hanged on December for the murder
of vina Coleman, an Indian woman Of
the same tribe. who lived in Indian Ter
ritory. Hotema's case is peculiar one,
and aroused the interest of the Attor-
ney Gepsi when it was submitted to
him upoH5 appeal foI executive Glenn
{ enc, phcraft. the sort in which the
PurftaGs fathers believed. led Hotema to
commit the crime Of which he now
stands convicted.
All the evidence In the case. as pre-
ssated to Mr. Knox. tends to show that
Hotema is man 81 high education, both
In his own language and in English. He
has been a lawyer. judge, and Pres
byterian minister. He is possessed of
wealth, was charitable, and highly es-
teemed by his people.
Insane When intoxicated.
Occasionally he became intoxicated,
and when under the influence of liquor
the determination CT witches seemed to
become his ruling passion. Two years
ego several OF his children died in quick
succession, and while in half intoxi-
Gated condition Hotema became pos
sessed of the belief that some OF his
personal friends were witches and were
responsible for the death of his chill
dren
Armed with shotgun, he started out
intent upon riddiIfg the community Of
their evil spirits. He visited the home
OF Vina Coleman. an Indian woman.
whom he accused of practicing witch
craft. and shot her dead. At the same
time he wounded a small child, and
flfteen-year- boy who was running
to spread the alarm.
Hotema afterward killed a man and
another woman, both of whom, he said,
were witches. although each of the
friend, and it was shown at the trial
that he had no grievance against them.
For the murder of the man and one Of
the women, Hotema was acquitted on
the ground Of insanity. He was twice
tried for the murder of the Coleman
woman. AT the first trial the jury dis
agreed. and at the second he was found
guilty and sentenced to be hanged. An
appeal was taken, but the verdict was
sustained, although the court suggested
that the case be taken to the President
for executive clemency.
Honest in His Belief.
Attorney General Knox made a care
full investigation of the case and sub
mitted all of the evidence to Dr. A. B.
Richardson, the superintendent of the
Government Hospital for the Insane,
who expressed the belief that the mur-
Gerer honestly believed in witchcraft,
and that although too dangerous to be
at large. should not be hanged
Attorney General Knox recommends
commutation of the sentence to life i'm
prssonment on the ground that, although
insanity had not been proved, it was
quite evident that under the load of dis
tress and the influence of liquor there
had been revival of savage instincts, |
for which the Indian should not be held |
TO account with the extreme penalty. He |
urges, however, that Hotema be held in |
prison, and that no further application |
for clemency be considered. |