The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-15

her offense, and her second tale was
likely nearer the truth from a realizatio
Of the consequences TO herself Of reck-
less disregard TO a connected descrip-
ton.
The defense " as conducted by Judge
Decker and DR.. Galyon. The attorneys
had little time TO prepare their defense
after being appointed by the court. but
the careful questioning Of witnesses and
the able summing up OF evidence by
Judge Decker, was one OF the finest
pieces of legal work that could have
been accomplished under the circum-
stances. He was handicapped by having
to try the two women jointly. as it was
clear the old woman was wanting to
throw all the blame on Mrs. Rowland
IN order to escape punishment herself
Mrs. Conrey is a woman more to be
feared as a friend than an enemy. She
is utterly unprincipled and without a
particle Of regard for the truth Specta-
tors believe that in order to save herself
she would have sworn to anything that
was suggested to her by anyone as
likely way in which she could clear her
self.
Someone killed the baby, that was
established without a doubt. Carbolic
acid was the method used. Yet there was
no evidence showing either Of these wo-
men had bought carbonc acid nor had
such in their possession. What became
of the poison not used on the child or
the bottle containing It was not found
out. The only convicting evidence was
that the child died in the room occu-
pied by these two women and died from
the carbOlic acid poisoning No one elise
was interested in its death, hence the
conclusion that either Mrs. Conrey or
Mrs. Rowland. or both. were the guilty
parties.
Mrs. Rowland was given the little
valise she carried on that occasion and
identified the bottle of Godfrey's cordial
she had purchased for the child; also the
medicine for its bowel trouble, and as
she pulled out the little baby clothes
she broke down and cried 40 that she
could not speak for a few moments. The
fact that she had been buying medicine
for the babe to give it health was dwelt
upon by her attorneys as showing her
love for the little one. In fact. some who
heard the evidence throughout believe
she is innocent of the murder and that
the old bag with her killed the child
while the mother slept, in order to get
it out of her way and have the money
used for its support to spend on herself
The evidence showed clearly that II
Mrs. Rowland was guilty Mrs Conrey
was equally so. but it may be possible
that Mrs. Conrey alone is the guilty one.
If Mrs Rowland had only told the truth
from the start, she might have been
cleared, but she was evidently trying 20
protect the old blind woman. Who AT the
last tried 50 hard 10 throw all the blame
onto her
"Unfavorable comment has been made
on the fact that the younger woman was
left IN her cell. without communication
with the outside world. except IN the
presence Of the sheriff or one Of his
deputies. while the old woman was taken
TO the sheri0s house and cared for just
before the trial Old Mrs Courev was
also in close touch with the prosecuting
attorney and had several long talks with
him. Public opinion does not give much
credit for sharp practices in convictinG
women. and citizens cannot help a sus-
picion that the effort - collect the $3.50
reward offered by the governor, for the
conviction OF each Of the women may
have been an inspiration TO unfairness. /
II any was used. The empiB gment Of ad- .
ditionaI counsel fl prosecuting the case /
also caused uucavorable comment. i
the prosecuting attorney was not COM +
petent 10 convict these 2 rimlnals who
paid the assisting counsel HE feesr
ATTORNEY Decker fled a motion for a (
new trial as soon as he heard tie ver- /
u
fo-d for hearing the arguments on the /.