The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-10-13

ing the federal prison mutiny of No
yember. 1an, sit in row facing the
judge in the court room. At either end
of the row are two or three prison
guards or deputy United States mar
shais. while several more officers sit
behind them. They are in charge of
Deputy Warden Lemon. In the court
room they are unshaekled, but irons
are bound upon their wrists as they
ride in the prison "black Maria" from
the prison to the postofice, where the
court room is situated. All of them
watch the trial with interest. although
none eNi1ce emotion of anv sort. Null
Inns, the desaerado who made sensa-
tionaI escape from the Junction City
jail last summer, only to be immedi-
atefy reca aptGred, chews tobacco and
expectorates unremittingly. Frank
Thompson, the negro. Turner Barnes
and Bob Clark wear the blue-gray garb
of the United States penitentiary, for
they are both serving out the terms
from which they attempted to escape
two years ago. Mullins wears a dingy
suit of gray, as does Fred Robinson,
who has completed his sentence in the
federal prison and is now held upon the
murder charge
Thompson and Mullins have earned
the regulations of being the most des-
perate men among the mutineers- Null
Inns sawed off his shackles a Junction
City. assaulted the jailer and ESCAPED
for two days before capture Thomp
SOI mas Deen Hnfuly since MS return TO
the I4eaVenWorth penitentiary. Four
months ago he succeeded in opening
the door of his cell in the prison. When
the night guard made the rounds of the
cells Thompson attacked him and
struggled for possession of his revolver.
But for the interference of the taller
the powerful negro would proba bly,
have secured the weapon and escaped
Mullins is TIE man. according to the
story OF the prison guards who were
present during the mutiny who Sc
cured the gun carried by Waldrupe, the
dead guard.
1t appears unlikely that the indicted
mutlneerS will be compelled to suffer
the extreme penalty, but there is little
hope that any of them will escape i'm
prlsonment for life. Under the federal
law the verdict of the jury is required
to specify whether the death sentence is
to be imposed upon men convicted of
murder or treason. The evidence to be
introduced by the prosecution will show
that before the mutineers escaped from
the prison StOckade where they had been
at work they were in possession of about
six rifles and seven or eight revolvers.
1t IS not likely that the identity of the
mutineer who fired the fatal shot at
Waldrupe can be established.
Warden McClaughry of the United
States penitentiary has just returned
from Atlanta, Ga. where he was quite
i'll during the first week of this month
His return home was hastened by the
=
He is still unable to remain in the court
room throughout the sessions. Deputy
Warden Lemon is personally in charge
of the five prisoners.
United States Marshal w H Mackey
has had sworn in a number of special
deputies Who guard the prisoners. They
are:
w. F. McGrath, Topeka: C. F. Bidd1e.
Wichita; NJ. d. Peese. sheriff Geary
county; L. P. Folck. Junction City:
Sheriff Meyers, Douglas county; Sheriff
Evans, Marion county; Sheriff Need,
Clay county; Sheriff Lucas, Shawnee
county; w A. Thompson, ex-deputy
warden state prison, Chanute: Joe Jack
son. ex-sheriff Lincoln county: Sheriff
Mendenhall, Wyandotte county; Sheriff
Meyers, Leavenworth county, and E. c..
Murphy, Leavenworth.
While the attorneys for the Drosecu-
t1on are anxious to hurry through with
the trial of the mutineers it seems like
ly that it will consume at least all of
Wednesday and may continue longer.
Attorney Waters conducted a rather
spectacular examination of the jury and
was solely responsible for the unusual
prOtraction of the process of making
the panel. In making his examina ton
his questions covered not only the jur-
OrS' acquaintance with the details of the
case but also their previous experience
as criminal catchers. One of his ques-
| tions, which he delivered like a rapid
firing gun, did not fail to produce a
/ SCll6Idl SIIiltG over Tie court room. Al
was: Have you ever been a deputy
| United States marshal: or a sheriff; OF
a deputy sheriff; or a conSta bic: or a
deputy constable. or a city marshal; or
a Justice of the peace: or a detective ?''
In several cases the answers were in the
affirmative. the juror having been a
petty functionary of some sort-usually
in piping times of peace. Every one of
those who admitted such service were
| included among the number excused
upon Waters challenge.
The principal witnesses who will b.
examined at this trial are: Warden r.
r. w. McClaughry, ex-Guard c. f
Burrows of Wichita. ex-Deputy U. S.
Marshal E. A.Prescott of Topeka, Guards
F. NJ Thomas. w. F. Carroll Arthur
/ Trelford H. H. Bowen. E. E. Murphy
/ S. D. Sample, J. Hoffman and Harry
! Sullivan.
One of the most interested spectators
at the trial of the mutineers is Mrs
Waldrupe, widow of the murdered guard
Clad in deep black. her hat draped in
the weeds of widowhood. she occupies
a seat within the railing of the court