The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-04-08
Man NRO FORGED
HIS OWN GRAINS
Interesting Sketch of Ira Ter
riI in Jail.
HIS GREAT DETERMINATION
Has Made Him Prominent All
Over the Country.
HIS GREAT DETERMINATION

Hsoue career of Ira y. JeTtli1' tOPuiA7,
sooner" legislator and convict:
Born in Illinois forty-nine years ago.
Settled in Kansas in 1873; sold patent
medicines for a living.
One of the original PopulistS; ASSISTED
"sockless Jerry Simpson in his con-
Eressional campaign
Joined the Payne Boomers" the orig
final Oklahoma ''sooners,' in 1885
Was chased all over the territory by the
Tinted States troops, arrested and served
a year In Jail
Again arrested as a sooner" In lsss
and served another year in jail
Elected to the first Oklahoma legisla-
ture in 1891
Placad two loaded revolvers on his desk
and threatened to shoot any one VINO
would oppose his motions or measures
Secured passage Of his bill moving the
capital from Guthrie TO Oklahoma City.
Prepared, introduced and had passed
the Grimes and Punishment Act.
Killed a man and was the first person
arrested tried and convicted under the
Crimes and Punishment act.
Was tried four times for murder; twice
sentenced to life Imprisonment.
Now serving a sentence Of twelve years
In the Leavenworth (Kansas) peniten-
siary.
Having succeeded in passing his Grimes
and Punishment act in the Oklahoma
legislature Ira y. Terrill straightway
went forth and shot a man.
TerriIl was the first man arrested, tried
and convicted under the new law. Inc
crime was committed almost before the
signature of the governor on the docu-
ment was dry.
The shooting was the result OF dispute
over a land claim. and the carefully
drawn bill was designed TO put an nd to
similar acts of lawlessness. Human HE
had become mighty cheap in Oklahoma,
ard Terrill had made speech in support
of the measure, declaring that the killing
of people must be stopped.
He has fought much harder to escape
punishment under his own law than he
did TO have the measure passed. He has
had four trials. has twice been sentenced
10 Imprisonment for life and is now
serving a sentence of twelve years
He is confined in the Kansas peniten-
tiary. about four miles from Leaven-
worth Oklahoma has no prison and 1t
has made a contract with Kansas to care
for it's convicts
Terrill is therefore a priscner-and the
most troublesome prisoner-in the state
where formerly he used to assist Sock
less jerry Simpson in his congressional
Campaigns Terrill was a most enthu-
siastic and hard working Populist in
tho-e DAYS.
He claims that his prosecution is due TO
the spite of the people OF Guthrie because
ne worked hard to have the capital Of
the territory moved TO oklahoma City.
1.-The people of Guthrie are trying to
keep me out of Oklahoma while 1 live
and out OF heaven when l die" Terrill
said 10 the correspondent OF the Sunday
World
Ever since he was first convicted Terrill
has been trying to prove that the Crimes
and Punishment act, which he framed
and under which he was convicted, is
unconstitutional. He maintains that in
iesmuch as he was the author OF 1t he
ought TO know more about it than any
one else, and that when he says It is ille-
gal the Judges ought TO believe him and
let him go free.
But the highest courts in Oklahoma
and Kansas have decided that the Terrill
act is constitutional on every point that
has been raised.
But Terrill hasn't given up fighting.
In a few days he viii again be brought
before the United States court on habeas
corpus proceedings which he instigated.
He has kept himself before the courts for
years. and in the meantime he has given
the prison authorities more trouble than
any other prisoner ever confined in the
kansas penitentiary.
II ever there was a born agitator Terrili
IS one. He never knows content unless he
IN the meantime he has givenseaaywJud
IS I'm the midst of trouble. He has made
things lively in Kansas and Oklahoma for
thirty veans.
He was born in Illinois and is now
forty-nine years old He came to Wichita
IN 1872 and for a few years sought a liv-
ing by selling patent medicines in south
ern Kansas. He joined the Payne BOOM
ers in 1885. This was about the first gang
Of "sooners" TO break into oklahoma
OF course. il is understood tnat soon
err is one who tries TO take possession
OF land without waiting for the govern
meut 10 open it formally for settlement
Nine troops of United States cavalry
were sent after the Payne boomers, who
were chased all over the territory before
they were captured. Terrill had beauti-
fuI time. He was hustled about and
given plenty OF oppol tuuity to make
speeches when his breath was not ex-
hausted by running. He was finally ar
rested and sent to Jail for a year. which
gave him TIME 20 prepare rcOnot speeches
attacking the government.
Terrin had the land fever and his first
experience did not deter him from again
defying the government. When once a
iand-seeker is inoculated with the soon
er virus there Is no remedy Terrm
fought against it until 1893. when he again
tried 60 anticipate the opening OF the
Eovernme mt land in Oklahoma only 10 be
chased CIT and arrested. II was his sor-
~ fortune II be in jail when the first
government land opening in the territory
took place.
When he was released Torru settled in
Oklahoma and IN some way secured nos
session OF quarter section q land. the
title Of which was disputed. Being an
agitator by nature and Poruist OF
plunged into politics and was elected 20
the frst territorial legislature.
TWO measures occupied his attention.
One was the removal Of the territorial
Capital from Guthrie II Oklahoma CITY
snd tho other was the Crimes ana Pun
fshmert act. 1t took a deal or nerve Tor
9 member OF the Legislature 10 advocate
the removal OF the capital for Guthrie
was then rather elemental. and revolver
was the most potent argument there.
But the energetic Mr. TerriH made the