Mexico weekly ledger., 1903-03-26
GARYRELLS CAREER
WRITES DETAILS OF HIs
LIFE PROM BIRTHS NOW
20 YEARS OF AGE
GIVEN UP ILL HOPE FOR RESPITE.
He Still Declares that He Killed Done.
gan in Self efense w Born
in Galloway and Lived
in Mexico Several
Years Married
Three Times

AAACE ANNA
). BUTLER, No, March 2L-Doctol
james l. Gartrell, who is to be hang
ed April Il in this city, is the oldesl
man ever sentenced TO death in Mis-
souri. Dr.. Gartrell is now nearly x
slyeam old. He is six feet tall, very
erect and has 3 long. flowing Whit
beard. He has given up hope OF a re
prieye.
During the winter Of 1900 Gartrell
lived in Kansas City. About the inst
of March he met d. B. Donegan, a
gold miner, who had Just returned
from Colorado.
D0negan wanted to go to Oklahoma
and had purchased a wagon and team.
and expected to leave Kansas City
March 20. He was alone, and asked
the Gartrells to 90 with him This
they consented to do, and the party
'lFaff T.pcac Cffu for Okiahoma aS
nrav,ans1vsrr.ngoa The westbar h.
came cold and, according to Gartrell's
story, be and Donegan had frequent
qualie.S- IN
Greek, in the western part OF Bates
county, and about loo miles south Of
Voas.s Ci,r Tho ,i,b, w,s coId and
they built a fire in the middle OF the
lcabin. Donegan made his bed on the
north side Of the cabin. where the wall
was solid.
The next morning when william
Gartrell awoke he was horrifed to find
that Dopegan had been murdered. The
miners head had been slit open with
Ian az.
The Gartrells wrapped Donegan,s
body in a sack. put it in the wagon
and went south toward the creek.
When they reached the creek they
tnok Donegan,s body ont If the wagon.
went nm TIE stream a short distance
ana threw body in the water.
Then the Gartrells drove south a
few miles tn Myhart. a small station
on the :, Touis 4 Fmnoria road
There they met q. L. Baker and
asked him II he knew OF any q they
could leave their team with.
RETURNED TO KANSAS CRY.
Mr. Raker consented 10 keen the
team Dctor Gartreil told Baker
,b.t no uopId sand a man NV the name
az Nccone aftertt.
Dr Gartren and his son toot the
train foy kansas CITY When he 70.
turned ~ Kansas CITY h. sold the
team N A n Kirhy who sent a man
nsmea Edwards after the team
Anil * the hodv ~ Donaoan vvas
discovered on the creek hank bavlrg
baap u.shed ant nv bigh water
An iovestigation immediately fol
lo1ed several citizens saw doctor
Gartren and Donegau together in the
covered waeon and the fact that the
wagon and team were left AT Myhart
led the authorities "a susuect the Car
treils. They were located in Kansas
CITY and arrested On April %.
D4Ose 'S@'ns NiN', D
1arulei mace d Confession. ne Salo
ne Anieu Donegah s~eii-ueiense lnat
DOnesan hau ~fehch anu III. MN On
Tue heau' "~heieupoh ne s.fucA Dohe-
gan Wild an az killed Mn
Donegan mao sze on ms person
Nnen kllieo' Dr. oattfeiI anu VIII
nam were orought mere ana placed IN
jan.
"illiam 1aftfen was NOT prosecute
III. Oaftfei was tfied al une
november Term OF the safes county
circuit court Inc triai lasted iour
days.
Inc jury iound III. 0artreh guilty
. Q court sehtenoeo MIN 10 De
hanged February ~ lSV2 HIS case
was appealed 10 the supreme Court
The sentence was sustained, and his
execution set for March g. 1908. A
temporary respite was granted and
the execution postponed until April
II.
DR. GARTRELL's VARIED CAREER.
Dr. Gartrell wrote the following for
the Sunday edition OF the Republic;
/ was born 10 Fulton Galloway
county, Mo-, in 1884.
My father wa born 10 Virginia. He
TO Missouri the year was born
MY mother was born In Kentucky.
My folks afterwards moved TO Fay
Mo-, where my mother died. At
my mothers death ! moved back to
Fulton. Afterwards | went to Au-
drain county. l next moved to Nor
gan county. stayed In Morgan coun-
" about one year and then moved 70
Lexington, Mo- where l worked Tor
my uncle, William Hunter, a contrae-
lor and builder. AT the outbreak OF
the civil war went 70 Audrain
puh'y' 4
! joined Poindexter $ command and
vent south, D was az the battle OF
wilson's Creek. l then returned TO
and Joined Col. Hi Bled- :
.ne's Later I served Under
,...ata va,,i.on a. ~ D..
'ep0@Hn n ~ "a" Duieni
NIX, my health became DAD n 1
vas discharged from the army. After Z
hat I vent In Ohm. /,
~