The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-12
LEAVES NO
HOPE FOR
C0NVICTS
Death Only VIII Prevent Hang
ing Next Friday
HISTORY OF THE CRIME
Dora Wright Killed a Child by
Cruelty Whipping 1t

cut lne de2LA OF the pTlSOnSTSB NndfIeS
Barrett white, and Dora Wright, ne
gress, that viii prevent their execution
next Friday at South McAlester, 1. T., by
officers Of the United States government.
Both the president of the United States
and the Attorney. general have officially
notified the authorities at South McAles-
ter TIT the applications for communion
OF the death sentences to life imprison-
ment are denied. This leaves no hope for
either of the condemned.
The attorneys for the Wright woman
had two conferences with President
Roosevelt, who asked numerous questions
regarding the testimony produced at the
trial and expressed disgust at the nature
OF the crime. After discussing the matter
the president added: IF the woman was
bold enough to commit such crime, she
should have the courage to receive the
sentence" Attorney General Knox also
held out but little encouragement to the
attorneys for the woman. In long let
ter to the president Barrett, the other con-
demned person, set forth his plea for a
Communication of sentence, claiming his in
nocence and producing the argument that
during the time Barrel would be impris-
oned. As in the case of the woman, how
ever. both the president and the attorney
general refused to act.
Dora Wright was convicted several
weeks ago at South McAlester of the
murder Of 7-year-old Annie Williams by
whipping the child to death. The murder
occurred at Wnburton, l. T. during Feb
ruary OF the present year. The child was
found dead with many traces of injuries
supposed TO have been inflicted with the
switches The body was further mutilat-
ed and the woman told a story to the eff
feet that d man might have outraged the
girl, there being wounds that might bear
out that theory. Experts VINO examined
the body however, swore that the mutila-
tons were made after death occurred.
The details Of the murder of the 7-year-
old girl were of the most revolving nature.
From numerous witnesses it was proved
that the woman beat the child on numer-
Gus occasions. There was evidence that
the little girls body was covered with
bruises and there were healed scars, indi-
over a long time.
1t did not take the jury very long to find
q verdict in the Wright case As to her
guilt the first ballot was unanimous. all
twelve men voting to convict. The only
division was on the subject Of punishment.
On the FIRST ballot nine jurors voted the
death sentence believing life imprison-
ment severe enough punishment simply
because they felt woman should not be
hanged Within twenty minutes, how
ever. the verdict was returned without the
saving clause. Without capital punish
ment" st that time it was not known
whether the woman would be hanged or
not, for in all the Indian territory eX-
periences, including all those in Judge |
Parker's court at Tt. Smith no woman
was ever hanged. though several were |
convicted. The course was 10 sentence !
the women and then have the sentence |
commuted TO life Imprisonment. The exc |
cution OF the Wright woman will form |
precedent. but the authorities look upon |
It as an exceptional case. no more horrible /
crime having ever happened in the two /
territories.
Charles barrett is sentenced to hang |
next Friday for the murder of John Hen
messy. a miser. at Calvin, I. T., fofr his
money. when sentenced by Judge Clay
ton both Barrett and the Wright woman
showed no emotions whatever. The next
day after the sentence was passed upon
Barrett an offer of s. was received at the
United States macshars Office from a man
who asked ths privilege OF hanging the
condemned prisoner.
Chatles barrett was a laborer on the
Katy railroad section at Calvin. on the
same crew was an aged man. John Hen
messy. whose dcmcanor aroused the sus-
pic.on az his compnicns that he had con-
siderable money. The general opinion
was That he was miser. as no person
had ever known him 70 spend much of his
or 10 hank it,
The murder was committed on Sunday,
while the section men were of duty for
the day. Hennessv was seen 10 depart
toward the river. "a short distance away
from the section house. with q pile or
clothes on his arm. re was in the habit
Of doing his own washing each Sunday.
Barrett. who was at the section house,
excused himself and announced that he
Mas going home. The next morning the
sead body OF the old man was found near
the river bank. lie had a bullet hole
tIreueh his brain. Tracks In the under
brush near by showed how the assassin
h. I wuyIaid MS victim
Footprints wcie .,u2i leading np t. the
rlsce where ,he body !ay Then came tpe
evidence 81 rabN, ~. thc motive for the
crime. The pockets O. the I'D mans
trousers wcte cat q On with \ knife. bat
.he murderer US faIed III securing any