Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1905-12-07
FREEDOM FOR
VIFE'S HONOR
is TOO DEAR,
EDMUND J. BAILEY BREAKS
DOWN WHEN TOLD OF HIS
WIPES DEFENSE.
KILLED his EMPLOYER.
Declares wife's Confession is Heroic
Attempt to Save Him.


v A'"icsi thiucTs bidyeT OF
Jay Laxder, his employer, at Farber.
Mo and brought to St. Louis for safe
Keeping aftera mob had entered the
Jail at Mexico, NO., to lynch him,
burst into tears and sobbed violently in
the st. Louis Jail Wednesday morn
ing when he heard that his wife had
made statement that her hus band
killed Lawder upon learning that she
and Lawder had been culpably inti-
mate since last August. He says that
he killed Lawder to save his wife, be-
lievlng that sooner or later she would
come under the wealthy mine opera.
tors influence.
His story told after his wild out
burst Of emotion makes it appear that
bis devoted wife is making the great
est sacrific possible to a woman to
protect her husband from the gallows.
Astounded and almost stunned when
the realization OF what his wife had
done came to him Bailey swayed to
and fro in the Jail and almost fell from
bis chair. He covered his face with
his hands and the tears trickled be-
tween his fingers.
Then looking up he said with CULVER
ing lips:
"If my wife said that she is sacri.
ficing herself, her reputation, her
good name and everything she's got for
me-"
The man seemed dazed for time,
and he had to be repeatedly assured
that his wife had made the assertion
credited to her before he would dis
cuss it.
SAYS IT ISN'T TRUE.
III she has done this am proud Of
her." be said, asmile showing through
bis tears, "but 1t isn't true. She is
the best woman in the world and /
have never accused her Of wrong do
ing. l killed Jay Lawder. l don't
want TO talk about that, and l did
not intend to say anything until ]
heard what my wife said.
II love my wife. 1t was because ]
loved her that / killed this man.
did II to save her She had never
done anything wrong. That is all |
want to say until my case comes up
for trail" "
Again he wept and repeatedly NUT
tered; "She is sacrificing her honor
and her seputatiOn to save my life |
never knew how good she was until
now.n
Bailey was told that his statement
that he killed Lawder to save his swife
indicated that be thought the atten-
ti3n and Establishments Of bis rich
employer might In time break up bis
humble home and that he killed the
man to remove temptation from bis
wife's path. He nodded his head In
assent.
"You can seeas well as can how 1t
was," he said, but he steadily re.
fused to go futher into detail as to
the relations Of Lawder with his
family.
81 know that sentiment is very
strong against me In Mexico, but
when those people learn the truth
they will think differently. 1t want
them to know that my wife has not
done anything wrong. can't under
stand how she could have gone far
as she has in making a defense fol
me.
81 killed Lawder, and the motive
and all will come out when Igo to trial
| / did it because l loved my wife and l
wanted to save her. That's all | car
tell now."
WON'T ACCEPT wIFE's DEFENSE.
Bailey is 30 years old. He is slight
and weak Of build and bis face anf
form showed the marks Of hard toil.H III
has frank blue eyes and his worn fac
bears the stamp OF honesty.
"She Is the best woman in tn
world, !" he sobbed as he was being LEI
back to his cell.