The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-13
Oklahoma Convict, Terrill, Is
Still After Freedom.
Daughter Calls and VIII Aid
Him If Possible.
MAKES BITTER CHARGE
Gives Out Letter Which Scores
the Officers.
Convicted Because He Fought
Guthrie on Capital Location.

Leayenworth, Kan. March 13.-Cora
Terrill, a young girl from Oswego, kan.
is in Leavenworth for the purpose of
making an effort to have her father, I.
n. Terril, released from the Kansas
state penitentiary Terrnl has already
gained considerable newspaper notorie-
ty through his many efforts to gain his
freedom He refuses to. work in the
prison and is kept in close confinement
a good part of the time. TerrilI former
~ lived in Wichita, but moved to Ok
lahoma when the territory was opened.
He was a member of the first territorial
legislature and took an active part in
the territorial capital fight He was
sent up TO serve life Imprisonment in
the Kansas penitentiary for murder On
several occasions when he has applied
Tor a pardon he has pleaded his own
case. He is now making a last deSper-
ate effort to get out and his daughter
has answered his appeal and is here
consulting with attorneys
This morning she made an effort to
present a petition for a writ of habeaS
corpus before the district court, but as
the court is now presided over by a
judge pro tenn she was asked to hold
her petition until the return of Judge
fitzpatrick in couple of weeks. She
visited her father in the prison and
states that she was treated kindly by
alone with her father for some time.
She says he is now kept in close con-
Enement and given two meals a day,
but that he has had but one meal a day
for some time past. She viii remain in
Leavenworth until it becomes known
what action viii be taken on her petit
ton She stated today that if the
Judge refuses to grant habeas corpus
papers, she will appeal personally to
President Roosevelt. Her father gave
her very sensational letter in which
he states the causes leading up to his
trouble and telling what actions he has
taken to secure his freedom In his let
ter he attacks the prison officials, max
ing serious charges against them and
alleging a conspiracy. Following is the
letter:
Cora B. Terrill, Oswego. Kan.
Dear Daughter: Realizing, as 1 now
do, that I can endure but for a short
time longer the barbarous abuse put
upon me by my enemies. and being
fully aware that it is the design of
Warden F. B. Jewett to murder me in
this prison, therefore, I make this state
ment Of facts to you, that you may
learn of the wrongs I have suffered.
As a member of the first legislature of
the Oklahoma territory, took an active
part in breaking the RepubIicaR-slate,
and in inducing the Republican mem
bers from Oklahoma sCounty to leave
their party and help pass certain econ
olnic laws in exchange for our help to
other consideration was given, offered
or contemplated After we had perfect
ed the contract. Guthrie people raised a
corruption fund and attempted to bribe
members of the legislature. A citizen
of Guthrie, o. T, offered me $14, 900 to
vote against Oklahoma City and for
Guthrie. / refused the bride The
Guthrie people, not being able to bribe
members, then resorted to deception.
After the capital bill had passed the
council, a Guthrie citizen told me that
they had control Of one of my men, and
that there would result tie vote. and
he offered to guarantee me, talked so
assuredly, that I accepted from the
Guthrie corruption fund $1,000 as a