Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1905-11-30
Murderer Sentenced to The
Penitentiary for Life.
THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE"
SAYS PRISONER TO JUDGE
Outlaw and Horse Thief Gets Heavy
Sentence for Killing Of School
Teacher Walter Lyon. \

II thank you very mucn lOr the ad-
vice, but l don't think 1t will do me
any good" said Claude Doane yester-
day in response to words of admoni-
ton which were given by Judge Ira
A. Abbott in sentencing him TO ninety
years in the penitentiary at Santa Fe.
Doane plead guilty to murder In the
second degree, on a charge of having
murdered Walter Lyons near Ramah,
between June 4th and June 14th.
Donne was brought to the city yes
terday morning by Sheriff Harry Cod
dington and yesterday afternoon was
taken before Judge Abbott in the
district court, where he withdrew his
! plea of not guilty and entered a plea
of guilty of murder In the second de-
gree, Julius Staab, his attorney, be-
ing present.
! When asked by the court IL he de-
sired to withdraw his plea Of not
guilty and file one of guilty, Doane
answered that he did. When asked
| IL there was any reason why sentence
should not be passed upon him he
answered:
II give you my word that am
victim of circumstances and trust
to God that you will have mercy ON
me-"
District Attorney Clancy then out
/ lined the case against Doane and
went over a brief history of 1t. He
stated that Walter Lyons came from
Michigan few years ago, was man
of education, followed school teach
/ ing during a portion of the year and
put In the rest rowing about the
country. He became acquainted with
Doane at Concho. where Doane was
working in saloon for one Lopez.
When school closed for the season,
Doane, and Lyons left Concho on sad
die horses and leading a pack ami
NAL. They arrived at Zuni on June
I'd and at Ramah on June 14th. There
Doane bought some ammunition for
his rifle and after inquiring the road
to Gallup left Ramah In company
with a party who were out looking
for cattle. The party rode with them
for distance of four miles and after
showing them short cut to Gallup
left them. on June 14th the badly
decomposed body of Lyons was found
In a thieket and from the Indications
robbery was the motive Of the crime,
as Lyons had some $125 with him. A
pocket was found 10 be cut from his
trousers and the body had been drag
ged into clump of bushes. He was
shot from the right side and the
empty shell, which corresponded
with the rifle carried by Doane was
found on the ground near where the
man had been murdered. Doane was
afterward seen with Lyons horses In
his possession and later the horses
which belonged to Lyons were found
in possession of men living at Los
Padillas. These men testified that
they had bought the horses from
Doane. Mr.. Clancy outlined a very
strong clrcumstantial case against
Doane and told the court of the cap
ture of the murderer after he had
been In this vicinity and of the re-
Iovery of the horses which he had In
his possession. He had been just re-
leased from the penitentlary for the
crime Of horse stealing and his rep
utation was bad, said the attorney.
He also went over the story OF his
arrest by Ben Williams and Frel
Fornoff In Taos Canyon.
When Doane was asked IL there
was anything he could say in reply
to the district attorney he answered
that there was much he could say In
regard to various things the pur-
chase of ammunition, etc. He said
IL was true fact" shat he was con-
victed of horse stealing.
Judge Abbott stated. In pronounce
| ing sentence, that while II would be
necessarily painful tn himself as wei
as the prisoner, the unusual atroelty
of the crime made 1t necessary for
the sentence to be one which would
confine him In the penitentlary for
the remainder of his natural life. lie
told Doane that he should never lose
the hope Of being pardoned and that
/ If his life should show decided
change there was hope for him.
you should leave off trying to de-
celve people, stop being dishonest.
Live as you should and be honest with
yourself and the world" said the
Judge.
The Judge said that Doane was en-
titled to some pity, when one consid-
cred his birth and early life. which
was so cast that the defendant had
no hand In the moulding OF his char
acter and that Il was not unnatural lie
should fall into the way OF living
which he did. bat that he was now old
enough. yet not too old, to make a
change
Unless you change your ways"
Gald the Judge. there is one person
that you cannot evade. even though
you break from the penitentiary that
person being yourself. AS long rs
you remain In your present frame OF
mind you will be a punishment to
yourself"
Then the court formally sentence
ed the prisoner to ninety years In the
penitentiary and called upon Sheriff
Coddington TO remove him. The part
Ing words Of Doane came as sur
prise as he seemed very penltent up
to the time he had received sentence.
Sheriff Coddlngton placed manacie
on his wrist TO which was fastened a
leading chain and he was led back to
the ernalillo county jail. He viii be
the Bernaillo county jail. He will be
Ing
The prisoner BY exemplary behavior
I has "A chaneo fn emf daun his aanfanef.