The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-06-07
DEATH TO RESCUE
Edward Wilkinson Saved From
a Prison Cell.
By Own Act He Now Lies Cold
and Stark.
PREFERRED TO DIE.
Kissed Babies Good by and Took
Poison.
Physicians Worked Hard to Save
Life But Failed.
PREFERRED TO DIE.

Right under the eyes of his wife and
two babies, and while under guard of
Sheriff A. T. Lucas. Edward Wilkinson,
who yesterday afternoon confessed to
grand larceny before Judge Dana and
was sentenced to the penitentiary, COM
nitted suicide on Wednesday evening
just a few minutes after O'Clock by
swallowing Is grains Of morphine. He
took his life in the front yard of his
home at 1906 Quincy street. His death
occurred at II o'clock at the county
jail
Wilkinson had taken $3.50, belonging
to John Barber, the contractor, who
built the Topeka club house at Sixth
and Harrison streets. He claims to
have found the money and not know
ing just to whom it belonged, he ap-
propriated it. On the following Mon
day morning Barber called the men to-
gether before they began work and
stated that he would give $50 to the
man who would return the money.
Wilkinson told Sheriff Lucas that he
would have returned 1t at that time,
had he not spent the greater portion.
7 went around and paid up my gro
Gerry bills and other debts with it. said
Wilkinson. Otherwise 1 would have
given it back on Monday morning. ="
A few days afterwards Wilkinson left
to Holton to work on a school house.
Instead he went to Emporia, then to
Denver, from there to Seattle, back
down to San Francisco, back to Seat
tie again, from there to Butte. and then
to FIT Mason, where he enlisted in the
regular army in February. His disap-
pearance caused him of being suspect
ed of having taken the money, and he
was arrested by the California officers
at the instigation of Sheriff Lucas.
Lucas and County Attorney Hungate
went to San Francisco after him, and
returned about week ago. On the
trip he was very cheerful. His manly
| looks, and general good behavior at
tracted the attention and sympathy on
/ board the train, and he had a real en-
| joyable return trip.
At first he denied having taken the
money. but Sheriff Lucas, who had got
| ten some preliminary evidence from
! Willkinson's wife, put his prisoner
through a severe sweating process, and
| finally eked out an admission from
/ him
Vain attempts were made by his fam
/ lily to square" the matter during the
past few days. Yesterday afternoon
about 2 O'Clock Wilkinson was taken
/ before Judge Dana, where he pleaded
guilty to grand larceny and was sem
! fenced from one to five years in the
i penftentiary under the indeterminate
law, His appearance in the court room,
/ erect, manly and frank, attracted the
attention of the court officers and d
/ general sympathy was expressed for
him. The court was much impressed
and gave him this letter to the warden
| of the penitentiary, which would have
shortened his sentence to one year, in
case of his good behavior. The letter
| is as follows:
To the Warden of the State Peniten-
tiary at Lansing, Lansing, Kan.
Dear Sir:-The defendant, Ed Wilkin-
son, to whose commitment this letter is
attached on June s. 1906. pleaded
guilty to the offense. of grand larceny
( The defendant before the commission
ton of being a hard working and in
dustriOuS young man. He has wife
and two children who are dependent
upon him for support.
When confronted with the charge he
pleaded guilty. This young man comes
of an excellent family and heretofore
has no criminal record. In our iudg-
ment the minimum imprisonment would
be sufficient punishment for his Of
A. W. DANA. Judge.
OTIS HUNGATE. County Attorney.
It was the plan of Sheriff Lucas t.
take Wilkinson to the penitentiary to
day. So on Wednesday afternoon
about 4 o'clock Wilkinson expressed
desire to see his wife and children a
1906 Quincy street Sheriff Lucas
took him there in a buggy. He talked
to his wife for a while. She told hin
that she thought it best for her Il
secure a divorce and that they liv,
together no longer. Wilkinson begged
her to wait year for him, and tina
they would then go together again
and be happy. But she would no
listen to him.
So he got into the buggy again Will
Sheriff Lucas and they started away
He asked Lucas to stop. for he haC
forgotten to kiss his baby. So tn,
sheriff returned and stopped at tn,
walk leading into the house. HI
called to his wife to come out anC
bring the baby. With her came th'
older child also, and Wilkinson asked
the latter to get him a drink OF water
He got out of the buggy and stood
Just a few feet from the vehicle. Sud
denly without a word Of warning ht