The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-05-29
ANOTHER GOES FREE.
Governor Hoch Pardons Joseph B.
Hinton, Sentenced TO Hang.

Joseph B. Hinton first degree murderer
from Phillips county. was given COM
mutation OF sentence this morning by
Gov Hoch. and will be released from the
state peni1enriary on April =. 1911. after
serving 10 years Hinton was sentenced
TO hang
The terrible crime for which Hinton was
convicted Was the murder OF his sweet
heart Maggie Shurtz a I7-year-old girl.
At the time Of the crime in 1911 Hinton
himself was only IS years old and was
barber working n the town of Logan. He
and Maggie ShurtZ became engaged to
be married and the parents Of the girl
objected and refused to allow her to see
Hinton She told him that he would have
to stop coming to see her, and he propos-
arrangement was made, he claims, and
he also claims that written agreement
70 TINS eIect was ara VI up SnC slsLleu ~ ~
both OF them On me day OF the lrageoy
he came to tho back door of the Shurtz
home and talked 10 the girl for few
minutes on the steps 1hen ne put ms
arms around her. kissed her, and, draw
ing a revolver. shot her twice through the
breast Then he turned the revolver on
himsef and shot himself through the
breast The girl fell dead, but the bullet
missed Hinton's heart, and he was able
TO crawl away from the house He
drink. then he crayvled back TO the house
and begged the girls father TO kill him
The father refused and summoned the
sheriff Hinton was locked up and his
wound dressed He had TO be guarded
night and day to prevent him from tear
ing the wound OPEN and allowing him
At the time OF his trial the county at
1Orley and district judge offered to allow
Hinton to plead guilty TO mauSlauGlrer,
and receive n 15-year sentence Hinton 5
attorney refused 10 consent to this and
the case went 10 trial. The defense urged
was the alleged written agreement which
Hinton claimed TO have made with the
girl for mutual suicide This agreement
Hinton Gains was taken from his 2Ocket
by the girls father and destroyed The
jury did not consider the defense good
and found Hinton guilty of murder in the
first degree Judge A c 7. Geiger SEN
fenced him to hang
The two people who have been active in
fighting for HiutOn's release from the
penitenriary have been John Brown, the
bookkeeper at the penitentiary. who was
also chairman Of the speakers bureau OF
the Republican state central committee. |
and ]. NJ Mahin of Smith Center Mahin /
is a lawyer. The first effort for a pardon I
was made when Gov. Bailey was the chief !
executive OF the state \ petition signed
By q bout 100 people of Phillips county
was sent to him. and he turned il DOWN
This petition was made up mainly in 1o-
gan and Phillipsburg.
John Brown. having known Hinton well I
before he was sent TO prison. and having !
been closely identified with him since !
Hinton has been working a the -Neniten- !
tiary barber. used his influence with Gov I
1och 10 secure a communication Of SEN I
tsnCe for the young man
Ihere VIII likely be considerable crit /
Cism OF Gov. HOch's action One letter is /
on file from W. G. BisselL an attorney /
OF PhnlipS1urg- asking in the name of the !
parents or the murdered girl. that the 7
opposition to the granting Of clemeucy be 4
taken So far as known there was no I
regular hearing Of the matter, the evil I
dence being presented to the governor /
largely by correspondence