Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-12-09
Wallace Gives Up.

Of A. B. Wilkins & Co., H. 7. Wood
ward & Son and the j.N.Davis Mercan-
tile Cos, November 18th and 10Th, and
escaped after being caught with the goods,
before being arrested, returned to town
at | o'clock A. NJ, Saturday and gave
himself up to Sheriff Kidd. He was
put in jail and kept there until Saturday
afternoon when he was realeased on
bond Of 100000 and his preliminary
hearing set for Tuesday. December 18th.
R. J. Taliaferro and J. B. Harbaugh
are his bondsmen.
He has little to say about his expert
ence or his place Of abode during the
week that he kept in hiding but it is
quite certain that he was not far away.
In discussing the matter he merely says
he became weary Of the secluded life
and concluded that it would be less pun
ishment to come in and submit to the
penalty for his misdeeds.
Mr.. Wallace is very tall and slender
and appears to be about twenty-five
years of age. His height is 6 feet and 7
inches. He appears to be young man
Of more than ordinary intelligence with
no visible traits Of a criminal. In speak
ing Of the larceny with which he is charg-
ed, he does not mince words. He
simply makes clean breast Of it all and
clear cut confession, and he has the
manhood to blame no one but himself.
He exonerates Ed. Newkirk, who was
with him on the occasion and who is al
so under arrest charged jointly with him.
completely. and says that Mr.. Newkrk
not only did not have part in any Of
the stealing but that he knew nothing Of
his (Wallace's) taking the goods-that
he(W alIace) took the goods when Mr..
Newkirk was not looking at him. Not
withstanding this confession, there are
those who still contend that Newkirk is
guilty. Seward |. Field has been en-
ployed by Wallace to represent him. AS
matters now stand Wallace and New
kirk are both charged with felony.
Mr.. Newkirk's trial which was first
set for last Wednesday has been post
poned twice. When the case was call
ed before Judge Cole Wednesday morn
ing, Samuel Griffin representing the coun-
ty attorney in his absence, changed the
charge from misdemeanor to felony
and asked for a continuance until Satur-
day. On Saturday another continuance
was taken until the 18th, when both
Newkirk and Wallace will probably
have their preliminary examination unless
there is to be another continuance.
The return Of Wallace and his arrest
together with his admission, if he remain:
firm in his declaration, should go fal
toward Ed Newkirk's vindication, whose
misfortune lies in the fact that he wa,
with Wallace In all Of the stores from
, which goods were taken. This, o.
course, is a very remote circumstance
and slender thread on which to hans
a prosecution. AS usual in such cases
there are many stories in circulation con.
cerning Newkirk's conduct while II
. company with Wallace. but he very en-
I phaically denies all Of these accusations
tending to reflect on him. Most of these
stories are very unreasonable and wholly
unworthy Of credit.
i As stated in this paper last week, i
the prosecution has ne other eUidenc.
than that which has been disclosed, th.
! arrest Of Newknk was hasy. The sew
eral continuances were also unjust to him
. and now that Wallace has confessed
tue state owes It to the public to eithe
: produce evidence Of Newkrk's guilt o.
end the farce.
. There are men IN every community
T who are ever ready to accept a mer,
. breath Of suspicion against man as abso
hte proof Of guilt. and the fact that tn.
accused enjoys a spotess characte
!. seems to stimulate desire on the part o
E some to pull him down.
8 The Index says this with due re
spect to the merchants who have suffered
this theft. We JOIN them IN desire t.
see the guilty party punished and ther.
, is no question that he viii be punished
but IN our zeal to punish the guilty w.
j should be broad enough to distinguish
between the guilty and those who hap