The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-03-18
USED STEAK BFATER
AND CARBOLT ACID
Enfaged Citizens Prevented
From Lynchiug With
Greatest Difficulty

special 10 lDdliN Leader.
Lawton, Okla March lS-This morn
ing in the sixtCfnth division OF the
district court before District Judge
j. Il johnson. opened the trial OF John
Hopkins, the Kingston MOI gambler
nd minor who, with the use of steak
heater and carbolic acid, murdered
his wife in this city on the evening Of
october 30 1907 and who has since
that time been incarcerated in the Co
manche count Jail Acting for the
defense through the appointment OF
the court is w G. Henderson, a inem-
Der of the l.awion bar. For the pros.
ecution are County Attorney John A.
| Fain. Assistan County Attorney John
NJ. Young and Judge LoWs Davis, who
has been employed by the father OF the
murdered woman
Because Of the unusual brutality OF
the murder and the excitement caused
at ths time ID is expected that diff
Guilty VIII be experienced in securing
a jury The trial win continue for
caveral days.
Hopkins has entered a plea OF not
lguilty and will make a lght for his
Freedom upon the ground Of temporary
Insanity. His condition oi mind be will
claim was brought on by injuries re-
ceived la a mine explosion during the
Month of November 1906 While the
prosecution gives no credence what
ever this theory and while all the
Ievidence thus far made public fayors
lconviction, IL IS understood that some
lsurprises are to be sprung by the de-
fenae
a the time of the murder Hopkins
and bis wife had been married about
is years during the greater part OF
which they hdliVed In Kingston, Mo.
For a time he worked in the mines and
Supported his family Well Later he
contracted tn habit OF drinking and
gambling and often abused his wife,
After enduring this treatment for
many years the wife left him ana re-
turned to her father This was in the
spring OF 1907. soon alterward Hop
/ kins tried TO induce the wife to return
to him. She refused and he. becoming
Iangered. came again, drunk, and Gre
ated disturbance that his father-in-
law. ! b. liaworth. a prominent bust
uass man OF Kingston had him arrest
ed for and thrown into jail for term
OF 60 days.
In order to avoid further trouble
with her husband Mrs. Hopkins came
to Lawton soon after this, bringing
with her their little son. Arnold, IL
years OF age A younger son, Deshie,
was placed IN Christian school at ST.
Louis. and daughter IA years old,
was left with anuncle of Hopkins Jack
Hopkins OF Lyons. Kan
Here she was keeping house with her
little son and l7-yearold nephew, Ed
gar Galyon in the home OF her sister
during she absence OF the Galyon fam
! lily on their Big Pasture farm.
Promises Not to Make Trouble.
Released from the Kingston jail,
Hopkins came TO Lawton He arrived
here Friday October 25. and Saturday
mcC'ting tried TO see his wife, but she
ran 10 the home OF a neighbOr and
avoided him. Twice more he tried to-
speak with her and once in the store
OF her hrotherin-law, J i. Galyon, she
listened to another plea for her return
or the custody OF the children Again
She refused aud he promised to trouble
her no mere.
On the following evening, during the
absence OF all but Mrs Hopkins and
/ her little son and seemingly with
complete plan of murder in view Hop
kins came to the Galyon home, entered
through the back door into the room
iwhere mis- little son was eating and
his wife cleaning the table and. chas-
ing the WIFE, made frantic by his ap-
pearance, through two rooms OF the
house TO the front door. seszed her
just as she would have made her es-
cape.
Jerking her back into the room, the
ruiflan. ,wioe as large as the woman.
struck her twice over the head with
steak beater, roughaned on one Side
aud partly sharpened ON the other
AT the second blow. the beater flew
from the handle. Partl failing in his
mad desire Hopkins threw his strue-
Cling wife TO the floor tnd prying her
mouth 0pen. either with his finger or
the hands OF the weapon. poured the
contents oi a two-ounce bottle OF car
bolic ac.d into her throat IN the
struggle, much Of the acid fell upon
the wOman's face and eyes and some
was dashed into hia own face
Just as the fendish attempt was
completed, Edgar Galyon the nephew
OF the murdered woman, arrived and
Hopkins pretending that he had also
killed himself rolled over upon the
floor and awaited the coming OF the
officers who were Immediately SUM
mOned
MTs. hopkins fingered between life
aud death Ion "a hours and the follow
ing evening died from the effects OF
the carholic acid
Denied knowledge OF Crime
Hopkins was lodged 10 the county