Rocky Ford enterprise., 1909-01-22
LIFE SENTENCE
FOR MURDER
Cleveland Nun Convicted 'oi
Killing Thurman Walker
MADE CONFESSION
OF HElE0US CRIME
Jury Could Not Fix the
Penalty at Death

Penalty at Death
Cleveland Mum, the younu fellow
arrested in this city early in Novem-
Der and charged with the coid-blood-
ed murder of his companion. Thur
man Walker, a fine young man of
Valley Falls. Kan, was last Friday
evening found guilty of murder in the
first degree and on Saturday he was
taken to the penitentiary to serve out
life sentence in cxpiation of his
crime.
The trial was begun in the district
court at Pueblo on Thursday after
noon. John Blazer of Manzanola was
the first witness. He knew Walker
well and had also seen Num-, who
worked at the Beatty ranch near
him. The witness identified Num-.
Walker told him that he and Mum
intended to drive to Cheyenne. Walk
er had saddle, watch, bedding and
grip full of clothes when he left
He saw the two as they passed his
place on their way TO Wyoming.
| Peter Soupesct of Rocky Ford was
put on the stand and testified to buy
ing a saddle of Num- sometime in
| September. At first he did not want
l
to a livery stable and offered it for
SI2 He wrote check for the
amount and when he asked to whom
the check should be made. Num- re-
piled Thurman Walker" The check
was produced and Mr.. Soupesct idcn-
tilted it as the one he had given
Mum for the saddle. 1t bore the
name Thurman Walker" endorsed
on its back. On cross examination
Mr.. Soupeset said that he was not
sure that Mum had told him his
name was Walker, but was sure he
said to have the check made out to
Walker.
/. L. Mock of Fowler testified to
finding the body September IL at q
point In the Arkansas river one and
The body was on a sand bar about
fifty yards from the water. The wit
ness did not examine the body and
was not present when it was buried.
The body was clothed only in blue
wooden shirt and socks. Mock said
he was present when the body was
disinterred November ?, and II had
on the same shirt. There was a rope
about the neck, to which was attach
ed a strap.
A. L. Dotson. of near Nepesta, tes-
tilted as to seeing the body where 1t
was found in the Arkansas river. He
examined the body and saw bullet
hole in the head. He took the low
er jaw to the river and washed it off
and found several front teeth had
nation the witness said the bullet
hole was in the top of the head.
There were no distinguishing marks
about the teeth. The face was too
badly dccomposed to recognize.
Edwin L. Walker Of Valley Falls.
Kas., a brother of Thurman Walker,
was called for the state. He testified
that his brother left home about the
first of April, 1903. He was nineteen
years of age and had brown hair. A
letter was handed him and he identi-
fed it as his brothers handwriting.
The letter was admitted As evidence.
1t was written by Walker from Man
zanola to his mother in Valley Falls.
In it he told his mother that he in
tended driving through to Wyoming
and buggy, and that he would take
his saddle, as he expected to get
job as cowboy. He was going, he
said, mostly for the trip and to see
the country. The letter was written
August IS and was received August
10. the day of the killing.
Mr.. Walker testified that his
brother was never heard of after
ward. and early in November he
came to Colorado to look for him.
Coroner Mcdonnell testified that he
viewed the body when it was first
found. He found bullet hole in the
forehead. about two inches above the
eyebrows, and later took the bullet
from the brain cavity.
The evidence of Sheriff Potter, in
Producing Nunn's confession. brought
the states evidence to a close on FRI
day morning.
The attorney for the defense offer
ed no witnesses. and the arguments
were very brief. the case going to the
jury at ; o'clock. Under the instruc-
tions of Judge Essex the jury could
not bring in a verdict fixing the pen
altv at death. as there was no direct
evidence to the murder
The full confession of Mum fol-
lows:
"My name is Cleveland Num-. NV
age is 10 years. My residence is
Roctv Ford. Colo.
| "In August 1908. I and Thurman
Walter were working for the Beatty
Brothers at Manzanola. Colo We de-
cidcd to 90 overland to Cheyenne.
Wyo.. in single buggy. The first
day we drove to Ncncsta. in Pueblo
county Colo. and camped near the
bridge over the Arkansas river. just
west of Nepesta station.
1--WE ate our supper and played one
game of cards. About 9 p. m. Thur
man Walker went to bed. Had his
coat under his head for pillow. While
Thurman Walker was lying there, and