Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1909-07-23


that the execution would no, take
place
owen il apparently far from beinC
q Christian. aud while h. has studied
his Bible 4 great deal during his con.
hncmont. il has been noticeable that
It was done largely while visitor
were around the Jail.
The reporter OF this paper has tried
In various ways to be- kind to the un-
fortunate man. but he is among the
most hated OF all who have visited
him. and comes In for his share o.
the abuse along with Tailor Torla.
and Sheriff Ramsey. both Of whom
have done more than their share In
making him comfortable.
The picture herewith reproduced H.
a copy made from p graph re-.
Gently taken by Jas. : Smith at the
request Of tie doc. ID mans wife
who has remained faith ! TO hin
to tire last, ami il an exact Icproduc
ton of the man, showing his high
forehead and his present thin appear
ancc. due to long confinement. His
diary, which is "A book of mere than
fifty clOsely-written letter pages. deals
With the case from his coming to
Alachua county up To the time and
conclusion of the trial, and this. he
tatcs, is for hi children To read In
future years. and which he viii
place in the hands of his wife.
The present Mrs. owen H. the IN
fortunate man fourth wife. She !.
pluCky and still contends that she
wants to die on the gallows along
with Owen and leave their little ON,
to wife No. ;. who was here a short
while since with two children OF IN,
man from her home at OCala.
Governor ciiehrist Writes.
Numerous communications have
been directed To Governor Gilchrist
concerning owens case. and that the
Governor has made a careful inyesti
cation a. to the mans sanity is shown
Jy the following letter received b!
l citizen OF this city yesterday:
State of Florida. Executive Cham.
Ger Tallahassee, July 81, 1909.
Taking up the Owen case: the
question OF the sanity or insanity OF
ne said owen having been moOted.
endeayored To secure the opinion oi
,@e highest authority on insanity
that we Lave In the State. Chief
Medical Officer at the Hospital for
he Insane. Quoting from his state.
ncRt: After consideration, cannot
,ay that consider said Owen insane
within the meaning of the law and
acts in such cases made for exemp-
tion from punishment. | would con.
slider Owen as belonging TO that class
of dcficients or detectives known as
degenerate from among which our
criminals are almost wholly drawn
DR.. McKinstry writes as follows:
AS physician in attendance upon the
prisoner at the jail. I have had Occa.
sion and ample opportunity To observe
the said owen during the entire pc
riod OF his confinement TO the Jail
Then, by direction OF Sheriff Ramsey
| gave Owen a thorough examination
with the view of determining his pre-
else mental and physical condition
f,r the guidance OF the sheriff and
The TAILOR. therefore feel that I
am in position TO give you reliable
and disinterested information. owen
Is perfectly sane, within the meaning
Of the law. he is OF a low order OF
mentality and Is a type Of that class
Of detectives" who furnish such a
large percentage Of our criminal
classes. | might go on at length and
into detail about these detectives
or "dcgcnerates." but ! suppose you
are only interested in determining the
sanity or insanity Of this man. lie Is
not insane.
Letters have been written from
Alachua county in relation To this
case on two lines: one is that the
said owen has not received a fair
trial. on the ground that having Sc
cured no attorney himself. the court
followed the legal method OF appoint