The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-21
Was to Have Been Hanged on
March 80.
READY FOR THE END.
Condemned Murderer Indif.
ferent About His Fate.
Now Thought Will Be No Legal
Hanging in Kansas.

sentenced to be hanged week from
tomorrow for the murder OF his sweet
heart, Minnie Scharbora. Charles
O'Nei1 has been granted a respite of
so days by President Taft A telegram
announcing the news was received by
Assistant U. S. Marshal F1enniken this
morning. O'Neil was to have been
hanged March 20.
This was the first intimation the 10
cal officers had that O'Neil's case had
reached the president. Saturday q. s.
Marshal Mackey expressed the opinion
that the president could not reach
O'Neil's case before "Wednesday, as he
was out of the city. While clemency
was not altogether unexpected. it was
not expected until late this week II at
all.
O'Neil, according to reports reach
ing here, did not expect action until
later. He has made arrangements for
death, and says he wants to take his
medicine like a man. But the move
ment to secure for him life fmprison-
ment instead of the death sentence
pleased the prisoner and gave him
hope that his life might be spared.
The respite is regarded as a sign
that the president will likely prevent
hanging in Kansas. Federal court
officers. Of course, will not make such
statements, but in various quarters the
message this morning is taken to mean
that IL the president can conveniently
do so he will grant the petition to
commute O'Neil's sentence to life Inn
prisonment and thus avoid a hanging
in state where there is so much senti-
ment and a state law against the death
penalty.
The telegram received this morning
ton of tho gallows for which bids were
received last week. It is likely that in
case O'Neil is hanged the hanging will
not take pl-ce inside the Leavenworth
r ia ore6 hut -
military reservation. 1t is reported that
the county commissioners in Leaven-
worth county do not like the idea of
hanging at the Jail.
U. S. Marshal Mackey does not ex-
pect a Communication OF rOsNeil's SEN
tence, because there is no circumstances
upon which grant OF clemency can
be made. Such being the case the ac-
received by Mr.. Mackey. does not
cause him to hope that O'Neil's SEN
tence is to be coinfnuted. but rather to
think that the presid ent will go into
the case to find IL there be a single ex-
tenuating circumstance upon which he
can find an excuse for a prevention of
the infiction of the death penalty
AS to further action on part of the
president it is problematical. Nothing
is known here of how strong an effort
is being made to save O'Nefl Even
the force of Mr.. Mackey's office. who
are hoping that clemency will be
afraid to see even a hopeful sign in the
respite for fear the sign may prove
untrue.
Mr. Mackey has repeated the state
ment he gave out shortly after the con-
viction of O'Neil. when he said that
he did not care enough. one way or
the other to make an effort to escape
his unpleasant part in the affair.
Story of O'NeiI's Crime.
Fort Leavenworth, Kan. March 21.-
1t was for the murder of his sweat
heart, Miss Minnie Scharbora, a pretty
French domestic, that Private Charles
O'Nefl, of the Thirteenth United States
infantry, was to have been hanged
The murder was committed here on
July 20 1909. O'Neil shot the girl twice
at the home of her employer Captain
Charles N. Murphy.
A score of people witnessed the unur-
der O'Neil who was Jealous Of the
girl and also brooding over a quarrel
he had with her. went to the house, on
one OF the aristocratic streets, and
called her to the front door. without
speaking word. the soldier drew his
revolver and killed her as she stood
smiling at him.
O'Neil made no attempt to escape
Immediately following the murder He
surrendered to a federal officer and
was placed in a guard house. A few
hours later, due to a mistake, O'NeiI
was placed at work on a roadway with
several other prisoners and then he
escaped.
Five hundred soldiers answered a call
to search for the murderer. Private
William Oosthuyzer. of troop r, Fiji
teenth cavalry. while on horseback.
came upon O'Neil a few miles from the
fort. O'Neil fed. He was finally driven
into small lake. Oosthuyzer covered
him with rifle and commanded him
to surrender.
rs Minnie dead" asked O'Nefl.
She is" answered Oosthuyzer.
tAlI right; you'd better shoot me,
then.'' said O'Neil, indifEerentIy. HIS
captor persuaded him to go to the fort
and surrender. Oosthuyzer was given
a corporalship for making the capture
Throughout his trial, which was held
in Kansas City. Kan, O'Neil displayed
little interest in the proceedings. He
smiled when Federal Judge Pollock
sentenced him to death. Due to the
crime having been committed on a
reservation. the case rested entirely in
the hands OF the government.
O'Neil is % years old. He was born
in New Burnside, Ill. He saw service
in the Philippines and was once q
prison guard here.
Miss Scharbora was born in Essex
Junction, Vermont. She was % years
old.