The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-11
O'NEIL TO HANG.
Federal Prisoner May Pay Death
Penalty for Murder.
In Jealous Rage Charles O'Neil
Slew His Sweetheart.
MADE NO DEFENSE.
Crime Was Committed on a
Government Reservation.
Slayer Was Soldier Stationed
at LeavenWOrth.

Kansas City, Mo-. Jan. 11.-Charles
O'Neil a private in the Fourteenth
United States infantry on trial for the
murder of Minnie Scharbora, at Fort
Leavenworth, Kan, July 20, last, was
found guilty of murder in the first de-
gree by a jury in Kansas CITY, KAN
today. and his punishment fixed py
Judge Pollock of the federal court st
death by hanging.
The crime was committed on the gov
ernment reservation and therefore the
law OF Kansas which abolished capital
punishment does not apply.
The murder grew out of the Jealousy
of O'NeiI in his love for Miss Scharbora.
a servant in the household of Captain
Charles L. Murphy.
The Only Plea Was Jealousy.
Il was Jealous of another fellow"
This is the only excuse OF Charles
O'Neil a private in the Fourteenth
United States cavalry, for Staying Miss
Minnie Scharbora, an attractive French
waiting maid, July 20. on the govern
ment reservation at Fort Leavenworth.
The lack of defense made O'Neirs trial
in the federal court in Kansas City,
Kan, a mere formal proceeding. The
soldier was on trial for his life. but all
of the evidence on both sides was in
troduced yesterday afternoon in two
,
morning the case went to the jury.
Miss Scharbora was employed in the
home of Captain Charles Murphy.
O'Neil had been keeping company with
her for several months and they were
engaged. The young woman went to
dance with another soldier When
C'Neil spoke to her about the rival they
had quarrel and he bought revolver.
The Maids Mistress Testifies.
Mrs. Charles Murphy. who saw the
killing, was the first witness for the
government yesterday afternoon.
I was in a room upstairs the morn
ing of July 20 when Minnie ran up
from the dining room and said that
O'Neil was downstairs with a. pistol
and had threatened to kill her." Mrs.
Murphy said. I'VE locked ourselves
in the room. and telephoned for help.
When the soldiers came O'Nel had
gone Later they found, him. ---
Lieut.. r. c. Hand, the officer of
the day and Corporal H. c. Van Meter
brought Private O'NeiI to- the house
to be identified. / was not able to
identify him and called Minnie. She
said that O'Neil was the man who had
been there and threatened her. Min
ME returned to the dining room and
Lieutenant Hand recalled her to ask
another question.
Minnie and I were standing just in
side the door. Lieutenant Hand was
standing just outside with his left
arm raised and his hand resting
against the door without speaking
O'Neil drew revolver and fired four
times under Lieutenant Hands arm.
Minnie fell and died instantly. My
dress was burned by the powder
Prisoner Was a a Good Soldier.
The other witnesses for the gov
crnment were Lieutenant Hand. Cor
poral Van Meter. Serg. William Ross.
DIR. c. G. Snow and William F. Osten-
hauser, private. O'Neil escaped from
Sergeant Ross when they were on the
way to blacksmith shop to have leg
irons placed on the prisoner He
eluded a searching party of several
was captured by Private Ostenhauser
'I found O'Neil in the weeds near
Lake Merit Ostenhauser said.
"When he saw me he ran and jumped
ordered him to halt. When he start
ed with me to the guardhouse he in
luired, rs my Minnie dead ?''
O'NeiI Had But One Witness
ONeil had only one witness Adjt.
p. H. Clark of the Thirteenth infan-
try He said that previous to the
shooting O'NeiPs conduct had been ex-
cellent.
O'Neil was a witness in his own de-
tense: He said that his home was in
New Burnsides, III. He enlisted in the
army in 1905 in st. Louis
We SOu hllOAlCdleO dl the llme
of the killing ?" Harry ]. Bone, the
United States district attorney, in
quired.
No"
why did you kill Miss Scharbora %
81 was Jealous of another fellow
that's my only excuse"
O'Neifs attorney is w. w. Hooper
Of Leavenwortt. He was appointed by
the court
Six jurymen were excused from serv-
ice because they said they disbelieved
in capltal punishment. Judge Pollock
inquired of one of these jurors:
Is your belief the result of reli-
gious training ?"
Yes"
The better is very charitable the
Judge replied, but if there were more
hangings there would be fewer muir
Do