The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-26
Friends of DIR. Murray of Hoyt
Will Appeal to Stubs.
Warden Codding Gives Support
in Plea for CIemency.
HISTORY OF SHOOTING
Annoying Attentions Given
Wife We're Cause of Crime.
Physician Awaits Mandate Be.
fore Beginning Prison Term.

Lawrence. Kan, Dec. 26.-Governor
Stubs will be asked for full pardon
for DR.. ]. w. Murray of Hoyt, Kan.
who was convicted of shooting with in
tent to kill at Bert Graham, a livery
man of Hoyt
The shooting was caused by Mrs.
Murray informing her husband that
she had been annoyed by the atten-
tions of Graham. The shooting was
before j. Z. Codding became warden
of the penitentiary and he was one of
Murray's attorneys. Murray was con-
vfcted in the district court and given
an fndeterminate sentence. The case
was appealed to the supreme court
which has sustained the verdict of the
lower court. Murray is out on bond
and can not begin to serve his sem
tence until the district court again
Ing the sheriff to take him to the peni-
Tertiary.
Meanwhile active efforts are being
made to get a pardon and in this Muir
ray has the active support of Warden
Codding.
Mrs. Murray is a handsome and tall
ented woman and her father. a col
lege bred man from the east. became
wealthy after marrying a Pottawat-
omie squaw, who was about one-fourth
Indian and three-fourths French.
The case is interesting to certain
people in Lawrence on account of
their knowledge of the early history
of Mr.. James, the father of Mrs. Muir
ray.
About James Early History.
James was Quaker and was in
charge of the hosiery department of
a large eastern department store. His
brother was wealthy contractor in
the same city. All went well until
James relations with the daughter OF
a sea captain were discovered by the
-L-s~
apartment and locked the door. James,
being hot tempered, waited for no fur
Their action. but shot the captain and
escaped through window.
He came west. married the Indian
girl and lived in poverty in a small
cabin upon her allotment.
At this time Mahlon H. Newlin of
Lawrence, father of John Newlin, was
government agent for all of the In
dams in Kansas and his son, John, was
in charge of the Pottawatomie agency.
The fact that James was a man with
an education and of high natural men
tally caused him to be taken to Wash
ington by Mahlon H Newlin as an in
fterpreter. There he proved himself to
be SO. bright by his thorough under
standing of all of the details connect
ed with the Indian affairs OF the state
that the officials recommended that he
be given permanent employment and
he was given a clerkShip under New
lin.
Learned Captain Wasn't Dead.
While in Washington James deter
mined to make a visit home to his
mother and there he learned that the
captain had been but slightly wounded.
that he was now dead and that the
woman had disappeared, so there was
no one to prosecute him and he was
free to come and go as he pleased.
Later when the tribal lands were al
1otted he obtained the land for his wife
and children in one body near the
agency, and by shrewd dealing with
the Indians managed to become a
wealthy man before he died.
Mrs. James was beautiful woman
and her children took after her and
were naturally attractive. They were
reared Catholics and were educated at
Leavenworth. An older daughter is
now a successful school teacher in a
southern town. Mrs. Murray was
named Rebecca, after the wife of Oil
yer Butler of Baldwin. who at that
time was in the governm ent employ at
the Pottawatomie agency.
Those in Lawrence who knew of the
case believe that the hot blood of her
father must have been inherited by
Mrs. Murray and therefore they can
understand how her husband should
have become enraged at the reports
she gave of annoyances by Graham