Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1911-07-28
HENWOOD MUST CO
TO PRISON FOR
LIFE TERM
CONDEMNED MURDERER
DENIED NEW TRIAL
Dramatic Scenes Mark Closing
Hours of Argument in Denver
Court Defense Determined to
Appeal to Supreme Court,
lBy Morning Journal Special Leased wireI

tns morning Journal Special Leased Wfrel
Denver, Colo, July 27.-Frank IL.
Henwood, convicted of murder in the
second degree for the killing Of
George f. Copeland, while shooting
at 5. L. Won Phul, the St Louis ball
loonist, whom he also killed. in ho-
tel bar room here on the night of
May "a, last, was today sentenced TO
life Imprisonment Sentence followed
the denial of an application for new
trial.
Immediately Attorney John 7. Bot
tom for the defense, announced that
he would ask II supersedeas. and fall
ing in this he would take an appeal
to the supreme court.
Seldom have the scenes that mark
ed the closing hour OF Henwood's day
in court been duplicated and never In
local tribunals have the presiding
judge and prosecutor been subjected
to such an excoriation as that pro-
nounced by Henwood when asked
what he had to say. why sentence
should not be pronounced"
There was a seriousness in Hen
woods mien as he walked to the
bench to begin his statement but n
trace of surprise at the courts denial
of his motion for new trial His
first utterance fell like a thunderbolt,
and there was the semblance of a
gasp of surprise from the spectators
when he said
Il come for sentence, but not for
justice from a Jail where for two
months / have been surrounded by
prisoners, whose faces banch and
who tremble with fear when they con-
template coming to this court for
trial so long as Judge Whitiord sits
in this division"
Henwood then reviewed the Incl
dents Of his trial. He characterized
his treatment by the court and prose-
cutor, persecution, not prosecu-
tion," declared that his attorney had
been bound and gagged by rulings of
the court" and that his trial for the
killing of George T.. Copeland, had in
reality, been turned into a preliminary
hearing of the divorce case brought
by John w. Springer. For the latter
reason he said he had been refused
sufficient time to secure funds or as
semble witnesses for his proper de
fense. He recalled the fact that he
had been denounced by the prosecu
ton as "a destroyer of Mr.. Springer 5
home" but maintained he was, and
is today, John w. Springer's best
friend" and declared that he would
spend his energies to establishing
this fact and predicted eventually his
accusers will be forced to admit its
truth
Referring to incidents of the trial
Henwood charged that the first day
Mrs. Springer was on the stand, when
1t was seen that she possessed know
ledge which would prove advantag-
eous to me-" she was excused "A
few days later when she was recalled,
Henwood continued, the bars were
put up. Mrs. Springer was not only
intimidated, but a package of letters
written by her to S. l.. Won Phul
were placed on the prosecutors table
In plain view and she was confronted
with a threat that they would be read
in open court If she testified to any
facts in my behalf. Not only this, but
her otherwise keen mind was dulled
by drugs"
There was a momentary pause as
Henwood closed his arraignment
Then the overwrought nerves of the
spectators received another shock as
the defendant in low distinct voice
said;
"I am now ready for your unjust
sentence"
attontively to every word of the de-
fcndant and abruptly interrupted az
attempt of Assistant Prosecutor
utterances, spoke briefly before pro-
nouncing sentence.
II am not surprised said Tho
court, lat your state of mind since
you come from a Jail where for two
months you have been surrounded BY
all classes of prisoners, fourteen OF
whom | so recently sent there.
II am of the opinion the verdict oil
the jury in your case should have
been first degree murder. The pros
ecutor, in his argument, contendeo
that sentence should be first degret
murder or acquital on the ground OF
seff-defense. Your own attorney
agreed to this. believe that you
shot Won Phul because Of jealousy
over Mrs. Springer. But for some
reason the jurors returned a finding
of second degree murder, The law
leaves the sentence to be imposed IN
the discretion of the court. 1t is the
opinion of this court that you shat
be imprisoned in the penitentiary al
Canon City for life