The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-07
PRISON FOR LIFE.
CONTINUED from Page one.l

''why did you do It, Lewis ?" pleaded
the agonized woman, as she realized
the fate of her only son, "Oh, why did
IaErand himself only sobbed and
tried 10 comfort the woman. But the
meeting seemed to soften the man
heart. Somehow when Miller was
transferred to his cell, Lagrand was
more penitent than at any time since
his arrest. Miller was also willing TO
make retribution for the shooting.
They've got 1t on us, kid" La
grand told Miller in the county Jail.
1--WE better square things and begin
to hunt the easiest way out.
Miller nodded his head. If he knew
that Lagrand had spent the afternoon
with his heartbroken mother. he did
not mention it. Once, early in the
evening Lagrand started to mention
his mothers visit, but he choked and
the matter was dropped. He may
lose his arm, the bones of which were
shattered by Matthews bullet
The offer of pleas of guilty from
the Matthews slayers came as sur
prise to Judge Whitcomb OF the sec
ond division of the district court IT
was after o'clock when arrange
ments had been made to take the two
murderers to the court house In the
course of the day county OFFICIALS had
stated that they feared the possibility
of a mob. If this fear was deep root
i
ding of the prisoners. The guard
that ACCOMPANIED the men from the
jail to the court house ana back 10
the 1aiI was no heavier than used in
against the lives of the men had been
few and much less frequent than
those against the life of Andrew Wal
lace, arrested last week In neither
case were special guards used by men
in charge of the jail
Sentenced Late at Night.
II required more than an hour for
the completion of the formalfties for
the arraignment of the two prisoners.
7. 8. Ensmfnger was appointed by the
court to represent the defendants. Ills
plea of guilty in behalf of the prts-
oners was perhaps one of the first
pleas of first degree murder ever re-
ceived in this county. One sentence
covers first degree murder IN Kan
sas That is life Imprisonment at nard
labor in the state penitentiary. Not
until the court was assured py ootn
men that their plea Was genuine was
this sentence imposed.
As Miller stood up to receive the
sentence he made the first confession
of the guilt of the two men, Before
that hour each had contended that
the other fired the shots that caused
the policeman's death
'TWe're both guilty-one as much as
the other" said Miller, the larger of
the TWO men, ~ nC 4OOACo cAAAAAO0oAJ
at the judge and court attendants.
'FWe're both guilty" he repeated,
''both of us shot the officer and one is
as much to blame as the other"
Then the men were sentenced The
little party left the court room in sim
gle file and a janitor turned out the
lights 1t was all over. In Is hours
the two men had been arrested, ar
raigned and sentenced for one of the
most brutal murders in the history of
the county. It was not a quiet night
that the two murderers spent in the
county Jail. They were called early
this morning to catch the train to
Lansing-both were waiting for that
call.
Taken to Penitentiary.
I'm glad it's all over" was Miller's
parting words at the Jail.
Then the party walked down the
stone steps and cab hauled them to
the depot Almost over the same
route they had been taken to Jail,
the men We're taken to the depot.
Once Lagrand looked north toward
the Union Pacific depot-the scene of
the murder-shuddered and turned |
away. A minute later their train was
called and the men started for their |
new home-for life.