The Detroit times., 1912-03-04
KILLS FOURTH VICTIM IN
WRONG STATE; GETS LIFE
Millionaire Planter Is Put Away
Beyond Temptation To
Drink and Kill

MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 4.-John
j. Hughes, millionaire Arkansas pant
er, murdered his fourth victim in the
wrong state. Riches and power mad
brought him unscathed through three
similar crimes in his own state. But
No. was killed in Tennessee.
Just for that little inadvertance OF
location this gray-haired old nan
whose cold eyes give one the slud-
ders, has been sentenced TO spend
the rest Of his life in the penitentiary.
Six days il took the jury to decide
1t, and that length OF time for jury
TO be out making this one OF the nest
remarkable trials on record. For LA
hours the IL men balanced Hughes
good reputation when sober with his
murderous hatred when drunk-then
put him away beyond the temptation
TO drink and kill. And SO they an
swered also the hysterical prayers OF
two women-the widows or Hughes
victims Nos. 1 and 2
Hughes came across the river TO
Memphis one day last summer, and,
unmindful OF the fact that he wasn't
In Arkansas, shot, and shot to KILL
With smoking revolver In hand, with
ferocious hatred in his eyes awaiting
sign OF life in his victim, Hughes
was found crouching over the bleed
ing body of Tommie Dolan, former
Jockey, In hotel room.
The clerk raised the form OF the
dying man and exclaimed: MY God!
You've killed him."
LET me finish him." Hughes cried
again and again. Officers overpow.
cred him and for the first time In his
life the slayer of four men spent an
hour In. Jail. For his prior murders
even been arrested His power was
stronger than the law In Arkansas
Eminent legal talent procured his
release on bail, and Hughes hurried
back to Arkansas. There he remained,
fighting extradition proceedings. Gov.
Donaghey of Arkansas refused to hon.
or extradition papers from Gov. Hoop
er.
An open rupture between the Two
states was only averted when quiet,
gray-haired man, bent and old, applied
at the Memphis jail for admittance.
I'm Hughes and I'm tired OF the
suspense. Lock me up"
The trial attracted hundreds OF Ar
kansas people, asking for Hughes ac-
quittal. They told how good Hughes
was to the poor and needy, how he
carried food and clothing to the sick
and helpless. Probably that was why
the jury added with mitigating cir
cumstances" to their first degree muir
der verdict That saved the aged
murderer from the gallows.
But the testimony of two women
prevented any chance OF acquittal
Mrs, Ward, who shot your llrst
husband?" asked the prosecutor.
-. J. Hughes killed him-he muir
dered him-tnere he sits now. tie
was rich and I couldn't get him con-
victed, but now you've got him i
'hope--" Then she became hystericaI.
The Ward killing occurred at
Haynes. Ark, in 1894. Ward was a
prominent citizen OF that place and
had host OF friends. They were
afraid of Hughes gum and wealth,
however. and he was not even ar.
rested
Mrs. w. w. Scott was the next wit.
ness.
Mrs Scott. who killed your hus-
band, Or. Scott?"
"That man there killed him and he
killed the best man that ever lived '
was Mrs. Scots's answer. She raised
her veil so that Hughes could see her
face. He shrank as from a pursuing
Nemesis.
Scott was killed five years ago.
The state also brought out the fact
that Hughes had been charged with
another killing and had not even
taken the trouble 10 contradict the re-
port which is generally accepted as
authentic.
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