Barton County democrat., 1914-11-20
LIFE SENTENCE FOR WHITE
Continued from Page 1.)

raj gale. The officers were i'm
mediately notified and after a
few days placed White under ar
rest, as his actions and conflict
ing stories of his whereabouts at
the time the crime had been COM
mitted aroused suspicion.
Shortly after his arrest he made
a confession in which he claimed
that Lou McCurley had been the
inStigator ard leader IL the crime
and after a few weeks search, the
latter was arrested in Iowa where
he was at work and was brought
back and placed in Jail.
The two prisoners were brought
to The Jail here about two weeks
ago, and last Friday White made
another confession in which he
declared that McCurIey was inno-
cent and he alone was the mur-
derer. During his confinement
he has seemed altogether careless
of the outcome of the case and
showed absolutely no emotion
when This sentence was prOnOunc-
ed. The crowd who were assem-
bled to witness a court room scene
were disappointed for White
seemed to be less concerned than
any other person in the building.
He entered a plea of guilty in a
firm voice and said that he had
nothing to say why sentence
should not be pronounced. Before
prOnOuncing sentence Judge Ban
ia made a short talk in part as
follows:
"ThiS is ar occasion that is moi
sought by a court. do not be-
lieve that the court as a rule pass
eS sentence on anyone without a
feeling of regret. In the four
years | have been on the bench
| have had to pass judgment on
two or three individuals for a
crime similar to this. 1t is a terri
BILE ordeal for the court to pass
through. More particularly when
there is denial of the charge.
Courts are not infallible, jurors
are not infallible and there are
times in Jurisprudence when men
have been found guilty of crime
of this nature when Innocent For
that reason judges have a reluc-
tance for fear that mistakes might
be made.
But there is a difference here.
The defendant comes into court
and voluntarily confeSSeS the
crime with which he is charged.
So of the guilt of the defendant
there can be no question. | don't
understandable had a good deal
to do with criminal cases in my
practice at the bari don't under
stand under what prOvOcation
such a deed could be committed.
1t doesn't seem that anyone would
be able to believe that a man in
full possession of his mental fac
ultieS could work himself to take
the life of his fellow man. There
are occasions when a man can do
this sort of thing. When one is
aSSailed and it is apparent that
the only recourse is to protect
ones self from bodily injury or
death then the person aSSailed can
take life to save his own. Again,
a person may be wrought up to
such a degree of angry passion
that for a moment he loses his self
control and mental balance and in
that condition of mind take a life.
We understand how that may be.
But how one without any provo
cation can deliberately plan and
scheme and devise ways, means
and methods to take life is be-
yond our mind.
81 am not in the possession OF
all details of this terrible and aw.
full crime but do know from the
statements of the county attorney
from the verified admission Of
guilt by the defendant that there
was not any prOvocation to take
life either of Lee Morgan, OfMiS:
McQuillen or of the young maj
McGugin. He had no enmity fol
McGugin; no just ground for the
murder of Miss McQuillen mol
justification for the murder ol
Morgan. 1t was time when the
victims were far removed from
the presence of the defendant
They were at their home peace
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