The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-18
NO MOB FEAR NOW
Archibald Sweet May Go to
Grant County for Trial.
Says He Would Rather Die by
Mob Than Go to Pen.
HE HAS TAKEN UP RELIGION
Declares He Is Innocent and
VIII Face Anything.
Gives First Newspaper Inter-
view to State Journal.

| estate Journal Staff Correspondent.
Dodge City, Kan, Nov. 1S.-Archi-
bald Sweet, held in the Ford county
Jail for the murder of Nellie Byers, is
willing to go back to Grant county fol
trial. He has no fear of mob violence
In fact Sweet today told H. R. Stubs
county attorney of Grant county, that
he would rather be hung or killed by a
mob than go back to the state peniten-
tiary for even one year. He has
SERVED four terms in the state peniten-
tiary and reformatory for varied
crimes.
For two weeks Sweet has been held
in solitary confinement. He has not
talked to person in that time. Three
times each day a deputy sheriff
pushed Sweets meal to him through
away. Often Sweet dropped a remark
and displayed a desire to talk. But
no one spoke to him. No one was per-
nitted to visit the mans cell The
state was giving Sweet absent treat
ment in the hope that the confine-
ment would force a confession from
his lips. But today Sweet is just as
positive in his declaration of limo
cence as when he was arrested.
Sweet Takes Religion.
Since his arrest, Sweet has professed
religion.
Il am ready to meet anything and
ready to face any punishment. 1 have
no fear" was the statement of the
man as he talked in broken sentences.
Sweet seemed to weigh every word and
| talked little He was poor subject
in the sweat box and when under a
| crosS-fire of questions, leaned back
against the iron grating of his cell and
looked sullenly at his visitors.
For nearly three weeks Sweet has
not been shaved: Not since the night
he was confined in the Ford county
Jail has he seen a newspaper. But
when the danger of a mob was men
toned to him, Sweet failed to display
fear
eff they are going to punish me for
this, l would just as soon they
would hang me or kill me as send me
to the penitentiary," he said.
He Fears Penitentiary.
"Why if 1 had a million dollars"
he declared, Il would give every cent
of it rather than go to the peniten-
tiary- 1 would rather be killed than
go there one year.
Sweet will not plead guilty, lie says.
Il went plead guilty because 1
didn't do this he said.
liminary hearing will be held late
next week. County Attorney Stubs
stated today that he believed Sweet
might even be tried in Grant county.
There is now but little danger of mob
violence, he believes Still Stubbs
will welcome the assistance of S. NJ.
Brewster, attorney general, in the
trial of the case and viii not object
to a special guard for Sweet during
the trial. In Topeka recently, Stubs
stated that he would never try Sweet
without protection of state troops.
AS yet Sweet has not asked for
counsel. He has no money and has
never indicated that he would like to
see a lawyer. Unless he retains coun-
sell the court will appoint an attor-
ney to defend him OF the charge of
numbering the Grant county school
teacher.
Can't Get Him in Corner.
Efforts to tighten the web OF cir
cumstances around the prisoner have
failed. There is no direct testimony
connecting the man with the as
sault and murder of the young wom-
an Sweet admits that he saw Miss
Bycrs as she was leaVing the school
house on her way to the Edison home
where she boarded. He admits that
footprints near the site OF the killing
are his, but asserts that they were
made before the crime and while he
was hunting.
Persons interested in the prosecu-
ton of the case urge that the crime
was committed by one familiar with
Miss Byers' habits They also point |
out that the scene Of the murder was !
apparently carefully planned. So far
as is known no person other than |
Sweet saw the teacher after she left |
the school house. But there is no |
direct evidence.
Unless Sweet should ask for a
change of venue, the state must try /
the case in Grant county. Even in |
view Of the agitators in the sparsely |
settled county Stubs believes that a |
Jury can be secured. A trial, however, |
will be delayed by the state as long as |
possible in the hope that Sweet may |
enter a plea of guilty He pleaded |
guilty to other crimes for which he |
served prison sentences.