The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-10-26
CAPPER'S BELIEF
THAT OFFICERS
HAVE RIGHT man
Governor Thinks Case Is Es-
tablished Against Sweet.
Bases Idea on Press Dis
patches, He Says Today.
STATE MAY OFFER REWARD
Every Effort to Run Down Per-
son Who Is Guilty.
Capital Punishment Might Not
Be Too Severe.
Bases Idea on Press Dis
patches, He Says Today.
STATE MAY OFFER REWARD
Every Effort to Run Down Per-
son Who Is Guilty.
Capital Punishment Might Not
Be Too Severe.

Should the state fail to establish a
case against Archibald Carlo Sweet,
held for the assault and murder of
Nellie Byers, the Moscow, Kan, school
teacher, Governor Capper will doubt
less offer a reward for an arrest and
conviction. The governor stated to-
day that he was watching the case
with interest and would take a hand
in the effort to punish the slayer of
the girl should the evidence against
Sweet fail.
No direct request has as yet been
made to the governor for executive ac-
ton. Should such action be sought
however it is probable that the gov
ernor will respond. He believes that a
case against Sweet will be established
From press dispatches, it seems
they have the right man and feel
that the officers are doing everything
possible in the case," said the gov
ernor.
to the policy of capital punishment, he
indicated today that such a penalty
might not be unduly severe in the
Byers case.
where punishment could hardly be too
severe" Governor Capper declared in
discussing the case.
Admits Former Assault.
Dodge City, Kan, Oct. 26.-It has
been disclosed by investigation here
that Archibald Carlos Sweet, the farm
hand suspected of the murder OF Miss
Nellie J. Byers, has served a term
the reformatory at Hutchinson for an
assault upon girl AT that time ne
went by the name of Archie Aberdeen.
He admits serving a sentence but
maintains his innocence in the Byers
case
swe.t admits that he wsE sjthin =
quarter of a mile of the scene of the
crime and says he could have heard
her voice if Miss Byers had screamed.
He was hunting with a double barreled
shotgun at the time of the assault.
Sweet has made many damaging ad-
missions, and the officers are puzzled
in regard to his story.
All circumstances seem to connect
Sweet with the murder. The fact that
no strangers were seen in that sparsely
settled part of the state would ind1-
cate that the crime was committed by
a local man. Sweet, so far as is
known, was the only man within
considerable distance at the time of
the killing.
The teeth marks on Miss Byerss
neck indicate that d tooth was missing
on the left side. Sweet has a tooth
out, but it is on the right side of the
jaw.
Clothing Is Found.
The clothing worn by the murdered
school teacher on the day preceding
the attack. were found near the scene
of the crime. Her waist was buried
ir the bottom of the hole where the
body was found.
Archibald Sweet, according to in
formation that came out following his
arrest, is "a years old. He was sent
at the age of II, from Bourbon county
to the Hutchinson refOrmatory for
criminal assault. He was released in |
1901. Sweet has no education, having |
Gone to school only a few months. The |
officers are puzzled by the frankne5s |
of his story regarding his actions on |
the day of the murder. He seems will |
ing to tell everything he knows, either |
ignorance of the damaging |
nature of his sta tements or for some |
Shrewd unknown purpose.
Sweet Lived in Fort Scott.
Fort Scott, Kan, Oct. 26.-That |
Archibald Sweet and Archibald Alber~
deem are one and the same person is |
felt sure here. Aberdeen has been |
gone from Fort Scott quite little time |
and has a police record in Fort Scott. |
He is about 35 years old and has been |
in western Kansas Sweet claims his |
homo Fort Scott.