Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-06-18
PROF. THRELkELD IS
DENIED new TRIAL
And VIII Soon Go To Prison
Reads Lengthy Statement
To Court

Nicholasvillc, Ky, June 18-
Motion for a new trial by Prof.
T. B. Thrclkeld, j. years old. prin-
Icipal Of the ThrelkeId Select
School for Boys, sentenced to
serve 4 life term in the Kentucky
!reformatory at Frankfort, for the
murder of Arthur Denman last
October, was denied by Judge w.
K. Shackeliord, in circuit court
here. Sentence was pronounced
by the Judge and the aged man
will probably begin serving his
term within the next few days.
At the conclusion of attorneys
arguments. and the presentation
OF claims for a new trial, Prof.
Ihrclkeld addressed the court, de
claring that his conviction was
brought about by perjured tcsti-
mony. He said ne did nothing
he was not forced to do and only
regrets the necessity OF the act.
The claims for new trial were
argued on behalf of the Common
wealth by Commonwealtah's At
torney Ben A. Crutcher, and OH
behalf Of the defendant by Judge
Z. 3. Hoover.
The main contention Of the de-
fendant for Il new trial was the
newly discovered evidence of d
witness, Jesse Willis. who had
never testified, and who. accord
ing to the defense, would state
facts that tended to prove that
The door Of Dcnman Bros store
was locked and that Arthur Den
man approached the defendant for
the purpose of striking him when
defendant shot him.
Prof. Thrclkcld in clear voice
asked permission to read the fol-
lowing statement he had prcpar-
cd:
In answer 20 what [ have TO
say TO to why judgment should
not be pronounced against me. I
desire FIST to say that | most sin
cerely thanHl the honorable Judge
of this court for the impartial
manner in which he has conduct
ed the trial Of my case. L also
thank each officer Of this court
for the universal courtesy and
kindness shown to me.
AS to the verdict Of the Mcr-
Ger county jury rendered against
me, | feel it to be unfair, unjust
anal not il accord with the laws of
God or NY country. and | know
it was brought about by pcrjured
testimony, Since the day ] was
forced to commit the homicide,
myself and family have been
bounded. prosecuted and pursued
by the powerful, unrelenting anG
unscrupuIous combined influence
OF the relatives Of the deceased,
to prevent d ftll and fair investi-
gaticn OF this tragedy, and my
conviction is their reward for this
evil ana unhoIy conspiracy.
However. for more than three
score and ten years | have, 50 far
as | could. obeycd and upheld the
laws of the land and for more
than IS years | have tried to i'm
press upon the thousands of
young. men and women whom [
have taught, that they should al
ways respect and hold in reyer-
encc the laws OF God and should
obey the laws Of the land, and
now that | am aged and feeble
the victim of evil mems revenge
i shall not forsake or depart
from this teaching | have given
my boy and my girl and have
practiced in my life, but | say to
thcnl-to them and to the world
i have done nothing | was not
forced to do.
81 cannot now, much as [ re-
gret the necessity of it, see that
that / could have done otherwise
than | did. | do not believe the
verdict reflects the views or wish
es, or the true sentiment of the
best and law abiding element of
the citizenship of Jessamine coun
ty, and now, still believing that
He who is able to keep me, will
right all wrongs and that justice
will prevail. | commit my enc
mics to the mercies Of the just
God and submit myself to the
Judgment of the court