The Jeffersonian – December 22, 1894
In our last week’s issue we were compelled for want of space and time receiving the verdict of the jury too late for full comment.
This is one of the most atrocious crimes ever committed in cold blood in Oklahoma. The perpetratorof this foul deed, Oliver P. Jewell, came from Effingham, Illinois, about the first of September last — he had been in Woodward county about sixty days at the time he committed the awful crime of double murder, killing James McGwinn and the bright and beautiful little boy, Robert Hurd, of 12 years of age. This unparalleled fiend committed this crime on the 29th day of October, 1894, in a canyon, twelve miles southeast of Woodward, in this county. he went to Wm. Jones’ house, where he had been stopping for about one month, where he was arrested on Wednesday following and was brought to Woodward, had a preliminary examination, was bound over to answer action of grand jury at meeting of district court, which began on December 4th. Jewell was indicted arraigned, plead not guilty, was tried and found guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced to be hanged on 9th February, 1895.
The people of Woodward county can well be proud of our County Att’y, who spared no pains to ferret out the evidence, and at time of trial was ready to push business to a termination, and when the case was ready to go to the jury, in his closing speech to the jury, made such strong appeals that several times the jurymen and many others shed tears. It is said by those who heard the arguments of the counsel to the jury that County Attorney Smith made one of the strongest legal and convincing arguments, chaining the circumst’al evidence together so closely that it was so inseparably bound that it was impregnable from any source, and equaled any they had ever heard. Mr. Smith has made many warm friends for the energetic, masterly manner in which he handled this important case of so much value to the people of Woodward county, and in fact for Oklahoma Territory in favor of law and order.
County Attorney Smith was ably assisted by Judge J. D. F. Jennings and Hon. D. P. Marum. Mr. Marum opened the argument in the case to the jury and made a well-timed and logical argument, this being his first argument in a murder trial. He acquitted himself with great credit. Judge Jennings made no arhument in the case but aided by his long experience in the practices of law in criminal matters. The defendant, Oliver P. Jewell, was by defended that genius of young attorneys Hon. R. J. Ray, and suffice it to say every inch of advantage ground was contested by both sides.
In this case there is a profitable lesson for wrong doers, that is, crime will be speedily punished if committed in the jurisdiction of the officers of Woodward county, and if all county officers in Oklahoma will do likewise crime lessens daily and law and order will reign supreme.
