The independent. [volume] (Oskaloosa, Kan.) 1860-1874, 1860-07-18

standing on the wagon tongue driving ;
tie boy, who is about 8 years old was
by his side. The oil man seemed to
be excited aud in h~sle 10 get "n, dri-
wing south towards lowa,ile. The
team was seen four miles south OF
Batavia on Saturday forenoon. Sheriff
Robb, David Il. lluGs.u;tcr. Harrison
Smith, Milliam A Tcgarden, II. A.
Miller, Andrew Smith. Lewis Spurlock
aud Samuel E>pe started i'll hot pursuit
early on Sunday morning. They track
ed him TO near lowaville. then to near
Portland when the team crossed the
Desmoincs river. Thence to Lebanon,
IN Van Buren, CO., thence to Upton in
Scotland Co, No. Four miles south OF
Upton they found the team. man and
boy. The mans name is John Kephart;
he is an old man over 60 years OF age (,
he gave up without any resistance
The little boy seemed alarmed. and fed
to Mr.. Smith. crying and asking for
protection. The boy told the Sheriff
that lie did no. see his mother Killed.
He awoke in the night aud saw his
mother lying in the wagon dead. with
a large cash in her head. tie saw
Kephart kill his little sister. aud his
brother. They awoke. too. when his
mother was killed. and jumped out OF
the wagon and the boy said tha, KEEP
hart had some trouble TO catch them {;
they run under and around the wagon
To keep out Of his way.
kephar. had preliminary trial on
Tuesday afternoon before the County
Judge, ard waived an examination. He
was then regularly committed. 'e
The little boy 6rst1remcmbcrs seeing
Kephart in Musca,inc. in this State.
when he came to move the boys parents
and family South. His fathers name
was William Willis. kephart took the
family in'o Missouri. and they lived At
the house of a widow Snyder' sin Cass
county. for about two mouths. There
Willis died suddenly one morning soon
after eating breakfast The boys moth
cr.toM him tha, Kephart had poisoned
his father with strychnine. Kcphsr,
aud the Willis family Iivedin the Cher
okse county last winter, where he kept a
grocery and sold whisky To the Indians.
This spring lie started for Iowa, and
WAS at Dcsmoines, Pela aud Oskaloosa
few weeks. The by s,ys that his
mother was killed near Eddyvilie, Oh.
Thursday night, and the children were
killed at. the same, time. The bodies
were haulcd for over thirty miles. The
name Of the murdered woman was Jane
Willis. the murder ID children were
Joseph S. aged l2, and Maria Jase,
aged s years. The bodies were buried
near Batavia on Sunday afternoon.
kephart lived near Trenton. Henry
county, about ten years ago. and was
considcreda a man OF considerable means.
He was at one time preacher in the
Church Of the United Brethren. and
still has his certificate or license with
him. lie has a wife living in Washing
son county, and is tho father Of nine
cfssdrcn, mn ~ rss,~...---r--.--Ii-r-
He has been engaged in a number
Of d;sreputable actions in Henry and
Washington counties, and has been in
r.il. A number Of our citizens know
him well. He neither denies nor ac-
kpowleigcs the commission Of the mur,
ders. lie had quarrel with the woman
about. some money, about $4,000 Of
which vas found in ke. OF soap grease
in the Wagon. lie was asked by ono
OF the company who arrested nim wha,
he killed tie woman for. and unguard- !
ed!y replied that "she wanted to steal
his money" The clothes OF tie mur-
dercd victims. sasnaied with blood,
were in the wagon. uio. +.
HANGING HIMSELF.
The prisoner came very near reliev-
ing the Sheriff Of an unpleasant, duty.
On Tuesday evcaing the Sheriff went
into the Jail and found Kephart hanging
BY tho neck agai,is. the door OF bis cell.
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