The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1872-05-16
MURDER
ELIJAHP. MUMFORD OF PLEASANT PRAIRIE
FOUND MURDERED. GREAT EX-
CTTEMENT. ARREST OF THE
SUPPOSED MURDERER.

2 O1e of the most dastardy and apparently
7 one of the most unproyoked murders which
5 have ever occurred in this neighborhood, was
r perpetrated liz the town of Pleasant Prairie
between Sunday night and Monday morning
last. The news reached Kenosha at an early
hour on Monday and caused no ordinary ex-
element amongst our citizens. The creum
stanc es are substantially as follow Elijah
P Mumford, aged SO years, was formerly a
Commission Merchant in Chicago, but after
the fire, came into Kenosha County where he
bought farm and settled down. The house
hold besides Mr. Mumford, consisted of his
son Frank E Mrmiord, his sons wife Lizzie
G. Mumfcrd her sister and Richard F. Kunkee
a hired man. The family lived in a brick
house situated on the left hand side IF what
! is known as Lambs farm, on the east side OF
the road, and about two miles south of Ke-
nosha, On Sunday evening Mr. Mumford
paid Kunkee his wages for the month and all
seemed pleasant between them. and Kunkee
came to Kenosha 10 spend Sunday. Before
retiring to bed on Sunday night, Mr.. Mumford
requested his son to get up early in the morn"
ing as he wanted some work done and told
him that he would knock on the wall so as
to wake him. The family retired as usual
leaving lamp burning in one OF the rooms
so that Kunkee could find his way to bed
when he arrived home, the family having every
confidence in him. Mr.. Mumford's sister,
who was suffering from indisposition and was
awake during the night heard peculiar
noise, but could not exactly tell what time.
There was no moon but the stars were shin
ing She saw light through the keyhole,
But thinking IL was only the Hired man pre-
pairing to go TO bed on his return, paid no
attention. Shortly after she heard some
person moving about in the sitting room, ap-
parently in their stocking feet. On Monday
morning the son woke up himself and went
into an adjoining room 10 comb his hair
thinking it strange his father had not called
him. He then passed into his fathers bed
room, saw him all covered up with the bed
clothes and found him dead. He immedi-
ately told his wife that his father was killed
Mr.. Mumford laid on his right side, just as
| though he were asleep. On the left side of
: the head was bruise extending from the
: left eye four inches and half hack over The
: top of The LETT ear and one inch and quar-
ter wide thus present ing the appearance of
having been struck with heavy club or q
piece of iron. The skin was not broken but
a considerable quantity OF blood had RIM out
of his nose. The indications are that the
weapon must have been round and smooth
Death was certainly instantaneous. Upon
search being made, Kunkee the hired man
was missing, he evidently having left and
taken what little baggage he had with him.
2 Every effort was made o discover his where
abouts and it was 500 discovered that he
] had contrived to get ride to Racine. Upon
examination of Mr.. Mumford's pockets his
gold watch was missing, also about $50 in
currency. Meanwhile public excitement ran
high. Justice Jilsun impanneed jury who
t went out to view the body and the premises.
An inquisition was Immediately opened on
their return and such facts elected as tended
to throw suspicion upon the hired man.
On Tuesday afternoon Sheriff Lucas and
g Marshal Tetard started for Racine in hopes
of finding Kunkee. Mr. Jewett also went on
the same errand accompanied by Mr.. Gun
herman. The two latter went to Frank
Schmidt's Tavern in Racine where it was dis
covered that Kunkee was staying. The pris-
oner was handed over to Sheriff Lucas and
l Marshal Tetard and brought back to Ken
osEa where he was lodged in jail. The gold
watch was recovered also the sum Of SCI ,25.
: The evidence against Kunkee is apparently
very strong, although according to his state
: ment there may be another side to the case.
J Kunllee is Prussian by birth, about twenty
seven years old, has popularity in his walk
one foot being turned in more than the other.
S Should he prove to be the actual murderer,
g retributiVe justice has swiftly overtaken him
The only motive so far attributable for the
q commission of the deed is robbery, and it is
rumorei that Kunkee denies all knowledge
G of the crime and duplicates others in the
. murder, stating that he himself is an injured
S person, having been robbed of considerable
S sum of money by those who committed the
act. Time however will unraYel the mys-
terry, if there be one, and thus the sad affair
may be traced to the actual perpetrator of
the deed.
REMovAL.-The United States Express Company
: have moved their quarters from Simmons Block
fo Rai1ev1s PIock acrnss STRAIT NV o.