The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1874-07-01
Brief History of One Of the Most
Horrible and Diab0liCal Crimes
on Record. a.zs


Horrible and Diab0lical Crimes i
on Record. s..as
.s i.H
Arthur Winner was convicted on
last Thursday, at Wichita, of murder
in the first degree. The crime, was {
committed on the 9th of last De
cember, the circumstances of which
were SO shocking as still to be fresh
in the public mind. He and McNutt,
his partner in the crime, were en-
gagged in painting in this city. They
grew weary of toiling from day to
day to make an honest living, and
conceived the idea of growing rich
suddenly. McNutt being married
man, they determined to have his
life insured for the benefit Of his
wife, then murder a man who should
personate McNutt, who should CON
ceal himself until the insurance
money was paid. Wichita was Sc.
lectcd, as the place for perpetrating
this deed, as it was supposed to be a
place where crime could be commit
ted with impunity. The insurance
policy was taken on McNutt's life
last fall, and he, with Winner, soon
after repaired to Wichita.
They rented a shop in that city
and began the. painting business in
which they were doing we'll. They,
however, were not there to prosecute
that business. They immediately
began the canvass for suitable vic
tim. A number Of painters were
written to come to Wichita, as there
were splendid openings" for bust
ness. Finally one Sewer was picked
upon as the proper victim for crema
!, ton. Winner came to this city to-
his man, and borrowed the money o
a friend with which he started tt
take him to Wichita. When the,
- arrived at Topeka the money CAV
out and Sewer laid over, engaging t.
. do some work for D. H. Copson.-
~ Winner, however, went on to WIGHT
and Immediately telegraphed back
= money order to Sewer at Topeka
!, In few days Sewer continued hi
:, Journey, arriving at Wichita on til
,. night of the 25th of December. II
WAS never seen alive after. TIL;
;s night the paint shop in which NJ
" Mutt and Winner were quartered ":
:, burned. Soon after the alarm Of fl
10 was given Winner was found on tt
20 stairway in the rear Of the buildin
"a with feet up and head down, in pr
:, tended se1ni-conscious condition.
He had slight wound on his hea
scratch on his arm and on his sic
RE He was taken across the street, whe
OF he feigned Inconsistencies. Slim
TO- lants were given by physicians, b
as he became conscious before they b
'ao time to operate upon the system.
tu- When the fire was extinguished t
I'VE cremated remains Of a man WI
MS found which could not be identifi
cen McNutt was missing, and at the G
ent oner's inquest Winner claimed to
TO- able to identify the corpse as that
nus McNutt. Suspicious were arou'
ri that there had been foul play. A n
hu- from Mrs. McNutt to her hush:
ner' was opened, which contained an
'cu- hortation to him to drop Winner I
ing give up the idea of committing
ope crime, as sshe would rather work
I'D fingers off than obtain money in
'clat way" Search for McNutt was
the mediately instituted. In a 81
APP time letter was received from
lees' Of the parties who had been inv
~ to 60 to Wichita by McNutt, sta
that he, McNutt, could be found
ash farm near Smithville, Mo. The
Re- GERS from Wichita Immediately '
at it to. Clay county, arrested McNutt
took him to Wichita. He and \
this ner both stood their preliminary
rints animation, and were bound owe
' s appear at the present term of
,d,y court, held in Sedgwick count
veto Winner was taken to Cotton,
rren- Falls for safe keeping. McNutt
the bis wife were taken to Topeka
ac1flc ,,1oooa j., tho Shan,,oa conntv Il
that =. -. :, 49,. !,
Dt in nus "'ie was ai'ei l "alu taNen va
n the Wichita, where she has since
York NAMED in charge Of the marsh'
Jones Wichita Winner was also rem,
large ~ Tonolo ubo,o bo ro,no;ro
iforn- '" ' ~
conf company. with McNntt until the
ent- ult., when they were taken to "
into ia for trial. The counsel for til
y eA fence endeavored to obtain a cf
, s;a. of venue, failing in which sep
tri ole renra dnman1o1