The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-02-05
CAUGHT AT LAST.
Arrest Of the Murderer Of Henry
Route, Killed in Winfield
20. Two Years Ago.
The Murderer Escapes the Gal
lows by Committing Suicide.

Chas. G. Brooks, Labette county detec-
Give, arrested al Dansville. Ills, sometime
in the middle of the month . man named
Reuben Bloomfield, charged with 4 number
of crimes, the principal one being the muir
sier-of Henry Route in that cousty about two
,ean ago. Word was received BY
Acting Co. Attorney Fairbanks to the ef-
feet that Bloomfield was in custody and
wishing to know If he was wanted, and
# he was no; he would be tried for some nj
nor offence with which he was charged. Mr..
Fairbanks told him to bring him along, but
= . Shoet time he received notice that be
had committed suicide BY taking strychnine
shortly after his arrest.
We take the following particulars from
The Danville Times:
ssThere are few items in regard to the
murder Of Henry Route not yet made pub
lie, which by the kindness Of Mr.. Brooks,
he repctter is able to lay before our readers.
IN April, 1872, Route started with his own
Tan from the neighborhood of the Bender
nurders in Lal,ette county in company with
Bloom6eld, with the os,ensible purpose of
whiting CoWley county in the same State,
vhers Bloomfield claimed to have some land
Route had little money and q team, and it
Vss the proposition that il Route liked the
Jand and the price, he would buy it. Moth
ing was heard of the parties until sometime
In Nav, when Bloomfield returned without
.hp companion, but with his team. He said
that he had sold Route quarter section in
.Covley county and taken his team in pay
.ueut, In the meantime he had been in va
.rious places spending money freely and
leading dissolute life on the strength Of the
money which it is nov believed he had rob
bed Of the murdered man.
Time passed away and no tidines came of
Route, vbose wife yet lived in Vermilliou
county. Some time in the summer, Routes
ont .ss found on Big Hill creek, in Labette
county, cut and slashed BY knife in several
places, together nth his hat, but no trace Of
lis body. The hat and part of the coat were
eeut TO Ms. Route, who identified the hat,
end believed the coat from it, texture to
have been her husbsnd's. The body vas
found in Cowley county, in July, BY party
hooking for land. One hand and part of the
arm attAched were 6rsi found. and il 1as not
until several days had elapsed were the
cher remains discovered. These were
hauled about the prairie, and the fesh eaten
81 BY wolves and buzzards Some REM
nAnts Of clothing were found which identi-
I'D the body - that Of Route. 1t Il sup
psssd that the hat and coat were brought
IL long distance miles-and left as .
Mid TO mislead. The cloud of death hangs
oVer all concerned. The entire circum-
-g AZ
~ Of course, forever remain . mystery.
I'D left Q wife and too small children.
Bloomfield vas living in the country near
Oansville, and when be was arrested be vas
nos far from his house cutting hoop -poles
Wheu the officer made known his business
- made no resistance, but seemed rather
p1eased, and said he wanted to 20 to Kansas
anyway, and wished to know il this would
o9ned him . chance 10 get there on q free
Pcs. and was told that it probably would, II
ke want With an officer. He then asked
lave 70 change his clothes, which vs. grant
u, and il ~ 1t this time that he i sup
posed to have procured the strychnine which
h doubtlers kept concealed 10 the cabin. He
shea told the officers the bet route to follow
% The city, and after kissing his wife good.
Dsye, took hin seat in the buggy With the -four
sskcsrA % his way to the civ be turned
.Eeuad and took the poieoo, spilliag Q por-
sioa On his clothes. The shsei6 hurried on
% hoase for IN antidote, hut before the CIR.
RiaGe arrived the man ~ dad.
j = aow sstablished hat Bloomfield ~
0Gaesd in building the Beadse house-ar
onaGsd the screen in fFoat Of which he vic
- vese placed il order 10 dispatch them
) - - an inmate Of ths ho1se Sor sou,
oGn1ls during tie sesso Of tAass hoeribl,
oDns1ms which % GAocked lie eiyili,et
ns11. - nsde LAbsaie county % notori