The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1874-01-08

The Christmas morning tragedy is yet I
fruitful theme for street speculation and house
hold wonde;ment. The coroner and his jury
of inquiry held another half days session last
Monday, for the purpose of hearing and weigh
ing new facts and new developments. Dis
patches and letters that had been received by
the sheriff, city marshal and coroner from many
points, were read, and every material point
carefully culled. The tragedy is no less dark
and bloody than at first, but much Of the mys-
| terry surrounding the deed is being cleared up.
Lies, black and damning, have been recited
nnder oath. As the city authorities of Kansas
City and the officers of the insurance company
asked stay Of the findings for few days, the
coroner and jury concluded it the wisest thing
! for them TO do, and the best for truth and jus
! tice, would be to render no verdict until the
above mentioned authorities could be heard
/ from IN a formal manner.
| We suppose the authorities will not blame
Us for giving the cist Of the testimony solicited
last Monday. Notwithstanding the anxiety Of
our readers for facts we would not intention
ally say anything that would tend TO embar-
rass the officers or work injustice TO the accused.
As We plainly intmated last week all the new
testimony tends to show conspiracy involv-
ing the sacrifice oflfe. Robbery, murder and
arson were calculated upon by the parties who
put up the dark plot after having weighed the
chances Of failure, discovery. disgrace and eX-
piation. That McNutt IS alive to day we have
little doubt. That the young man, Arthur
Winner, knows everything that transpired in
and about that paint shop and burning build
ing on Christmas morning, we think the evil
dcnce all tends to show. That Winners
wounds were severe enough TO p; )duce I'M
consciousness is hardly possible, as shown by
expert testimony and as the wounds show for
themselves. That Seaber cannot be found is
certain. Such premises being found correct,
there is but one conclusion. Among other
things brought before the jury tending to show
Winners completely and that McNutt was a
conspirator, was letter produced by x. l..
West, which letter was written by McNutt's
wife, in Kansas City, the day before Christ
mas, and received at this office Christmas
morning, at the very hour Of the tragedy. Up
on the back of this letter was written: '1Let
if not called for in three days please return TO
same name on the back, Coz, Main street. up
stairs-oniy Mrs. J. W. McNutt." The letter
was fun Of cndeaTing words. Every sentence
was coupled with pet name. The writer
showed in every line that she was dreading an
unknown trouble, aud She pleads in the strong
est language at her command, that for her hus-
Il. IA
and however great her ignorance,
woman's heart and socitude for the welfare
of her husband was portrayed in feeling words
in every sentence. She said she was in trouble
up to her eyes; she must talk. "Do cut loose
from Hinner: lie as a piaehJdck liar. II you car
W that on are NW all b. ruined. Betore ,riH |
hare tile name y, stealiag and numbering. for reahA
III beg my hahds and taees, - is her own Ian |
guage. She speaks Of disgrace and what a |
hard time She i, having; Of it being Christmas
and she so poor that all she has is silver dime |
which she sent to the one she so loves, and |
who had sworn 10 support and protect her. |
She begged for the privilege Of selling her bed |
md coming to her husband at Wichita. She |
was tired Of the life she was compelled to lead |
and the stock of people with whom she was
associated, saying, I'D rather burn in fire and |
birthstone for your sake In closing she re-
'ers TO the Christmas Of year ago, and again |
warns him against Winner, who had been .'the
cause of ALL" Upon reading this letter. tcle-
grams were sent TO the Marshal OF Kansas CITY |
% arrest Mrs. McNutt, and to obtain the let
.ers written to herb McNutt. ON Tuesday III.
9. Sluss, our county attorney, left for Kansas
City, expecting, en- route, to procure the neces-
ary rcqu,ition upon the governor OF Missouri.
From letters and kilograms received it is eX-
remedy doubtful If McNutt and Winner re-
,eyed any money from Missouri, much less
i've hundred dollars. No such men as Ray and
Mum can he found.
Young Winners father is here He is en-
ragged in bushes, in Kansas City. and is a fire
ooking, intelligent gentleman. bringing letters
If recommendation, and is known by Rev. J.
:. Nessley, of this place. The son Is still IN
he custody of the officers. The jury adjourn
"A until next Saturday. by which time they !.
xpect TO be in possession OF facts sufficient
o render an intelligent verdict
1t is in evidence that McNutt got a suit OF
iothes dyed a few days before he left that he
lad borrowed shot gun and that he had a re-
Oliver, neither Of which were found in the
urITt building that two nights before he left
horse was stolen from the southern Hotel.
ome tcgmsters near the Washiia river met
nan on horseback on the 2Sth, who fills the
description of McNutt to nici;y. as 10 clothes,
cceurtrement, aud everything else.