Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1874-02-28
BURNED ALIVE FOR $4,000.
A Man Drugged With Laudunum, Bound With
Cords, and Lett to Perish in a Burning House
..-Arrest Of Both Murderers, and Confession
Of 0ne--. The Money Not Obtained

Correspondence Of the N. Z. SUM-
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Feb. 10 -Uur city
ana the neighborng state OF Kansas have
been startled by revelation equal in
horror to the Bender developments, and
proving a depth Of depravity almost un
exam pied in Western annals. Last SUM
ner two young men uamtd Winner aud
NcNult, OF this place, obtained ali insur-
ance policy for $4,000 upon the life of
McNut from the Metropolitan Insurance
Company. The policy was in favor Of a
woman rom Clay county, Missouri, with
whom McNutt had been cuhdblliug about
= year In LeavenwOrth and Kansas CITY.
In order to legalise the policy McNutt
married the woman in November last,
and soon af-er sold out his paint shop
and went to Wichita, a new and tlOuiishing
town in western Kansas much frequ0uted
by stock rasers. McNutt was accUmpa
MED by Winner.
Just before Christmas Winner came
back TO Kansas City for the purpose, as
appear, OF finding a lOnng man To be
murdered, whose body wal to be palmed
Off on the insurance company as Nc
Nuts. He visited Mrs. McNutt, VINO
had remained here, aud disclosed the
plot to her. A young man named SEWERS
was induced to accompany Winner TO
Wichita on promise of job OF work,
and was meyer seen alive alter he arrived
there with Winner. He was taken, ae-
cordiDg to McNutt's confession, to tue
paint shop used by the murderers, and
there drugged with laudanum. Cords
were bound tightly around his body, his
clothing saturated with kerosene, aud the
shop was set on fire. His remains were
found amid the hot embers of the bui =
ing, and were al first supposed TO be
those of McNutt.
| Winner reported that they had been
attacked 10 the night, McNutt killed, aud
the shop robbed aud burned. His story
excited suspicion, for there were no
bruises on his person, only slight
scratches. Mrs. McNutt at once claimed
the $4,000 insurance, and the insurance
agent proceeded to investigate. Winner
and Mrs. McNutt were arrested, and the
woman eonfes sed perhaps all she knew
about the fearful transaction. She said
hat she had endeavored to dissuade Me
Mutt from committing the murder, and
that Winner was the chief man In the
plot. A letter written by her on the day
of the tragedy was intercepted, IN which
she besOught her husband in Gods name
TO forego the intended crime, and offered
to work all her days in poverty sooner
than that he should make money in such
a way.
Mrs. McNutt refused, however, to turn
States evidence, and it appeared as
! thOUgh Justice might be baked, and the
mystery remain uurevealed.
Ex-sheriff William Smith, OF sedge.
wick county, got on McNutt's track. On
Tuesday, the 10th inst, intelligence was
received that McNutt was In Missouri
Smith left Wichita on the train that night
stopped at Topeka and got a requisitior
from the Governor, proceeded TO Leayen
worth, and arrived In Plattsburg las
Thureday uight. He procured hors,
and guide, and rode all night, hunting
for the fugitive. He inquired at eacl
county post Office whether u man by The
name of Leonard received his mail ther,
or not, for Leonard was supposed TO b.
McNutt's assumed name. AT the Glen
Garden Post Office, in May county, h,
was told that Leonard got his mail there
and worked on farm about mile frOn
there. smith left his horse, and borrowed
a shot gun ut the post office, for the pur
pose, as he said, Of killing chickens. On
arriving at the farm house, which stool
in a clearing, he saw McNu.t in the bacl
yard choppug wood. Smith passe'
around to tue east side of the farm, wher
stood large barn. He went to the barn
keeping it between himself and McNutt
ard worked his way cautiously to tn
corner Of a corn crib within twenty fee
of where McNutt was chopping. At tn
corner of the crib Snith stepped out
raised his gun, which was cooked, au,
: e. 4 a ot,.
hold up his hands. THE murdere
promptly obeyed, and remarked Will
being handcuiIed, Well, you have 20
me at last" Smith arrived at Wichit
with his prisoner on Monday night.
McNutt at once unbosomed the fearfu
story. He said that the object of th
murder was to have Ssyiers' body idtnt
ned as his own, and the IS, 600 life insul
anee policy paid TO Mrs. McNutt. SEWER
was Induced to go u the paint shop, an
: drugged with laudanum 60 that be bC
came unconscious. Winner and McNut
lied the cords around his body, frariu
that the flames might awaken the victim
and he would escape the death TO whic
I they had doomed MIN. They then fire
| the building, aud MtNutt hastened ava
to Missouri, while Winner declared tn
he and his partner had been attacked
! their shop by robbers, and McNutt ha
been killed and burned in the ruiu'
McNutt had made arrangements wit
Winner to have letters sent to him uud'
the name of Leonard, aud tais fact led
, mis- arrest. McNutt lays the blame q
= his partner, Winner, who, he says, ",
d, one of the party engaged In The robbsl
: of the treasurer's box at the Kansas Gil
:, fair year ago last tall.
The people of Wichita ave fearfully e.
!. cited, and it is expected that the mu
= derers will not live to be tried In cour
= Winner has been sent to GrasshOpp
= Fall jail for safe keeping, and Menu
:, will soon follow him. Winner, who a
y pears to be the mover in the tragedy
g connected with one of the most respect
= = BILE families Ia Kansas City, aud is WI
y known here. McNutt is a Nova Scotia
y aud of good previous character in tn
province, his supposed death having be-
the subject of an obituary in No
Scotia paper; which spoke Of him appro
;, inglY.
! The murdered SEWERS was known as
u quiet, hard-working, inohenslve man.
Much praise Is due to Mr.. Smith I
u the quiet, successful way in which
y worked up this case, as had the iugiti
murderer known that his hiding pla
was suspected he would soon have be
miles away.
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