The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1875-09-16
SHOCKING MURDER.
A Boy Thirteen Years Old Kills His Father
With an Axe.

On Tuesday morning last our city was
startled by the news that Bob Williams, as
he was familiary called, had been murdered
by his son Wilbur, aged thirteen years, who
had committed the deed with an axe Mr..
Williams was in town on Monday, and
many of our people could hardly credit the
story that he then lay lifeless corpse
He was well-known here and throughout
the community in which he lived as an
honorable man and good citizen, but
possessed Of a most ungovernable temper.
and was in the habit of going home ire
quently under the influence of liquor, and
causing more or less disturbance in ilis
family when ia that condition. Whether
he was in the influence Of liquor when his
unfortunate death was brought about We
are unable 10 say.
The family lives FIVE and half miles
southeast of Cherokee, and consisted of him
self and wife and four children two boys,
Harlow, aged Is, and Wilbur, aged Is, and
two girls, Lucy, aged II years, and the
baby. The facts as We gather them from
the testimony are substantially as follows ::
Mr.. Williams returned home from Chero-
kee on Monday evening just before dark.
He went into the house and found that sup
per was not quite ready. He scolded his
daughter, Lucy, who was getting it ready,
and also taking care Of the baby while its
mother was helping the boys at the cane
mill, about one hundred yards distant, Lucy
it is supposed, made some reply, when Mr..
Williams slapped her in the face and pull
ed her hair. Mrs Williams, who had re-
turned to the house, demonstrated with him
and told him that the girl had done the
best she could. He then left the house and
went TO the cane mill, and sent the BOYS for
their supper. Upon their return to the mill,
Mr. w. went to the house for lantern. and
again found fault with the girl, when the
mother interfered. He then caught her
Mrs. W. BY her two arms and pushed her
out Of the door, letting go with one hand
and catching her by the throat. Mn. W.
and Lucy began screaming at the top of
their voices for the boys who Immediately
started for the house on a run-Wilbur
about thirteen years old, picking up, as he
ran, the axe. The Oldest boy, about seven
| said "Pa, don't hurt ma" With that Mr..
w. AZ ~ Ills uoiu tli hlc vile anu LOOK
after his boy, muttering something that
was not understood. The boy ran about
sixty feet when he fell, hi, feet becoming
entangled in some weeds. His father fell
upon him and commenced beating him
violently with his fst the boy screaming
at the top of his voice, 3Murder !" "HelpH'
The younger brother who had been stand
ing near the house witnessing the Eight
between his father end brother, now rushed
to the rescue Of his brother, the axe still in
his hand, and when close TO them threw
the axe at them, striking his father on the
right side Of the neck, cutting cash about
five inches long and deep enough to sever
the bones. The mother called TO Wilbur as
he was running TO stop~but he needed not
the call, and thus instantly hurled his par
ent into eternity unprepared, unrepenting.
When Mrs. w. reached them, she took hold
Of her husband, little supposins life had