Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-01-07
From the Daily of the 9Th.
BENTON COUNTY MURDER.
The Courier Reporter Inter-
views the Murderer.
He Makes n Full Confession.

The readers OF the COURIER will re.
member the published account of the
killing of young man, or boy rather,
near Ninton, Benton county, Iowa,
about week ago, tho particulars of
which were particularly horrifying.
Tho murderer, Samuel O. King, 10 emily
boy, about nineteen years Of age, aud
may properly be called singular
looking youth. He is about five feet
seven aud one halt inches high, brown
hair, dark, down.cast eyes, and rather
dark complexion. lie was followed
very closely all tho way on his trip by
tho Sheriff of Benton county and tho
Deputy Sheriff Of Iowa county, !. n.
Mitchell. It appears be left the scene
OF his crime soon after lite commission,
and his route lie infinitely described by
himself below. The officers followin
him found he was working his way
South, and Deputy Sheriff Mitchell
traced him up to his crossing tho Des
Moiues River, and followed him West
until he caught him with . hand car,
near Unionville, Iowa, and brought
him to this city and lodged him in our
county Jail.
A COURIER reporter hearing the facts
% above stated was sent to the jail 10
learn what tho prisoner had to say for
himself, II anything, and found him
setting by the stove apparently nncon-
cerncd, and, not only willing to an
swcr, but often anticipating the ques.
lions that might be asked, IL not fully
understood by him. The facts, as
stated by himself, arc as follows:
"My name is Samuel 0. King, and l
1.-Two in Wayne county, Iowa. I was
working in Benton county, four or five
miles from yinton. for farmer by the
name OF John Skivington. The per.
son hurt was about fourteen years old.
We had little quarrel on the night OF
the trouble. lie was in bed asleep
when l struck him twice In the head
with an AK. Don't know exactly
where I hit him, it was dark, but
about the head. I changed my shirt
and burnt 1t on the stove.hearth. /
suppose the house caught fire, but l
did not intend to set it on fire. /
knew I had not killed tho boy when I
left, but intended to kill him when I
struck him. / went to Vinton and
from there to Blairstown, then to Sig
Quincy, South English, North English.
and Martiusburg. Travelled in the
daytime all the while. Went to
Floris, in Davis county, Belknap, and
was trying to get to Unionville when
caught by I. II. Mitchell, Deputy sher-
if Of Iowa county. Slept in farm
houses all the time. 1 left my pocket
book at the house in my pants pocket
had little change"
In answer to the question as to why
he committed the deed, he said he did
not know, but in jocular way, told
Sheriff Spilman that he killed the boy
for fun, and when asked If he got any
money, he said: "hs had not, but the
old man had sold his hogs that day ;
but when the blood spattered In his
face it scared him, and he pulled of
his clothes, put on . good suit, piled
my bloody clothes on the kidding
and set Il on fire, and LETT the house."
He left here te-day on his way to
Benton county in charge of the proper
officer, and the people, expectant. anx.
iousiy await the next act In the bloody
drama"