The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-03
A Kansas Horror.


TKansas City Times.l
There came in on the Kansas Pacific |
Deputy Sheriff Knowlton, of Sheridan
County, Kansas. He had in charge |
young man named Arthur G. Wells, a |
maniac of the worst type. Knowlton is
a cattle-dealer residing on Beaver Greek,
one of the tributaries of the Republican,
and has been acting for several months
past as Deputy Sheriff. His report
of the trouble which brought him and
his charge to this city is briefly as fol-
lows:
Some time during 1875 young man
arrived at Merriweather's ranch, on
Beaver Greek, and applied for work as
herder, or i" "cow-boy." Not wanting any
assistance, Colonel Merriweather referred
the young man to some Texans who were
herding about ten miles west. He re-
turned few days afterward and applied
for board, and offered to attend the cat
tle-herd gratis if he could be permitted.
Being quiet, hopest-looking youth, he
was permittedto to remain in the dug-out,
or cave, and subsequently engaged in
herding. 1t was noticed by the three in
charge of the herd that Wells acted
strangely at times. He would remain
out at night, and be absent sometimes
for two or three days. Hehad a terrible
adherence for writing or reading, and
appeared to be always in dread of some
thing. On his return from one of his
long trips from the ranch he brought
with him an old man whom he intro
duced as his father. They went away,
and after few weeks absence returned
to the neighborhood and seemed to be
engaged in purchasing cattle and in herd
| ing The old man was not more COM
municative than the son, but seemed to
devote his whole time and attention to
the care and comfort of the boy. They
did not want for money, and the old man
made frequent trips to Wallace for let
ters. They soon ceased to excite remark
or curiosity among the herders, and were
left to themselves.
About three weeks ago the Wells herd,
including about one hundred and fifty
head of cattle, was then scattered, and
without a herder This was remarked
upon by others, and as day after day the
herd became separated, and was wander
ing off south, cattlemen in the vicinity
began to wonder. A party of three
cattlemen rode down to the Wells camp,
in ravine on Beaver Creek, and were
surprised to find three dead ponies and
several dead dogs lying in front of the
cave, or "dug-out," in the bank. No
sign of life was visible outside. The door
was found unfastened, and, on entering,
sight was presented which almost para
lyzed them with horror. The headless
body of old man Wells4was found near
the entrance to the cave in very ad-
vanced state of decomposition. The
young man was reclining in berth Or
bunk in the farthest end of the dim
lighted den, evidently asleep. When
aroused, he sprang from the bed with
something in hisarms which was wrapped
in a blanket. He attempted to shoot the
: intruders, but was promptly seized, and
in the struggle the head of his father
: rolled out of the blanket. He cried and
begged for his horrible-looking pet, and
when his desire was gratifed, sat on the
floor and hugged the chastity, putrid
head to his bosom. He was ravine
maniac. 1t required force to find and
control him, but this was promptly fur
nished.
, An examination of the papers and cor
respondence showed that the old mar
was L. A. Wells, dealer in leather ano
/; hides, New York City. His son had beer
l accused of some crime-the correspond
ence and the papers found seemed to in
e dicate murder of his wife. His father
had followed him out to Kansas and wal
! endeavoring to reclaim his boy, but los
his life in the attempt. Mr.. Knowltol
:, says that the theory of the tragedy a
e presented by the circumstances sur
e rounding the affair are briefly these
), The maniac son killed his father ant
I every thing living about the ranch a
j least a week before the discover,
: of the tragedy. He had live'
0 alone with the corpse, evidently withou
It food, as when discovered there was n
a sign of cooking having been done sine
O. the murder. The fratricide seems to b
" unconscious of his crime, and apparentl
e oblivious of everything going on abou
e him. He is being taken to New Yor
IL by direction of his mother, and will b
:. placed in an ayslum. He is quite vic
+ lent at times, but is closely guarded an
, under good control.