The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1878-10-22
The Suspected Pilot Grove
Murderer.
A Bazoo Reporters Interview With
Him.
He Writes O Letter to His Wife at
Lamonte.
Who She is and What She Says Of
Her Husband.

The re:ders Of the BAz % have been iul
ai-hesi with the full particulars of the hol
rible murder Of a stranger an lonely cabi,
about three miles from Pilot Grove, O
Saturday morning. Oct: 5lh. Yesterday
BAZDo confined special dispatch froI
B.onvii!e, stating that Sheriff Saith I,a
arrested the SUSPECTED murderer cn Frida
night at a coal mine near Arrow Rock. an
that the man had been taken TO Pilu
Grove and iiemtfe 40 the Ran who Wa
travelling with the murdered man TIA
evening before he was sonnd lying dead.
HIS ARREST
Capt. Smith, Sheriff OF Cooper count,
and IN. Deputy. L. II. Williams, arrest.
the prisoner, John I. West, at the Cos
mines ON FRIDAY evegnin. on suspicion {
beirg the murderer. When he was ar
rested West asked the FIRST thing:
"Are you going TO arrest HE for la
Pilot Grove murder" He then declare,
that he never was in Pilot Grove-tha; IA
didn't even know where it was, but after
wards Acknowledged that he had been IL
Pilot Grove some time ago.
oMINoCs CIRCUMSTANCES.
He had, when arrested, wide silver
ring. Ii will he remembered that ring
had been stolen from the murdered man
little finger. 1, mast have been a wade
ring and Worn for long time, as tie linden
ton on the finger was wide and deep. The
prisoner had also a fine gold watch, bu.
kept On repeating he h id only ni..ety cents
in money.
1t will be remembered. too. that the mur-
dered mans hat, coat, boots or shoes were
missing. The prisoner had striped
sack of besiticking, which contained a coa,
hat and shoes.
The morning after the murder a negro
boy said he saw this man coming from the
direction Of the cabin with this sack.
The man who was with the murdered
man had a black railroad cap. 50 has the
prisoner.
lie says that he stared at the house OF a
farmer four miles from BoonviIls the night
previous to the murder, 5ui when the SIier-
id offers 10 release him ii he can prove il
By taking him there, the prisoner refuses.
West had fine gold watch in his pos
session when arrested. lie SAYS he got ia.
watch from his father eight years ago. Mrs
West says her husband never had a watch
This is another lie.
West Was seen in Sedalia at FuTepaugh'.
circus. Wednesday, Oct. ,. Friday evening
he was seen at Pilot Grave in company
with the man who was murdered. Tie
two men came from the direction Of Sedslia
The distance is twenty eight miles. An
other coincidence
These facts. taken in connection with the
Identification Of him by parties in and near
Pilot Grove, who say he Is the man who
was with the murdered man the day before
the murder, makes a strong array Of evil
dence against him.
Ii will be noticed, too, that IN the inter
view below, his story OF his whereabouts
on the Saturday of the murder is 4 very
improbable one. ior according to his ac-
count he must have walked thirty or ihIr-
~ five miles in four hours and hall.
Yesterday a BAzoO reporter WAS dis
patched 70 Boonvilie to
INTERVIEW THE PRISONER.
Through the kindness Of Mr.. Lewis
Williams, the efficient deputy sheriff, the
reporter was admitted to the jail, and West
wan brought in the hall for that purpose. lie
u young man, about twenty five years OF
age, about five feet eigh, inches in height,
and compactiy built. He Wore his dark
hair cut close. and his face. which was of
red or forid complexion, was destitute OF
beard faint mouSt ache only being cb-
servable Oh his upper lip. His speech was
slow and measured, and his language
showed that he had but limited educa-
ton.
lie wore a dark coat and vest-a we'll
worn aud rather ragged pair Of pants ended
inside oil his bootlegs, into which they were
stuffed On his head he Wore black cap
of the railroad pattern. A; first glance his
features would be said 10 Indicate but little
more than ignorance and nh ordinary dispo-
sitiOn but during the interview. upon one
or two occasions, there Was a dangerous,
wicked fash OF the eve that gave a very
sinister appearance To his expression
The reporter extended his hand ard
grasped that Of VEST, saying, How 90
you do, West?''
West-Prefiy we'll. Locking a, :he re-
porter steadily where did l see yon
Reporter-I newer met you before. am
a newspaper man from Seia;ia, and l want
to talk with YOU, If yoa have no objections.
Vest was Just writing letter to my
vile.
Rep-Nhere we're YOU born
WI was born at Warsaw, Benton conn
", NO.; l lived there until Was SIX years
old when went 20 Illinois; lived tnere
four wears. have been back Ia Missouri three
or four times; came back about three
years ago and have been here since.
WHERE He WORKED.
1 hsve worked for Berry Wilson, at Ores
den Jno. Jackson, ives, oi hushesvilie; al
Seilig Garien's. Lamonte for Jno Carter.
son-in law OF Dick Marshall, on Black water,
Pettis county; have ais, worked for Viii
lard Johnson and Joseph Spurgeon, al
HoustOnia, and j. i. Elliot, at Hughes
willie.
Rap-Where were YOU arrested?
WI was arrested close to Arrow Rock,
where Was digging coal for DR.. Mcclellan,
ia Cooper county. Went to work there last
Saturday.
TRACING HIM Up.
R-Where did you come from to the coal
mines?
W-From near Mexico, No.
R-Where did you cross the river at?
WI crossed the river at BOonviile and
went south to Meistrum's store, where took
the left hand road-I rlesn the right hand
road.
Mr.. WiIiiams-Didn't you 60 to the
Springs.
WI didn't see no Springs.
WHERE HE WAS FRIDAY NIGHT