The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-22
[Emporia News, i.

[EmpoTia News, Id
Richard Best, father Of Ro5ert, the young
man who shot Mills, was In town Friday, in
deep concern over his sons predicament. He
had feared his son might 70 low the rash al.
vice of various parties, and had warned him
not To undertake any attack on Mills, but
the boy went of finally without his knowl-
edge. Mr.. Best is an Union veteran who did
good service in the late war, and rebel bull
let in his body dissbles him from hard labor.
He Is one OF our best farmers and citizens,
and the double misfortune of mis- daughters
death and his sons offence against the law
weighs heavily upon him. We learn that
his side OF the case is briefly As follows
Thomas Mills, whose age was about y, hired
out to Richard Best as farm hand, last fall
Miss Laura Best, an Intelligent and indus.
trious young lady, was keeping house for h n
brother James, on a farm some distance
south of her fathers. Mills soon got acquainted
with her but her father, not considering Mills
a desirable son-in-law opposed the courtship
In December Miss Best told a lady in the
neigh borhood that Mr.. Mills wanted to mar
ry her, and the lady, not knowing him,
could not give her advice. Soon afterwards
some of the neighbors began TO suspect the
young couple lndu ged in undue familiarity,
but said nothing 10 the family. In the spring
Laura, while visiting in the city, got into a
very excited mental condition, and her IA
Their WAS sent for He took her home, and
she soon recovered and began To keep hou &c
| fO- her brother James. bachelor, as usual
About the last day of March neighbpr told
Richard that Laura was in his opinion en-
cifItie. He went TO see her and insisted on a
/ confession, and she finally named Mills as
the party. He returned home called out
Mills, accused MIN of improper intercourse
and said TO him that If ne wanted to live and
enjoy life he must marry the girl Mills
confessed he had ON one occasion had inter
course with her, agreed to marry her, and
next morning went to the city, obtained IL
license, and John Wayman, Justice of the
peace for Waterloo township, married them
on the evening of April LIST, at James house
Mills did not remain there after the mar
rIage, b1t went TO Richards house and next
morning said ne was going away. RicE ard
and all the family did all in their power to
persuade and induce him 10 remain and
| settle down with Laura, James offering to re-
\ liuquish his farm to them, and Richard offer
| ing MIN aid, but he would not stay and went
| away, having two horses he owned at X CHI
| ards. he made two brief VS. & soon sfter-
| ward 10 Richards house, and the last time
| went TO jams house and saw Laura, re-
| turned, being IN good spirits, went away, snd
| WAS not seen by any OF the family aflerward
until Robert met and shot him.
| Meantime, after Mills left, Laura had been
| taken sick, and, died, and her itni v exas.
| perated by Mills neglect and her supposed
| suicide, did not notify him OF her death. A.
| ter the funeral ne came twice 10 Richards
l mousse aild asked fora dress or some memen-
10 of her, and was told by Richard that If he
i had any conscience he would not need any
/ memento. At his second visit Richard told
| him he could not bear To see him around
| and told him to take his horse and not come
| agfln, and NILS took the advice.
| When Robert returned from the shooting
| ms relatives offered him horses and money
| TO leave the state, but Robert refused and
| insist ed on standing "A trial. He said ~. had
never been - miles from home. and was moi
/ going to leave then. lie Il represented by
the neighbOg as quiet, peaceable, industri-
i OuS young man, who thought at last that the
i aggravated nature of the case demanded the
/ killing OF Mills, and he accord ugly proceed
| ed TO execute his ideas OF justice.