The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-22
TIE EASTON HORROR.
Arrest and Trial Of James Murray at
Ea>ton for the Murder or Mrs. Han
nah to>teiio-lieIG to Answer in the
sum Of - 900


The excitement since last Wednesday,
when the bo1y OF Mrs. Hannah Cosiel o was
| unt murdered, 10 which was attached the
horrible suspicion In At she had been ravished
prior To the murder, has been unprecedented
sober sens prevailed, Shich kept down any
in the history of T. tSUon Yet strong
attempt at the exercise OF lynch aw upon
parties suspected, yet against whom the
proof was not positive the peOp'e OF EaSton
have acquitted themselves in a mighty cred
liable manner I'm this; for while il is certain
that mad positive proof of the guilt of any
party been establishes an lynch law should
have been resorred 10, the genera sentiment
OF tnis vicinity would have supported such
"A course, IL Is a matter of congratulation that
no one has been made the victim of a series
of adverse circumstances which might have
eventually been cleared up.
ARREST OF JAMES MURRAY,
Friday evening, Sheriff L. q. Lowe was
again sent for 10y the people of Eastou, and
lett early saturday morning, accompanied
had suspected that James Murray, a neigh
Dor whose farms joins that OF the dec.as ID ,
was the perpetraIor of the foul deed, il be-
ing known that he had ill-feeing toward her
on account of tresspasses committed upon
his premises by her stock, who broke
through the not very strong fences which
separated the widows land from Murray's
But IL was not thought possible that Murray
who was a married man, with property
would add 10 the crime OF murder the
MORE HEINOUS CRIME OF RAPE.
This was the situation OF affairs when Sher-
if Lowe arrived, and he had been sent for to
examine into the suspicious circumstances
which surrounded Murray. On saturday
afternoon, sheriff Lowe devoted considerable
time TO examining into the facts which were
urged az inst Murray. Meanwhile, the peO-
pie of hast,n were awaiting the result OF the
examination of ply sicians in this city IN
gard to whether or not rape h Il been COM
mitted, and were also waiting for the arrival
OF Anderson, arrested on suspicion at { trbou.
dale, and for whom a constable had been
sent. On sunday, the verdict Of the physi-
clans, that
RAPE HAD NOT BEEN Committed,
was received, and the popular feeling imme-
dlately turned strongly against Murray, ii
being believed that the murder had
grown out of the OH fsui. Anderson, VINO
had arrived, was released, ana the people, AZ
ready to correct their errors ss they had been
Jealous in their efforts To unearIh the mur-
derer, raised money TO convey him back to
Carbonate. 1t WAS Sheriff loves first idea
TO arrest Murray and bring him to this city
tor an examination but the wishes of the
people OF Esston being that his preliminary
examination be held there, with assurances
that no violence WAS contemplated, he ar
rested Murray, and placing him in charge of
Constable Mooney, came Ia to secure the ser
vices of assistant prosecuting at orney y. II.
Wood, declining that this was case of SO
much importance that the services OF an
attorney for the State were Necessary. Mrs.
Murray also came in and occurred the services
ofThomas Z. Fenlon 10 defend her husband.
THE EXAMINATION.
On Monday afternoon the trial commenced
and WAS lengthy and searching in its details,
sud resulted IN the detention OF Murray, in
s. 0OI bones, To answer Ia the charge of muir.
dering Mrs. COstell in the District Court
The bond was furnished, being signed by
Barney McCune and Joseph Linn.
Tracks We're found, leading from the spot
of the murder in the direction of Murray
house, but which were lost in the grass be-
fore the house was reached. An AK was
found, with blood upon IL, which Mrs. MUIR
ray claims, supported by her husband, was
made by killing chickens. Blood was found
upon Murrsy's clothes, which both he and
his wife claim was left there in marking
DO, s, the hogs being found in that condition
TO support this defense. His presence on the
day OF the murder was accounted for by
himself and corroborated by his wife.
The tracks found, however. exactly
correspOnded with Murrays boots.
The feeling at Esston Is, that the right
man is found, and the people have quietly
resumed their occupations satisfied that his
trisl will prove him guilty.
Governor It. John has telegraphed TO
Sheriff Lowe rs follows: "If tine murderer
of Mrs. Costello mas not been arrested, s5O0
reward will be Offered" The Sheriff answer
ed. Party srresied by me for the murder and
bound over, but probably not the right man.
Please offer the rrwsrd SO a. Ia induce
prompt nnd immeUiat action" The Gov
ernor at once autographed that the reward
WOuId be offered.