The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-09-11
The Cotton Murder.

| lLaWrencs Tribune, ~
Word was received here yesterday morn
| that James Jones. whose brother m arried a
daughter of Mr.. Cotton, had been arrested at
Willianstown, suspicioned OF being the
murderer OF ]. NJ. Cotton.
| From all that we can learn of the facts OF
the arrest, 1t seems very improbable that
Jones ia the murderer, and a great deal more
likely that his arrest has been brought about
and suspicion thrown on him by the Lans-
downs, one of whom was at first suspected,
and publicly accused,of the crime. A bitter
enmity exists between the two factions, and
the chief evidence found against Jones is
that is was his axe which was used (hIs
residence stands within a few feet of Cottou>s
storel and the active part taken by him TO
ferret out the crime. Jones came to Law renee
on the day the murder was discovered ami
talked very foOlIshly among officials here
representing that he was a detective and
knew exactly who killed Cotton, but only
delaying his arrest for the accum ulation of "A
more evidence. This action by him is now
represented by his accusers as having been
resorted to by him IN orcer to avert suspic on
from!himself.
The most plausible theory yet presented
IN the case is that of the crime having been
committed by tramps, and fam the events
pointing in that direction il is quite prob.
able that the same Williams went through
Fitch Reeds house south of town, but a few
days b=fore they committed this crime
That the two men who left their dirty an 1
ragged clothes in Mr.. Reeds house and took
away two complete SUITS belonging To that
gentleman Were Williams of the worst stripe
they left no reason TO doubt. They even
went INTO the cellar and broke open nearly |
every can, ar or other vessel of frnt, preserves
&c, wiliuIly destroying everything they |
could lind. The next night the officers at |
bismarck Grove heard some one in the dense |
brush back of the grove, and went down TO /
investigate matters, when two men jumped 1
up a little in front OF them and started TO run. /
They we're ordered TO halt, but paving no /
attention TO the command, the officers fir, q |
three shots after them without effect. The
mig ut following this Mr.. Cotton was brutaily |
murdered. The day following the murder
Deputy Sheriff Buriingame started for solo
mon City, and when near Silver Ike saw
sitting beside the railroad track two traIDls
whose faces attracted his special attention
As being of the character with whom his call
Ing brought him IN daily contact, and he has
ever since remembered the N two of the
most villianois countenances that he ever
saw.
1t is not improbable that these two men are
The same v no figured in each of the foregoing |
scenes, and the whole history of the Cotton
murder would go to indicate that II was done
by parties unacquainted with the surround
ngs, as for Instance, The money some 500 OF
which was in the store, was in a small box
upon the top shelf, over the money drawer.
N lille the money drawer was emptied OF its
six dollars-this was undis.
urbed Sheriff Clarke visited the scene of
murder on the morning of its discovery and
ne says there were unmistakable signs of two
men having come out of the woods and en-
cred the store but IA short time before the
III cheering OF the old man occurred.
James Jones will probably be held for trial
,ut that he is the Utility party there seems to
% but little clrcunstantlal evidence.