The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-05-23
Some stataments on Roth srd.s

Richard Best, father of Robert, the
young man who shot Mills, was in town
Friday, in deep concern over his sons
predicament. He had feared his son
might follow the rash advice of various
parties, and had warned him not to un-
dertake any attack on Mills, but the boy
went off finally without his knowledge.
Mr.. Best is an Union veteran who did
good service in the late war, and rebel
bullet in his body disables him from
hard labor. He is one of our best farmers
and citizens, and the double misfortune
of his daughters death and his sons of.
Tense against the law weighs heavily up
On him. We learn that his side of the
case is briefly as follows: Thomas Mills,
whose age was about %, hired out to
Richard Best as a farm hand, last fall.
Miss Laura Best, an intelligent and in
dustrious young lady, was keeping house
Tor her brother James, on a farm some
distance south of her fathers. Mills
soon got acquainted with her, but her
father not considering Mills desirable
son-in-law, discouraged the courtship.
In December Miss Best told lady in
the neighborhOOd that Mr.. Mills wanted
to marry her, and the lady, not knowing
him, could not give her advice. Soon af.
forwards some of the neighbors began to
suspect the young couple INDUCED in
undue familiarity, but said nothing to
the family. In the spring Laura, while
visiting in the city, got into a very ex-
cited mental condition, and her father
was sent for. He took her home, and
she soon recovered and began to keep
house for her brother James, bachelor,
as usual. About the last day of March
a neighbor told Richard that Laura was
in his opinion eneiente. He went
to see her and insisted on a confession.
and she finally named Mills as the party.
He returned home, called out Mills, &C
cused him of improper intercourse, and
said TO him that if he wanted to live and
enjoy life he must marry the girl. Mills
confessed he had on one occasion had in.
tercourse with her, agreed to marry her,
and next morning went to the city, OBJ
tanned license, and John Wayman, jus.
tice of the peace for Waterloo township,
married them on the evening of April
LIST, at James house. Mills did not re.
main there after the marriage, but went
to Richards house, and next morning
said he was going away. Richard and
all the family did all in their power to
persuade and induce him to remain and
settle down with Laura, James offering
TO relinquish his farm to them, and Rich
ard offering him aid, but he would not
stay and went away, leaving two horses
he owned at Richards. He made two
brief visits soon afterwards to Richards
house, and the last time went to James
house and saw Laura, returned, being in
good spirits, went away, and was no,
seen by any of the family afterward un.
til Robert met and shot him.
Meantime, after Mills LETT, Laura had
been taken sick, and, died, and her fami
ly, exasperated by Mills neglect and he,
supposed suicide, did not notify him a
her death. After the funeral he came
twice to Richards house, and asked 70,
dress or some memento of her, and wa,
told by Richard that if he had any con
science he would not need any memento
At his second visit Richard told him h,
could not bear to see him around, anC