Mexico weekly ledger., 1880-03-04
History of the Murder-- Hi,
Confession and Biography.


During the past year, the Walker
Kilgore murder case has attracted a
great deal of attention. 1t is O
about to become one of the mOurnful
memories of the past. The law,
which demands an eye for an eye,
and a tooth for q .ooth, will to-
morrow be enforced. The readers
of the LEDGER have read most of the
evidence in the case in III columns
heretofore, but we give in this issue
a full and complete history of the
kilgore trial, and a brief biography Of
the unfortunate boy:
ID. NJ. Chaniworth and J. ii. Glen
denim, who were the principal wiz
uesses in sha case, testified:
That abba II or IL o'clock, Jal.
%. 1879, they found deceased on tae
stile blocks ut Mr.. krunkie's house,
with right arm and chin shot fright
fully. He said he was dying, that
Walker kilgorc shot him, that tley
were not in IA fight, that kilgore shot
him from the bush. Witnesses won't
along the road east a few humid ed
wards and came to Willlnghan rs
wagon stuck in the mud-loadcd viii,
fodder, that they traced the blood
back d hundred Yards or sc to "a rec
standing beside the north tenc, OF
the lane opposite the house of Mr.,
Ralley, at which point Il mans foot.
print was seen coming a;ross the
road from the direction of Raj ey's
house in the direction of the tree
and the same track was seen pvel
the north fence under the tree anC
again going towards Itailcys house
the track " rs that of IL sinai man
that i'll the lane near the tree wcr,
found pilllngham's hat and rcgolv
er the latter with one barrel capt,
and rust-tl and with hammer OIL
cock. This pistol had not been shot
Also that gun waddiHg recent.
fired was found in the lane near tn
trees ranging in southeastern di
rection.
II will be remembered that Eilgor
came to Mexico and gave himself VI
He is about ~ years old.
The state showed .hat kilsore lai
in wait for Wiliingham and shot hill
/ from the tree. That after kilgor
shot him once Willingham drew hi
pistol, when kilxore shot him ii
tally.
The whole cause of the tuss ws
. the hauling away of some corr foe
, der.
r The following were the special jur
in the case of the State OF MissouI
VS.. kilgore:
$. ii. Woltz, William Bod. l. Z.
Z TAYLOR, Wm. Williams, w. ii. Fo,
V Alfred Fox, Il. &. Talbcrt. X. {
. Bvars, j. A. Smith, T. ii. Mildre,
Z John Burns, }. ii. Woods
= Kllgore always asserted his inn'
C cence, and said he was out rabbi
hunting and shot Willingham in sci
defense. This was the theory tn
n his counsel advanced very ably, du
ing his long and interesting trial.
e This theory was broken down
the State attorney, and kilgore W;
10 sentenced to be hanged.
For some reason, unknown to L
there has been a suspicion all t
- time that ON II put Kilgore up
10 this deed, or, at least, encourage
him in it. Since Kilgore's senten
was passed we have repeatedly Wis
,e ed him, both IN the interest of o
l. own, and as local reporter for metz
politan journals, and when we ask
him if he did not haye a secret to t
; US, he would hesitate and then $
"No." He held to the story that
was rabbit hunting, and killed w
. bingham in self-defense. We wou
. question and cross-question, but
to no purpose-he held steadfastly
his story. AS death approached, a
a he saw that there was no hope
rs him, his bold spirit seem to grt
We less rebellious, and we knew u
nv shortly he wonld talk" end If
had a secret he would reveal it. Ii
Tuesday (three weeks ago., he tt
us in substance, as follows. We wa
it distinctly understood that we
not know his policy in '%squealine
10 and in no way vouch for kilgor
statement-we simply give it
what it is worth. AS Kilgore v
" under sentence of death, his word
r. oath was of no effect in court. He n
ret have concocted this terrible tale, q
there may be no truth in it'll