Lexington weekly intelligencer. (Lexington, Mo.) 1871-1887, 1880-03-13

rould walk to the scaffold by HIM
elf, and tie the rope around his own
ecs.
THE CRIME
or which Kilgore suffered the death
,enaltv was committed on the 2Ith
,ay of January, 1879. The difficulty
rev out of settlement regarding
some corn and fodder, which kilgore
claimed as belonging to him and
Robert Rally with whom kilgore
was living), and which, at the time
The murder was committed, Willing
ham was hauling off. On the morn
ing of the murder Kilgore borrowed
a gun from neighbor, for the osten-
siple purpose of going hunting but,
according to his confession, it was
his intention at that time to kill Will
lingham. The only evidence that
describes the occurrence in any man
ncr is that of d. NJ. ChenOwith and p
j. Ii. Clendennin, as there was no
eye witness. 1t proved conclusively
that Kllgore was guilty OF the terri
BILE crime charged to him. The above
named witnesses testified that about
II o'clock on the day of the murder
they found Willingham on the .stile-
blocks at Mr.. Krunkei's house, which
was only a short distance from where
the shooting took place, with his face
and right arm terribly lacerated from
yun-shet wounds. He told the wit
nesses that he was dying, and that
Walker Kilgore had shot him; that
they were not in u fight, but that he
was shot from behind tree while he
was sitting on wagon load of fod-
der. Upon going along the road i'll
the direction of the place where the
shooting occurred, they found Will
lingham's wagon; they traced the
blood back 100 yards to tree stand
ing beside the north fence of the lane.
opposite Raily's house, and IN addi-
tion to this mans footprint was
seen, as though some one had crossed
the road from the direction OF Raily's
house, the track being that of email
man In the lane, and near the tree.
were found Willingham's hat and
pistol, the latter with one barrel
empty aud the hammer on cock. The
prosecuting attorney showed that
Kilgore laid in wait for and shot
Willingham while he was on the load
of fodder. The jury brought in
verdict of murder in the first degree.
uG IuOtlOH Vi llS 0tLoA hCy AAASoSASs
Forrist aud Fry, for new trial was
overruled by Judge Porter, aud he
was sentenced to be hanged Decem-
Der 5. 1879. The case was then ap-
pealed to the supreme court. and, 'af-
ter consideration, that court failed
| to interfere, and the sentence was
ordered TO be carried into execution
OIL Friday, March 5. Numerous petit
tions were circulated asking execu-
tive clemency, but at O'Clock last
| Tuesday evening telegram was re-
ceived from the governor ordering
/ Sheriff GlascOck to proceed with the
execution. AT first Kilgore refused
the services of a minister, but after
wards united himself with the Cath
olic church, and Father OLeary was
his constant adviser up to the time
of his execution.
THE MURDERER AND HIS CON-
FEssION. "a.
| Walker Kilgore was young man,
being only twcnty-three years of age.
He was born in Audrain county, OIL
the old Henley farm, on Skull Lick.
about ten miles northeast of Mexico.
. HIS fathers name was Harlan Kill
gore. aud that of his mother, Frances
Kilgore. His mother, who was al
own cousin to mis- father. was only
eighteen years of age when Walker
WAS born, he being the illegitimate
offspring of criminal liaisOn be-
tween cousins. The assertion that
he was cousin to the victim, L. Dow
F Willingham,is ,is erroneous. About three
weeks ago Kilgore dictated the fol
lowing confession, aud Bill Hartley
(who has since been sent to the Pei
, tor fifty years) wrote it down, III
b .ing unable to read or write:
, "MExICo JAIL, February 9, 1890
AS deem it best that should maxi
q public concerning my trouble will
do so, knowing that death is at m.
door. l wish to say to the people o
' this county that 1 did not kill L. d
Willimsham of my own accord. Viii
lingham was hauling of Rober
i Rally, and my corn, which mad
, Rally very angry at Willingham
, Rally told me to borrow .krunkle'
: gun and shoot Wiliingham, which
: did. Circumstantial evidence place.
q Inc behind tree. was not behint
| the tree when Willingham cam
: along, but standing close to the fenc
: in the road. Ispoke to him. He 60
D angry. and pulled out his revolver
i got off the wagon, came toward me
n | told him not to come any further
t or would shoot. He kept advane
;. ing and l shot him twice. l thel
y went to Raily's house, met Mrs
Rally, told her that l shot Willing
ham, but hoped he would get well. .
did not want to take the gun wit
| hppf Roi1v oaih
yes (; take the gun and shoot him.
: that Willingham would kill me un
. less l shot him. l did not want L
have any trouble with WillinghaM
J, but Rally kept urging me on and
would never have been in this trOubl
G if R.ily had let me alone. and not ex
I cited me in dong what l diG.
WALKER KILGORE."
!, KILGoRE's FINAL CONFESSION: 3
d This morning Kilgore made th
Q following confession to Fathe
II O'Leary: .,
h l. Jno. W. kilgore, as am abou
t, to meet my maker, hereby declar
l. before the public that was not i,
d duced or Influenced directly or ind
e rectly by Robert Rally or his wife, o
e by any other person, to take the lif
It of l.. Dow Willingham. In -refel
N ence to Rally aud wife, believe theI
n to be gOod-hearted, and saw aud e1
d pericnced nothing but kindness an
" good will while 1 was with them.
t. is true that said were it net fo
" others l would not have gotten int
this trouble. which expression SCENE
to justify the report afoat that WI
but tool in the hands of others.
Y. only meant that if Robert Rally ha
,e not advised me Of his threats and {
e. his carrying a revolver, aud Their
8 fore to procure gun, if necessary,
,e defend myself, 1 would not hay
D. exposed myself to what did, but
a am confident Mr.. Rally never though
al implied or expressed wish that
s. should kill the said Dow Willing
70 ham. If this false report grew OF
le of anything that said i'll this matt'
o | am very sorry, and ask God al
25 the public and Robert Rally to fo
tn give me. In reference to my guilt,
ct am willing now to have people thin
es as they please. To God look ft
* favor and justice. l will not say
Is word more in regard to the Justice
ut it. | will face death like a man al
i'll a christian, and commend my soul
Ie God, with faith and confidence in Il
ne truth of my holy religion. and that
% have through it found perfect recol
~ ciIiatiou with Cod Still I ocl- III