The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-08-11

oS the Coroners Inquest
Last Thursday evening, at about half
past O'Clock, the people of this city
were Mortified by the dreadful intellI
gence that Deputy Sheriff Spillman had
been fatally stabbed at the house
Of Elbert Love, In the suburban settle.
ment of Stringtown, by Edward John.
son, the negro who has been mentioned
in this paper as having been adjudged
insane some days ago, and who has been
an inmate Of the county Jail since the
early part of May, when he made a
deadly assault upon Marshal johnson
and B. F. Romaine upon the occasion Of
his arrest by those parties for carrying
concealed weapons.
1t appears that johnson had been inn
portuning SpilIman for some days past
to take him to Loves house, where he
hsd formerly boarded, saying that he de-
sired TO procure some clothing which he
had left there IN n trunk. Spillman.
whose only fault was his indiscriminate
kindness, hitched up the SherifPs rig and
taking johnson proceeded to the place
which proved to be the theatre of his
CRUEL MURDER.
Upon arriving at Loves house, John
sons trunk was brought out of back
room, and upon being opened was found
TO contain, among other articles, four
pistols and two large butcher knives.
After looking over his effects and hav-
ing Spillman take an inventory of them,
johnson replaced them in the trunk,
and he and Spillman, together with Mr..
Love, went into the yard, and sat down
near the door. In few min
utes Johnson said he had forgotten that
there were
SOME NEEDLES IN HIS TRUNK
which he wanted, and suiting the action
to the word, started back into the house.
Spillman, telling him that he could get
all the needles he wanted of the Sheriffos
wife, followed him in, but before he
could reach him, johnson had made
his way to the trunk, and procuring a
knife and revolver attacked Spillman,
firing at him without effect with the lat
ter, but following up the assault with
the knife, which he plunged
into the side of his victim, inflicting
wound from which he died in about
thirty minutes.
johnson was promptly secured by FL
bert Love and his brother and bound
with strap, and messenger was dis
patched to the city for medical aid for
Spillman, who, shortly after the cutting,
COMPLAINED OF FAINTNEss,
and asked TO be taken into the yard,
where he died in a little time after
the physicians arrived at the scene
of the tradgedy. The coroner was
notified and jury impaneled,
which viewed the body preparatory
to removing it to the court house,
where the inquest was subsequently
held, and the result of which is given be-
low. In the meantime messenger had
been dispatched to bear the dreadful It'd
ings of his murder to the wife and family
of Spillman, who reside on farm ten
miles from Emporis, on Phenis Creek,
and who arrived in this city at about
midnight.
Pending the examination of Spillman
by the doctors, johnson was taken in
charge by Policeman Page, who, with q
couple of guards, and followed by few
boys, walked the murderer back to jail,
where he was thoroughly searched
and afterwards manacled. Shortly
thereafter the body of Spill.
man arrived in bus, in charge of Sher-
i'll Moon, ex-Marshsl Fleming and 9TH
ers, who bore the remains of the de-
ceased deputy into the dwelling apart
ments under the court house, where
they were prepared for burial. AS the
vehicle carrying Spillman's corpse
moved slowly up to the court house gate
a spirit of
FIERCE INDIGNATION
seemed to fire the crowd which had
gathered there, and, while there were
no noisy demonstrations, there were
suggestions afloat that would not have
contributed to the comfort of
the prisoner if he could
have heard them. This feeling.
however, we are pleased to note, gave
place to better counseIs, and no attempt
at violence deepened the horror of the
dreadful affair, which has SO appalled,
the community.
The prisoner has long entertained the
Authorization that members of the Ma.
sonic and other secret orders are
SEEKING HIS LIFE,
and when arrested last May, he had tied
onto his chest an old breast plate of sheet
iron and was armed to the teeth.
At about II O'Clock, Coroner Hibben,
County Attorney Sedgwick and Messrs.
/. ID. Fox, T. G. Fleming, j. G. Burnett,
c. s. Wheeling, d. Hammond and j. d.
Davidson, who composed the jury, re-
paired 10 the court room, where the ex-
animation of witnesses was proceeded
with, and which was not closed till 4
O'Clock this morning. The following
details Of the tragedy were brought out in
THE TESTIMONY.
3. b. Love, being sworn, testifi-
ed as follows: My name is
8. b. Love; reside at B. Taylor's; l
have been acquainted with SpIllman five
years; am acquainted with johnson /;
saw johnson and Spillman together at
Gilbert Loves at dark Ebert Love lives
IN StringtoMn in Kellogg's addition TO
the city OF EmpOria; saw them when
lhey came there; / Witnessed Spillman's
death; as they walked by me spoke 10