The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-06-06
McKINLEY'S MURDER.
A Crime of 1880 About to be
Ferreted Out.
An Ex-C0nvict Of the Penitentiary
Tells a Strange and Perhaps
True Tale.

On the 18th OF August, 1880, the dead
body OF Thos. W. Mckinley was found in
room No. 10 at the llgen house, Sedalia.
Mckinley was a man we'll known in Henry
county, also IN this city, and of course this
created quite tutter of excitement and
the anxious inquiry came from many
mouths as 20
WHO KILLED HIM?"
If really he had been murdered. Until
now the question has never been answered.
If even at this time the affair. which ha,
been So enshrouded IN mystery, has been
at last successfully solved.
To better show up this case the BAzoo
will mention the fact that for a
year or more before his death McKin-
ley had led quite dissolute life,
gambling ami keeping low associates. both
male and female The week previous to
his death he had attended the Sweet
Springs Fair and while there had gambled
heavily and probably
NET WITH LARGE LOSSES.
On Friday, Of the week previous to his
death, he arrived in Sedalia On Saturday
all day, all Saturday night and until Sun
day at p. H., he gambled in Sedalia and
rumor had it that he won quite a large
sum of money. He retired to his
room about 5 or p. H., Sunday.
This was the last seen of the deceased in
life
The following was the verdict of the
cOroner's Jury:
I'VE, the jury, being duly sworn upon
our oaths do say that T. W. Mckinley
came to his death by violence inflicted by
person or persons unknown to the iurv."
Signed: L. A. Gordon, s. j. B. Fair.
IS. Fl Olmsteed, VIM. McCluney, NJ. NJ.
hampton, John Hubbard.
HAS THE MURDERER BEEN DISCOVERED.
Yesterday evening man, apparently
aged about fifty years, called at DIR. Jacob
Il. Jones office, on Fourth street, and said
his name vas Joseph Rush and had lust
been released from the penitentiary, where
he had been sent from Christian county sor
arson-burning stacks of wheat in 1880.
He carried with him a new white canvas
sack, in which was clothing.
Rush inquired if the doctor was not the
coroner when a man named Mckinley had
been murdered On being answered In the
affirmative, he said,
Il KNOW THE MAN WHO KILLED HIM.
i HS tA-CcIoucI tHcH Sdlu. w mere Il he.
''Oh he is IN the peAitentiary," replied
the ex-convict Il heard the murderer
tell William Wilkie, another convict,
who was once Ill the employ of Mckinley,
that he had killed him in his room in the
Ilgen house, Sedalia, and that he had taken
$500 and watch from his person"
"How did he kill him ?" asked DR.. Jones.
He said, He beat him to death, and the
reason he gave for the killing was about as
follows: Tom and had gambled at the
Sweet Springs fair, and he had won con-
siderable money from ME. After that he
had refused to play with me and / iol-
lowed him TO Sedalia for the purpose of
getting the drop" anu getting my money
back. got him in his room worn out for
sleep, and beat him to death, and saw
him breathe hi last before / left"
The man Rush talked like he was telling
the truth, ana his general demeanor was
not that Of one who talked for buncombe.
Another meeting will take place with
Rush to-day, when it is hoped that more
OF the details and particulars will be
elected.
There may be something in this story.
II it is rue tine irite adage of murder will
out" will a gain be verified, and perhaps
Justice be meted out TO the one whose
hands are now red with the blood OF poor
Tom Mckinley, who was an inOffensive
and clever bui misguided man.