Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-06-12
THE KANSAS BUTCHERY.

Details OF the RHcent, HuteherY of an ERtfre
tsaFamiIy of six Persone Near Pleasantons
|. Kanaas-The Motive OF the Crime and the
Probable Murderer-ofncersa and fCstixens
/ IN Pursuit. 5ss1 I'll 0jaf iasssif tasa.tts W
50 fsEi8 gais PLKAsAnrON, KAs.. June k.,s9
The discovery of the horrible butchery
of an entire family by single murderer
has caused the widest excitemeHs In
this part of theccantry. The bodies were
found in Sugar Creek, i've miles from
Plessanton, and details of the terrible af-
fair are given as foilows: The discovery
was first made by w. H.. Matheny, who,
looking for - crossing on Z the creek, dis
covered the Acdies4 of two children
in the water. He All gave T. the
alarm, and further investigation re-
vealed the most shocking deed on record.
1t appears from evidence Obtained that
man with q team and wagon containing
q woman and three children drove
into the woods on Sugar Creek
about q mile above the mouth ion
Tuesday of last week and there com
mitted the deed. The Boy and girl found
in the creek were aged eight and thirteen
years. Both bore marks OF violence, the
girls head being crushed in several places
and the boys skull crushed and throat
cut from ear to ear. The next body
found was that Of a girl about sixteen,
whose headless trunk lay between the
wheels Of the wagon, while che head LAY
near. a pallet fifteen feet from the wagon.
Clots OF blood showed that she had met
her fate at that place. The head h had
been severed near the boody and the skull
crushed in several PLACES Several gashess
on the arm shoWed that ass she bad made de.
antts'Ia.', 1T" hus m -, dassf.-o ,a4i
uuThe fourth body WAS found some five
hundred yards northeast of the wagon;
partially concealed in the forks of fallen
tree. This WesT the body of woman
probably thirty-ive or forty years of age,
and numerous wounds showed that she
had made, resistance and probably ran
into the woods to escape. The skull was
crushed and throat cut, nearly seKsfibg
! her head from the trunk ii. !; ssto 800, 20
IA horse was grazing in, the vicinity,
while a complete set of harness exdept
bride, .indicsted that the perpetrator
wagon contained . cross-cnt saw, two
iron wedges and a few cooking uten-i
sils. The clothing on all the bodies
was quite plxinyi the women ehay-,
ing on only calico ;dressess, and but
very little other clothing. IA. yellow
shepherd dog with white feet and white
ring around his neck, evidently belonging
with them, hung around the bodies as i'll
familiar with the M Il Nothing was fohnd
about the wagon or ON the persons to in
dictate who they were orfWherc they came
from. II, A. thimble and fifteen cents in SILL
yer in the pockets of the woman were the
only trinkets found. "A fire, which was
Still burning, had probably destroyed all
letters and marked articles, If any had
existed. - = a@lR tE5s sIia3so.}S +ggs
Constable rGass came to. town0 and
Squire Atkins impaneled Coroner's
jury, which could elicit but few facts
further than description OF the unfor-
tunate parties and that they came to
their deaths at the hands of some un-
known party, probably on Tuesday after
1soen or evening, May 81. hnn ,is9 -.
Thomas Holmes, who lives about hall
q mile south Of the scene of the murder,
testified that a spare-bufit man about
Mty-five OIL. sixty years of age, with thin,
grayish Whiskers, came to his house early
Wednesday morning and seemed very
much unnerved, claiming he had chill
and wished to rest. His answers were
incoherent, and he claimed he did not
know where he was, and; mentioned
something about coming from Mulberry,
Mo. 1t was suspected he was the muir
derer. It. is pretty well ascertained that
a party passed through this place and in-
quired for Jones Switch and the prospect
of getting work there. -Four women's
hats were found in the wagon, which led
to the belief that there was another VIC
tim. The bodies were very badly de.
composed, having lain probably six days.
This, together with the Iuutilated c0ndi-
ton, presented sight horrid and sicken-.
ing. 1fe E.s., s.s....,,;. ~ t4l]
Sam Miller while searching along the
creek yesterday. found another body.
which proved to be that of girl six or
seven years Old She had the same marks
as the others, haEing her skull crushed
md throat cut. fsg4 aa..,4< ..r.e,R
Il Mr.. Mat. Mullis, living in. Missouri,
about three miles from the State line,
identified the victims as the family of
John H. Anderson, who has been living
in that vicinity since last winter. A
nephew of Mrs. Anderson, by the name |
of Louis Wampler, lived with them and
is supposed to have committed the deco. II
Wampler and Anderson, left together on |
Sunday, May %, and on Monday eve
ming Wampler returned and told
Mrs. Anderson that Mr., Anderso
was in Jail at lsPieasanton and that /
she was needed as witness He, hastily /
packed the family in the wagon and START
ed. after, dark. He passed through here
Tuesday morning about two O'clock and |
told night Waterman his name and made |
some inquiries about the road. Wanipler 4
is about thirty-five years old, heavys set
wit HI hiafslsI hair ard heavy dark Inns. |
tache. 1t is supposed that he killed An
eierson on Monday and returned for the
family. s4<.l al nj
Anderson was a member of Jewell Post,
No. 8, G. A. r., f,f.s ssfsfs.,FsF
The cause of the murder is supposed
to have been to cover up . previous
crime known to Anderson and his family, /
Anderson's body was found yesterday |
In q disused coal shaft on Yocumf farm,
just over the line of Bates County, Mis-
souri,, with hole in his head, probably
made with an axe. nal
: The search for wampler' so far has
been unsuccessful, but it IS certain that
he was seen in q boat on the river. last
night, and is undoubtedly hiding some
where in the neighborhood. Search will
be continuedx~this morning and ut is
thought he cannot possibly escape. The
County Commissioners have offered a ne
ward Of $500 for Wampler's CAPTURE
Great excitement. prevails. dina sifu ,2aa8t
5sa ,t,, t7-----rre s.-------- --fs..s3 -sss'3
sf,g,af The Penn Bank Bopks.a;4 ,s.,s
ssusit snHtgalfa PITTSBURGH, PA, June Afz|
Assignee Warner of the Penn Bank OF
his city to-day made q comprehensive
report of the condition of the books. The
report shows the amount due to individ-