The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-06-06
Committed By Devil to Remove
the Witnesses of a For
mer Crime.
His Murderous Hand Imbued in the Blood
of Father and Mother and
Their -Four Children.
Narrowing Details Of the Darkest Crime
on Record-The Butcher a Near
Relative OF His Victims.


has caused the widest excitement in
this part of the country. The bodies were
found in Sugar Creek, five miles from
Peasanton, and details of the terrible af-
fair are given as follows The discovery
was first made by W. ii. Matheny, who.
looking for a crossing on the creek, dis
covered the bodies of two children
in the water. He gave the
alarm, and further investigation re-
vealed the most shocking deed on record
1t appears from evidence obtained that
man with team and wagon containing
woman and three children drove
into the woods on Sugar Creek
about mile above the mouth on
Tuesday of last week and there COM
mitted the deed. The boy and girl found
in the creek We're aged eight and thirteen
years. Both bore marks of violence, the
girls head being crushedin 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 hay between the
wheels of the wagon, while the head lay
near pallet fifteen feet from the wagon.
Clots of blood showed that she had met
her fate at that place. The head had
been severed near the body and the skull
crushed in several places. Several gashes
on the arm showed that she had made
resistance.
The fourth body was found some hve
hundred yards northeast of the wagon,
partially concealed in the forks of fallen
tree. This was the body of a woman
probably thirty-tive 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 severing
her head from the trunk.
A horse was grazing in the vicinity,
while complete set OF harness except
bride, indicated that the perpetratOr
took the other horse to escape The
wagon contained a cross-cut saw, two
iron wedges and few cooking uten-
sils. The clothing on all the bodies
was quite plain, the women hay
ing on only calico dresses, and but
very little other clothing A yellow
shepherd dog with white feet and white
ring around his neck, evidently belonging
with them, hung around the bodies as if
familiar with them. Nothing was found
about the wagon or on the persons to in
dictate who they were or where they came
from. A thimbe 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.
Constable Gass came to town and
Squire Atkins impaneled a 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 I'M
known party, probably on Tuesday after
noon or evening, May u.
Thomas Holmes, who lives about half
a mile south Of the scene of the murder,
testified that a spare-built man about
tifty-hve or sixty years OF age, with thin,
grayish whiSkers, came to his house early
Wednesday morning and seemed very
much unnerved, claiming he had a 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. 1t is pretty well ascertained that
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 mutilated condi
Ia q,
ing.
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, having her skull crushed
and throat cut.
Mr.. Mat. Mulis, living in Missouri,
| about three miles from the State line,
| identified the victims as the family of
| John II. 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 deed.
| Wampler and Anderson left together on
| Sunday, May %, and on Monday eve
ming Wampler returned and told
| Mrs. Anderson that Mr. Anderson
was in jail at Pleasanton and that
she was needed as witness. lie hastily
packed the family in the wagon and start
ed after dark. He passed through here
| Tuesday morning about two o'clock, and
told a night Waterman his name and made
some inquiries about the road. Wamper
is about thirty-tiye years Old, heavy set,
with black hair and heavy dark mus
tache. 1t is supposed that he killed An
derson on Monday and returned for the
family.
Anderson was member of Jewell Post,
No 8, &. A. X.
The cause of the murder is supposed
to have been TO cover up a previous
crime known to Anderson and his family.
Anderson's body was found Yesterday
in disused coal shaft on Yocum farm,
.just over the line OF Bates County, Mis-
souri,, with hole in his head, probably
made with an axe.
The search for Wampier so far has
been unsuccessful, but it is certain that
he was seen in boat on the river last
night, and is undoubtedly hiding some.
where in the neighborhood, Search will
be continued this morning and it is
thought he cannot possibly escape. The
County Commissioners have offered re-
ward of $500 for WadIpier's capture.
Great excitement prevails.
| =====---=-=--=--=------.
The A. w. Dimock 4 Co, Assignment.