The Indianapolis journal., 1885-12-03
A C0LD-BLOODED MURDER.
The Awful Crime Committed by Two Run
away Indianapolis Boys in Missouri.

Three weeks ago Daniel and George Moore,
aged, respectively, sixteen and fourteen years.
! living with a widowed mother in room No. 40 of
the Grand Opera house Block in this city, ran
away from home. Their mother who sup
ported herself and three younger children by
washing and plain sewing, worried over their
disappearance until she fell sick,
and on Tuesday was taken to the
hospital for treatm mt, being unable to
pay for aphysician's attention. Her three chill
dren, boy and two little girls, all younger than
selves, and have since separated, but whittier
they have gone no one knows The youngest
girl, child of five years, was seen by occupants
of the block leaving her mothers room in tears
yesterday morning with her doll.
A special to the ST. Louis Republican from
Marshfeld, Mo-, yesterday, gave the particulars
OF the arrest of the two runaway boys for the
murder of a German named George L. Gumbel.
The account of the affair says that while in
Dallas county one night the latter part of last
week. they broke into a house near Long Lane,
in that county, and stole a thirty-two cal
lber revolver; that nothing else was
taken. Saturday evening they came here. and
visited several places begging for something to
eat. A number Of people remember of the lit
tie ones coming to their houses. Some gave
them food while in few instances they re-
ceived small sums of money. Sunday morning
they met the German at the Frisco depot in
this place. and the three proceeded east follow
ing the railroad. Between 10 and IL o'clock the
three passed through Niangua,, the first station,
seven miles east and continued on their journey
together until they reached the scene Of
death, when the older one of the boys stepped
up to the back of the German, within two or
three feet, and fired the fatal shot He fell for
ward on his face. groaned, but never spoke. The
boy then turned him over and rifled his pockets.
placed his head on the rail- and left him. The
boys are both rather small for their ages. The
younger was the first to confess. He told one of
the prisoners in his CELL and then when the
prosecuting attorney, with others, arrived at the
JAIL repeated the particulars Of the tragedy sub
stantially as detailed above.
He said that they were walking some distance
IN the rear of the German, and his brother said
to him: i am going to shoot that man. he
asked him what for and said because he wanted
to- and then his brother walked up to the mans
back and placed the pistol within two or three
feet Of the back of his head, and fired. 1t was
indeed sad thing to hear the little fellow give
tho details of the brutal deed, interrupted with
the sobs that seemed to almost break his little
heart Between his sobs and with tears chas
ing one another down his childish face he begged
them not to tell his brother in the other CELL be-
cause he would kill him for telling. The
Oloer DOy OenleQ IL at urSt, DuG Wnen informed
that his little brother had told all about it, he
reluctantly admitted the killing, and corrobo-
rated his little brother, except he denied rifng
the dead mans pockets. When asked why he
killed the man, and if they had quarreed or had
any trouble, he said no. there had been no quar-
rel or trouble of any kind between them; that
he had never seen the man until tnat morning;
that he just felt like killing him, and killed him.
He was asked if he had not thought the man
had money. He said no, he did not believe at
the time he killed him he had any money.
''The younger said his brother did not find any
money when he turned the mans pockets. After
the killing the boys went on toward Lebanon.
That night they slept in a barn three or four
miles west of Lebanon, and next morning they
went on to that place, where they were arrested.
The oldest boy seems entirely unconcerned, and
when talking of the affair his manner is that of
a COOL deliberate heartless little wretch. He
shows not sign of remorse, nor does he appear
by act. word or deed to regret it. 1t looks like
it would be cruel to hang one SO young yet he
cannot be punished by Imprisonment in the pen
itiary because Of his age"