The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-03-12
SLAIN BY A SON.
Terrible Butchery of an Entire Family In
Kansas-A Young Boy in Jail on Suspic-
ion of Having Murdered His Father,
Mother Brother and Sister.

Terrible Butchery of an Entire Family In
Kansas-A Young Boy in Jail on Suspic-
ion of Having Murdered His Father,
Mother, Brother and Sister.
Usage MISSION, Kan, March 9.-Mr.
Mendell, living thirteen miles northwest of
town, was awakened about three o'clock
yesterday morning by a scream. He went
to the door and was met by Willie Sells,
the son of neighbor, j. w. Sells. The
boy cried out: ''Mr. Mendell. a man is at
our house with a hatchet and has hurt
badly" Mr.. Mendell went with the boy,
arousing j. |. Rice, another neighbor, on
the way. Upon reaching Sells house a
most horrible sight met their eyes. In the
bed in the north room lay Walter Sells,
aged nineteen, his throat cut and the en-
tire top OF his head chopped off, exposing
the brain and his left eye hanging up
on his cheek. Passing ipto the south
and main room, where a light was
burning, they stumbled over the PROSTATE
form OF Mr.. Sells. His head was crushed
and almost severed from his body. Near
by lay Mrs. Sells, a womaa forty-three
years old. Her head was mashed and
there was a fearful cash in her throat. On
the bed in the southeast corner of the
room lay Ina Sells, aged fourteen, killed in
the same manner as the other three.
Lying near Mr.. Sells head was bloody
butcher-knifc, and on chair a hatchet,
matted with hair and blood. The boy said
that he had been awakened by something,
and looking up saw low, heavy-set man
with dark hair, cut close, standing in the
door. This man stepped into the
room, and reaching over Willie struck
Wallie, who lay in the back of the bed. Willie
jumped out and dressed while the man was
still in the room. The man rushed out Of
one door, while Willie went out of the other
and started up the road on a run, Willie
after him. A short distance off stood a
man on horseback, holding another horse,
upon which the man vaulted, and both
made off. Willie then went on to Mendell's.
Alter the bodies had been discovered Rice
took Willie home with him. where he slept
soundly till morning. A coroner's jury
was impaneled and the subsequent investi-
cation brought forth much from the boy.
Suspicion rested upon him and he was put
on the stand. He swore that he had not
washed his hands since the murder, but in
spection showed that while his hands
and wrists were clean there was
water mark above which his forearms
were deeply incrusted with blood, which APP
peared to have spurted up his sleeves.
Around his fingernails, too, was blood.
Upon removing his pants his drawers were
seen to be saturated with spattered blood,
and his bare feet were covered with the
same sanguine fluid. His feet fitted all the
bloody footmarks to be found.
The boy stoutly denied being the MUIR
derer, and maintained bold front
throughout. The conclusion of theinquest
was postponed until to-day.
The boy was struggled into a buggy and
driven to Jail in Erie for fear of lynching,
which appeared imminent. On the way to
Erie he said: ''Those fellows tried to get
me to say that did it, but / thought
it would be best not to admit it." There
is hardly doubt but that the boy com
mtted the dreadful crime, though no
motive is known. Mr.. Sells had in his
pocket book 500 in gold and $17O in bills,
which were not disturbed, besides three
watches