The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-07-29
WILLIS sELLss TEnnIpLE CnIME,
Ho VIII be Tried for the Murder OF his Father
Mother, Brother and Sister
The trial of Willie Soils ooo

The trial of Willie Sells, aged 1G, for the
murder OF his father, mother, brother and
sister, was begun at Erie, Kan, on Mon.
day. The youth of the criminal, the mum
Der and relation of the victims, the entire
lack of proyocation, the manner of the kill
ing and all the circumstances of the case
make 1t almost unprecedented in the annals
of crime.
The morning of March 8 Willie Sells
made his appearance at The farm house Of
Il neighbor, Mr.. Mendall, and i'm an excited
tone asserted that strange man had been
at his home during the night and he thought
had hurt his father, as he was lying on
tho iioor with blood on his face AS this
visit OF young Sells was at o'clock in the
morning, Mr. Mcndall questioned him
closely, and Willie said he wakcncd and
saw man standing in the door between
the room Willie and his brother slept i'm
and the one occupied by the parents and
sister,
81 got my clothes off the foot of the
bed, said the boy, "and was putting them
on when the man turned, looked at mc, and
then ran out into the yard did not try
! to arouse my BROTHER but put on my trO,I.
| scrs and went into the room where nv
parents were sleeping to get my boots and
oyercoat. l saw my father on The floor
with blood on his face, but thought his
nose was bleeding, as he was Frequently
troubled that way. When passed out of
the door the stranger was standing in the
yard, but ran. l pursued him for half a
mile, when he mounted horse held by
another man, and both rode away as fast as
they could 60"
MIR. Mcndall accompanied Willie home.
When they arrived the boy remained out
side. MIR. Nlendail entered, procured a
light, and was confronted with q horrible
spectacle. The floor was covered with
blood, the ceiling spattcrcd, and the walls
stained. Old man Sells waG lying on the
lloor with the whole back part of his head
crushed in and his throat cut SO uccp that
his head was almost severed from his body.
Near him, also on the floor, was the body
of Mrs. Sells, wi Ii her skull crushed and
throat cut in the same manner. A few
fcct away in the bed in tic corner lay the
body of Miss Ina Sells, with her Skull
crushed and throat cut. In the bed on
which Willie had been sleeping was the
body of Waite Sells, with a large CASH in
his forehead and one of his eyes chopped
out. Mr.. Mcndall found large hatchct
covered with blood and hair and Il bloody
butcher knife.
The boy accompanied Mr.. Mcndall to
Mr. Ricc's house, near by, where he went
to sleep or pretended to sleep, until next
morning. The officers in the morning
made an examination, but found no trace
of the stranger or horse tracks, although
Willic's tracks were plainly indcntcd in the
mud. 1t was discovered that Willie had
washed his hands and wrists, but above
the wrists blood was found on his arms.
There was blood under his finger nails also.
and his undcr2lothing was considerably
| stained There was Il purse containing
money under Mr.. Sclls's pillow, and two
watches hanging in plain sight which were
| undisturbcd, so that there is no probability
that the crime was committed for the nllr-
pose of robbery.
Previous to this horrible occurrence the
boy had borne a good reputation, and to
This day stOutly denies the preparation of
the deed, and ai1irms that if he committed
it it was in his sleep or while his reason
was dcthrOnod. 1t is said that he was Il
| constant reader of dime novels, aud had
several times expressed desire TO become
a hero.