The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-03-09
OUADRUPLE MURDER.
ONE OF THE MOST HORRIBLE
CRIMES On RECORD.
An Entire Family KILLED by Roy,
the Son and Brother of the
Victims.


OF the most horrible murders ever
known in this county was perpetrated
this morning near this place. Mr..
Mcndel, living thirteen miles north
west of town, was awakened about !
O'Clock this morning 10y scream. He
went TO the door and was met by
Willie Sells, the son of u neighbor, j.
NJ. Sells. The boy cried out; "Mr.
Mendcl a man is ut our house with
hatchet and has hurt father and
mother, ! don't know how badly"
Mr. Mendel went with the
boy, rousing j. |. Rice, another
ncighbor, on the way. Upon reaching
Scllss house u most horrible sightmct
their eyes. In the bed in the north
room lay Walter, Willic's oldest
brother and bed fellow, aged nineteen,
his throat cut and the entire top of
his head chopped off, exposing the
brain and his left eye hanging upon
his cheek. Passing into the south and
main room, where n light was burn
ing, they stumbled over the PROSTATE
form of Mr.. Sells, his head crushed
and almost severed from his body,
Near by lay Mrs Sells, II lady of forty
three years, her head mashed and II
fearful cash in her throat, On the bed
in the southeast corner OF this room
lay on whites sister, aged fourteen,
killed in the same manner as the other
three. Lying near Mr.. Sells's head
was Il bloody butcher knife and on n
chair hatChet, matted with hair and
blood. The boy said that he had been
awakened by something and looking
up saw n low, heavy-set man with
dark hair, cut close, standing in the
door, The man stepped in and reach
ing over Willie, struck Watty, 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 ran out
OF the other, and started up the
road on a run, Willie after him. A
short distance off stood man on
horseback, holding another horse,
upon which the man vaulted and
both made of, Willie then went into
Mendcl's After the bodies had been
discovered Rice took Willie home
with him, where he slept soundly till
morning. A cOroncr's jury was i'm
pnnclcd, and the subsequent investi-
CATION brought forth much from the
boy Suspicion rested upon him and
he was put upon the stand, He
swore that hc had not washed his
hands since the murder, but
/ inspection showed that while
/ his hands and wrists We're
| clean there was water mark about
| which his lorcarms were deeply en-
/ crusted with blood, which appears to
have spuncd up his sleeves. Around
his finger nails, 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 Ia
be found. The boy stoutly denied
being the murderer and main.
tanned bold front throughout. The
cone usion of the inquest was
postponed until tomorrow. The boy
was struggled into buggy by Police
Judge Cambcn and Deputy-Sherifl
Locke and driven to the jail in Erie
for fear of ynching, which appeared
imminent. On the way TO Erie he
said to Mr.. Camben; "Those fellows
tried to get me to say that didit, but
thought it would be best not TO admit
it," There is hardly a doubt but that the
boy committed the dreadful crime,
though no motive is known. Mr. Sells
had in his pockct-book $500 in golC
and $40 in bills, which were not dis
urbcd, besides three watches join
Hall OF Erie has been appointed
guardian of the boy.