Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1886-03-10
A Bey,sAwfnI osasne.

hAHBAb VITr, MOI Mofcu S.-Ine
Times Usage Mission, Kansas, special
says: "One of the most horrible mur-
ders ever known In this country was
perpetrated yesterday morning near
this place. Mr.. MAndell, living thir-
teen miles northwest Of the town, was
awakened about 3 O'Clock by q scream.
He went 70 the door, and was met by
Willie Sells, the son OF . neighbor, j.
w. Sells. The boy cried out 'Mr.
Mendell, man is at our house with q
hatchet and has hurt father and mother.
I don't know how badly Mr.. Men
dell went with the boy, accusing j. L.
Rice, another neighbor, on the way.
Upon reaching Sells house q most hor-
rible sight met their eyes.
In the bed In the north room lay
Walter, Willie's eldest brother and bed.
fellow, agei 10, bis throat cut and the
entire top Of his head chopped of, ex
posing the brain, and his left eye hang
ing upon his cheek. Passing into the
south and main room, where light was
burning, they stumbled over the pros.
trate form Of Mr.. Sells, his head crushed
and almost severed from his body.
Near by lay Mrs. Sells, lady OF 43
years, her head mashed and fearful
cash In her throat. On the bed Ia the
southeast corner Of the room lay Ina,
Wiilie's sister. aged ID, killed in ths
same manner as the other three. Lying
near Mr.. Sells head was q blosdy
butcherknife, and on chair hatchet,
matted with hair and blood.
The boy said that he had been
awakened by something, and looking
up saw q heavy set man with dark hair
cut close, standing In the door. This
mau stepped in, and reaching over
Willie, struck Walter, who lay on the
back Of the bed. Willie jumped out
and dressed while the man was still In
the room. The man rushed out of the
door, while Willie rushed out Of the
other, and started up the road on run,
Willie after him. A short distance off
stood q man on horseback holding
another horse. upon which the man
vaulted, and both made off. Willie
then went on to Mendell's. After the
bodies had been discovered, Rice took
Willie home with him, where he slept
soundly until morning. A coroner's
jury was empanelled, and the subse-
quent investigation brought forth much
from the boy.
Suspicion rested upon him and he
was put upon the stand. He swore
that he had not washed his hands since
the murder, but inspection showed that
while his hands and wrists were clean /,
there was q water mark, above which
his foreArms were deeply encrusted
With blood, which appeared to have
spurted up his sleeves. Around his
finger nails, too, was blood. Upon re-
moving his pants his drawers were
seen to be saturated with spattered
blood, and his bare feet were covered
with blood. His feet fitted all the
bloody foot marks to bs found. The
boy stoatly denied being the murderer,
and maintained bold front through
out.
The conclusion of tho inquest was
postponed until to day. The boy was
smuggled into q buggy by Police Judge
Cambern and Deputy Sheriff Locke
and driven to Jail in Erie for fear of
lynching, which appeared imminent.
On the way to Erie he said to Mr.. Cam
bern: Those fellows tried to get me TO
say that did IL, but thought 1t would
be best not to admit It..
"There ia hardly q doubt that sdS boy
committed the dreadful crime. 1t Ia
known that Mr.. Sells had In his pocket.
book 800 iu gold and $l70 In bills,
which were not disturbed, besides three
watches. John Hall of Erie has been
appointed guardian Of the boy"