San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1886-03-10
A WANTON DEED,
A Boy Is Believed to Have Killed All the
Members of His Family.

Usage Mission, Kan, March 9.-One
OF the most horrible murders ever known
was perpetrated yesterday near this
place. Mr.. Menden, living 10 miles
northwest Of town, was awakened about
| O'Clock in the morning by scream.
He went to the door and was met by
Willie Sells, the son Of a neighbor, j. W.
Sells. The boy cried out: "Mr. Menden,
man is at our house with Il Ratchet,
and has hurt father and mother, | don't
know how badly" Mr.. MPnden went
with the boy. arOusing j. |. Rice, an
other neighbOr, on the way. Upon
reaching Sells house, a most horrible
sight met his eyes. In the bed in the
north room lay Walter, Willie's eldest
brother, and bed-fellow, aged 49, His
throat was cut and the entire top of his
head WAS clipped of, exposing the brain,
and his left eye was hanging upon his
cheek. Passing into the south and main
room, where the light was burning they
stumbled over the PROSTATE form Of Mr..
Sells, his head crushed and almost sew
cred from the body. Near by lay Mrs.
Sells, lady Of 43 years, her head mashed
and fearful cash in her throat. On the
bed in the southeast corner Of the room
lay Ina, Willie's sister, aged IA, killed
in the same manner as the other three.
Lying near Mr.. Sells head was a bloody
butcher knife, and on a chair a Ratchet
matted with hair and blood. The boy
said he had been awakened by some
thing, and, looking up, saw low, heavy
set man with dark hair CIT close stand
ing In the door. This man stepped in,
and, reaching over Willie, struck Wal
ter, who lay in the back Of the beu.
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 run, Willie after him. A short
distance Off was a man on horseback
holding another horse, upon which the
man vaulted and both made off Willie
then went on to Menden's. After the
bodies had been discovered, Rice took
Willie home with him, where he slept
sOundly until morning. The COrOner's
jury was emDanelled, and subsequent
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 water mark, above which
MS 1Orearms were deeply encrusteu
with blood, which appeared to have
spurted up his sleeves. Around
his finger nails, too, was blood. Upon
removing his pants, his drawers were
seen to be saturated with splattered
blood and. his feet were covered with the
same sangune fluid. His feet fitted all
the bloody foot marks. The boy stoutly
denied being the murderer and main
tanned bold front throughout. The
conclusion Of the inquest was postponed
until to-day. The boy was struggled
into a 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..
Cambern: These fellows tried to get
me to say did it, but thought it would
be best not to admit it,"
There Is hardly doubt but that the
boy committed the dreadful crime,
though no motive is known. Mr.. Sells
had in his pocket book 800 in gold and
$40 in bills, which were not disturbed,
besides three watches.
John Hall, Of Erie, has been appointed
guardian ofthe boy.