The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-11
HORRIBLE CRIME IN KANSAS.
Details of Murders Committed by Sam Purple
His Prompt Execution by Lynchers

LARNED Kan, Nov. 10-Intelligence has
been received here from Hodgeman county of
crime which rivals in inhumantv and brutality
the butcherY of his family by Willie Sells, the
boy murderer The scene of the tragedy is near
Marino, in the extreme southeast corner. of
Hodgeman county Some seven years ago
beautiful young lady named Lowber fell des-
perately in love with Sam Purple, a man whose
reputation for sobriety and mildness of nature
was not bv any means enviaole. Against the
wishes of all to whom the young lady was in anv
way connected. they were married, and settled
down near Marino They never lived verv hap
PLY together, and Puppies vicousness culni-
hatesi. Friday morning last in the murder of
part of his family, and in his own death at the
hands of an enraged mob three days later At
the time of the murder his family consisted of
seven psrsons-himself his wife, his wife's sister
and four little children. the youngest of which
only three weeks old. Friday morning his
wife arose as usual and prepared breakfast She
then wentto awaken her husband which SO en-
ragged him to incite him to the heinous crime
Which soon followed. He sprang violently from
his bed and seizing his revolver shot his wife
through the body from which wound she died
at once. The newborn babe was next fred at
with the same result. He next shot and killed
another of his children. His sister in law Miss
Lowher, was then selected and fired at, the ball
passing through the arm and lodging somewhere
In the shoulder. As this empted his revolver
be proceeded to load his shotgun in order TO
complete the work. A slight mistake in this was
the only thing that stopped the deadly proceed
ipSs. The powder poured into one barrel
and, by error, the shot into the other With this
he endeavored to blow off the head of another
child, but as there was nothing except
powder in the BARREL the child's face was
cnly severely burned by the explosion
"A heavy blanket was seized and wound around
She suffering child, and this securely wrapped
with a heavy wire, in the hope that he might
accomplish by suffocation what he had failed in
by the use of the shotgun. The child will re-
cover, although fearfuly disfgured about the
Iace The murderer then mounted horse and
itarted across the fields toward Marino, with
:he avowed purpose OF numbering his wifes
rather and mother. Before he could accomplish
this, however, the wounded young lady had
made Ter way to the village and notified the in
baoitants of what had happened and they had
eosgregated for resistance. Seeing that his plan
was frustrated, Purple hasteneG to Jetmore and
surrendered himself to the authorities where he
was placed in jail, surrounded by heavy guard.
Last night mob of about one hundred men |
went In quietly to the jail and demanded the |
prisoner, who was delivered with little cere- |
may. lie was then taken back to the scene of |
hisNTlme and hanged to tree Only one mem |
her of the family escaped serious injury. and |
that was the murderers little bow who hid nm |
der MS bed when he heard his father coming