The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-03-09
A HORRIBLE STORY.
Four Members of Kansas Family Said to
Have Been Murdered by Boy.

Usage MISSION, Kan, March 8.-Ope of the
most horrible murders ever known in this county
was perpetrated this morning, near this place.
Mr.. Mendel. living thirteen miles northwest of
town, was awakened about o'clock this morn
ing by a scream. He went to the door and was
met by Willie Sells, the son of neighbor, j. w.
Sells. The boy cried out, 'Mr. Mendel, man
is at our house with a Ratchet, and has hurt
father and mother, I don't know how badly.
Mr.. Mendel went with the boy, arousing
j. T. Rice, another neighbor, on the way. Upon
reaching Sells's house, a most horrible sight met
their eyes. In the bed in the north room lay
Walter, Wlllie'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 npon his cheek. Passing
into the south and main room, where light was
burning, they stumbled over the PROSTATE form
of Mr.. Sells, his head crushed and almost severed
from his body Near by lay Mrs. Sells. a lady of
forty three years, her head mashed and fearful
cash in her throat On the bed, in the south
east corner of the room, lay Ina, Willies sister,
aged fourteen, killed in the same manner as the
other three. Lying near Mr. Sels's head was a
bloody butcher knife, and on chair Ratchet,
matted with hair and blood. The boy said that
he had boon awakened by something, and look
ing up. saw low, heavy set man, with dark
hair, cut close, standing in the door. This man
stepped in, and reaching over Willie, struck
Walter, 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 out of the other,
and started up the road on a run, Willie after
him. A short distance off was man on
horseback holding another horse, upon which
the man vaulted, and both made off. Willie
then went to no Menders. After the bodies had
been discovered, Rice took Willie home with
him, where he slept soundly TIL morning.
A coroners jury was impaneed, and the sub
sequent 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 iuspec-
ton showed that while his hands and wrists
were clean, there was q water mark about his
forearms, which were deeply incrusted with
blood, which appears 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 scattered blood, and
his bare feet were covered with the same san
guine fluid His feet fitted all the bloody foot
marks to be found.
The boy stoutly denied being the murderer,
and maintained bold front throughout. The
conclusion of the inquest was postponed until to-
morrow. The boy struggled into a buggy
by Police Judge Camberin 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.. Camberin:
"Those fellows tried to get me to say that did
it, but thought it would be best not to admit
it." There is hardly doubt but that the boy
committed tho dreadful crime though no mo-
tive is known. Mr.. Sells had in his pocket book
$lOO in gold and $l7O in bills, which were not
disturbed, besides three watches. John Hall, of
Erie has been appointed guardian of the boy.