Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-05-31
sEDALIA'S HORROR.
The Body Of Williamson's Muir
dered Wife Discovered.
The Wretch Claims That Others We're Cnn-
cerned with Him In the Murder OF the
Moorcs-NIrs. Moore Under
Arrest.

SHDALIA, No., May 0.-When Thomas
Williamson, the farm hand, was arrest
ed for the double murder OF Jefferson
and Charles Moore, 1t was limited that
he might have been guilty of wife MUIR
der also. This was confirmed yesterday
when the body of the murdered wife
was exhumed, and the mans innate
wickedness and thirst for human blood
made apparent A more desperate
wretch has never occupied cell in the
county jail.
In August last Williamson and his
wife lived on farm six miles north
west Of Sedalia on Muddy creek. The
house occupied by them consisted Of
two parts connected by a covered way.
The couple occupied one Of these rooms
as q bedroom, window in the south
overlooking a small kitchen garden.
About that time the woman disappeared
and the neighbors asked the man where
she had gone. He replied that she had
gone on visit to relatives in Illinois.
She did not return at the date he said
she would, and he accounted for this by
saying that she had died while in
Illinois, and he being too poor in purse
to have her remains brought home or
even to attend the funeral consented
that she be buried there.
Prior to the time Williamson had
moved to the farm with his wife he had
lived on South Edge street in this city.
The couple did not get along happily
together according to the neighbors, and
on several occasions Williamson beat
and shamefully mistreated her. and
when she so suddenly disappeared, sus-
picion that she had been murdered was
aroused and pretty close watch was
kept upon Williamson, but finally this
watchfulness relaxed and people had
about forgotten the circumstance.
After Williamson left the farm it was
occupied by a man named Dan Clossier.
Williamson was there one day and pass
ing near the south window in his old
sleeping room pointed to certain spot
about six feet from the house and told
Clossier not to dig there. as he had par
snip seed sown and would not like to
have them disturbed. Clossier had for
gotten this until the circumstances sur
rounding the killing of the Moores came
to light and 1t became known that Will
hanson was again accused of having
murdered his Wife.
Yesterday morning Clossier and
neighbor began search about the prem
ises and, recalling the parsnip incident,
he dug there first But few shovels
full of dirt had been removed when the
body of the unfortunate woman was
found. About six feet from the window
above referred to hole some two feet
in diameter and less than three feet
deep had been dug. Into this the body
had been crowded occupying almost a
sitting position, with the knees drawn
up to the chin. The face was turned to
the west and there was less than foot
of earth over the head.
AS soon as the body was discovered
Clossier fastened to town and notified
Coroner 0verstreet and Constable Ram.
sey, who arrived at TIE farm house
about noon. They had the body re-
moved, and found it in fair state of
preservation, decay being most marked
IN the lower limbs. The body had on q
calico dress and undershirt skirt and
stockings. There was no doubt as to-
its identity, as several who had known
the woman in life readily recognized the
features. Coroner 0verstreet had the
remains placed in pine coffin box and
brought to town and will hold an in.
quest this morning.
Williamson still insist that he was not
alone in the murder OF the MOores and
says he will tell the whole story when
the time comes.
George F. Tongan, prosecuting attor
ney of Pettis County, has asked Judge
Ryland, Judge Of the criminal court, to-
call special session OF that court for
the purpose Of disposing of Williamson.
Judge Ryland's reply has not yet been
received.
Sheriff Smith was notified to be on
the lookout fer a mob supposed to be
forming in the neighborhood where the
body of Williamson's murdered wife
was found, and the guard about the jail
was at once doubled and fully armed
The jail is presumed to be strong
enough to resist an ordinary attack, but
every precaution to insure the safety Of
the prisoner is being taken.
Mrs. Moore, the wife of jefferson
Moore, one of Williamson's victims and
who since her separation from him had
been known by the name of her first
husband O'BannOn, was arrested at her
home In East Sedalia last evening,
charged as an accomplish of Williamson
with the murder of the Moores, and
locked up. She did not know with what
she was charged, she said, but attrlb-
uted her arrest wholly to Williamson
who had told fellow prisoner that she