The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1890-12-02
A TERRIBLE DEED.
a Discarded suitor at Ash GrUyo
Attempts to Burn a Girl
To death.

| CpTiuSutlu, mO ,NON. ZO.-1O ne WIFI
est excitement prevails at Ash Grove
this county, and in that vicinity, OF
account of one of the most atroclou.
crimes that has been known, in the
history of this section. As reported
by E. G. Mayes, a prominent either
Of that locality, young lady, Mis-
Jessie Kennedy, the daughter of a re
spectacle farmer, living four mile:
south of Ash Grove, On last evening
about 6 o'clock went to the spring, 300
yards from the house, to get a bucket
of water. and while there she was
assaulted by a man who had his coat
turned inside-out aud mask on his
face.
She was forcibly taken into the
woods and tied to tree. The villain
then took out of his pocket a razor
blade kuife and made terrible cash
in her breast and then set fire to her
clothing. About this time a wagon
with two men in it passed ne.r by,
and the villain became frightened and
flei. The parents OF Miss Kennedy
becoming alarmed on account of her
absence made a vigorous search, and
SON discovered her in the position
she was left by the villain who hal
tied her to the tree and attempted 10
burn her to death. She was taken
back to the house and a physician
called, her wounds dressed and it is
now thought she may recover.
Miss Jessie Kennedy, the victim of
this infamous outrage, is a young lady
IL years of age. Last summer she
was engaged to be married to Wilson
Bayless, young farmland in that
locality. About last August Bayless
made an attempt to seduce her, a,
which the young lady became indig-
nant and discarded him. 1t is said
he swore vengeance against her, and
the citizens of that locality are conf
dent that he is the party who perpe-
trated the outrage on the young lady
last evening. About six weeks ago
Bayless disappeared from that local.
ity, but it is believed he has been in
hiding near the place where Miss Ken.
nedy lived until the time of the out
rageous assault. Bayless is about %
years old, of low stature, heavy set,
has a black mustache and is illitera'e.
His parents live some place in Ar
kansas and it is believed that he has
gone to that locality.
Miss Kennedy, the victim of the
outrage, says that she recognized the
knife that was used in slashing her
breast as razor blade knife that
Bayless had last summer when he was
her, and that she had used it
in whiting during that time.
The most intense excitement exists
the citizens in the locality
where the crime was perpetrated, and
if Bayless is caught and brought back
there is but little doubt that he will
be summarily dealt with. Some of
the leading citizens have said he would
be taken to the very spot where he
tied Miss Kennedy and attempted TO
burn her to death, and there meet the
same fate that he had intended for
her.
Every effort is being made upon
the part of the citizens and officers to
capture the villain who perpetrated
the outrage. A rumor this evening
was to the effect that Bayless had
boarded a train on the Gnlf line last
night, and was intercepted and cap
tured to day at Fort Scott, Kansas,
and will be brought back to night.
Ii such is the case there is but little
1oubt that he will be taken of the
cars at Ash Grove and be summarily
disposed of.