Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-04-24
INFURIATED ST. LOUIS co.
FARMERS CLAMOR
FOR HIS LIFE.
The Self Accused Murderer
Makes a Full Confession
of His Many Crimes.
He Stole Horses et Laddonia and Sold
Them in Msxioo-His story Be-
hsssd to b True.

horse-thief, who confessed to muir
der and sundry other crimes,
printed in last weeks LEDGER,
had rough time of it next day in
st. Louis county, the scene of his
latest escapade.
Last Saturday night a valuable
horse was stolen from Robert Pip
kin, who lives at Alton, St. Louis
county. The horse was traced to
Meyers stable, on corner of Sixth
street and Park avenue, st. Louis,
where he had been left by King
with instructions to sell him for
S65, for which he would call on
Tuesday. When the man called
for his money he was arrested and
taken to the Four Courts. He gave
his name as Mansfield King, of
Perry, Rails county, Mo-, and told
the most remarkable story which
Was printed in the LEDGER yester-
day.
tuesday night the prisoner was
taken to Sappington, in the coun-
ty, where warrant was sworn out.
1t soon became known to the neigh
borhood for miles around that the
man who had stolen Pipkin's horse
was at the Justices Office. Men
and boys began to flock to the
place, with determination to take
the man from the officers and hang
him to the nearest tree. The stu
alton for the horse thief was criti-
cal indeed, and, had it not been
for the determined courage and
presence of mind of Justice Sap
pington, a bloody and disgraceful
tragedy would have been enacted
almost within sight of the city.
While the Justice stood with drawn
pistol and threatening to shoot the
| first man who attempted to cross
the threshold of the door, an Off
Ger, unobserved, took the man,
whose blanched face and trembling
limbs indicated the dread in which
he held death by lynching, to the
Justices residence, where he was
guarded by two employees. The
mob, supposing he had been taken
to the Jail at Clayton, We're thrown
off the track and he was not dis.
turbed during the night. In the
morning ne was taken to Clayton,
and before being placed in Jail, was
taken to the Argus Office, where he
made the following remarkable
and revolving confessions:
| THE CONFESSION.
| NV name is Mansfield King; my
home is Perry, Rails county. Mo
I was "a years OF age on the 9th O
this month; my wife's maider
name was Mary A. Swan, of Rails
county; we were married BY
Squire Taylor, of Rails county, OF
the 7th of July, my wife ia still
living at Perry, about three miles
distant from the post-office; my ia
theirs name was John King ane
my mothers, Hannah King, botl
of whom are now dead and buriee
at Greenlawn, Rails county, Mo
/ In order to relieve my mind,
now desire to make confession OF .
murder committed by me in Rali'
county, Missouri, about seven O
eight years ago in September. l
has bothered me 80 much that
cannot distinctly remember th'
date. I killed a man by the nam'
!, of Carter. He was painter and
widower. His first name do no
, know. I killed him about on
mile and half below Perry post
: office, Rails county, Mo. l sho
him in the left side of the head; b
died instantly. He was about A
or 45 years ago. I searched hin
and found $117.50 in his pocket
8 book. I took it out and put tn
e book back into his pocket
g | / then threw his body into Lie
Creek. I have never heard OF tn
:, body being found. I never toll
anybody about it till l was arreste
!, for this offense of horse-steallne
! I tell it now because it is a relief
e me to get 1t off my hands.
y tried to commit suicide thre
Q times to relieve my mind {
8 this trouble. / now make thi
y confession and allow the law t
take its course. / feel that ough
to suffer for what / have done.
freely confessed to my uncle, job
q seobee, of having tried to rob him
I am the same person who robbie
III. A. Coil, of Rails County, Of s33i
q T. also stole a horse from job
u Stephens, of Lad onia, Audrai
d county, Mo. ri Stephens' hors
ri in Mexle con br Sl55. ! neve
: stole hey r Il horses. / max
. this- ,re ss.on voluntarily and
n my Own free will, without an
= undue influence.
,,lTSigned.l MANSFIELD KING.
III Perry, Rails County, Mo.
The above statement was mac
and sworn to before VIM. 81. Sal
pington, a Justice of the Peace Il
j. Carondelet Township, in st. Lou
It County.
dI Before signing the statement /
+ asked the Justice If it would !
81 i-gal for him to sign it with b
hanGs fettered By handouts, q