The herald., 1894-05-12
CoLD-BLeeDED MURDER.
A MOST ATR0CI0US CRIME AT
MILAN, MO.
Gus Weeks, Ills Wife and Two Chilar en-
Killed and a Third Child Ror-
ribly Ipjured-Murder-
ers Pursued.

MILAN, Me-, May 11.--A most afro
cious crime WAS committed last night
near Browning. Gus MsekE, his wife
and two "hildren were murdered out
righ: liher Of Meek's children. 6
girl -. old, was SO badly injured
that ahs may net recover. The circum-
stances leading up to the crime are as
fellows:
There are a number OF criminal cases
pending in Lynn and Sullivan counties
against William P. Taylor and Georgs
Tayler, brcthsTa, the fornsr being
banker OF Browning and the latter
farmer. The charges against them are
forgery, arson and larceny. William P.
Taylor, Gus Meeks and others were
jointly indicted and Meeks pleaded
guilty at the last term and was SEN
fenced to the penitentisry. About a
month ago he was pardsned by Gov
erner Stone in order to uge bin as q
witness agsinEt the Tsylers, who were
In consequence anxious to get rid of
him.
1t 10 said the Taylcrs had arranged
WITH Mseks to give the latter q wagon
and try to got cut OF the county, go that
he might not be present when the case
against the raylora was called for trial.
From Meeke' mother it is learned that
Yesterday he received word from the
Taylers at Browning telling him to be
ready &C 10 O'Clock last hight to go away
that Gus Asske, his wits and children
waited for Taylor until midnight, when
two men, whom Meeks naid were George
and Bill Tayler. came to their house in
q wagon. Mssks and his family got on
the wagon and started for Browning.
The details of tks crime as near SO
can be obtained, were told by alittle
7-yeaY.old girl, who Was suffering greatly
ss abe reeited the story. 1t appears
that when the Meeks family and the
persons accompanying them reached
paint near tbs JerAiaa ssAeel Aeuse, in
Lynn county, short distance east OF
Browning, they were met by two other
nea who were lying in wait. Gus
Mesks was first shot. Mrs. Meeks
jumped out, and che also wss killed.
The murderers than teok stones and
beat the breina out of two OF the child
red and left tie other fer dead. The
m1rdersrs then loaded the whole family
into the wagon and took them two miles
to the Taylor farm, where they wers
buried under i atrawstsck.
A4:3o this morning the eldest child
! csme to her senses aud made her way to
the residence Of Mr. Carter, nesr by.
Tbs Carter family sent boy to the
Tegler fars, whsre he found tbs bodies.
The boy then saw George Teylsr and
inneceptly told him of tina murder 40
described by the almost dying child.
Taylor Immediately started for Browning
On horse back, got his brother Bill Snd
both departed. Their departure frem
Browning WAS before the knowledge Of
the murder had reached here.
The people OF the neighborheod placed
guards around the STRAW stack where the
dead bedies were found. Upon investi-
eating it was discovered that bloody
! Quilt around the bodies was on Ere, the
evident purpese being to cranate the
bodies. The little girl recovered auffl.
GENTLY to describe some OF the partles, AND
upon her evidence Sharon Mccullough OF
| Gault and George Hewlett OF Lynn
county, have been arrested as psrtlcl-
| pants in tins crime. A party OF citizens
| irom Milan and Browning found at the
place of the murder the revolver sna
stone With which the nurderers had
| shot and killed the father and mother
and beaten tbs brains out OF the two
children and lott the other for dead.
At this writing TIE Tsylers have not
been captured, but it ia not thoHght
pessiblo that they eGn eacape. Great
excitement prevails in this part OF the
county, and if the murdersrs are fully
identified the law will have to DO very
strong to prevent summary punish
ment.
Totar-A ferrnar has it1nt come from
the Northwest and says the T&ylors have
lett their horses aad that not less than
500 men are after them.