Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-22
MURDER or MOTHER AND SISTER.
Young Wiliinm Foley of Liberty, Mo-,
IL Placed In Jail.

LIBERTY, Mo, Nov 2i,-The expected
happened tonight, when Young william
Foley was arrested, charged with the murder
OF his mother and sister, and taken to Jail.
The arrest resulted from the finding OF the
coroners jury, which returned its verdict
| at a late hour. The farmers of Clay county
| are in an angry mood as a result of the
revolving tragedy at the Foley farm, and
| there Is strong sentiment against the
young man, but at the same time. the evi-
dence against him does not seem to be con-
vincing. and 1t is not thought there will be
any violent demonstrations
1t was nearly midnight before the cor
oner's jury returned their verdict accusing
| young Foley. The young man, accompanied
by his brother-n.law, was awaiting in the
shern's office. When Coroner Sevler had
sworn out the warrant charging Foley with
murder the youth was given to understand
! that he was in the sherin's custody. SheriH
Hymer, feeling that 1t would be unwise
to take any chances, considering the anger
that has been aroused all over Clay county,
began making preparations at once to re-
move his prisoner to the Jackson county
Jail at Independence or to Kansas City.
By daylight the youth, in all probability, will
have been removed from Clay county. So
far as car be learned, the evil
dence against Foley is all circumstan-
tial. 1t was shown that he must
have been very near home when his
mother and sister were slain and there was
every indication that the murder had been
committed by some one entirely familiar
with everything about the house. Young
Foley's dog had been carefully locked In
the cellar, apparently to prevent any dis
turbance from this source. The gun with
which the two women were shot had been
taken from the youths bedroom and the
loaded shells filled with heavy shot, had
been picked from umong those carrying
lighter charges by a hand familiar with tho
things in the room. In addition to all this
1t is stated that William Foley previous to
the murder had seldom been seen without
a pair of canvas leggings, that he wore
them when last seen previous to the muir
ders. Now one of those leggings cannot be
found 1t is suspcioned that Foley must
have had some object in disposng of
it, and 1t is hinted that perhaps this gar
ment could 1t be found, would bear evil |
dences cf blood stains. But. notwithstand- |
ing the charges by the coroner's jury and
this seemingly discriminating evidence, |
young William Foley has always borne an |
excellent reputation. Perhaps the only thing |
that can be said against his reputation is |
that he has frequently quarreled with his |
mother in his efforts to induce her to con-
sent to a division of his fathers estate. In |
these quarrels his murdered sister had sided |
with her mother. The Foleys are considered |
rich among the farmers of Clay county and |
influential. There is no doubt but the sur |
viying sister of the youth and his other rela- |
tives will exert every influence to clear the |
cuprit from the terrible charge that has |
been entered against him.
KANSAS CITY Mo-, Nov. 21.-A special |
to the Star from Liberty, Mo. SAYS: The
coroner's jury in the Foley double murder
case is still hearing testimony behind closed
doors. Public sentiment against young
Foley. the son and brother is growing
stronger and evidence damaging to him is
said to have been given to the coroners
jury.
The officers are looking for one of Foley's
riding leggings, which may prove an i'm
portant factor in the case. Up to the time
of the murder Foley was always known to
wear leggings. Since then one of them has
been missing, and the theory that it became
smeared with blood and was destroyed for
that reason Is expressed.