The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-05-09
story of the Crime.

The murder of Gus Meeks. his wife and
two little children has been partially
| avenged by the law in the execution OF Bill
Taylor today. His brother George, who
was convicted and sentenced to be hanged
at the same time, escaped from jail here
and has not since been captured. The
crime was the most revolving one ever
committed in Missouri. The tragedy oc-
Cured on the night of May II. 1884. BIZ
Taylor was a lawyer and banker in Linn
county, Missouri, being at the time men
toned cashier OF the bank at Browning.
that county. For four or five years he bad
borne a rather evil reputation, although
suffered to hold his place in society by rea-
son of his wealth. He had been arrested
on several charges, the latest being fors
stealing a herd of cattle and driving It to
Meeks was an accomplice In this crime
and was tried and sentenced to the peni-
tertiary, He subsequently confessed, was
principal witness against Bill Taylor.
Browning. On the night of the murder
the two brothers drove to Milan. a dis
s1nss % Of t 1w1 hSme m Of Me IN a a ndg eslled T him
outside the house. Meeks went back into
the house and told HIS family he was 60
Tayior's would assist him. His wife said:
II and the children. will go with you Gus"
The Meeks e family started r. away NTH, Nth
morning the sim and bloody bodies Of 9
the nth member 2 little girl. ! years old.
e 6 90 out It from r. mt the fer same CORY cory ls,Sm %isa
to the nearest house, which. fortunately.
ala td5d not Ssr h aF,P EN- t .}o be Ta asho M;;t, wh ere s d1s
not remember much except that she was
struck on the head after seeing her parents
no rfnllhf from tho facts SnhGanl1anflv. do
veloped thai the Taylor's thought they had
killed the entire family, as they Intended
and some clothing, the only earthly possess
slons OF the Meeks family. We're found on
george Gee rayT1H ay 1orm had i fpes Ia biooa n stains npo 10
IT. as several witnesses testified.
Meanwhile the Taylor's had fled. Posses
and put upon their trail. Bloodhounds
We're brought from far distant states and
More than Zoo farmers in Linn and sGfli.
van counties left their plows to help cap
ture the murderers and wipe out the blot
We're beaten over. foot by foot, but With
out the slightest result.
finding the men had been given up hops a re-
port came from Arkansas. that the Tay-
lor's had been taught. Bold, fearless Jerry
modest man. was the hero of the day. The
prisoners were brought back to Missouri
safe at Rseping; T I 5a' asked <. Z. a e ehanee io OF
venue from the county where the murder
was committed, and the case was taken to
Carroll county. The first trial occurred In
the early part of 1896. and resulted In a
hung Jury. The prediction was freely
that Jury had been tempered with BY the
agents Of the Taylors, who were supplied
with money. Carroll county considered
itself disgraced.
The second trial of the case began July
q last. Excitement. was at fever heat
about Carrollton, and threats of lynching
IL Justice was not legally melted ONT we're
freely made. Thu lawyers struggled like
flends. Prosecuting Attorney Brosnahan
led the prosecution. and ex-Congressman
John B. Hale was the head and front Of
the defense. Little Nellie Meeks, the sole
survivor OF the terrible night. faced the
told her prattling story. On August 9 the
Jury. after Being out but a few minutes,
found the prisoners guilty. and they were
sentenced TO be hanged by Judge Fucker.
The case was Of course appealed to the
supreme court. On March 81 Judge Sher-
which all concurred. affirmed the judg-
nlent of the lower court, and the execution
was set for April 80.
Pending the carrying into effect OF the
sentence OF the court both Bill and George
Taylor made their escape from the jail
here; This was effected on the night Of
April II BIZ was r~ecaptured but George
Is still at large. April 10 Bill was removed
to the Jackson county jail at Kansas City
to prevent a lynching and he was kept
there undl yesterday when he was brought
back. Monday his attorney made an ap-
peal to the United States supreme court
f9r a stay Of procesdinEs but It was refused.
IN vain and the execution of today fol,
lowed