Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1897-05-05
KENSLER'S rIURDERERS.
Fate OF Mrs. Josie kensIef and
Alfred Freel to be Soon De-
cided in Courts

cided i'm Courts
At 10 o'clock Thursday morning
April 20, Alfred Freel and Josie
Kensler were brought into the dis
trict court to plead in the case
against them on the charge of will.
full murder of John Kensler last Oc-
tober. Both entered plea of moi
guilty. The State isrepresented by
District Attorney Rogers and Hon
n. NJ. Ruick; Messrs. Wolfe and
Bierbower for Freel, and J. S. Wa.
tiers for Mrs. Kensler.
FreePs counsel demanded sepa-
rate trial and Freel was forthwith
arraigned and Mrs. Kensler re.
manded for trial.
The murder of John Kensler, an
old resident of this county, was
published in detail in the BULLETIN
last fall, and the proceedings of the
inquest later on. On October 18th
Kensler and Freel left Glenn's Ferry
for home, and next day Freel re-
ported Kensler missing. Searchers
went to work and prosecuted the
search until their labors were re-
warded by finding the body buried
under an irrigating ditch about 60
feet from his dwelling. Mrs. Kens-
Ter and Freel had been arrested on
October 25, and held for further de-
velopments. An inquest was held
from Dec. "a to 81, and the coro-
ner's Jury charged both parties with
his murder. Later on the pair were
brought before Judge Sinnott for
preliminary examination and by
him held without bail to answer the
charge of willful murder.
After a number of challenges for
cause and peremptorily the follow
ing jury was empanneled:
ohas. F. Meyer, Fred Shelly, John Steele VIM.
Morlett, miners, Of Neal Paul Holchester miner,
and r. B. Reed, teamster, of Pine Grove; Charles
Maloney, merchant Louise Creek; r. NJ. Burge, farm.
or, Mountain Home; Nelson Outright, and c. A.
jackson, miners, Neal; C. l.. Hopkins, Rocky Bar.
James Mullany testifed-was acting coroner In De
cember, 1896 Heard that body Of John Kensler was
located and was present when II was taken up from
under the ditch. Held inquest on body. In the grave
with the body buried hat, overalls Shoes coat
vest and some small articles in pockets Of clothing
Boxed these articles up and sent them to Court Clerk
Rev nolds. | identify them.
D. E Bayles testified Helped to take Kensler's
body from under the ditch on Dec. Esd. Identified
the articles described by above witness On morning
Of Oct. is, going up King Hill creek saw a team
about so yards of the wagon road, partially htched
to pair of front wheels of wagon and the reins
wound tight about the hub OF the of wheel, holding
the horses prisoners. Unhtched team, took them tc
kensleT s house. Saw Mrs Kensler there and deliv
cred team to her. She said John had left the might
before before Tor the Ferry went back, she with me
slight knoll, and the hind wheels were in the roac
further back This was about a quarter mile from
kenslers dwelling Mrs kenser SAID Freel had gon'
to town to look for John. Saw Freel later and h
| said he had been to the Ferry looking for Kensler
that he inquired at blacksmith shop for him askeC
him he had tried the saloons, Johns general resor
in town; he said no. G. Ii. Jobe with me whel
team found.
DR.. VIM. F. smith-Hed two postmortem examin
ations on body Of Kenser-one Dec "a, one later
Found circular opening in skull Just above RICH
ear and half inch in diameter, in my judgment mad
by bullet Skull all fractured and pieces OF bon
gone on left side, the place Of exit The missin
pieces Of bone would cover area ST inches square
person might live an hour after such a wound bu
would be unconscious.
d. E. Bayles recalled-I live on the Can't cid ranc
which adjoins the Kensler ranch G. IL. Jobe and
were at that place the right OF Oct. IL. There is
joint ditch used by Kenslers and Canfieids tappin
King Hill creek called the Garfield ditch. The kei
sler ditch Is the the body was concealed under
and taps the Garfield ditch about a quarter mil
above Kenslers house. By Mr.. Canfelds order tn
/ Garfield ditch had been shut at the headgate all
for weeks prior to Oct 1s had beet empty. A
the water being turned into the kenser ditcl
Garfield ditch was empty on envening OF Oct IL,
| shutdown. Next morning noticed the Garfield dtC
| carrying full head of water and flowing over on ii
Garfield ranch. Jobe and went to the headga
that morning to investigate The water was shut c
before got there and turned back into Kensler
ditch | saw tracks there looking like those of
woman's shoe
Joseph Rosevear and W j. Rosevear each testif.
to completing a deal with Kenser for the purcha
of the kenser ranch on Oct IL, Frtel being presen
and that on the 10Th Freel told them Of kenslel
disappearance, and he had been tracked to Sna
river, and that they were in the searching party.
Ii c. Tngey, !. a. Heron, Cal Scnon, Vim Bur
A. NJ. Sinnott, James Morrow, and E. Corker ga
unimportant testimony
| r. A. Easey testihed-In the fall OF 1895 was u
der sheriff and in charge of Jail. About mont
ago and after body found, Free called me to
cell and made this statement to me. Said, "Bt
J come here, want 10 talk with you. She lays all
blame on me and had nothing to do with 1t M
than was forced to-" He then related to me q
he and Kcnsler at the Ferry Oct. II, and driI
ing some and drove thence home into the barnya
''When put the horses up" said he supper
ready; John told me to leave the harness on AS
: was going back to town. Went into the house. Jc
and Mrs. Kensler had some words, she saving
j, , Joke that she would not sign the papers he J,
| got mad and slapped her. She said, John, you'll
sorry for this-you'll slap me no more" Freel u
said it not being his fight, he Embarrassed and "
to bed. At 10 o'clock he said. Mrs hens si W
to kill him, +" and asked him TO help her; that he
frsed and she said, 'ff you don't m get some
d else" and he then went back to bed At ii ocl
!, she again awoke him. There was anoth man pi
= emit She said 'help me get away with old Jon
The man drew gun him and compelled hin
q get up Got up and went Into house and saw Nc
Ter on a canvas sheet on the floor, dead. Mrs hen'
}. compelled him, with gun TO help the man carry
body out helped to bury him in ditch; was for
| to do so Cross e xamined-The above words are 5
1 stantially Freels language. He said the mans
: s. b. Blackwell related similar statement TO him
Freel above, only that freei said that Mhea
tried to carry the body out he slckened Inc
! | with the gun ordered him to dig grave and tre'
but weakened; then Mrs. kensler took the sht
and finished the Job After covering body up D
Kensler and the man drew the gun on him and
then went away Freel then asked me, said with
II the law could break his neck for this. said II
i. did not kill John he was all right
, George Chapman, prisoner In jan, 'eselue,
writing letters notes to Mrs. kensler at treei
: Mrs. Josie KensTer, wife OF the murdered man, '
:. will be tried for after Freels trial-Am mar
IL years, have children, Myrtle 10 years old and
/, fred, 8. am Is years old. Freel was our hired
j | and lived with us before Oct II last He worked
q us two months When they came home that u
I from the Ferry, both were drunk, Mr.. Kensler
more So They danced about and then talked
3 fighting Freel said II fighting was wanted, hed
Z gun. He went out Of the house, and later on c
: back to the house with gun in his hand a
him what he wanted to do with it and he said to
John Kensler. He then took the gun and shot
a husband on the bed in the front room, while he
:, asleep. Mr.. Kensler, when shot, was lying or
IL left side. The children slept in room adjoining
, was undressing when Freel came in. lie had the
since Oct. Is II was As oalihre earbine. Thai