People's voice., 1899-06-29

4
cousin, John KOrnStett, who says that
ne threw her body into the well and
cUolly relates all the gruesome details
of the crime. The boy is apparently
degenerate and is wholly without
morals. He was taken to Wichita
over the Missouri Pacific from
Anthony last night by Sheriff GILES.
pie, and placed in the Wichita jail to
escape the vengeance Of a mob of
citizens of Bluff City. KOrnstett was
arrested Saturday on strong suspicion
of being the murderer of his ten year
old cousin. He made confession
Sunday afternoon and was immedi-
ately taken to Anthony and slipped
into the Jail before any OF the neigh
bOrs Of the little girl knew of his
arrest. The news soon spread, and
by yesterday morning there was evil
dence that a mob was organizing and
would probably demand the body of
the murderer last night. Acting on
the advice Of the best citizens, Sheriff
Gillespie took the boy to Harper early
yesterday and had the prosecuting
attorney join him at Harper, where a
preliminary trial Was given the pris-
oner, at which he again made con-
fessiOn, which was taken in writing.
The sheriff then hurried his prisoner
to Argonia, where he took the train
for Wichita.
Nora KOrnstett, the murdered girl,
was sent on an errand last Monday
week ago to her aunt's, who lives
about two and one-halt miles from
the KornStett'S. When she arrived
at her aunt'S there was no one at
home. John Kornstett, her cousin,
was working in a corn field near the
house and the little girl was told that
in case the folks were not at home to
return by the corntleld and ask her
cousin for 20 cents, which he owed
one Of the Kornstett's. The little
girl did not return home that evening
although her mother told her not to
stay more than an hour. When she
did not return next day the folks
went over to see about it, and were
teld that she had not been there. A
searching party was organized and
the country was hunted over and over
again. Finally she was discovered in
an old well which had been dry for
some time. She was still breathing
and groaning when taken out, but
died within half au hour. The coun-
try was thoroughly aroused but no one
could imagine who the perpetratOr
could be. A cOrouer's Jury was sum.
mOned and held an inquest over the
dead body of the little girl, but they
could not find sufficient evidence on
which to base even suspicion.
After sitting the second time they
were as much at a loss as at the
first. After the jury was discharged
young Kornstett was suspiciOned.
He was taken to view the corpse OF
the little girl but he exhibited the
most stolid indifference, which most
always fixes guilt in the minds Of
those who study crime and criminals.
After the exhibition Of this indifser-
ence, Sheriff Gillespie was convinced
more than ever that John KOrnstett
committed the deed. But the cOrO-
ner's jury could not find the evidence.
Sheriff, Gillespie then found that
about his only hope would be to
secure a confession. He advised the
boy that il he was innocent to main.
tain his innocence forever, but that
il he was guilty, which he believed
him to be, he would better tell the
straight story. The boy Immediately
asked about the reform school and the
sheriff told him all about it. Then,
after little more questioning, the
boy admitted, little by little, tue
details of the horrible crime. His
story corroborated all the details of
the evidence which the sheriff and
his deputy had worked up in the case.
The confession was afterward made
in writing, and is in possession of
Sheriff Gillespie. KOrnstett says the
girl came to him in the field and
asked him for twenty cents. He
herer plavinr with har ard rha ho