Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1899-04-07
NOTHING IN 1T.
So Said the Grand Jury in the Mayhugh-
Walker Murder Case.

dlKer MurQ6r Ease.
Last Friday NJ. F. Mayhugh swore
out a warrant for the arrest of his
sister-in-law. Mrs. C. T Mayhugh, and
Elmer Walker, young man who had
been working on the G. T. Mayhugh
farm, situated three miles northwest
of Mendon.
The charge was a grave one and IN
purport was to the effect that the
woman and hired man were instru-
mental in causing the death of G. T.
Mayhugh, the woman's husband, on
the fifteenth day Of January, 1899.
The warrant was served by Constable
L. A. Embree of Keytesville, and
he proceeded to this city with his pris-
oners, where Walker was lodged in
Jail while Mrs. NIayhugh was kept
under the watchfuI eye of the cOnsta-
bic at his home.
1t was decided not to have a pre-
liminarY hearing as circuit court was
on the eve Of going into session at
this place, and on Monday the alleged
murderess and murderer were taken
before the grand jury and the evidence
was so fimsy-in fact, there was no
evidence at all-and that body imme-
diately dismissed the case, in other
words did not find true bill.
On the fifteenth day of last January
c.. T. Mayhugh, husband to the lady
in the case, was found dead in his
barn lot at the rear end of his wagon,
with gun lying by his side, which
bad recently been discharged, and the
smoke from which had scarcely
cleared away AS soon as possible
the coroner was notified, and upon
arriving at the shocking scene a
coroner's jury was summoned and
from the facts cleaned at the inquest
the jury decided that deceased came
to his death by the accidental dis
charge Of a gun, caused by his taking
it from the wagon with the muzzle
pointed toward him.
Since the sad ending of G. T. May
hugh, it seems that his wife has been
the subject of unjust criticism and the
hired man has also been implicated
and false accusations have been va
r1ous and rampant. The little children
of the woman were brought here as
witnesses and taken before the grand
jury, but nothing of a damaging
nature could be elected from them.
Stories as to the real cause of the
3rrest of this woman have been float
ing here since the first day of court.
One of them is, that the dead man
had So 900 life insurance and M. F.
Mayhugh wanted to get some of it,
but was given no encouragement.
Mrs. Mayhugh's refusal to make him
loan or divide the money with him, so
enraged him that he was bent on
seeking revenge and took this means
of having his sister-ln-law arrested on
the awful charge named above.
Mrs. Mayhugh is s. or SO years
old and has four children whose ages
range from nine months to 13 years,
The youngest child she brought with
her to KeytesvilIe when she was
taken in custody by Constable En-
bree She was formerly a Miss
Potter, a daughter of w. W Potter,
deceased. of near Mendon.
Elmer Walker is a young man who,
according to the jail record, IS 70
years Of age, although he voted at
the recent township election in Salt
Creek township.
Those who are best posted claim
that NJ. F. Mayhugh's course has been
wholly uniustifed. It is very unfor-
tunate for his victims that he has no
means so they could reach him through
a damage suit.
Mrs. Mayhugh, we understand, has
had a fine monument made by a
Chillicothe firm for her husbands
grave, and will have the marble tribute
erected to his memory as soon as the
weather and roads are in suitable con-
dition.