The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-06-28
THIS BOY A BRUTE
Terrible Crime Of n 1G.Year.Old
0klanOma Lad.

confession 20 the sheriff Sunday SITTER
noon and was Immediately taken TO An
thony and slipped into the Jail before any
OF the nelghbors Of the little girl had
lell ned thar he had been arrested The
news soon spread and by yesterday morn
ing there was evidence that a mob was
organizing and " Juld probably demand
The body of the murderer last night Act
ing on the advice Of the best citizens,
sheriff Gillespie took the boy to Harper
early yesterday and had the prosecuting
attorney join him az fsspet where a pre-
Hminary tral was given the prisoner, at
which he again riade a confession which
was taken In writing The sheriff then
hrried his prisoner to Argonia where he
took the train for this city.
CORpNERs INQUEST
spec al from Anthony says:
"At the coroners inquest over the body
Of little Nora Kornstett found in a dry
we'll last Thursday morning, It developed
that q boy, John Kornstett, sixteen years
old. cousin of the girl was the last per,
son who was near where she was last
seen As the girl had an errand with him
having been told to see him by her mother
and collect twenty cents which he owed
her sister the suspicion OF the dastardly
crime Of attempted outrage and actual
murder was directed to him. He coolly
viewed the lifeless remains OF the girl.
attended the funeral and explained his
failure to help hunt for her when she was
supposed to be lost by saying that he
was working for wages and couldn't af-
| ford to lose the time. other things, with
hose facts, made Sheriff Gillespie think
that he was the murderer. despite the
confidence of the family Of the murdered
girl In the boys innocence. with dep,
uty he went after the boy Sunday morn.
ing, and found him visiting the family
Of the murdered girl. The sheriff took
the young man to one side and subjected
him 70 a rigid questioning of the process
known as "sweatlnC' and the boy con-
fessed that he had been angered by the
girl asking for the twenty cents. had
choked her to insensibillty, then attempt
ed 70 outrage her Failing. he dragged
her senseless body to some trees where
he beat her head against some trees, then
threw her down the deserted well. The
confession was repeated in the presence
OF witnesses and the boy also told his
Istepfather Of the commission Of the crime.
| The sheriff hurried his prisoner to An
thony anG locked him up Later he took
him out. presumably to Harper, where It
was expected that he would axe the early
morning freight to Wichita with his prls,
| oner for safe keeping until the next term
Of court.
II ls rumored that a party OF twenty
farmers from the vicinity Of the crime
were in Anthony last night determined to
save the county the expense and trouble
OF a trial as well as summary avenge
the death OF the girl but being
unable to find the criminal, returned very
quietly to their homes. The feeling IN
town and country IS intense and Will not
cool down for many weeks, probably.
John Kornstett is only 16 years ola, but
The brutality Of the crime proves that he
Is a hend Of She worst sort, without the
least particle OF morality in his makeup.
| The story Of his crime was told 10 a re-
porter for The Eagle last night by sheriff
Gillespie. Nora Kornstett a little girl 10
ars old, is the daughter of Mr. and MA
ronk Kornstett who live out ive miles
ontheast Of Anthony. She was sent on an
arrand last Monday a week ago to her
aunrs who live about two and one half
miles from Kornstetrs. When she ar
ryed at her aunts there was no one at
nome. John Kornstett, her cousin. was
working IN a corn field near the house and
he little girl vas told that in case tho
llks were not az home, to return by the
ornheld and ask her cousin for 20 cents,
which he owed one of the Kornstetts.
rhe little girl did not return home that
venns although her mother told her not
70 stay more than an hour Her failure
tr.raa lH hon
as the two families are closely related
When she ala not return ,hs next day the
folks went over 20 see about IL. and were
told that she had not been there. AL
searching party was organized and the
country was hunted over ana over again.
Finally she was discovered in an old well
VIII ch had been dry for some time she
was sun breathing and groaning when
taken cut. but died within half an hour
The country was thoroughly aroused but
go one cauld imagine who the perp ira or
could be. party OF movers was sus-
pected but the sheriff could not be com
yinced that they did the act and would not
arrest them although they We're held ana
questioned thoroughly A coroners jury
was summoned and held an inquest over
The dead body OF the little girl but they |
,ould not find sufficient evidence on which |
10 base even a susp. .cion. After sitting the |
second time they were as much at a loss
as at the first. After the jury was dis
'harged young Kornstett began 10 be sus.
1icioned lie was The only person who
vas near the scene Of the crime But his
tory before the coroHer's jury was 80 in
ieXlble and honest appearing that few,
WIKI the exception OF the sher.ff and the
nan for whom Kornstett worked would
ntertain a suspicion Of his guilt IN con-
.ection with the disappearance with the
title girl lie was questioned closely at the
inquest but this did not satisfy the sherlr
lie was then taken 10 view the corpse Of
he little girl but he exhibited the moss
TOLD Indifference an indifference whic1
lmost always nXes guilt in the minds Of
hose who study crime and criminals. Al
er the exhibition Of his indifference sher-
q ilespie was convinced more than ever
hat John Kornsteit committed the crime.
But the coroners jury could not find the
violence she IN Gillespie then found that !
bout hts only hope would be 70 secure
oniession MT Chislick for whom the boy
worked had become convinced OF the Z
.oung mans guilt aud he drove him from
ne place The parents Of the little girl
hen took the boy into their home. be :
.evne the utmost In his innocence.
THE CONFESSION.
sheriff Gillespie and his deputy. W p Q
'lmstead, advised the people 10 LEI the ,
natter rest day or two and Sunday O
hey drove out 70 Mr Kornststrs anl q
lone Mr. Olmstead engaged the uncle n
IT Tony KoTnstett IN conversation while d