The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-07
Full Confession of Murderer
John Gilbert.
His First Act Was to Beat in
the Baby's Skull.
HIS FAITHFUL WIFE
The Next Victim, Then the
Little Girls Followed.
Straightens Out Dead Bodies
and COOlly Departs.

Emporia, March THE confession OF
John Gilbert announced in last night
State Journal was made late yesterday
afternoon in the Jail here in the presence
of the sheriff and a half dozen people.
If it is true and there is no doubt
expressed here that it is, then John Gil
bert is a fiend incarnate, for his crime,
so far from being prompted by any
maniacal motive, seems to have been
the impulse of a vicious, selfish degen-
crate, who regardless of all conse-
quences severed every tie that bound
him to a life Of toll and restraint. Muir
der to him seemed to mean freedom.
The inquiry here yesterday, which re-
suited in Gilbert's confession, was con-
Quoted by Col. H. c. Whitley, formerly
of the United States secret service. In
substance it was as follows:
MY name is John Gilbert. I &ave
lived on my farm nine years. l have
spent a little too much money for drink
1 got behind and it bothered me so that
could not sleep at night. Last month
my wife seemed not to act as she used
to. Her folks were around there a lot
got mad because they thought was
not good enough for her 1 offered to
let her go free and give her half. 1
thought we could fix about the children,
for two or three parties would take
them. She didn't seem to want to be
free.
1T was Tuesday I did the deed. I
an hour but could not sleep or rest, and
1 thought I would just get up.
THE hammer was lying in the wood
box. 1t was one of these blacksmith
hammers, about two or three pounds
Il killed my little boy first. My wife
ran outside. went after her and caught
her. and she went back with me and
asked me what l was going to do. 1
was going to kill them and kill myself.
She did not struggle hardly any with
me. hit her and finished her right off.
I rod 1.a1- Il
The boy was making some fuss, and 7
did not want to see him suffer, and
hit him another lick and then he rested.
Then I hit the little girl next. Then I
went right straight through and staid
there till they were all dead. I straight
ened them all out in bed. and got my
gun to kill myself. I staid in the house
about fifteen minutes, then Saddled my
horse and went south to Abilene. got
there about o'clock in the morning. I
didn't have any money, and beat my
way on the train. 1 don't see why I
done it, Her and me had always had
more or less trouble. She was always
going about me being too intimate
with a cripple neighbours wife.
"Once she struck me across the head
with board. tried to get her to get
free from me, but she would not
Il never intended to make any escape.
OF course hated it right then. 1t was
a sudden thing. 1t seemed as though [
could not stop. I don't see what I did
it for. I did not know what L was do
ing, or I never would have done it. I
struck hard to make it instant death
for did not want them to suffer. Yes,
/ have told it straight to you'
Gilbert is confined in the CLOSE" cell.
The sheriff of Clay county is not at
home, but a deputy came last night to
take the prisoner to Clay Center. There
is intense interest here in the affair:
great crowds visited the Jail all day
yesterday but few were allowed to see
Gilbert. Sheriff O'Connor will get one
hundred dollars reward for the arrest,
offered by Clay county.