The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1900-02-01
PHILLIPS CONFESSES AGAIN.
Before Starting for Prison the Murderer
Tells of His Crime.

AiS VI
Fit. Scott, Kan, Jan. 24.-Amos !
Phillips, the old Bates county farmer |
who was yesterday sentencedto hang |
for having been implicated in the Ed
linger murder with George and Ed
Meeks, who were lv,ched here Satur-
day night. this IT nrning, before being
taken to the p,. tertiary, made a
complete confession, which explains
away the mysteries OF the case that
led to the belief by many that he was
guilty and adds some new features TO
the details of the awful crime.
Phillips was secretly taken from
Jail last night in order To make Ger
tain of his protection from Il mob,
which was threatened. and was kept
shackled and under guard i'll base
ment room of the Goodlander hotel.
1t seems now that the collapse of his
nervous system is not wholly due to
the awful ordeal through which he
passed Saturday night, when the
lvnchers were at the door of his cell
fighting for him, but he is continually
haunted by the dying cries of the
murdered boy and his pitiful appeals
| for mercy. The old man says the
memory of that night will ever tor
ture him.
As a crowd from the theaterpassed
on the walk above him last night he
startled through fear of a mob, and
from that instant he was a pitlfully
helpless man. The remainder OF the
night he spent with Sheriff Brooks
and deputy sheriff Ball telling them
| the details of the murder.
The crime was planned initiates
county, Missouri. at the rendezvous
where the gang made their head
| quarters. Two weeks before Edlinger
left home Phillips left for the south
west part OF the county in his wagon.
the plan being for him TO wait in
certain neighborhood through which
Edlinger would pass. Edlingers de
parture was delayed. The Meeks
wrote Phillips at Pawnee, this county,
giving him the information and di-
recting him to go further west. 1t
was while at Pawnee Englevale and
Stark waiting for Edlinger that the
thirteen abb witnesses saw him. He
saws these witnesses are mistaken as
to their dates. After waitingat Stark
several DAYS he started north on the
road which Edlinger was to follow
according to a route furnished him
at Rich Hill by Ed Meeks. He did
not know, of course. Just where he
would meet them. but a day or two
later found them in campin the stone
house in this county, where the muir
der occurred. He arrived at the spot
: after dark and found the Meeks il
camp with Edlinger That evening
4 George Aeeks shot Edlinger, just al
; Ed Meeks made the statement mo
ment before he was hanged. Ate
4 the shooting they hurried out t.
!. hitch up and get away. Edlinger
who was thought TO have been in
stantly killed revived and made al
:. toutcrv. The Meeks men directe'
Phillips to get an ak from the Ed
!, linger wagon and finish him." Thi
' he did. As the dying boy saw hir
e coming with the ak he pleaded 70
5 mercy. but the old man crushe
:; his skull by four blows. Each ma
took a team and they left together
Two days later the body was burie
in Mill creek, and they separated, I
meet in Nevada, where they divide
" the spoils a week later In his stat
D. ment before the mob hanged him +
n Aeeks stated that George shot f.
r. linger, and that Phillips used the a,
j. Both he and his brother insisted thu
rs Phillips be hanged with them.
re The officers have no doubt OF Il
confession Phillips was taken
d, Leavenworth this morning. TT
rs sheriff had been notified by the pen
h, tertiary warden that on account
al the quarantine Phillips would not
n admitted, but it was dangerous
ne keep him here, and the sheriff W
or leave him in the Leavenworth ia
ne until the penitentiary quarantine
ie lifted.