The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-07-18
Terrible Tragedy In Gentry Co.


From the Albany Ledger, of last
week, we get the particulars of a terri
BILE tragedy happening in that county
early on the morning Of the 9TH. The
murdered Lewis Briant is nephew of
Mrs. j. Roger of this city and Erskine
McConkey who committed the terrible
deed was his cousin. 1t is needless to..say
that the sad affair is q terrible blow to
this highly esteemed lady. There seems
to be no doubt whatever that the un.
fortunate man was laboring under fit
of temporary insanity at the time, as
there had never been any unpleasant
ness or trouble between him and his
unfortunate victims 1t is, indeed, one
of the saddest events it has been our
lot to chronicle for a long time. The
following is the Ledger's report of the
terrible affair.
Probably the most startling crime
ever recorded in our county was COM
mitted about 8 o'clock on the night of
the 4th, in neighborhood four or FIVE
miles southeast of Albany. Three bodies
lie in their former homes where only
twenty four hours ago each was in the
enjoyment of perfect health.
In so short space of time before 60
ing to press it is almost impossible to
learn the exact facts pertaining to the
tragedy, as there are many stories diff
fering materially.
Erik McConkey is now supposed to be
the murderer of Louis Briant and his
son Paul. Their bodies found later,
near the house and not far away that of
McConkey causes the theory that he
killed both and then took his own life.
The best information obtainable in re-
gard to the facts of the tragedy are
about as follows: About three O'Clock
in the morning, Erskine McConkey
arose from his bed and told his wife that
he believed something was after the
chickens. Nothing strange was
thought by Mrs. McConkey and she
fell asleep again. Going to Mr.. Briant's
place something like half mile away
he called the young man Paul Briant
to the door and told him he would
like to have him get up and help him
kill some kind ofan animal that was
killing his chickens. The elder Briant
also went along. After that circum.
stances only indicate the facts that
followed. They all followed the road to
the place desigated by McConkey as the
hiding place of the animal and stopped
at culvert in the road. The position
of the bodies indicate that McConkey
requested the Briants to stoop and look
under the culyert, one at each end,
while he stood on top and between them
with his shot gun and club. 1t is sup.
posed that as they stopped to look
under he struck one and then the other
with club upon their heads and crush.
ed their skulls. The position of the
bodies indicate these facts-no one was
left to tell the horrible story. After
killing the father and son McConkey
went back to Briant's barn where he
climbed into buggy and planned his
own destruction. He placed the muz.
zle 81 his shot grh ID his mouth. pulled pulled
the trigger with his toe and literally
tore the front part of his head away.
The report of the gun awoke the Briant
household and the women folks i'm
mediately started IN that direction.
They soon came upon the bodies of the
father and son lying in their fresh
blood.
Only upon the grounds of insanity
can this terrible crime be accounted for.
There was no feud existing between
the parties. The day before Paul Briant
and Erskine McConkey had worked in
the same field. During the day the
elder Briant had visited them in the
field and took them lunch.
Only week before McConkey had
had trouble with John Spessard and had
been arrested. The trial was to have
come up the day following this tragedy,
and it is said McConkey had asked
Paul Briant about how he was going to
testify. Whatever the answer was there
was surely nothing to excite murderous
anger in the mind of McConkey as they
were neighbors and friends.
Erskine McConkey, who has gone be-
fore his Maker to be judged for taking
the lives of two fellowmen and his own
was born and raised in the neighbor
hood not far from the scene of the trag
edy, and was Woodworking prosper
GUS citizen. His father, Allen McCon
key, was one of the pioneers of the
county and model citizen. Erskine
was 80 to IS years old and has family
According to the numerous opinions ad
vanced since the tragedy, it is almost
certain that he was not in his righl
mind when he committed the deed, and
probably for some time had not been in
a good mental condition. The circum
stances of his conduct in the last weeh
or two point strongly to prove that hi
was at least partially irresponsible.
Louis Briant was one of the best cit
liens Of that community and his son
Paul, an exemplary and popular young
man. Mr. Briant originally came from
Tennessee, and it is said that he had ,
twin brother who also met with vic
lent death many years ago.
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