The Van Buren press., 1901-10-05
Two MURDERS ONE DAY.
Saturday was a Gruesome Day
in the History Of Crawford
County.
Two Lives Ruthlessly Taken.-One
Man In Jail with q Charge Of
Wife.Murder Against Him.
Another Fugitive
from Justice.

Early last Saturday startling report
came from Rudy that an attempt had
been made to murder Justice of the
Peace Robert O'Kelley of Lancaster
township. This rumor was later veri-
fed and with its verifcation came the
further startling report that the would
be murderer, after his attempt upon the
life of o Kelley, had gone to his home,
called his wife to the gate and fatally
shot her.
The perpetrator of these terrible deeds
was Kit Helton, resident of Lancaster
township and considered dangerous
man. 1t was then reported that Helton
had also threatened to kill his stepson.
Brush Steward. but If such was his
intention he was captured and lodged in
Jail here before he accomplished the
deed. He hid out all day after the
shooting, which occurred in the early
morning, but was captured that eve
ming, having been discovered by posse
while coming down to the creek for
drink. He did not surrender however,
until he had fred several shots at his
csptors, and his pistol refused to work.
1t was very cheap affair and to this
fact o Kelley no doubt owes his life, for
the murderer fired at him from q dis
lance of only couple of feet. The bull
let carried the clothes into the wound
and was pulled out with them.
Helton proved to be a man of about
so years of age and has the appearance
of determined man. He shows no re-
grets for the deed he has committed and
did not hesitate to give statement Of
the whole affair. He claims to have
been goaded on and prosecuted by his
family until he could stand 1t no longer
His stepson had made charge Of biga-
my against him some time ago and this
charge being brought before O'Kelley
he bound him over to circuit court, then
he says his step-children had so poisoned
the mind of their mother against him
that she would not live with him, and
this, according to his statement is the
grounds for his desperate deed
In his statement he said he went to
O'Kelley early Saturday morning to pay
him so cents he owed for some fruit.
After doing so he said to him. now
we are square financially, but have an
other debt to settle with You, calling
o Kelley's attention to the part he had
in his prosecution for bigamy, and then
pulling his pistol shot him at close
range In the abdomen.
After shooting o Kelley he went to
his home and calling his wife TO the
gate told her he had paid o. Kelley the
so cents he owed him for fruit, and
when she was within ten feet of him
pulled his pistol and taking deliberate
aim shot her. She staggered back to the
house exclaiming Exit has shot me, -
her wound proving fatal within 4 short
time. Helton then went into hiding
within q half-mile Of his home, waiting
for darkness In which he hoped to make
his escape. He claimed to have heard
searching parties several times during
the day passing his hiding place, In the
evening thirst drove him to hunt water
and In making for the creek he was cap
tured after some resistance.
Helton appears to realize that the
hangman moose Is staring him In the
face yet gives no sign Of feeling or fear,
expressing no regrets for the terrible
deed.
On Thursday forenoon Helton was
taken before Justice Ferguson for pre-
liminary examination. District Attor'
ney Rogers was present to represent the
state and on Helton being asked how he
wished to plead he stated that he wished
10 waive examination. So he WAS bound
over to await the action Of the next
grand jury. Some witnesses were,
however, examined, the only eye-wit'
ness of the killing OF Mrs. Helton being
her daughter.in.law, Mrs. Maggie
Steward, and her testimony went to
corroberate the statement made by
nelton In jail.
| o...Aatio kuiuht e,f Dora TOWNSHIP