The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-10-16
BIG JIA" ANURI)EDER
JOintiSt Taken Back to Illinois
From Sumner County.
PAL CONFESSED ALL
Mysterious Murder at Kanka-
kee Cleared Up.


his way to kankakee. III. 10 stand trial
for numbering a man in 1886. The murder
was committed in a saloon and the man
/ was KILLED. by being struck over the head
( by a poiieeman's club. The body was
thrown into the river and not found for
three months. Nevins was a witness at
the coroner's inquest.
Saturday night. J. 2. Russell, chief dep
uty for s. b Glass. sheriff OF Kankakee
county. Illinois, arrived in this city with
a requisition from Governor Stanley for
I the arrest OF James Nevins on a charge
; OF murder. He started hack with his
prisoner on today's noon train.
On the night OF November 10, 1886. New.
ms was keeping bar for Tom Lahey in
the toughest district Of Kankakee. The
saloon was a notorious resort for tough
characters and lewd women. Dennis Ri
ordan, young Irish farmer, entered the
saloon that night about o'clock and was
never seen again until his body was dis
covered IL the Kanlzakee river on the
18th of the following February. He was
thoroughly Identified and the fact was
firmly established that he was dead before
he reached the water.
a coroner's inquest was held, at which
Nevins was a witness. He and William
Kettle and Doilie Oliver, the two other
men in the saloon when Riordan entered.
swore that he came in and soon went
out and that they knew nothing more OF
him Soon a1terward, Lahey, the owner
of the saloon, died in delirium tremens.
and Nevins left Kankalzee, going first
to st. Louis and then to Dakota before
arriving in this country for the thresh-
ing season of 1897.
Rlordans murder was a profound mys-
terry, although Nevins was suspected by
the officers. until about six months ago
when Kettle got to talking and finally
made a fun confession. Kettle who was
raised in Kankakee. and still lives there
was also barkeeper for Lahey; he open
ed the saloon in the morning and worked
until Nevins came on duty. He swears
that on the night in question he was in
bed when he heard a scumIing in the room
below, to the rear Of the saloon; that he
dressed and went down; that Nevins,
Oliver, Riordan and two lewd wonemn
were n the second room back Of the sa-
loon; that Nevins stepped UP to Riordan.
who was sitting on a chair. and asked him
whether he would pay for a round Of
drinks: that Ridtdan replied that he would
not; that Nevins stepped behind the bar,
got a policemans club. stepped I'D to
Riordan and struck him on the top of
the head with It; that Riordan fell for
ward on the floor. the blood squirting from
the wound.
Kelly and Oliver carried Riordan into
the room next to the saloon and finally
restored him to consciousness, but that
he soon relapsed into unconsciousness.
Nevins then ordered Kettle to go up
stairs TO bed and did so. but later heard
Nevins and Oliver carrying the dead man
out Of teh building.
on the strength OF this evidence, the
officers started out on a hunt for Nevins
and Oliver. Oliver had married some
years ago IN Eureka, Kan, ard was cas- I
lily located at Savannah. No. where he
was working as a blacksmith and bore a !
good reputation.
Oliver was arrested on a requisition At
Savannah on the I'd inst c. w. Cox, dep /
Uty sheriff Of this county, read an account /
of his arrest in the newspapers on the I
Sd inst. said that Oliver and a man
named Nevins had committed the muir
der for which Oliver was arrested. \
week ago last Saturday Mr.. Cox ad- I
dressed letter TO the sheriff al Kanka- +
kee. stating: Enclosed please find clip +
ping. What IS Nevins' first name. also
his description We have a Nevins here"
In response, Mr.. Cox received a letter i
from Mr.. Russell. the man who arrived I
here Saturday, giving teh desired infor-
nation. Mr.. Cox SAYS the description +
OF Big Jim was the most complete he
ever read OF any man. Cox replied BIZ
sending q photograph Of Nevfns and re-
ceived a telegram requesting him TO ar
rest and hold him, that requisftion papers
were coming.
Mr.. Russell did not know until his ar
rival here Saturday night that Nevins was
IN jail good and tight, serving out SEN
-ence. Tie then set about getting HIS
nan released. He hunted up Colonel Har-
~ Loper. who had special meeting ~
ne board Of county commissioners called
'or this morning. when an order was
made releasing Nevins from imprison-
ncrt on the charge pending against
lln IN this county.
When 7Ir. Russell. Sheriff Shaver ard
colonel Loner went into the Jail yeEter-
lay morning. IS quick as Nevins saw
sassei. b. saif.
Hello 1T Russell. how are your
sAli right. jim. said Russell. r came
G take you hack with me tomorrow"
What for2 WHAT'S Up now" said (
Sevins.
cob. that old deal"
IS il that man who was gupposee 20
ave been drowned asked Sesins
yes said Russell. kettle has been
alking
~ 5ast Supposed Kettle would give
varythl1e azas-.'' SAID Eevins
Nevins people I've en- Wisconsin. Ire
rst that Is known II hf1s s. 81 lss9 when e
e went % w7rk or the Uii11is Ceatrat z
s q bridge carpenter 81 iowa Later he 1
-orses ssr teh same road 81 1ilssssip-s g
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