The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-07
KILLED WITH A FLATIRON.

11dnCOCA SlICCl, W4AO was lnG last per
son who saw her alive outside of the
family:
Mrs. Laurence, pray for me! I'm
afraid something is going to happen.
Pray God to help mer'
Mrs. Laurence replied:
''Of, course I'll pray for you, always
do
This was at five minutes after IL
o'clock Thursday night, only a few min
utes before Kay committed the murder.
Mrs Laurence had been staying at the
Kay house with the children while Mr..
and Mrs. Kay were at lodge.
The Kay home at Tenth avenue and
Chestnut street is a small cottage of
four rooms. 1t was rented by the Kays
from Geo. w. Fisher, the United States
land commissioner. whose home is di-
rectly across the street. The Kay cot
tage is only few steps east of the
Vinewood Park car shops.
Crosby's big flour mill, where Kay
has been employed for a year as a gem
eral roustabout is across the Shunga-
nuga creek, and still further west To
reach the mill from the Kay residence
it is necessary to cross the creek either
on the Tenth avenue wagon bridge, or
on the Vinewood Park railway bridge,
which are only half block apart.
Mr.. and Mrs. Kay are both members
of the Ancient Order of the Red Cross,
a fraternal insurance order. Each had
81, 900 insurance in this organization.
Mrs. Kay had been contributing to the
support of the family by soliciting in
surance in this order. She was away
from home a good deal engaged in this
business.
During her absence from home, the
two children, Ferrill, a girl of years,
and Locksley, a boy of years, were
left with the neighbors, or taken care
of by Mrs. Laurence, who lives at us
Hancock street. a few block from the
Kay home.
ATTENDED LODGE MEETING.
Thursday night was the regular meet
ing night for the Red Cross lodge. Mrs.
Kay sent for Mrs. Laurance to come to
the house and stay with the children
while she and Mr.. Kay went to lodge.
Mrs. Laurence stayed with The children,
and Mr. and Mrs. Kay returned home
at IL o'clock, apparently in good spirits.
Mr.. Kay walked part of the way home
with Mrs. Laurence, and must have re-
turned within ten minutes.
1t is probable that the quarrel which
ended so terribly started Immediately
SAACA NIL nay ICl01A MI. NAY
is said to have been man of very high
temper, and of late has been drinking
some, though in general he was a tenn
perate man. 1t is not believed, however,
that his act of Thursday night was
committed while under the influence of
liquor.
He no doubt quarrelled with his wife
about her threatened divorce proceed
1ngs, and becoming enraged, seized one
of the f1atirons which were in the south
bedroom where his wife and children
were, to commit the bloody deed. 1t is
likely that the children were awake
when the tragedy occurred.
After killing his wife, Kay washed his
hands free from blood in a basin of wa
ter which stood on the washstand. The
bloody water was found in the basin
this morning.
Kay was due to go to work at the mill
at midnight. A few minutes after mid
night, one of the men employed at the
mill came to Kay's house to find out
why he did not report for work Kay
came to the door, and said he would be
over in a few minutes. At about 1
o clock, as Kay was still absent from
out why he did not come. He found Kay
on the Vinewood park railway
bridge, and shouted at him:
Why don't you come over here and
get to wOrk?"
I'm coming replied Kay. You seem
to be in the -- of a hurry
Kay left the bridge, where he was in
all proba bility engaged in fixing the
rope to hang himself, and went to the
mill He climbed up into one of the bins, |
and filled one of the hopperS with wheat, |
as was his duty. The men at the mill ]
say that he kept his cap pulled down
over his eyes while at work
After filling the hopper with wheat, |
Kay disappeared again, and SuSpecting |
that something was wrong with him,
George Nile and Dan Conard two en- |
er1r Cd NIL.
about 80 this morning. Nile and Con- |
ird at once discovered Kay's body |
from the bridge. 1t could be |
plainly seen against the white snow |
banks on the steep sides of the creek.
Nile and Conard at once went back to |
he mill, and notified the rest of the /
hight force that Kay had hung himself |
Ihe ten men on the night shift all went |
o the bridge, and Ed Beard cut the !
'ody down. 1t fell to the ground, a dis
ance of about feet. 1t was taken into
he mill, and the police summoned.
WENT TO THE HOUSE.
At that time it was not known that /
Kay had murdered his wife. After max
ng Kay as comfortable as possible, sew
raj of the mill hands went to the home
II f. NJ. Clark, at S25 Chestnut street, |
faI dozen doors north of the Kay
home They asked that Mrs. Clark go
Q the Kay home and break the news to
drs. Kay. Mrs. Clark was unable to
20, but Mr.. Clark woke up George L.
Nillitts at S31 Chestnut street and these
wo. with several other men, went to the
Kay home.
They knocked repeatedly on the doors
nd windows and received no response.
Then they went to the back door, on the
vest side of the house, which was stand
ng OPEN The knocking had aroused |
he little girl, Ferrill, who could be
eard crying. Mr.. Clark and the rest
vent into the house, and pushed open
he door of the bedroom. By the light
I lantern carried by one of the men |