Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-26
Doctor Writes Chief Of Police Here
And Throws Some Light
On Career.
COMES or VERY BAD STOCK.
Stole from His Sister and Father and
Then Ran Away to Desert
From the Army.

In face Of some Of the mlsdirected
sympathy for James NJ, shockley, The
self.conlessed murderer Of Motormau
Gleason and Conductor Brighton, an
interesting letter has been received by
Chief Of Police Lynch from Dr. John
u. Seba OF Bland Mo-, which throws
some light on the young murderer's an.
tecedents. According TO the letter the
young man early in life showed all the
instincts Of criminal and early be-
gan his career OF crime. The state
ments OF the doctor do not gibe with
Shockley's assertions regarding his
former career. Shockey is accused OF
stealing money from his sister and a
horse from his father; Furthermore II
Is asserted that he is a deserter from
the army Apparently the young man
comes from criminal stock on his
mothers side and since he left home
five years ago he has been leading
criminal life.
The letter received Is as follows;
Bland Mo. Jan q, l9Oi,-Hon. VIII
liam ], lynch, Chief Of Police, Salt
Lake City, Utah-Dear Sir. Replying
to yours Of 18th inst, James McPher-
son Shockiey, whom you have In GUS
tody and who confessed 10 double muir
der OF Gleason and Brighton, Is the
son Of James Monroe Shockley and
Polly l.. Shockley. He has two sisters.
They are Mrs. Robert Poe and Mrs,
Andrew Poe. Mrs. Robert Poe Is
schoolteacher and Mr.. Andrew Poe is
also a schoolteacher All the family are
considered respectable and industrious
people lie left here about five years
ago, When he left he broke open his
sisters trunk and stole some money
out OF 1t. He also stole his fathers
horse, which he sold near st. James,
Mo. After recovering the horse his
father did not follow him. stating that
he had Joined the army, and later let
tiers were received by his father that
he was In the Philippines. This Shock
ley Is keeping back. This must UNI
doubtedly be 80 unless his father has
been disappearing his son. His
father owns a small farm, somewhat
incumbered He attended high school
at 0wensville, Mo. His uncle. Peter
Matthews (mOther's brother), Is serv-
Ing out q life sentence In the Missouri
penltentiary for incest (rape Of his
own daughter). This was such an ag-
grayated case that half the jury was
in favor OF hanging him. His cousin,
Senator Buell. Lyons Matthews, lives
at Clayton, St. James county, Mo, and
IL now awaiting his trial as one of
Mlssouris Doodle senators. The mean
ness in this young man Is inherited
and II Is very evident that II comes
from his mothers side. No criminal
trace has been found in his fathers an
costry. Great interest Is manifested In
this case. More than 40 people have
been wanting TO read the paper YOU
sent me. The picture Is nearly always
instantly recognized as that Of Mack
Shockley. He went by the name Of
Mack here. VIII you please send |
marked copies Of that paper to Adver'
tiser. Courier, Hermann. Mo, and the |
Argus, Owensvlle. Mo-, and the Star |
Times, Belle, Mo-? This whole section |
OF the country is interested in the out |
come Of this case and would like TO fol- |
low II until the final drop Of Mack
Shockley into eternity. IL ] can be Of |
any more service to YOU please let me |
know, will do anything for you pos
sIble If II is Of any service TO you, He |
told the truth when he said HE par
ents lived at Dan Merrles county, Mo. |
But ! suppose he did not tell about |
stealing his fathers horse nor about |
breaking his sisters trunk open and |
stealing money out Of It to go away |
on. believe that this boy has lived n |
criminal life ever since he left here, |
which IL about five years ago.
1t Ii curious 10 see that he dIf not |
mention his army record or II might |
be that he has lied about his army rec
ord 10 his father But his folks here
have several times spoken to me about
Mack being In the army, and cannot |
see that they have been mlsled In re-
gard to this army service. Very re.
specially yours,
DIR. JOHN sEBA.