The Topeka state journal., 1905-10-05
is A MURDERER.
Convict w. B. Cunningham to
Be Tried for Murder.
Guard Owens Dies From His
Blow in Stomach.
A TOPEKA AUTO THIEF.
Made His Escape Night Of
Nickum Murder.
Was Serving Ten Year Sentence
at Lansing.
A TOPEKA AUTO THIEF.

LeavenwOrth, Kan. Oct 5.-William
II. Owens. the state Denitentiary
guard, who was struck in the stomach
by Convict W. B. Cunningham. died
Wednesday from the effects of the
blow
Owens worked as usual Tuesday, but
at night complained of a. pain in the
stomach III the region where the con-
vict landed the knockout blow on him.
He gradually grew worse and when
DR.. Crozier visited the patient he
found him in a serious condition. Med
ical treatment did not bring relief and
he continued to grow worse until death
came.
Cunningham, who is serving a ten
year sentence for sealing an automo-
bile in Topeka last fall, viii probably
be pardoned now in order to give the
state an opportunity to try him for
murder. He is likely guilty of murder
i'm the first degree, as his assault uDOn
Owens was unDrOvoked. He probably
never dreamed that his blow would
cause death, but ignorance of this kind
does not excuse a person.
William Owens had been a guard at
the state penitentiary nearly 80 years.
longer, perhaps than any other guard
now employed there. He was so years
old and was born in Platte county
Nc.
The deceased leaves a wife and one
child, son ten years Old. They reside
in LANSING
The deceased was a third degree
Mason and also a member of the A.
q. u. W He carried life insurance to
the amount of $1,000.
Cunningham is one of the most no.
ted convicts in the state prison. He
is serving d term of five to ten years,
at the discretion of the governor, for
stealing an automobile in Topeka last
fab
Cunningham's theft of the automo-
bile and his flight across the country
with it was regarded at the time as
one of the biggest achievements in the
criminal annals of the country.
Cunningham and his wife appeared
i'm Topeka some time last year One
night, Cunningham appeared in front
OF his boarding house in a fine auto
mobile and he called to his wife to
come and take a trip with him.
OFF in the automobile they went. 1t
was day or two before any trace of
Cunningham and his wife could be
found. Officers tracked them across
the states of Kansas, Missouri, Illi-
nois and Indiana, and finally overlook
them i'm Ohio. Mrs. Cunningham said
her hus band represented to her that
the automobile belonged to him, and
she escaped with a jail sentence. He
pleaded guilty and was sentenced to a
long term IN prison. Wnen Of1cers
brought Cunningham to Lansing his
wife followed him and secured employ
ment i'm the family of D. L. Gruver.
Cunningham's flight with the auto
mobile happened the night of the fam
Gus Nickum murder in topeka and
he was suspected of the crime. He had
q hard time establishing an alibi, but
finally succeeded. and this charge
against him was dismissed.
Cunningham is likely to remain in
2 L
years from last March to serve al
Lansing, and when he is released from
Lansing he win be taken to Colorado
or California to serve sentences. He
escaped from the commentaries Of both
states, which shows that he is a clever
man when it comes to getting away
He has also served terms in Illinois
and Ohio.
Cunningham viii be closely guarded
during the remainder of his days al
Lansing and it is a certainty that he
will not be asked again to help make
a diagram of the prison building