The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1909-11-03
| James MeA!zsoa Slayer Of Two Sisters
and Bru.nenlzw.
THE CRIME LONG PLANNED
Unable 70 Hold His Tongue He
Tets tho Police and SasS He
VIII Be Able to Sleep in Peacc.
Murders Committed on Farm Near
Kansas City.

James Mcmahon has confessed
tha, be murdered his sisters. Miss
Rose Mcmahon and Mrs. Alonzo Van
| Royen and the !atter's husband.
| Alonzo Van Royen. on farm near
Kansas City. kans.. las, Tuesday.
A long standing family quarrel csus-
! &c the tragedy. Mcmahon killed
Van Eoyen in a wood and later wen.
| TO the Van Royen home and sho. his
sisters.
Fearing mob violence oy throns
that gathered about the county Jail
after the confession became known.
the sheriff rushed the murderer and
his brother. Patrick AcMsaon. and
Patrick Lamb. a farm hand. who are
held as witnesses. 70 the pen!tenaasy
st Lansing 70 automobiles.
Ncasaaon's inability to keep bis
secret caused a;n TO be arrested.
He told a friend where be had hid
dec revolver with which be did
the killing. and several articles &c
TOOK from Van Royea's sone.
As SheriR Becker was preparing
70 arrest James McMahoa the latter
walked into h!s oace and announced
be was ready to help work on tas
case as be lad been doing since tho
tragedy.
Sheriff Becker Immediately s--cst-
ed him. Prosecutor Tasss.t and
Sheriff Becker sweated AcMshon,sos
two hours. Then Mcmahon confessed
all.
"Tes. killed my two sister= and
brothes-in-Iaw and was crazy wheu
did it, DE shouted. rising oct Of
bis chair and pectas tho room "Is
took me three months to plan aud
execute the crime. waited unt.l
I knew ny intended victims would
De II the right positions sor ne 70
XIII them and get away. On Tues
day Rose went to visit at Van Roy
ems and Lon went TO the woods.
found him and shot him In the bead
He fell and fred SIX shots into
his back. ! always hated hs1,.
Then I walked into the house
and found my sisters. Ny 6rst SHOT
probably killed Mrs. Van Royen as
she sat on chair She screamed
and fell. Rose started up to speak
to me and shot her down.
With the tao women virtually
dead. ! vas free 20 take my time.
fred two more shots into the BODY
of Mrs. Van Eoyen and ave more
into Roses body. ] did not bury
away. ! was rot unduly excited.
/, vas the elimination OF my only
thoughts 70. months.
II searched the house and fouad
some rings and oshe. valaables.
took al! OF them and my revolver
and hid them 10 cora shock. Later
K dawned on me that / bad coE-
u!tted q crime ] tried 70 keep :s
. secret. But hour by hour some
thing told nrs tia, must tel! ALL
Tonight III sleep in peace.
The confessed unrde.e. had been
severely c.oss-questioned BY be po-
lice many times since th. murder.
but be sxillcu!!y e1cricated hsrosss:
from TIE few compromising positions
into which he had stepped.
He vas taken at one time 70 the
scene OF the murder and forced at
midnight under the glare OF fash
hight 70 rehearse his story. He did
!t uaainch!ng!y. swearing be knew
oo,hirs OF zoe crime Later be Of
.cred $500 reward for the arrest
of the murderer.
The qnarrrl between the Van
Rover and the McMa hons Is said 10
aavs started over the desire Of the
scntor Mrs. McMahon to give part
Of Dor property to Van Royen. Rose
Mcmahon was friendly With the Van
Royrns This caused Jac,cs SIC
uaboo 20 dis!!ka her.