Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-10-28
TRIPLE SLAYER
HELDIN PRISON
TO AVOID MOB

THAT HE KILLED TWO SISTERS
AND BRoTHERlN-LAW CLEARS
UP KANSAS TRAGEDY.
Kansas City, Oct. 27-James
Mcmahon, who last evening con-
fessed the murder Of his sisters,
Margaret VanRoyen and Rose Nc
Mahon, and his brother-n-law,
Alonzo Van Royen, was today
Formally charged with the crime
In fnformatlons filed by County
Prosecutor Tasgart. He will be
kept In the penitentiary until time
For his preliminary hearing. No
charge will be preferred against
his brother, Patrick, nor the hired
man, Patrick Lamb, who were ar
rested with James on suspicion,
hey having been exonerated by
The confession.
Kansas City, Mo, Oct. 27,-James
McMahon has confessed that he muir
lered his sisters, Miss Rose Mcmahon
and Mrs. Alonzo Van Royen, and the
Staying was the result of a family feud
which began when his mother ex-
pressed a desire to give money to his
brother-in-law, and that he had plan
ned for months to get every detail
ready.
Patrick Mcmahon, brother of the
confessed slayer, and Patrick Lamb,
an employe, were arrested and are be-
Ing held as witnesses. James McMa-
hon, however, declares they know
nothing Of the crime.
All three of the men last night were
taken under heavy guard to the Kan
sas state penitentiary at Lansing to
prevent a possible attempt at lynch
Ing by the crowds which surrounded
the Jail at Kansas City, Kansas, Nc
Mahon made the following confession:
Tells of Triple Murder.
"on Tuesday Rose went to visit at
the Van Royens and Lon went to the
woods. To make sure my brother-in-
law was not at home. went to the
house and learned where he was /
found him in the woods and shot him
In the head. He fell and I fired six
shots into his back. always hated
him. dragged his body across the
creek.
For an hour I wandered about,
planning. Then walked into the
house and found my sisters. NY first
shot probably killed Mrs. Van Ropen.
as she sat in a chair. She screamed
and fell. Rose started up to speak to
me and shot her down.
dead was free to take my time. I
fired two more shots into the body of
Mrs. Van Royen and five more into
Roses body. I did not hurry away. 1
was not unduly excited. 1t was the
elimination of my only thought for
months. l searched the house and
found some rings and other valuables
I took all of them and my revolver
and hid them in a corn shock
Patrick Lamb has been employed
as a hired man on the McMahon farm.
The police said last night they would
hold him because he told several stor-
les which James Mcmahon last night
admitted were falsehoods, which he
had told Lamb to tell in order to pro
tect himself.
To Dismiss Other Suspects.
Unless there are some further Ge.
velopments Patrick Mcmahon, held In
connection with the murder of his
sisters, Miss Rose Mcmahon, and Mrs
Alonzo Van Royen, and his brother
in-law, Alonzo Van Royen, to which
his brother, James Mcmahon, has al
ready confessed, will probably soon pe
released Patrick Lamb, the hired
man on the Mcmahon farm, who is
also being held, will likely be released
with Patrick
Murderer Refuses Breakfast.
Lansing, Kansas, Oct. 27.-His haY
gard face showing plainly the result
of a sleepless night, James Mcmahon
the confessed murderer Of his two sis
ters and brother-in-law, smiled 9
weary mo, thank you" when break
fast was brought to his cell this morn
ing, "Id rather not" he said McMa
hon did not sleep all night, but paced
his cell. A guard sat near by to pre-
vent the prisoner from harming him
self and to him Mcmahon talked occa
sionally but not of himself. He seem
ed to think only of his three victims
and regret for their fate
Examination Of Alleged Embezzler.
Madison, Wis, Oct. 27-The prelim
mary examination of Philip Allen il
on the charge of embezzllng S16S,00f
from the First National Bank of Min
eral Point, was continued by agree
ment this morning until November 10
Peckham Funeral Today.
of the Late Justice Peckham was helt
this afternoon from st. Peters Episco
pal church. There was no eulogy.
Methodist Bishops Meet.
Binghamton, N. Y, Oct. 27.-Th,
semi-annual meeting of the board o
bishops of the Methodist Episcopa
Church of the World convened here
!