The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-27
SISTERS SLAYER TELLS OF CRIME Murderer Is Rushed Away
 From Mob. C0NFESSES TO. AWFUL DEED James McMahon Killed Two Women
 and a Man. Family Quarrel of Long stsnaips Leads to Terrible Tragedy
 on Farm Near
 kansas City
,ONFEsSES TO, AWFUL DEED

Kansas Cfty, MO-. Oct. sS.--Jame1 McMahon confessed today hc murder ed his sisters. Miss Rose McMahon and Mrs Alonzo Van Royen. and his broth er-in-law. Alonzo Van Royen. on farm near Kansas City. Kas, last Tuesday.
 A long standing family quarrel caused tho tragedy. MeMahon killed Van Royen in wood and later went to the Van Royen home and shot his sisters.
 Fearing mob violence by throng gathered about the county jail after the confession, the authorities rushed the murderer and his brother Patrick McMahon and Patrick Lnmb,xa farm hand. who are held as witnesses in the case to the Kansas State penitentiarx at Lansing tonight in automobiles. The cries of the mob were heard witil- in the jai1 and the prisoners beaged piteousiy to be taken to a place Of safety. They were slipped quietly out of the jail before the crowd was aware of their departure.
 James McMahon took sole responsl- bility for tho crime In hts verbal confession he especially exonerated his brother. whom he feared the of ficers would charge with complicfty in the crime. County Attorney Tag gart said tonight that a charge might beN placed against Patrick McMahon also.
 CouIdn't Keep Secret.
 McNahons inability 10 keep hts se- eret caused his arrest. He told n friend today where hee had hidden the revolver with which he did the killing and several articles he took from the Van Royen home. The sheriff went to the designated place and found tise' articles. .E .s.4-
 sheriff Becker then decided to ar. rest James McMaf1on. As he was pre- pairing to go after the man. Mcafaiior walik cd into his office and nrti etiursHs he was ready to help work oh the case as he had been doing each day since the tragedy, Becker irlmediately arrested tim and without telling of the evidence lie had, took McMahop to his home. where 'he arrested Patrick McMahor and Lamb
 prosecutor Tageart and Sheriff Becker "sweated" James McMahor for two hours. Then McMahon col. iapsed and confessed all.
 ''Yes. killed my two sisters ano. brother Jaw, and I was crazy when l QlQ 1t cnV0tGeAs htSAAe 0atr ~N ftr+-1 chair and pacing the room. Tt took me three months to plan and excute the crime Day by day the picture of their bodies lying before me grew. and, at last two weeks ago. saw if all. My plan was perfect. My hat- red would be avenged. bought revolver in Kansas City. Mo. Going home I carefully waited until knew my intended victims would be in the right positions for me to kill them anA get away Tuesday Rose went to visit at Van Royens and Lon went to the woods.
 "To make sure he was not at home I went to the house and learned where he was. I found him and shot him tn the head. He fell and I fired six shotE into his back I always hated him. | dragged his body across the creek ana then prepared to finish the decd
 '.For~ an hour I wandered about planning Then walked Into the house and found my sisters.
 My first 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.
 Robbery After Murder.
 With the two women virtually dead I was free to take my time. I fired two more shots into the body of Mrs Van Royen and five moro into Roses body. I did not hurry away. was not .unduiy excited. It was the cul- imitation of my only thought Tor months.
 'I 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.
 Later it dawned on me that had crime. I tried to keep it a secret. But hour by hour something told me that I must tell all. Tonight I'll sleep in peace.
 The confessed murderer has been severely cross questioned by the po- lice many times since the murders, but he skillfully extricated himself from the few compromising positions into which he stepped. He was taken at one time to the scene of the murders and forced at midnight under tho glare of a fiashlight to rehearse his story Ffe did it unflinchingIy, swear- ing he knew nothing of the crime. I.a- ter he offered $500 reward for the ar- rest of the murderer.
 The quarrel between the Van Roy ens and McMahons is said to have started over the desire of the senior Mrs. MoMahon to give part of her nronerty to Vau Royen.