The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-11-03
TRIPLE. MURDER
James McAahon Slayer Of Two Sisters
and BrohainIaw.
THE CRIME LONG PLANNED

Unable to Hold His Tongue He
Tells the Police and Says He
Will BE Able to Sleep In Peace.
Murders Committed on Farm Near
Kansas City.
James Mcmahon has confessed
that he murdered his sisters, Miss
Rose Mcmahon and Mrs. Alonzo Van
Royen and the latter's husband.
AIonzo Van Royen, on q farm near
Kansas City, Kans.. last Tuesday.
A long standing family quarrel caus-
cd the tragedy. Mcmahon killed
Van Royen ina wood and later went
to the Van Royen home and shot his
sisters. .s.
Fearing mob violence by q throng
that gathered about the county jail
after the confession became known,
the sheriff rushed the murderer end
his brother. Patrick Mcmahon. and
Patrick. Lamb, q farm hand, who are
held as witnesses. to the penitentfary
at Lansing In automobiles.
McMahon's inability to keep his
secret caused him to- be arrested.
He told a friend where he had hid
den a revolver with which he did
the killing, and several articles he
took from Van niRoyen's home.
As Sheriff Becker was preparing
to arrest James Mcmahon the latter
walked into his Office and announced
he was ready to help work on the
case as he had been doing since the
tragedy.
Sheriff Becker Immediately arrest
ed him.. Prosecutor Taggart and
Sheriff Becker sweated Mcmahon for
two hours. Then Mcmahon confessed
all.
"Yes. I killed my two sisters and
brother-in-law and / was crazy when
I did IT," he shouted, rising out. Of
his chair and pacing the room. 1T
took me three months to plan and
execute the crime. I waited until
knew my intended victims would
be In the right positions for me- to
kill 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 head.
He fell and l fred Six shots into
his back. 1 always hated him.
Then l walked into the house
and found my sisters. My first shot
probably killed Mrs. Van Royen as
she sat on a chair. She screamed
and fell. Rose started up to speak
to me and l shot her down.
with the two women virtually
dead. I was free to take my time. /
fred two more shots into the body
of Mrs. Van Royen and five more
into, Roses body. l did not hurry
away. I was not unduly excited.
1t was the elimination Of my only
thoughts for months.
81 searched the house and found
some rings and other ~valuables.' I
took all of them and my revolver
| and hid them in q corn shock. Later
IT. dawned on me that I had COM
mitted a crime. I tried to keep II
a secret. But hour by hour ONE
| thing told me that I must tell all.
Tonight I'll sleep in peace"
The confessed murderer had been
severely cross-questioned by the po-
lice many times since the murder,
but he skillfully extricated himself
| from the few compromising positions
! into which he had stepped.
He was taken at one time to the
| scene of the murder and forced at
midnight under the glare Of a fash
| hight to rehearse his story. He did
1t %unfinchingly, swearing he kne~
| nothing of the crime. Later he OF
fered $500 reward for the arrest
| of the murderer.
The quarrel between the van
| Royen and the McMahons Is said 10
have started over the desire OF the
senior Mrs. Mcmahon to give part
of her property to Van Royen. Rose
| Mcmahon was friendly with the van
| Royens. This caused James NC
| S1ohon m dislike her.