The Norfolk weekly news-journal. (Norfolk, Neb.) 1900-19??, 1909-06-18
WAS Mike M.owN or NIoeRARA

Kadoak. s. D., June 14.--Mike Ma.
loney, who claims self defense as his
motive in killing w. d. Toney and J..
Gooden, the Sioux City horse dealers
whose bodies were found In we'll on
the McNally ranch Friday morning, is
declared to be mike" McOwn, who
was arrested several years ago at Mo
brara on murder charge. "Maloney'
has admitted that his real name Is
Isaac McOwn.
A brother of John Gooden, one of
the murdered men, is william Gooden
of Bassett. Neb.
McOwn, or Maloney, after being ar.
rested at Cottonwood. was taken to
Fort Pierre, the county seat.
His Niobrara Record.
McOwn seems to have been using
one or more aliases. He gave his name
as Mike Maloney. and later registered
at the hotel as Mike McOwn. A man
who knew him several years ago at
Niobrara, Neb., recognized him few
days since as Mike McOwn. While at
Niobrara at about that time he was
arrested for killing a man named
Frank Merritt, but as there was no
direct evidence he was not held. He
is blacksmith by trade and worked
for Adolph Holan of Niobrara. When
found at Cottonwood he was asleep,
and was captured without trouble in
a building which he had purchased.
to use his gun, but was prevented and
disarmed.
Admits Killing Employers.
For some hours after being captured
, he would make no statement, but fin.
ally admitted the killing, saying that
, he did it in self defense. His story
of the killing is about as follows
Gooden and Toney owned the outfit
together, and on the 26th of May he
bought them out. Gooden came to
quarrel with McOwn and grabbed a
neckyoke and started for him, but
McOwn got a club and knocked him
down. Then Toney, seeing the trou-
BILE. came over where they were and
chased McOwn around the wagon with
a pitchfork, when the latter struck him
in the face and knocked him down and
killed him with an ak. He then
wrapped Toney in a blanket and
threw him in the we'll and Gooden In
on top. The ak with which he did the
deed he threw in the creek near the
well.
Does Land Office Business.
McOwn's career after leaving here
was rather checkered and tingeG
slightly of frenzied finance. Gooder
had bank account in the State bank
of Sioux City, his bank book showing
a balance of $500. This Maloney is al
legged to have raised to $4,000 ant
checked against it in Gooden's name
He arrived at Cottonwood on Wednes
day and made a start by purchasing
240 acres of land adjoining town, 6
building used for pool hall and har
ness shop, all of which he paid for by
check. He sold team and wager
and took a note and mortgage for the
same, and loaned party $100. In al
his purchases amounted to over $1,000
He also had been to Quinn and Sc
cured quantity of new harness which
Gooden had shipped there, it being
Gooden's intention to start a shoI
there later.
Brother at Bassett.
A report received from party al
Interior who knew Gooden and Toney
was that the men were brothers-in-law
having married sisters; also that FREQ
Morgan, who lives about twenty-fiv,
miles west of town, was brother-in
law. He is on his way here.
McOwn stated to the coroner Satur
day that his name is Isaac McOwr
and that his folks live at Washta, la.
that he has two brothers at Yankton
S. D.; that John Gooden, one of thu
murdered men, formerly ran harnes!
shop on West Seventh street, Il
Sioux City, and that brother, Will
lam Gooden, lived at Bassett, Neb.