The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-10-30
James McMahon Slayer Of Two Ssieas
and PrOtherin-Law.
THE CRIME LONG PLANNED
Unable to Hold His Tongue He
Tells the Police and Says he
Win Be Able 70 Sleep in Peace.
Murders Committed ON Farm Wear
Kansas City.

Kansas City.
James McMahon has confesseA
that he murdered his sisters, Miss
Rose 'McMahon: and Mrs. Alonza Var
Royen and the latte:'s husband,
Alonzo Van Royen, on a farm near
Kansas City, Kans., last Tuesday.
a long standing family quarrel caus-
ed the tragedy. McAahon killed
Van Royen in wood and later went:
to the Van Roycn home and shot his
sisters.
Fearing mob violence by a throns
that gathered about the county jain
after the confession became known,
the sheriff rushed the murderer and
his brother, Patrick Mcmahon, and
Patrick Lamb, farm hand, who are
held as witnesses, to the penitentiary
at Lansing In automobiles.
McMahon's inability to keep his
secret caused him to be arrested.
He told friend where he had hid
den a revolver with which ne did
the killing, and several articles he
took from Van Royen'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 McNahon confessed
all.
"Yes, killed my two sisters and
brother-in-law and was crazy wheA
did IT," he shouted, rising out OF
his chair and pacing the room. rs
took me three months to plan and
execute the crime. / waited unth
| j knew my intended victims wouAA
be in the right positions for me 70
kin them and get away. On Tues
day Rose went to visit at Van Roy
ems and Lon went TO- the woods. "A
found him and shot him in the head.
He fell and fred Six shots into
his back. l always hated him.
Then l walked into the house
and found my sisters. My first shos
probably killed Mrs. Van Royen as
she sat on 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.
fired two more shots into the body
of Mrs. Van Royen and five more
into Roses body. did not hurry
away. l was not unduly excited.
1t was the elimination Of my only
thoughts for months.
Il searched the house and found
some rings and other valuaoles.
took all of them and my revolver
and hid them in a corn shock. Later
II dawned on me that had COM
mitted a crime. ] tried to keep 1t
secret. But hour by hour some
thing told roe that ! must tell alb.
Tonight I'll sleep in peace.
The confessed murderer had boon
severely cross-questioned by the po-
lice many tines since the murder,
but he skilliully eXtricated himSen
from the few compromising positions
into which he had stepped
He was taken at one time 10 the
scene of the murder and forced at
midnight under the glare OF flash
hight to rehearse MS story. He did
it unainchingly, swearing he kne"
nothing OF the criGc. Later be OF
fe1ed $500 reward for the arrest
of the murderer.
The quarrel between the van
Royen and the McMahons Is SAD 10
have started over the desire OF the
senior Mrs. Mcmahon to give pare
Of her property to Van Royen. HOSE
Mcmahon was friendly with tae van
Royens. This caused James NC
Nahon 70 dislike her.