The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-10-27
Brother of TwO Murdered Women Relates Story
of His Horrible Crime--NO One But Himself
Connected With Killing Went to Woods,
QuarreIed With Van ROyen, Killed
Him and Then Went TO House
And Killed Sisters.


BY Associated Press.
Lansing, Kans., oct. 27.--James Nc
Mahon spent a sleepless night in his
cell here. He did not lie down all
night, but paced the cell nervously. He
good naturedly refused breakfast
when brought him this morning He
talked occasionally during night but
not Of himself. He seemed to think
only of his victims and to regret their
fate.
Kansas City, Mo, Oct. 27--County
Attorney Taggart this morning, filed
in the city court of Kansas City, Kans.,
three informations against James Nc
Mahon, charging him with the murder
Of his two sisters and his brother-in-
law. Mcmahon will remain in the
penitentiary until his preliminary hear
ing, which will probably be late this
week.
Patrick Mcmahon who was exonerat-
ed by James will be released today,
unless there are new developments
The authorities said at noon that
Patrick Mcmahon and Patrick Lamb
would not be charged. and could leave
the penitentiary They will remain,
however until the excitement sub
sides
Kansas City, Mo. Oct 27-County
Attorney Joseph Taggart of Wyandotte
county announced at 4:15 O'Clock yes
terday afternoon that James Mcmahon
had made a confession that he killed
his brother-inIaw, Alonzo Van Royen
and his sisters, Maggie and Rosa.
Both James and Patrick Mcmahon
are now being questioned further by
the county prosecutor and the sheriff
OF Wyandotte county.
While the McMahon brothers were
at the Jail, James Mcmahon told the
sheriff he would like to see an aunt,
Mrs. Kate Ellis Of GAS Oakland Av-
enue, Kansas City, Kans., before he
made a statement Mrs. Ellis was
brought to the Jail. James Mcmahon
talked with her privately and then
made his confession. the county at
torney says.
In his confession, James Mcmahon
said that he did the killing by himself
He told the county attorney that he
went to the woods where Van Royen
was cutting wood and that he quarrel
ed with him. The quarrel ended when
Mcmahon drew revolver from his
pocket and killed his brother-in-law.
After the killing Mcmahon went to
the cabin where his sisters. Mrs. Van
Royen and Rosa McMahon, were sit
ting in the one room Rose was wash
ing out a pair Of socks, while the wife
of Van Royen was writing at table.
The brother, without telling what
had happened in the wood quarreled
with his two sisters. Then again the
revolver with which he had killed Van
Royen, he shot his two sisters to
death. After they fell he shot as they
lay on the floor.
The county attorney, Mr. Taggart,
said that the first definite information
to the prosecutors Office came early
yesterday when farmer named
Elkins, who lived near the Mcmahon
place telephoned him that James Nc
Mahon had taken him to a corn shock
near the McAIahon home and had there
shown him the revolver. the two rings
the half box of cartridges and the
pocketbook that were later found in
the corn shock
The county attorney said that Ne
Mahon told Elkins TO say nothing
about what he mad shown him. AS
soon as he could Elkins notified the
county attorneys Office. EIkins said
that he believes MeMahon was unable
longer to keep the matter on his mind
without telling some one.
In telling his story to the county
McMahon spoke freely Of
killing his brother-in-law and Of Killing
OF Mrs. Van Royen. but when the
The Ladies Missionary Society Of
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