The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-11-16
PLOTTED MURDER.
Kansas City, Kan, Children
Planned to Get Rid of Parents.
Boy Is Eleven Years OF Age,
Sister But Seven.
AFTER FATHERS GOLD
Horrible Details Told to Pro-
bate Judge Van Prather.
Child Found in Parents Room
Armed With Hammer.
AFTER FATHERS GOLD

Kansas City, Kan, NOV. ID
intended to kill papa so I could get
his money"
This confession of plan to murder
was made by Walter Schoonover, II
years old, to Judge Van B. Prather in
the Wyandotte county juvenile court
B. F. Schoonover, the father, is
yardman employed in the MISSOURI
Pacific freight yards.
The father walked into the juvenile
court accompanied by Walter. Mr..
Schoonover told Judge Pratner tnas
his wife, Mrs. Eva SchoonoVer' nao
awakened to find the boy in the bed
room with a hammer on several dlt-
| ferent occasions. The boy, ne Saio,
had confessed he intended to kill his
| father and the stepmother. A strang-
err in the neighborhood and his sister.
| Mabel, years old, were also lmpil-
Gated by the boy as accompl1ces IN
his plans The little girl was not
| brought into court.
Fear Made Youngster Hesitate.
Did you go into your fathers
to kill them asked Judge Prather-
Eyes, but I would always get
afraid Walter replied.
you wanted to kill them, didn't
your"
You knew that it was bad?"
Yes, sir.
"Didn't you know you were spoil
ing your sister,"
she papa?"
"You go on and tell the judge the
truth" the father replied.
seWeu, about this boy that was in
the neighborhood. What did he DO
Wanted His Fathers Money.
st took the potatoes, turnips and
fruits out of the cellar and he TOOK
them off; I think to his home
(which did you intend to kill ?"
Papa, so I could get his money
| How come you to think about
| getting your fathers money?
| 81 was down at the grocery store
ono dav and a man came in and ask
ed me If papa had any money.
told him Yes and he said I saw your
mother through the window one nlght
and she is a good looking woman. We
your mother away and we will have
all the money 80
Did he say he would take you with
him? ?"
HE did not say" -.- - &c.
How did you intend to kill them?"
Intended to Use a Hammer.
Hit them in the head with the
hammer, but I always got scared. -,
/ did you ever get this way before 2,
81 tried to kill my mother about
| three months before she died."
Mrs Schoonover. the mother of the
4 boy. died at their home in Oak Grove,
/ NC. about a year ago. Walter could
i not keep back the tears in telling of
his attempt upon his mothers life ana
j Judge Prather dropped that hne or
Il questioning. The rest of the narrative
was broken with sobs from the BOY as
he told of his acts.
Have you any bad habits?''
"I never did anything. but just what
told you"
The father then stated that the boy,
until the last few weeks had always
been oDedient.
IT hated to bring him here, he has al
WAYS been so good and kind, but my
wife has been unable to sleep for ABOUT
six weeks She is at home now scared
to death and I did not know what else
to do"
"Has there been anything the matter
with you?" the judge asked the boy
mo, 1 haven't been sick. only l have
not slept for about six weeks:
weren't you treated Well!' Judge
Prather asked the boy.
Yes my father and stepmother have
always been good to me-" he replied
seWell why did you want to Kill
them?'
Boy Sent to Sanitarium.
well guess that is all we can nnc
] out about the case said Judge Prath-
err. "I will turn the boy over to the
probation officer and the juvenile cour'
will hold him until further investlga'
ton is made into the strange clrcum'
stances" He was sent to the Grand
view sanitarium.
Il always loved Walter and never
struck him a time in my hfe," sale
the stepmother. He would come anC
1riss me goodnight, and say he was moi
| going to be bad any more and I be-
iieve he meant it. but it seems as il
he could not help his desire to kill us
| 7 believe he must have been influences
l IL sorneo or that his mind was no.