The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1909-10-27
Stays SISTERS AND
BR0THER-IN-LAW
Mystery of Triple Tragedy Near
Kansas City Is Solved by
Confession.
FAMILY QUARREL LIES
AT BOTTOM OF CRIME
Murderer Says He Was Crazy,
but Admits Careful Plan
ming of Crime.

KANSAS CITY, Oct. 26.-Jamcs Nc.
Mahon confessed today that be murdered
his sisters, Miss Rose McMahon and Mrs.
Alonzo Van Royen and the latter's hus.
band, Alonzo Van RoyeD, on farm
near Kansas City, Kan, last Tuesday.
A long standing family quarrel caused
the tragedy. Mcmahon killed Van Roy
en- in the tmber and later went to the
Van Royen home and shot his sisters.
Fearing mob violence by throng
gathered about the county Jail after the
confession, the authorities rushed the
murderer aud his brother, Patrick Nc
Mahon, and Patrick Lamb, farmland,
who are held rs witnesses in the case
to the Kansas state penitcntiary ut Lam
sing tonight In automobiles,
Takes All the Blame,
McMahon took sole responsibility and
especially eXonerated his brother, as he
feared the officers would charge him
with completely.
Mcmahon told friend today where
he had hidden the revolver with which
he did the killing and several articles
| he took out of the Van Royen home
The sheriff went to the designated place
and found the articles and then decided
| 10 dTItSI JdIlf3 Nlt-hduuA. 10 ht w Dc
preparing 10 90 after the man, Nc.
Mahon walked into his Office and an.
nounced be was ready to help work on
the case as he has been each day since
| the tragedy,
Becker Immediately arrested him and
without telling of the evidence he had
be took Mcmahon to his home, where
| be also arrested Patrick McMahon aud
| Lamb
Prosecutor Taggard and Sheriff Beck.
cr swcated James Mcmahon for two
hours. Then Mcmahon collapsed and
confessed all.
Unqualified Confession.
E'Yes, l killed 10y two sisters and
| brother-in-law, and | was crazy when
] did it, he shouted, rising out of his
chair and pacing the room.
''It took me three months to plan
and execute the crime. Day by day
the picture of their dead bodies lying
| before me grew. and. at last, two weeks
ago. | saw IL all My plan was per
| feet.
~ bought "A revolver III Kansas City,
Mo Going home. | carefully waited
until ! knew my intended victims would
be in the right positions for me- to
| kill them and get away. Tuesday hose
went TO visit Van RoYeD S and Lou
went to The woods. To make sure be
was not at homo ! went TO the house
and learned where be was. | found
him and shot him in the head. He
| fell. and fired six shots into his back.
always hated him. ] dragged his
body across The creek and then pre-
pared to finish tho deed.
Then Kills Sisters.
For an hour | wandered about,
planning, Then ] walked into the house
and found my sisters,
"Mv first shot probably killed Mrs,
| Van Royen as she sat on chair She
screamed and fell. Rose started 10
| "'With the two women virtually dead
| was free TO take my time, | tired
two more shots into the body of Mrs
! Van Roven and five more into Rose 5
body | did not hurry away. | was
not undulv excited IT. was the culmina'
tion Of my only thought for months.
~ searched the house and found
some rings and other Yaluables. took
all of them and my revolver ana ma
them in corn shock.
"Latcr IT dawncd ON me that l had
committed Il crime. tried to Keep IT
a secret. But hour by hour something
told me that ! must tell all Tonight
| VIII sleep IN peace,
Exoneratos Brother,
McMahou SAID his brother Patrick
and he had not been on good terms for
several ycarS, and this alone wYuld
prove his brothers innocence of ANY
completely. Patrick Lamb has been en-
plovcd As a hired man on the Me
| Mahon farm The police said tonight
thev would hold him.
! The confessed murderer has been Sc
vcreIy cross-eXamined by the police
many times since the murders, but be
skiIfully eXtricated himself from the
few compromising positions into which
he stepped He was taken at one time
to the scene of the murders. and forced
at midnight, under the glare of tlash
| light 80 rchearsc the story. He DID IT
lunAinchiugly, swearing he knew nothing
Of the crime. Later he offered $500 for
the arrest of the murderer.
The quarrel between the Van hoycnS
and Mcmahon is said TO have started
over the desire Of the senior Mrs. Nc
Mahou TO give part of her property to
Van Roycn. Rose MclGahon was friend. .
" with the Van Royens, This caused
NT.NIohnn n dislike her.