Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-12-13
LIGHT ON QUADRUPLE MURDER
John Fiegler, Who Lived Near Bern.
hard Farm, Under Arrest.
ADMITS QUARREL WITH DEAD MAN
Says One of Them was Hunting on
His Land and He Went to Bern
hard Home 10 Make
Protest.

KANSAS CITY. Dec. IA bloody pair
Of overalls and shirt were found By Chief
Of Police thinner, Kansas city. kan, to-
day in the home Of John Feagle, under
arrest in connection with the murder on the
Bernhard farm IN johnson county, Kan
sas. The bloody garments were concealed
In closet on the second floor Of FeagIe's
house
Mrs. Feagle could not explain the pres
ence of the bloody clothes in her home
She said she did not know TO whom they
belonged, and she was unable to state
what kind Of clothing her husband wore
last Wednesday,.
1t developed thar tSragle had quara-eled
win fll- Berrs7as > 4boaf the boundary
line between their farms and that this
difference was more serious than quar-
rel he admitted having with them about
hunting.
The officers declare that FeaRle is
little deaf which discredits his statemen.
that he heard cries Of distress at the
Bernhardt home Wednesday night when
he was at his house a half mile away
John Feagle, a hunter and trapper. whose
home is a half mile west OF the Bernhard
farm in johnson county. Kansas. where
Mrs Emily Bernhardt. George Bernhard
her son. T. H. Morgan and James Graves
were murdered, was arrested In connection
with the crime early today and placed in
the Kansas City (Kan) Jail. He was ques-
toned for three hours BY II. T. thinner,
chief OF police OF Kansas City, Kan, ana
Il is said he told conflicting stories regard
ing his relations with the BeTnhardt family
Feagle was arrested after the officers
had learned that he and George Bernhard
had quRrreled several times recently, be-
cause Feagle objected TO Bernhardt and
Morgan hunting on his farm.
In his statements TO Chief thinner Fea-
gle attempted 10 cast suspicion on another
man. This man. IL is said VIII be arrested
today.
FeAgle admitted that he quarreled with
the Bernhardts at their home last Wednes-
day. He said he went there TO notify
George Bernhardt that he and his friends
must stop hunting on his farm. George
resented his statements, Feagle said. and
a quarrel followed. Feagle said that Mrs.
Bernhardt came out OF the house and en-
tered into the controversy.
Feagle insisted that he was Innocent.
but Chief thinner was not satisfied with
his statements After he had questioned
Feagle the chief went 10 Feagle's farm
intending 10 make a, careful search OF the
premises.
The authorities believe the murders were
committed either wednesday night or early
Thursday morning Of last week, as Wednes-
day night was the last time lights were
seen in the Bernhard home
CorOner's Jury At work.
A eoroner's jury was smpanelled at
olathe kan, this morning and an inquest
viii be held on Wednesday morning.
( The funeral Of the four victims will be
held al the Bernhardt farm tomorrow. The
bodies Of Mrs. Bernhard George Bern
hardt and Thomas II. Morgan viii be
brought 10 this city for burial No relatives
/ OF James Graves have been located and
( probably he viii be buried by the county.
9 Feaglo told Chief thinner that he found
/ Morgan hunting on his place last Wednes-
/ day.
! Il asked him what he meant by killing
my game" said Feagle "and he told me
that Mrs Bernhardts son gave him per
mission 10 hunt there ] told him the place
/ belonged 10 me and that no one else had
/ the right 10 grant such permission. After
} had ordered Morgan off my farm ] went
over TO Bernhardt's place and asked George
! Bernhardt why he had given Morgan per
] mission TO hunt on my place. He denied
I that he had given Morgan any such per
I mission"
Feagle said that he and Bernhardt made
counter accusations against each other and
when the quarrel grew warm Mrs. Bern
hardt appeared on the scene.
When the old lady heard me say that
/ George had told Morgan he might hunt on
my place she called me a liar, said Feagle
He said both Mrs. Bernhardt and George
became very abusive before he left
FeaEIe Hears Cries.
Feagle said he went home after he had
quarreled with the Bernhardts and re-
mained there. He said he heard cries Of
distress that seemed 10 come from the
Bernhardt home Wednesday night. The
cries soon ceased and be cid not invesu-
gate them
Chief thinner said the prisoner told con
ncting stori Is as 10 the Time be heard
] 1hesa cri-~