Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-12
NeighbOr of Kansas Fam
lily Apparently Com
mitted Crime.
is NOW UNDER ARREST
Quarrel Over Hunting Rights at
Bottom of Feud Resulting
in Four Deaths.

Kansas City, Kan, Dec. IA bloody
pair of oVeralls and shirt were found
by Chief of Police thinner Of Kansas
City, Kan., today concealed In a closet
in the home of John Feagle, who was
arrested today in connection with the
quadrupe murder on the Bernhard
farm in Johnson county, Kansas, last
week.
Trapper Arrested.
Kansas City, Dec. 12.-John Feagle,
a hunter and trapper. whose home is
half a mile west of the Bernhard farm
in Johnson county, Kansas, where
Mrs. Emily Bernhard. George Bern
hard, her son. Thomas II. Morgan and
James Graves were murdered. was ar
rested in connection with the crime
today and placed in the Kansas City.
Kan. Jail.
Told Conflicting Stories.
i is said he told conflicting stories
regarding his relations with the Bern
hard family, and that he attempted to
cast suspicion on another man. II is
also alleged he and George Bernhard
had quarreled several times recently
because Feagle objected 10 Bernhard
and Morgan hunting on his farm.
Admits Quarrel.
Feagle admitted he quarreled with
the Bernhards at their home last Wed.
nesday. He said he went there to not
ify George Bernhard that he and his
friends must stop hunting on his farm.
George resented his statements, Feagle
said, and a quarrel followed. Feagle
said Mrs. Bernhard came out Of the
house and entered into the controver.
sy.
Dates Correspond.
The authorities believe the murders
were committed Wednesday night or
early Thursday morning Of last week.
aS Wednesday night was the last time
lights were seen in the Bernhard
home
Revenge the MOtiVcR
Kansas City. Dec. 12.-Revenge
and not robbery is now believed 10
have been the motive for the murder
Of four persons on the Bernhard
farm, in Kansas, south Of here.
The bodies which were discovered
we're examined closely yesterday. and
il was found that Mrs Emeline
Bernhard and her son. George. had
becn terribly beaten about the head.
while Tom Morgan and the hired
man. who was identified as James
Graves Of Oregon. had evidently been
killed by one or two blows.
Edward =. Boyle. head OF the Kan
sas City detective bureau. was sent
to the scene of the crime by Chief Of
Police Griffin.
During the inspection OF the prem
ises officer Boyle found the bloody
imprints of our fingers and the
thumb Of a mans left hand upon the
whitcwashed wall Of the closet I'm
which it is believed Mrs. Bernhard
was murdered. The section Of the
wall was cut and brought to Kansas
City.
SIX Wen Arc Sought
The first step OF the police will be
to locate six men. al Of whom r.
Gently have worked at the Bernhard
farm.
Another search was made Of the
house and n strong box I'm which val
liable papers and some money had
been placed was found. In this box
"a deed conveying all Of Mrs. Bern
hard's property TO her son. George.
was found From this the officers be
lievc she intended 10 leave all hor
property TO him, and cut of her
other children.
Not seen for several Days.
The bodies of Mrs. Bernhard -
years old. her son. George 30 years
old. and the two hired men were
found on the Bernhard farm near
Martin City No. 20 miles south OF
here. late Saturday.
None of the murdered persons had
been seen bv ncighbors for several
days. Saturday it was deciddl 10
make a search Of the farm. when
he searching party reached the farm
he bodies Of Mrs Bernhard and her
con. George. we're found in the house
and the other bodies were founI
several hours later in a manger in
he barn. covered with hay
From the position in which Mrs.
body was lying il is be-
ieved by officers thai she was in the
barn AZ the time OF the assault and
after being beaten about the head
ran TO the house and going M stairs,
hid in a closet where she died.
All the victims evidently had met
their fate in the same manner. the
heads Of all having been beaten with
a club All mad been dead for sew
craI days.