Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-06-13
Son Of Warden McClaugh-
rey Of Leayenworth Pen
itentiary and Two Others
Seek to Unravel Crime.
SEES NO CONNECTION
WITH OTHER CRIMES
Finger Print Expert Takes
No Stock in Theories
Linking Crime With 9th
er Wholesale Murders.

Villisca, June I'm. w. McClaugh.
rey, son Of Warden McClaughrey and
himself Bertellion expert Of the pr1s-
on at Leayenworth, Kan, who was
called here to make proper records OF
the bloody finger prints left by the
murders OF the Moore family and their
guests last Sunday night, is In Omaha
in consultation with Chief Of Police
Donahue. His plan is to conduct,
with the aid of q detail OF Omaha de-
tectives an independent and thorough
investigation of the affair.
McClaughrey Is convinced that
some one familiar with the Moore
family and house committed the mur-
ders He takes little stock In theories
which attempt to link the tragedy with
crimes in Kansas and Colorado.
The man who did that knew the
family, knew their habits and the ar
rangements of the house." said Nc
Claughrey. Everything goes to show
that he first murdered the two Still
niger girls downstairs and then went
up and killed the Moore family on the
second floor. No one not familiar
with the house could have done that
work without awakening some one,
especially since the Sti1linger girls
were sleeping in strange apart
ment."
Mr.. McClaughrey is further strong
ly inclined to believe that the crime
was not the work of a maniac but
rather ola scheming, revengeful muir
derer. So far as the public Is aware
not single clue has been found as
to the identity or present whereabouts
Of the murderer.
Reward Of $500 Offered.
It is announced that q reward Of
$500 has been offered by the state and
one of $500 by Montgomery county for
the apprehension of the assassin
Today residents Of the county by hun
dreds began coming into Villisca to
be present at the funeral this after
noon OF the victims Of the tragedy who
were widely known and universally
loved and respected. The funeral is to
be held at o'clock this afternoon In
a public park. 1t is expected the at
tendance will be from 5000 to 10000.
Insane Men Held rs Suspect.
A third finger print expert arrived
here today. 1t Is said he will take i'm
pressions Of the finger tips of the
dead, the suggestion having been made
that some Of the prints found in differ
ent parts of the house might have been
made by one of the victims. In view
Of all the known circumstances this
theory receives no credence but the
authorities wish to be certain. 1t Is
said an apparently insane man was
arrested at Gravity about fifteen miles
south Of here yesterday. Little i'm
portance is attached to this, however,
as there was nothing except his men
tai condition to throw suspicion on
the man.
Drag River For Murderer.
The authorities began this afternoon
to drag the Nodaway river in the
vicinity of the spot where the blood
hounds three times yesterday lost the
trail they had followed from the scene
OF the octuple murder. The theory is
that the murderer may have been
drowned either by his own intent after
the committing Of the fiendish crime
or by accident in attempting to cover
his trail by wading in the water.
There are many deep holes in the
river near here where man unable
to swim might easily go down to his
death.