The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-25
TRAIL OF DEATH
Sumner County Has Many I'm
solved Murder Mysteries.
Numerous Murder Cases and
but One Conviction.

Wellington, Kan, July 25.-The re-
lease of Otto McKnelley, the 21-year-
old car repairer, after a preliminary
hearing before District Judge Swarts
on charge of having killed his IA
Their, mother and sister in tent here
the night of September "a, 1912, calls
attention to a series of murders in
this city and Sumner county which
stands alone in the state for the num-
Der of murders without successful
convictions. The McKnelley murders
bring the list to eleven within five
years: In that time only one man
has been convicted of charge of
murder, while five have been acQuit-
ted. One committed suicide. one was
released after short inquiry and one
murderer escaped arrest after killing
John B. Gates, an Atchison, Topeka
& Santa Fe railroad special agent
and his identity is a mystery.
Just before the McKnelley murders,
Mrs. Mary Hayes Hollinger, a for
mer Wellington girl, who had matri-
monial trouble, was found dead in
the Detroit river. Not long before
that Sam Wood, farmer near
Belle PLANES, had gone to the Matt
Manahan home nearby one night to
get even" with Manahan for legal
difficulty. He shot and killed James
Thompson, 19-year-old wellington
boy, who worked for Manahan
Wellington people began to stay in
nights. The theaters and Saturday
night stores found business falling
off. The porch sleepers moved in
side, while those who had been sleep
ing N tents came in the house.
John r. Kander an engraver in
a jewelry store, was the first to fall
a victim in Wellington. His body
was found beside he Rock Island
racks early in 1907.
Tim Riggs, horse trader, was the
a. n fol HyT9 n a NJ G hI1l
let. He traded in mules and in a
deal with Charley Arnold got the best
of Arnold, so Arnold believed. He
bought a gun and killed Riggs.
Arnold is the only example of what
Sumner county justice can do when
it is aroused. He is serving a life
term in the penitentiary.
Buster Cam, son of a we1l-to-do
farmer living a mile northwest of
Wellington, was shot one July night
town. A load of birdshot struck him
in the breast. He died in his moth
ers arms after telling that J. L. Van
daveer had shot him. The cause was
jealousy. Vandaveer's wife, a grand
mother and a cripple, had gone rid
ing with Cam, barely IS years old.
Vandaveer was acquitted by a jury.
A few weeks after the Vandaveer
killing the neighborhood of Milan
was shocked to learn that June Van
dervoort, a young farmer living five
miles south, had shot and killed his
wife, mistaking her for burglar
Nandervoort could not be shaken on
the stand from his original statement
and was acquitted.
Two years ago John Roach a |
widower and car repairer for the
Santa Fe road, went to Wichita and
met a stranger. They got drunk.
Roach, a well-to-do man, brought his
friend home from Wichita and they
finished the debauch. Late at night
a neighbor saw a man leaving the
Roach house and heard his groan-
gered, as if he was intoxicated. When
Roach did not appear next morning
an investigation was made and his
body was found hacked with a
Ratchet.
That day Earl Porter was found
asleep on a farm several miles south
of Wellington. His face was blood
smeared and he had empty whisky
bottles which bore the same kind of
labels that were on those found in
Roach's room. Porter told the jury
thrown from Rock Island train and
had wandered to the farm. He was
discharged.
John B. Gates, special agent for
the Santa Fe, was shot to death
eighteen months ago while he was
searching train for car robbers. The
murderer never was found.
A negro railroad camp follower
was killed by a construction contrac-
P1aine a year ago, and the white man
was let go after a preliminary hear
ing.
Next came Sam Wood the Relic