The Marshall republican., 1914-02-27
MADECONFESSION
SLAYER OF THREE, DRIVEN BY
REMORSE, ADMITS DEED
AFTER MANY MONTHS.

HANNIBAL, Mo-, Feb. 21.-John
Kidwell was arrested here today aft
er he had confessed to the murder OF
the McAnnal;y family-an aged man.
his vile and q grown daughter-at
Wellington. Kas., october 1S, 1912.
The mystery which surrounds the
murder has been solved with Kid
wells arrest, according to the belief
OF officers. That II will have a bear
ing on others murders which have
t%errorized the West during the past
few years. is believed by officers.
Kidwell is 43 years old. and for the
last three weeks has been working In
Hannibal, coming here from Moberly,
Mo.
Conscience-stricken, Kidwefl, with
in a week after coming here, dropped
a remark that he was wanted in Wei
llngton. He talked with Robert Mer-
rick, a Burlington Railroad detective.
Merrick was taken into Kidweli's
confidence and was told the story.
The detective then notified the Off
GERS at We,.ington and closely watch
ed Kidwell for two days.
Kidwell was arrested Friday by.
w. l.. Johnson, Sheriff OF Marion
county and was taken TO Palmyra.
Johnson wrote TO the officers ut Vel
lingtoh and yesterday Sheriff J. NJ.
Lingfelter and Deputy Prosecuting At
torney Herrick arrived.
Kidwell said he was melted to
murder McNally. who lived I'm n tent.
In trying to find McNally in the tent
at night he awakened Mrs. McNally.
who screamed and awakened her
husband, he said.
In a scuffle he killed McNally with
n baseball bat. he confessed. lie then
fought the women.
He made his way TO his sisters
house. and there burned his clothes.
He told his sister that he was going
TO tell the police of the crime, but
she said such a course would be
foolish. he claims.
The members OF the family were
killed while sleeping In n tent near
the Santa Fe Railroad roundhouse IN
Wellington, during the night, They
were shot and their heads were bea,
ten with q club.
The murder In many ways reacm.
bled those ., the ax man, which SC
terrified the Middle-w n few years
ago. Kidwell a living In yelling.
ton ut that time and was not suspect,
ed in connection with the murder.
A son OF McAnnaly was arrested
but Mt his preliminary hearing was
released as the evidence was INSULT.
Client TO make n case. The Sheriff OF
Summer county. Kansas. is now en-
route to Madison. Wis. TO arrest thi,
man, who Is suing at that place fol
the $4,000 insurance carried by hi,
parents.
Soon after McAnaly's release boil
men left Wellington, Kidwell coins
TO Peoria, III. After a few months hi
left Peoria for Slater. Mo-, where hi
sister lived. From there he went e
Moberly. coming here three weeks
ago. Kidwell was a man OF quiet de
meanor, well dressed and gave n,
hint OF his horrible secret.
All the time. according to his con
f%ession. he saw the picture of-th,
dead trio In the little tent, which
could not be obliterated from hi.
mind. Kidwell said he was "a widowel
and that when his child died he wal
alone In the world.
He was glad that the burden OF tn,
crime was lifted from his heart anC
was ready to face his fate.
He indicated that there was a con
nectlon with other crimes. whicl
leads to the belief that other myster
les may be cleared,
The Wellington murder attracted
nationwide attention at the time.
Kidwell waived requisition. ?