Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-03
KELLY WILL FACE JUDGE AND
JURY DESPITE CONFESSION,
SAYS ATTORNEY GENERAL.
NEARING MAY OCCUPY
EuLL MONTHS TINE
Told People Of ViIlisea Ak Murders
Before General Public Knew of Crime
History Of Crime and Detective
WiIkerson's Activities in Case.

Special to mes-Republican.
Des Moines, Sept. 3.-Altho written
confession has been secured from the
Rev. Lyn G. J. Kelly TO the E3flisca
ak murders the state department If
justice expects TO go thru with the
trial and has a big amount Of evil
dence to introduce, according 10 At
torney General Havner. 1t IS possible
the trial may continue tor a full
month.
The attorney general declares there
was absolutely no force or coercion
used to obtain the confession from
Kelly. After Kelly had finished telling
his story he made the remark that ne
supposed he would be killed. the at
torney general says. but Attorney Cen
eral Havner declares he told him he
would be as Jealous for his safety as
for that OF any other man. Kelly said
he supposed the people OF Red OAK
would mob him. but Havner told him
he would be protected from that
The confession which Kelly made 70
the attorney general was taken down
in shorthand. Three hours later Thurs
day night he told the sheriff ne would
like to make connected statement, ms
attorney general says, and he was
taken before the county attorney. to
whom he dictated the statement when
ne signed.
discriminating Evidence.
The attorney general mas evidence
he saws 10 the effect that Kelly. VINO
left Villisca early on the morning after
the crime had been committed, told
persons on the train OF the FilAsca
crime before any one in villkca knew
Of IL.
Attorney General Eavner will be as
sisted in the trial AZ Red Oak by ?. F.
Faville, Of Storm Lake, as special
counsel. as well as County Attorney
Wenstrand
On account Of the prominence given
the case in the newspapers thruout
the country in the past several years
and the intense interest at Red OAK
and vicinity the trial Of the case which
starts Tuesday, viii attract widespread
attention
History Of the Case.
Il vas OF the morning Of June 10,
1872. that residents Of Villisca awak-
cred 10 find that their peaceful little
community had been made the scene OF
one OF the most arrocious crimes in the
history Of Iowa Joe Moore, prorni-
nsnt implement dealer, his wife, their
four children, Herman, II: Katherine,
10: Boyd, :, and Paul 5; and the two
little daughters OF Mr. and Mrs. Joe
Stiliinger Lena. II, and Ina aged
years had been murdered in their beds
while they slept, by a fend who used
an ak 10 crush the lives Of his victims
The murder was discovered between
and $3.50 o'clock when an investigation
was begun after Mr.. Moore had failed
to show up at his place Of business.
The night of the murder was Sun
day evening. Mr.. and Mrs. Moore, with
their family, attended the children's
day exercises at the Presbyterian
church. Little Herman was on the
program. After the exercises, the little
Stillinger girls accompanied the Moore
family home to spend the night with
them and avoid the lonesome journey
into the country.
Heads Crushed.
All eight were found dead III bed the
following morning. The ak man had
crushed the heads Of his victims almost
to pulp. The rooms were spattered
with blood. The blood stained AK was
found in one Of the rooms On the floor
in the room were Mr.. and Mrs. Moore
slept was lighted lamp. All the blinds
were closely drawn. Mirrors in the
rooms were covered. A basin Of bloody
water, in which the ak man washed
his hands was found concealed in the
kitchen.
State and county officials immedi-
ately took up widespread search tc
locate the ak man. All sorts Of clues
were run down but until the indict-
ment of Kelly. no one was officially
charged with the crime. Blood hounds
brought from Beatrice, took up a trail
at the Moore house, and followed II
as far as the Nodaway river where il
was lost.
WiIkerson on Scene.
Two years later J. n. Wilkerson. ar
operative Of the Burns detective
agency, was assigned to the case. Hi'
Investigations resulted finally in the
arrest of "Blacke" Mansfield, pack.
ing house employe. who was brought
to Red Oak and taken before Mont
gomery county grand jury for investi.
cation. This jury, however. failed tc
return an indictment against Mans.
field rs the slayer Of the murder vic.
ts..,=,[snG re mas released from,
toby. Failing to get an indictment
against Mansfield, Wilkerson did mo-
cease his Investigations. He ASSERTED
that prominent Villisca man, lead.
er IN church and politics, was respon-
1ihle for the returning Of no bill
against mansfield, that this man nat
< influential friends Who were member:
Of the grand jury and voted agains
tndIcsment OF Mansneid. AT seriet
i OF meetings, called to hear discus.
sion of the latest phases of the a,
nprder investigation. Wilkereon wal
re1crtAd to have made the Statement
That ~ F. Jonese furnished the none,
to p1y Tor the murder OF Joe Moore
SS - = r Ate
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