Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-01-14
MURDERER KILLS SELF.
Facing Detection, Captain Whistler
Shoots Himself in Head.

Facing Detection, Captain Whistler
Shoots Himself in Head.
Camp Funston, Kan, Jan. 14.-Caps
tain Lewis Whistler Of the 354th in
fantry, became HIS own executioner
Saturday night after suspicion had
been directed at him as the probable
murderer Of four men in the bank Of
the nationa>army camp here who were
hacked to death with a hatchet Friday
night by a man in the uniform Of an
army captain who robbed the bank
Whistler shot himself to death with
an army revolver after heNhad written
a note in which he said:
Il have been thinking OF commit
ting suicide for long time, but never
haye had a good reason. Yesterday
went out and made e.myself reason"
The note was addressed to woman
whose name army officials refused to
make public.
Evidence Held Conclusive.
Major Lee, chief Of staff Of the
Eighty-ninth division said:
Every indication points to Captain
Whistler as the murderer. The circum-
stances and evidence are so conclusive
as practically to eliminate any posi-
bility Of doubt"
The murders in the bank were COM
mitted some time after $3.50 D. m.
Kearneyp Wornall, cashier Of the bank,
who had been terribly battered and cut
by the murderer, stumbled from the
bank covered with blood and fell at the
feet of passing sentry. He declared
a man in captains uniform had killed
four men in-the bank and had fed.
Fingerprints of the slayer were found
in the bank. Because Of Wornall's dec
laration that man in a captains uni
form had done the killing, all captains
at the post were ordered to report. Soon
after this order was issued Whisler's
body was found in his room in the off,
GERS barracks.
Bloody towels were found in the
room. There were splotches Of blood
on the washstand. Whistler was lying
on the opposite side of the room from
the bloody exhibits. It was known
that Whistler had secured two hatchets
Gus day.
Recognized by WornaIl.
Wornall said man-caue to the door
Of the bank about $3.50 O'Clock and
raped insistently. He was admitted
and covering the>five men with his re-
volver, forced Wornall to tie the hands
of the four men after which the in
truder proceeded to loot the bank safe
and had reached the door when Win
ters. said to Wornall: you recognize
him don't you?" Wornalr answered
that he did,
No Way Out But Murder.
The murderer turned to Winters and
said. TIOu know me, do you?"
II sure do, you black scouna-el:" was
Winters reply.
Wofnall says at this point the man
hesitated, and then suddenly leaped at
them, swinging his hand ak. He
struck the helpless men down, one by
one. Wornall was the last struck.
When he recovered consciousness no
managed to unite his hands and made
his way into the open, where. he was
discovered by a sentry.
Relatives and friends OF Captain
whistler were unable to advance any
theory as to what impelled him to com
NIT the murders and robbery. Captain
Whislers former wife. from whom he
was divorced. about a year ago, and a
son, Duane, IA years old, reside In
Salina, Kan. His parents live at Good
land Kan.
A Good Record,
Captain Whistler. who was about 40
years olds fought in the Spanish
American war and later saw consid-
cradle service in the Philippines.
When the war with Germany began
he entered the officers training camp
at Fort Riley, Kan, and was commis-
stoned captain. Mrs. Whistler received
9 letter from her former husband in
which he said nc was in good health
and spirits.
Wornall Identified Captain Whistler,
who committed the murders, It was an