The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-12
BOUND
SLAIN! !!
TIES HANDS OF
BANKERS, KILLS
four WITH AXE
Surviving Victim Asserts Army
Captain Did Ii.
In Weird Story Says One Man
Committed Crime.
COVERED THEM WITH GUN
Forces Clerk WOrnall To Tie
Hands of Other Four.
Realizing Recognition, Seizes
Hatchet To Kill All.
CASHIER FIRST ONE SLAIN
Hacks Helpless Victims Until
UnrecOgnizable.
WOrnalI Frees Hands, Wanders
Dazed, Tells Sentry.
Bankers Say RObber Didn't Get
More Than $1,000.
Realizing Recognition, Seizes
Hatchet To Kill All.
CASHIER FIRST ONE SLAIN
Hacks Helpless Victims Until
UnrecOgnizable.
WOrnalI Frees Hands, Wanders
Dazed, Tells Sentry.
Bankers Say RObber Didn't Get
More Than $11,OOO.

Camp Funston, Jan. 12.-Kearney
Wornall of Kansas City. the only sur
viVor of five men who were in the
army bank here last night when the
institution was robbed, today told the
authorities the robber was an army
captain whom he recognized, it was
announced this afternoon. 1t is un-
derstood he gave the officers name
THE murders were committed by
captain" WornaH is said to have told
the authorities. HE wore no mask
He came into the bank and said he
was short of money and hated to do
it. The mans face is familiar to me.
Winters was well acquainted with
hII4l-
Efforts on the part of Wornalls
questioners to obtain further informa-
ton were futile, as the injured man
soon lapsed into Inconsistencies.
" hen he made the statement that an
a 4uy captain committed the murders,
his m4nd seemed to be working clear
ly, Il was said
..-i. i5Ioody 'KercIlief and Bills.
- handkerchief saturated with blood
was found by searchers today near the
place where police dogs put on the
trail lost the scene. Nearby was found
thirty $ F.! bills and canvas cap, such,
il VAS said, is worn by soldiers. The
money WAS not bloodstained
All inquest was to be held late today
at the base hospital at Fort Riley.
Camp Funston, Jan 12.-That the
nan VINO robbed the bank at the ma
tional army cantonment here last
night after killing four of the five
men in the building and injuring the
fl tn so badly that he probably will
die. murdered his victims with an axe
while their hands We're tied. was de
clared today by Kearney Wornall of
Kansas City, the injured man. Wor-
nall recovered consciousness for a
short time this forenoon and while his
story is fragmentary and ha ", Off
cials thought it might go a long way
toward solving the mystery. WornalPs
injuries probably will prove fatal. ply
sicians believe. According to WornalI
an insistent knock at the door of the
bank building about $50 O'Clock last
night caused them to admit a man
who imme ediately covered them with a
revolver. He then forced Wornall to
tie the hands of the other members of
the rarty Wornall says, after which he
tied Wornalrs hands.
Wornan does not say he recognized
the robber and his description of the
next step of the robber after gaining
admittance is rather hazy. He said
he thought the robber realized that
he was recognized by some of his vic
Tins and that he decided to kin them.
Winters First Man Killed.
Wornan says the man picked up a
raining blows upon the heads and
faces of the helpless men: c. F. Win
ters, vice-president of the National
Reserve bank of Kansas City, and
cashier of the army bank was the first
man attacked, Wornan says. A blow
from the axe struck him in the back
of the head. Winters died early to-
day. O. NJ. Hill and Carl Ohelson,
clerks, were struck down after which
the man attacked Wornan and John
Jewell of Springfield, who were at
the end of the room.
Wornall says when he recovered
consciousness he found his hands were
not securely tied and managed to free
himself and make his way from the
building. Wornall was discovered by
a sentry, wandering about the camp.
The sentry called upon him to halt
and when Wornall did not obey drew
closer He discovered Wornan was
covered with blood and gave the
alarm. Wornall was taken to an in
firma marySand detail sent to the bank
building. The four bodies were found
and the military police notified. Wor-
nall was removed to the base hospital
at Fort Riley.
Winters received four or five severe
cuts on the head and forehead. Hill
and Jewell were beaten about the head
almost beyond recognition Ohelson
was apparently killed instantly by a
blow on the forehead with the blade
of the axe
Can't Give Description of Man.
Wornan so far has been unable to
give a clear description of the man he
saws committed the murder The au-
thorities do not place much hope of
obtaining clew from the fact that the
Continued OH Page Two.)