The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-23
He Presses Trousers and Sticks
Down His Hair.
Mania for Skulls Shown by Him
in Talk.
MORE lime PITS ARE FOUND
Deeds Discovered on Place May
Show Another Murder.
Papers Belonging to Nebraskan
Are Unearthed.

Rufe King, accused triple murderer.
displayed his first signs of nervous
ness and anxiety in the Shawnee
county Jail today
Finding of more bones and piling
up of evidence day by day finds King
as calm and collected as the ocean on
quiet day.
The expected arrival Of a little
woman. his wife, Mrs. Grace King,
caused the signs of anxiety and con-
Germ on the face of the big giant in
the solitaire cell His shock of hair
usually resembling a badly constructed
bird nest was plastered to the sides of
his huge head. His trousers showed
signs of having been placed under the
mattress to keep their crease over
night. probably an old army trick
learned by King when he served with
the colors during the Spanish-Ameri-
can war. His hands were cleaner, his
face was brighter his eyes glistened.
Eager to See Wife.
You know my wife's coming up
here today" he said. She's in
Eskridge this morning. I can't guess
what hour she'll arrive. If she comes
by train she won't get here till after
supper"
The arrival of his wife seemed to
detract his attention from the bones
and skulls OF the men he is accused
OF numbering. He was in a good hui
NOR, but nervous for the first time,
and didn't seem to care much about
talking.
That King had a mania for skulls
was evidenced in a conversation with
him Friday afternoon. He told of
ging to a cemetery in the Philippine
Islands just before leaving and COL
lecting three skulls.
"I got the littlest ones I could
find" he said. 'I wanted to bring
home n he 7 af
would have trouble in getting them
into this country. but didn't have a
bit"
well. those aren't the skulls found
on your farm ?" he was asked.
Mop. I don't know -- thing
about them"
Clue To Another Victim?
William r. Ringer. owner of land in
Antelope county. Neb., may have been
the mysterious peddler, who was an
alleged victim OF Rufe King at Maple
Hill. Ringer may have been one OF
the victims believed by officers and
residents Of Maple Hill to have been
buried in a lime pit on Kings al
legged murder farm.
Deeds conveying land in Antelope
county, Nebraska, to William r.
Ringer have been found in Kings
former home in Maple Hill. The deeds
were found with other papers and may
ultimately furnish a strong link in
the chain of circumstantiaI evidence
connecting King with the disappear
ance of numerous persons. An imme-
diate investigation is to be made by
the state to determine whether Ringer
\. a. really the strange peddler who
made periodical trips to Maple Hill or
whether he may have been another of
the many men who seem to have
started on trip and never returned.
Officials Were Misled?
Several days ago, King told state
counsel that the name of the Peddler
was Gregg. An amended complaint in
the case was filed this week at
Eskridge charging King with the muir
der OF an unknown man and with the
murder of man named Gregg. Both
counts are charged in the one COM
plant. Now state attorneys believe
King may have misled them as to the
identity Of the peddler. or that Ringer
is possible new victim
The address of the possible new
victim is not definitely known. He
possessed deeds of conveyance for real
estate in Antelope county, Nebraska,
and all of the papers were properly re-
corded and formally certified.
Thru the register of deeds office in
the Nebraska county an investigation
has been started to determine if pos
sible the identity of Ringer. County
Attorney Martin of Wabaunsee coun-
ty; Maurice McNeill, assistant attor-
ney general, and Otis Hungate, special
state counsel, have conferred regard
ing the finding of transfer records.
They are convinced the deeds will
establish the identity of the peddler
or that of another victim. -
May Trip King.
Should Ringer prove to be the
name of the peddler. King would be
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