The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-08-18

Duncan may have gone west with Gut
shall, Woody and the jewelry peddler-
One day a request came from
Nebraska town asking the authorities
to locate travelling man, who was
last heard from while in Maple Hill.
No trace was ever found of the man.
And of course that record is chalked
up in many minds against the livery
man who for twelve years terrorized
a community.
King was a soldier in the Spanish
American war. While in the Philip
pine Islands. so the stories run, King
is declared to have killed a China
man. The story is supplemented with
the report that King carried a bullet
wound in his shoulder or breast as a
result of that encounter. The story
is made complete with the report that
the one witness to this killing died
before King was brought to trial.
You never knew just how much
of Kings braggadocio to believe" said
j. d. Weaver, a merchant. "One time
King told me of his experience in the
Philippines and declared he once
killed five Filipinos on a log. You
ought to seen 'em fall King said. 4
didn't miss a shot -
Canvass the corners of the adjoin
ing counties and from among the ac
quaintances of King, any one or all
of the stories will find many serious
minded people who believe them all.
Residents of Maple Hill declare that
the King livery barn was just natural
gambling, drinking and King was
often suspected of selling liquor. He
is said to have seldom won at cards
or dice. And when losing the livery
man was in a frame of mind that did
not invite companionship.
II used to visit Kings barn almost
every day." said John Turnbull. who
gave the information which led to dis
covery of the second skeleton. Some
times I would miss tools. Sometimes
told King 1 thought he had stolen
them. But it didn't seem to make him
mad. Usually 1 found my tools some
where around his barn. He made no
protest when 1 took them back"
He BIuffed Sells Also.
One day. SO the stories run, King
drove out to William Sellss farm,
where he loaded his wagon with baled
hay and drove back to town. Sells and
deputy sheriff are said to have stood
on a corner of the main street and
watched King drive to his barn with
the hay. But no arrests were made.
Just once was King arrested. That
was more than two years ago. when he
was charged with stealing a set of har-
ness belonging to w. ]. Tod. wealthy
ranchman and stock grower. King
was never tried for the offense.
Following the robbery of the Ma
pie Hill bank, King talked freely con-
corning the men who. he asserted,
participated in blowing the safe.
Many people believe King possesses
guilty knowledge of the robbery. But
Kings story was to the effect that he
stood nearly a block away and shot
at the robbers while they worked on
the vault.
Cruelty to dumb animals was a
mania with King. it is declared. 1t is
asserted that on various occasions the
man beat his horses with clubs and
pitchfork handles. On several occa-
sions he chased his mules thru the
streets of the town and when they
did not return to the barn, peppered
them with shot until the blood
streamed from their bodies.
Those were Just few of the stories
which were told and retold as the
crowds gathered around the barn or
the old shed or found a lounging spot
in the. shade of one Of the stores on
the shady side of the street. And with
the telling of each story a new fear
seemed to take hold on the people,
fear that somehow, someway. Rufe
King is coming back to even scores
with the men who have sworn to COM
plants or have directed the search for
the mysterious burial plots.