The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-24
BANTA MURDER
WAS BUNCLED
IS CONFESSION
Had Only Intended to ExtOrt
Money, Says Hayes.
Great Bend Mystery Is Solved
by Revelations.
CRIME WAVE WAS PLOTTED
DIR. Nixon, Hayes and Wallace
Were in Conspiracy.
Trio Met and Discussed Many
Crimes for Future.

Great Bend. Kan, Aug. 24.-The
mystery which has surrounded the
murder of Arthur c. Banta, lawyer
and son of d. A. Banta, district Judge
of Barton county, has been solved to
the complete satisfaction of the Off
cials in charge of the investigation.
In solving it, however, there has
been disclosed a series of facts that
has amazed this community more
than the murder itself. Many crimes
have occurred in this vicinity during
the last two years and, according to
the confessions credited to J. w. Wall
lace and Roy Hayes, these crimes
were committed either by them or by
their associate. DIR Nixon. According
to the confessions the three discussed
and planned crimes in advance and
had many future misdeeds scheduled
when the Banta death broke up the
operation of the ring.
Murder Was BungIcd.
The Banta murder was bungled, ac-
cording to the Hayes confession. 1t
| was originally planned to lure Banta
out and threaten him with death un-
/ less he turned over a large sum OK
| money to the three.
In the event that It became neces-
| sary to kill Banta, according to the
| hayes Story II was planneQ TO SINK mis-
body in the sands of the Arkansas
| river and then drive his motor car to
some point near Hutchinson. where it
| would be abandoned. and there would
remain a doubt in the minds of the
community as to whether Banta had
been killed or had merely chosen to
disappear.
The plan miscarried, however ac-
cording to the confessions and Banta.
was slain in his car by the roadside,
and the slayers. frightened by an ap-
preaching motor car fled.
Later, according to one OF the con-
fessions. Nixon returned to the scene
of the crime to make sure Banta was
dead.
Confessions ut Variance.
The confessions were at variance on
a number of issues-one, that of Wal
lace, stating that Hayes actually fired
the fatal shot. while Hayes said in his
statement that it was fired by Nixon.
Wallace also insisted that altho he
had full knowledge of the crime in
advance. he did not actually partici-
pate in it. telling his confederates that
he drew the line at murder"
I According to Wallace's statement he
had been with Hayes and Nixon a.
short time before the murder but left
them and went to his restaurant,
where the three used frequently to
meet and plan their depredations.
| Did Not See Killing.
| Hayes. in his confession said that
he stayed at Nixon's office and that at
Nixon's request he wrapped UP the
gun used in the killing of Banta in
coat, and placed it in Banta's car, and
that Nixon and Banta then drove west
of town to the scene of the murder
which had been selected in advance.
/ Hayes said h2 followed in Nixon's car
and that, when he arrived he found
Nixon standing beside the Banta car.
The thing is DONE" he quoted Nixon
as having said.
Then they got into Nixon's car and
/ drove back to town. Hayes said
Nixon talked about having loaned
Banta a large sum of money, and
! said he, intended to get 1t back, and
| pointed out. as Banta's family was
leaving on trip the next day, Banta
probably had a considerable sum or
| money on hand. Hayes was a garage
man; Wallace ran a RESTAURANT here,
and Doctor Nixon, a former veteri-
nary surgeon of Kansas City, had
practiced medicine here about twelve
years.