The Omaha morning bee., 1925-01-01
Authorities
Arrest One
as Suspect
Work on Theory Kansas
Farmer Murdered for
Money, Car Tipped Over,
Burned to Hide Crime.
$500 in Cash Missing

Wymore, Neb., Dec. 31-What ap-
peared Tuesday morning to be an
automobile accident. causing the
death of owen Brown, farmer. Wash
ington. Kan. who was driving the
car. at a frosty turn in the road nine
miles southwest of Washington. just
south Of here. has today developed
into one of the most sensational mnr-
ders ever enacted in Washington
county, The murder being followed BY
robbery and an alleged incendiary
fire in an effort TO cover up the
crime.
Jack Mcmahon. a farm Iaborer.
crawled TO the farm homes of John
Lech and Bob Shields, more than
half mile from the supposed auto
accident. in the middle of the zero
night, and told OF the car tipping
over on curve and its catching fire
and burning Brown.
County authorities were notified
and Mcmahon was hurried to a hos.
pital at Concordia. The authorities
investigating at the place OF the al
legged accident found tracks IN the
snow at the roadside where the auto
had apparently been backed up and
other evidence tending 10 show that
the auto had not tipped over while
rounding the curve.
In the snow blood stains were un-
covered. The blood had been covered
by tramping snow over # and shoe
prints were found. II was discovered
that the Ford sedan had the doors
locked and that there was a hole in
the gas tank apparently made b.
screwdriyec or some pointed instru.
ment. II was recalled that the burned
body Of Brown had been found inside
the auto early Tuesday morning and
il was thought at that time that the
doors had merely 1ammed shut.
When the attending physician al
the Coneordia hospital notified authof
tiles at Washington that no injuries
could be found on Mcmahon. who Is
alleged TO have been feigning injury
Sheriff Mcleod ~ Washington went
to Coneordis and placed McMah hon
under arrest and he is now held IN
the Washington Jail pending a pre-
liminarv hearing.
Further investigation ~ the place
Of accident revealed a shammer hid
den in hedge near the burned -car.
the handle having blood stains on II
and II is now claimed that stains en-
the front OF McMahon's clothing was
the blood Of his victim. Brown. whom
he killed. Authorities are working IN
the theory that he carried the body
10 the car. pushed the machine hack.
ward. tipped II over and set fire 70
the punctured gas tank.
A post mortem examination OF the
body OF Brown disclosed a hammer
mark above the left ear.
Mcmahon. whose real name IS said
to be Owen Iremend. has been en-.
ployed on the farm Of Brown faf
about two wears. His home is saia
10 be ar Mt. Clare. Neh. lie vas
identified by John MeDermo;t. re-
tired section foreman Of the Missouri
Pacific railway at Washington. who
knew him al Nj. Clar~. and also ~
a telephone lineman formerly of Nj.
Clare who is now employed b. the
Sinclair Pipe Line company at Wash.
ington.
Brown is said 70 have heen IN The
habit Of carrying considerable
amount Of money on his person ard
on the night the two men started 20
Browns home in the auto from Be
lott Brown had about $500 with him.
according TO his wife. and this +,
missing. His watch was found. IN
the auto wreck. having stopped about
IL o'clock
Brown has wife and four small
children on the farm. X IS alleged
that Mcmahon is possibly connected
with the robbery Of the Barnes fSanA
state bank which occurred the eve
ming Of December 5. when Cashier
Walter 1rving Was held up as he was
about to close the hank ana more
;han 81 600 stolen.