News Stories Various Butler County Kansas Genealogy Trails

Butler County, Kansas

MRS. KING TO CONFER ON DEFENSE

Confessed Murderess Awaits Visit With Counsel At The County Jail Here

INSANITY OR SELF DEFENSE

Expected Fight For Freedom Will Be Based On One Of These Lines

NO FUNERAL PLANS MADE

Mrs. Venezuela King, aged 27 years, cofessed murderess of her husband, George E. King, aged 42 years, on Highway No. 54, three miles east of Augusta last Thursday night, was still being held at the Butler County Jail today in default of $15,000 bond.

The 260-pound brunette woman was committed to the prison late Saturday afternoon at the close of her arraignment by Judge W. N. Calkins, of the County Court, when she was unable to post bail, pending her preliminary hearing at 10 o'clock the morning of February 7. It was considered most likely today that no attempt would be made to make bond at this time.

Also being held at the county jail was Art Reade, age 43 years, her alleged "boy friend". He was taken into custody last Friday morning for questioning. He admitted, the county officers said, that he had been friendly with Mrs. King in recent months. He had been at the King home on many occasions and a picture of Mrs. King is said to have been found i his billfold when he was arrested. No charge has been filed against Reade by County Attorney Gale Moss, but the latter said before he went to Topeka Saturday evening to attend the Kansas Day festivities, Reade would be detained as a material witness. He will have to post bond before he will ber released.

To Meet Counsel

It was expected this morning that George Adams, of Wichita, counsel for Mrs. King, would confer with her today, but he had failed to appear early this afternoon. Judge Calkins gave Mr. Adams permission Saturday afternoon to talk with his client in private. It is expected when the two meet that their defense will be outlined. One source indicated that a plea of insanity would be made, and another was that self defense would be set up. Mr. Moss said he is ready to meet either with sufficient evidence to convict.

Mrs. King was reported this morning to have spent a restful weekend. She was questioned for a number of hours following the killing of her husband, but was not near collapse, as her attorney would have the public believe in a story in a Wichita newspaper yesterday, at the time she confessed to Mr. Moss.

When the questioning of the woman was started here late Friday evening, Mrs. King was in good spirits and when asked if she was tired she replied in the negative and said she had a good rest in the afternoon. Counsel for Mrs. King was branded the confession as a "bunch of hooey," declaring Mrs. King was told if she did not confess it would be impossible to bury her husband. Local officers and others who heard the confession got a big laugh out of this statement."

When Mrs. King and Mrs. Dorie asked Mr. Moss if Mrs. King would be permitted to attend the funeral of her husband, the prosecutor said she could, and that he would arrange to have a deputy sheriff with her.

Mr. Moss even went further than this. He offered his services to Mrs. King in helping her settle any business matters that might need attention, and advised her on several points. In return, both Mrs. Dorie and Mrs. King thanked Mr. Moss and later said the officers of both Butler and Sedgwick Counties had been most kind and considerate of them.

There was nothing done to make the woman tell her story and she was promised no leniency. She offered to make a statement 15 minutes after Mr. Moss started to talk to her. She gave it calmly and the only time she showed any emotion was when she signed the confession. She then cried a few seconds and put her arms around her half-sister, Mrs. Rita Dorie, of Wichita, who is much older than tht defendant. Neither did Mrs. Dorie advise her sister what to do. She told her if she was guilty to make a complete statement.

The body of King was still at the Lahey & Martin Mortuary, at Wichita, this morning. No funeral arrangements have been made, but it was expected services would be arranged when Mrs. King's mother arrives in Wichita from her home in Great Falls, Mont. She was expected to reach Wichita today and it is likely she will visit her daughter here at once. Efforts to locate relatives of King have been in vain.

Stanley Everett, the 22-months-old son of Mr. and Mrs. King is at the home of Mrs. Dorie. He has not been informed of the tragedy that has entered his baby life. It is probably that the lad will be kept at the Dorie home indefinitely.

COPY OF STATE COMPLAINT FILED AGAINST WOMAN

Here is a copy of the state complaint, which was filed against Mrs. King. It charges the woman with murder in the first degree.

IN THE COUNTY COURT OF BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS, THE STATE OF KANSAS, Plaintiff

VS.

VENEZUELA KING, Defendant

COMPLAINT

STATE OF KANSAS, COUNTY OF BUTLER, ss:

Gale Moss of lawful age, being first duty sworn, upon oath says: That at and within the County of Butler, in the State of Kansas, and on or about the 26th day of January, 1939, the above named defendant, Venezuela King, then and there being did wilfully, unlawfully, feloniously, deliberately premeditatedly and with malice aforethought in and upon on George King, then and there being, feloniously, wilfully, deliberately, premeditatedly and of her malice aforethought did make an assault, and with a dangerous and deadly weapon, to wit: a .25-calibre automatic pistol, then and there loaded with gunpowder and leaden balls which she, the said Venezuela King in the hand then and there had and held, at and against him, the said George King, then and there feloniously, on purpose and of her malice aforethought, wilfully, deliberately and premeditatedly did shoot and stike him, the said George King, in and upon the back of his head, the said George King, giving to him, the said George King then and there with the dangerous and deadly weapon, to wit: the automatic pistol aforesaid and the gunpowder and leaden balls aforesaid, in and upon the back of the head of him, the said George King, one mortal wound of the width of approximately one fourth inch and of the depth of approximately five inches, of which mortal wound the said George King then and there instantly died.

(El Dorado Times ~ Monday, 30 Jan 1939)

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KING FUNERAL BEING PLANNED FOR THURSDAY

Arrangements For Rites For Murdered El Dordoan To Be Completed Today

SON REPORTED ILL

Baby Is On Verge Of Pneumonia Following Exposure Last Thursday Night

Funeral services for George E. King, aged 42 years, of El Dorado, who was shot to death three miles east of Augusta last Thursday night, probably will be held at Wichita Thursday, it was announced this morning at the Lahey & Martin Mortuary, at Wichita. The body has been at that place since it was found in the King automobile by Sedgwick County officers and Wichita police about five miles east of Wichita, a few hours after the slaying.

It was expected plans for the funeral would be completed today. It is possible interment will be made at Wichita. The arrangements could not be completed, it was said until relatives of Mrs. Venezuela King, aged 27 years, confessed murderess of her husband, had conferred with her. They were expected to drive to El Dorado from Wichita this afternoon for the conference. None of Mrs. King's relatives, nor her attorney, George Adams, of Wichita, has called at the county jail to see her since she was arraigned late last Saturday afternoon. Some were expected to visit the woman yesterday, but they failed to appear.

Woman Is Resting

In the meantime, Mrs. King is resting. She is beig held in lieu of $15,000 bond pending her preliminary hearing before County Judge W. N. Calkins on February 7. One report is to the effect that the hearing will be waived before that time and the woman bound over to the Butler County Court. If this is done, she will not come to trial until after the March Term is convened. It is not likely that bail will be posted at any time, those in a position to know say.

Mrs. King is in fair spirits, the officers say. She spends her time reading and talks freely with the jailers. She is reported to have a good appetite.

Stanley Everett, 22-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. King and their only child, is ill with a severe cold, which is is said to have contracted from exposure Thursday night. He was the only other person in the King automobile when Mrs. King allegedly shot her husband in the back of the head with an automatic. The baby has been at the home of Mrs. King's half-sister, Mrs. Rita Dorie, at Wichita, but last night he was taken to St. Francis Hospital, at Wichita, when symptoms of pneumonia developed. HIs condition was about the same this morning, it was said at the hospital.

Father Arrives

A. F. Cooper, of Great Falls, Mont., father of Mrs. King, arrived in Wichita yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Cooper had been expected, but when she was informed of her daughter's trouble she is said to have collapsed and was put to bed. Her condition is reported to be critical.

Last night a long distance telephone call was received by the Lahey & Martin Mortuary from Delaware. A man giving the name of Sutton, and identifying himself as an employee of the Sinclair Oil Company, the same concern for which King worked, called to ask about funeral plans.

A bad connection kept employees of the mortuary from hearing clearly, and about the only thing they learned was that the man wanted to know the time of the funeral so he could send flowers.

May Be Relative

J. F. O'Donnell, Augusta, field foreman for the Sinclair Company, under whom King worked, said it was possible the man was a half-brother or some other relative of King's.

So far, nothing has been learned of King, whether he was relatives, or from where he came. He was known to have told various stories about the place of his birth. Once he said he was a native of Mississippi, and again he said he was a Texan.

Efforts may be made to check the call and to locate the man who gave his name as Sutton, in the hope of getting some line on King.

O'Donnell said he never had heard King talk of himself or his family, but that he always had been one of his best workers and was "a fine fellow."

The field foreman's attempt to get information about King through his social security record was futile. The only relative he had listed was his wife.

About all that is known of King is that he served in the World War and at one time or other worked four years in Africa. Unless some relative makes himself known, a check of his war record and the like may be started. There also has been some talk of taking his fingerprints so they could be checked against FBI records.

The matter of settlig up the estate of the slain man has been delayed, too, because of the failure to find relatives other than his wife and baby. He had insurance policies totaling $3,000.

Moss Home Today

Gale Moss, county attorney, who went to Topeka Saturday evening to attend the annual Kansas Day celebration of Republicans, was expected this morning to return home today and resume work on the bizarre case. Mr. Moss was elected president of the Kansas Day Club late yesterday.

Art Reade, who was picked up last Friday as a material witness in the case, is still being held at the county jail. No formal charge has been filed against him. Reade is the alleged "boy friend" of Mrs. King. A picture of the woman was found in his billfold when he was arrested and he is known to have been a frequent caller in recent months on Mrs. King when her husband was away from home.
(El Dorado Times ~ Saturday ~ 31 Jan 1939)

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ART READE QUESTIONED IN MURDER

Man Held As Material Witness In King Slaying Is Interrogated Anew

DISCOVER HE HAS AN ALIAS

Is Taken To Wichita This Morning To Be "Placed" On A Lie Detector

KING FUNERAL IS TOMORROW

Relieving further questioning of Arthur Stanley Reade may throw some additional light on the murder of George Everett King, El Dorado oil field worker, on the highway east of Augusta last Thursday night, Gale Moss, county attorney, interrogated the unemployed waiter at length at the county jail late yesterday afternoon and planned this morning to take him to Wichita later in the day to have him "placed" on the lie detector of the Wichita Police Department.

Reade was taken into custody last Friday morning at a local rooming house after the officers learned he had been a close friend of Mrs. Venezuela King, confessed murderress of her husband. In a billfold, found in Reade's possession, was a picture of Mrs. King

No Charge Filed

Reade was taken to Wichita shortly after he was picked up here and questioned at length at that place. He was then returned to El Dorado and has been held at the county jail since. No formal charge has been placed against him, but Mr. Moss said he planned to detain Reade as a material witness in the King slaying.

When questioned at Wichita Friday night, Reade admitted he had been friendly with Mrs. King and had often visited in the King home when King was away. He said King had threatened to kill him a few months ago in Oklahoma and did not know that he was in El Dorado. Reade denied having anything to do with the murder of King.

Last evening, Reade admitted to Mr. Moss that he was known as A. J. Taylor. Papers found in the affects of Reade caused the officers to believe that Reade may have gone by this alias at some time in the past. Reade said he took the name when he went to Great Falls, Mont., in 1930 and from San Francisco, Calif., when he became a bootlegger. He was arrested once while engaged in liquor operations, he said.

Reade remained in Great Falls, where the Kinds resided, until about a year ago when he went to Oklahoma, where he again took his correct name, Arthur Stanley Reade. The latter's social security card with the federal government was made out in the name of A. J. Taylor.

Knows Nothing of Gun

Reade denied yesterday that he knew anything about the automatic with which Mrs. King says she killed her husband. Reade answered all questions readily. The investigation revealed that he has traveled extensively over the country, being from coast to coast. He was born in Kentucky and his father died when he was quite young.

When Mr. Moss told Reade he and Deputy Sheriff Roy Enright would take him to Wichita today to "place" him on the lie detector, the man is said to have squirmed uneasily for a few minutes.

Mr. Moss and Deputy Enright also were in Wichita last evening in connection with the investigation of the murder. They failed to learn anything new, however, Mr. Moss said this morning.

George Adams, Wichita attorney, counsel for Mrs. King, the latter's father, A. L. Cooper, of Great Falls, and her sister, Mrs. Reta Dorie, of Wichita, conferred with the alleged slayer late yesterday afternoon. It was the first time they had called on the woman since last Saturday, when Mrs. King was arraigned before County Judge W. N. Calkins and her preliminary hearing was set for February 7. Mr. Cooper arrived in Wichita from his home only Monday. It is presumed the defense of Mrs. King was discussed at the conference yesterday. It is reported it will be an insanity plea or self defense.

Funeral Tomorrow

The funeral for King will be held at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon at the Lahey & Martin Mortuary, at Wichita. Burial will be in the Veterans Circle at Memorial Lawns Cemetery. Mrs. King will be permitted to attend the funeral, Mr. Moss said. She probably will be taken to Wichita by Deputy Enright. No relatives of King have been found, it was said this morning. It was because of the widespread hunt that has been made for them and the failure of Mr. Cooper to arrive earlier that the funeral has been delayed until this time.

Stanley Everett King, 22-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. King, who has been threatened with pneumonia, was reported this morning at St. Francis Hospital, in Wichita, to be improving. The baby became ill following his exposure to the cold the night of the killing. He was the only one in the King car besides Mr. and Mrs. King. He was living at the home of his aunt, Mrs. Dorie, before he was taken to the hospital Monday evening.

In Good Spirits

When visited this morning by a reporter for The Times, Mrs. King appeared to be in excellent spirits. She was lying on her bunk in a cell on the north side of the second floor of the county jail. She is by herself. She said she was feeling "fine" and spends most of her time reading. She also said the food served her is good and she had high praise for the county officers with whom she comes in contact daily. Mrs. King joked with the reporter and di not appear to be the least concerned about her future.

Asked if the late Charles ("Pretty Boy") Floyd, notorious bandit, was known by King, she said that Floyd was at their home in Gladewater, Texas, in 1933, once. A news dispatch was received in Wichita yesterday from Great Falls, saying that King and Floyd were associates. Mrs. King said this morning Floyd "hung out" at their place "three or four days," but she did not know who he was until after he left and then her husband told her. The woman said she believed King became acquainted with Floyd in Africa a number of years ago.

"If I had known Floyd was in my home," said Mrs. King, referring to the time he is alleged to have been in Gladewater, "I would have shivered in my shoes."

The news dispatch from Great Falls quoted Mrs. Cooper, mother of Mrs. King, as saying King was an intimate of Floyd, that King hid Floyd in the King home when the Kings resided in Drumright, Okla., and that Mrs. King had been forced to cook for Floyd.

Should Have Medal

The story said in part: "If my baby, (referring to Mrs. King), "killed him (King), she should have a medal and not a jail cell.

"For years her letters home have told of fear for her life. After fearful of the effect the letters may have had on her father, I destroyed them so he could not read them.

"One vivid phrase in one of her letters to me I'll always remember. He said to me, "that letter stated that he was damned sick of having me around---he was going to kill me---Venezuela---and throw my body in the river and take the boy to Africa and make a real public enemy out of him."

Mrs. Cooper likewise revealed that King had sought to wed her daughter when she was only 15.

She said that Venezuela had been afflicted since infancy with a thyroid ailment which caused her to grow abnormally, and gave her extreme nervousness which for several years was manifested by attacks of St. Vitus' dance.

Venezuela's schooling, she said, was confined to the elementary grades at Fort Benton, Mont., and in Great Falls, and in desperation at her inability to keep pace with normal children of her age, Venezuela then was placed in the Ursuline Academy at Great Falls in the belief that special instruction might benefit her.

Met When She Was 15

"It was while she was at the academy---a child of 15---that she first met King," the mother declared. "And he became infatuated with her and begged her to marry him. His attentions were repulsed, and he left Montana then---to return three years later---when Venezuela was 18---for a whirlwind courtship that terminated in their marriage in 1931."

On her last visit to Great Falls more than a year ago, the daughter had told her mother of King's associations with Floyd, Mrs. Cooper said. And Mrs. King, when Floyd's slaying occurred, said, "I'm so glad he's dead---he won't get us into any more trouble now."

It has been disclosed that King enlisted in the United States Army at Wichita on May 5, 1918, served overseas from August 18, 1918, to April 4, 1919, and was given an honorable discharge on April 28, 1919.

Found among King's papers and turned over to Leon S. Pickens, prominent Wichita ex-serviceman, was a letter written to the former oil driller from Topeka on January 18 informing King that his application for a state bonus had been rejected.

It was pointed out in the letter that a former application had been made July 2, 1924, and that after it had been turned down King had failed to file an appeal within 90 days.

New Plea Appeal

Last month, however, King made out a new application, which was approved here.

The application disclosed that King was born in Guntown, Lee County, Miss.; that he went to Wichita in May, 1917; that his occupatio at the time of his enlistment was that of a dishwasher in Reynold's restaurant and that he gave his regular occupation as that of a farm laborer.

Mrs. Dorie, and her husband, William, swore to an affidavit in the presence of Opal McCreary at the Sedgwick County courthouse that they knew King to be the same person who had fought for his country during the World War.

Pickens lost no time in announcing after he had been haded the letter that King will be afforded a military funeral.

At the same time, George W. Crouch, president of the Veteran's Centrla Council, said that at its meeting this week an effort will be made to see if the claim can be allowed and the money used for the benefit of King's son.
(El Dorado Times ~ Wednesday ~ 1 Feb 1939)

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