Murder Mystery Stories Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas

BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS

MURDER, MYSTERY'S, JUST PLAIN SPOOKY

ORA TABING KILLED

At Leon Saturday night, Bruce E. Soward shot and killed Ora Tabing. Last fall Charles Tabing and his wife were divorced. Since that time Mrs. Tabing has been boarding with a family named Morton. It seems that Soward has been paying some attention to Mrs. Tabing and thus incurred the displeasure of Tabing and his sons. Saturday night Chas. Tabing, the father of Ora, told Soward to leave as his son was in town and if he found him there he would kill him. He did not leave however: Young tabing came before long and began shooting at him, one shot going through the window. Soward ran out of a side door and began firing. After a few shots had been exchanged Tabing fell and expired almost instantly. Soward gave himself up at once to the officers, was brought up by Constable Sidney Blakeman, given into the custody of the sheriff and is now in jail. He is a young man 26 years of age, good looking, has a pleasant appearance and does not look like a desperate man. Young Tabing was about 21 years old and for the past two years has been at Neodesha. He was the eldest son of Charles Tabing. (Walnut Valley Times, Monday, January 22, 1894)

MURDER AT LEON, MURDERER ESCAPED

Lew Bloomfield Shot and Killed Jess Sesser at Leon This Morning - A Woman in The Case

By Telephone to the Republican:

LEON, September 29 - Lew Bloomfield, of Augusta, shot and killed Jesse Sesser of Leon in the latter city this morning about seven o'clock.

Bloomfield had accused Sesser of writing letters to his wife and it said he made threats that he would kill him. Sesser swore out a warrant and had Bloomfield arrested this morning. He was searched and no weapons were found on his person, after which he was allowed to go up to Mr. Griffith's, accompanied by Constable Lee Kiser, and see his wife and baby.

Bloomfield went in the house and Kiser stayed outside. Bloomfield and his wife came out in a few minutes and went down town with the Constable to attend the trial. Near the public square they met Sesser and Bloomfield drew a gun from his pocket, walked up close to Sesser and shot him three times killing him instantly. He then turned on Constable Kiser, shot him through the wrist and snapped his revolver again, but it did not go off. Bloomfield started to run, the gun in his hand, met a stranger on the street and waving his gun told him to get out of his way, and the stranger did not hesitate to comply with the request. He then made his escape south of town, reloading his revolver as he ran.

A number of citizens secured revolvers, rifles and shot guns as soon as they could and started in persuit. Rev. McKinney, J. W. Sweeney and Jim Davis and shot at him south of town. Bloomfield did not stop but reached a corn field and got away. The whole country is being searched for him and some bloodhounds from Augusta are on his trail. A number of farmers have also joined in the search.

As soon as the news reached El Dorado, Ed Butler, who is always Johnny on the spot, and accommodating took Deputy Sheriff Jolliffe to Leon in his auto in a very short time; County Attorney Aikman and Coroner Hunt drove over held an inquest and decided that J. Sesser came to his death by two gun shot wounds at the hands of L. Bloomfield.

Bloomfield had served a term in the county jail here for carrying concealed weapons and a term for disturbing the peace. He and his wife had been working in Warren's restaurant in Leon for two weeks and their baby was being kept by the Griffith family.

Bloomfield worked at Dick Huber's restaurant on North Main street before going to Leon.

J. Sesser, the murdered man, forged his father's name to a check for $10, had a preliminary and was bound over to the November term of court here; had been in jail several weeks and had just been released on bond. Bloomfield and Sesser were in jail together and it may have been there that Sesser met Mrs. Bloomfield and the trouble began. (El Dorado Daily Republican, September 28, 1906)

SHOT BY FARM EMPLOYEE

Frank Pennypacker, a young farmer, was shot and instantly killed at his home in Logan township near Leon, Thursday evening at 10:30 by Henry Hardin Overstreet, who worked for him on the farm.

The facts as near as we can learn are as follows:

The men quarreled and Pennypacker struck Overstreet on the head with a chair and the latter went to his room. In discussing the controversy Mrs. Pennypacker advised her husband to go and apologize to Overstreet. He said he would and left for the room of his employee.

A shot was heard immediately afterwards and rushing to the room, with another employee, Mrs. Pennypacker found her husband dead with a ghastly wound in his breast to the left of the sternum bone, caused by a shot from a double barrel shotgun.

Overstreet drove to his father's home near Leon and telephoned Sidney Blakeman to come and get him which he did. Overstreet says he thought Pennypacker was coming to attack him again and shot in self defense.

The preliminary will be held this evening. The sheriff and county attorney arrived here at noon with Overstreet.

Surviving Mr. Pennypacker are his wife, two daughters and two sons. Overstreet is a single man. (El Dorado Daily Republican, January 15, 1909)

FARM HAND KILLS EMLPOYER

After A Dispute and Fight A Leon, Kan., Man was Shot

El Dorado, Kan. Jan. 16 - Frank Pennypaker, a farmer of six miles southeast of Leon was shot and killed by Arthur Overstreet, his farm hand, Thursday. The two men had quarreled over work. Pennypacker struck Overstreet on the head with a chair. Overstreet went to his own room and after a time Pennypacker got up and went to Overstreet's room, saying he was going to apologize and fix it up right.

In a few minutes the family heard the report of a shotgun and hastening to the room found Pennypacker dead. Overstreet says he believed Pennypacker was coming to attack him and shot in self defense. Overstreet said he was going to Leon to surrender and when he reached town was taken in custody by a deputy sheriff. The dead man leaves a widow and several children. (El Dorado Daily Republican, Saturday Evening, January 16, 1909)

LEON MURDER RECALLS THREE OTHER KILLINGS

The killing of Arden B. Spires, barber at Leon late Monday afternoon by his wife, Mrs. Nina Spires, during a violent quarrel is the fourth murder to be committed in the Leon community since 1889, according to C. L. Aikman. El Dorado attorney who has been interested in a legal capacity in all the cases.

In 1889, according to Mr. Aikman, Ora Tabing was shot and killed by Bruce Sowers. He was shot down on a street in Leon. The shooting followed a family quarrel. Sowers was brought to El Dorado and found guilty of manslaughter in the second degree. He was sentenced to the State Penitentiary at Lansing. Sowers later killed himself in Colorado according to Mr. Aikman.

Mr. Aikman and his brother, Former Judge G. P. Aikman, and T. O. Shinn defended Sowers. E. H. Hutckins was the prosecuting attorney. C. W. Shinn, a brother of T. O. Shinn, was the trial judge. T. O. Shinn was later shot and killed in Texas. Mr. Hutchins died several years ago.

The second murder at Leon occurred in 1906, Mr. Aikman says Lew Bloomfield shot and killed Jesse Sesser. This shooting also occurred on a street in Leon. The shooting followed terms in jail by both, Bloomfield and Sessor the attorney says.

Mrs. Bloomfield is said to have taken some food to the jail at various times for her husband and one or two occasions gave some to Sessor. This aroused Bloomfield's jealousy and he later killed Sessor in a quarrel.

Bloomfield was convicted of murder in the first degree. Mr. Aikman was the county attorney. E. N. Smith, who since has died, defended Bloomfield. Judge Aikman presided at the trial. Bloomfield was sentenced to life imprisonment in the State Penitentiary. He served about eight years and was then pardoned. He later was returned to Lansing and it believed he is still serving time.

Bloomfield was one of the most desperate prisoners held in the Butler County Jail. He escaped two or three times while awaiting trial. After one of his escapes, he was found at Ponca City. Sheriff Wellfelt, of Winfield and Deputy Sheriff Reeves of the same place, went to Ponca City after him.

Wellfelt went to the front door of a pool hall where Bloomfield was located and Reeves to the rear. Wellfelt accidentally shot himself through the leg as he entered the resort which caused his death. Reeves captured Bloomfield. The prisoner was returned here, but later escaped on a Sunday evening. He was caught again and then taken to Lansing.

The last murder at Leon occurred in 1909. At that time Harley Overstreet shot and killed Frank Pennypacker a farmer who lived south of Leon. The shooting occurred during a drunken brawl, Mr. Aikman reports.

Overstreet was tried here twice, but the juries hung on both occasions. Mr. Aikman was retiring from the county attorney's office at the time of the killing, but he assisted K. M. Geddes, the then new county attorney, with the prosecution. George W. Adams, of Wichita, also assisted with the prosecution. E. N. Smith defended Overstreet. (Walnut Valley Times, Wednesday, July 25, 1923)

WOMAN KILLS HUSBAND IN A VIOLENT QUARREL

Arden B. Spiers, Leon Barber, Slain By His Wife at Home Late Yesterday

Woman Tries To Take Her Life

Slashes Wrists With A Razor; Wounds Not Dangerous, But Are Most Painful

Place Blame on Mother-In-Law

No State Warrant had been issued for Mrs. Spiers at 3 o'clock this afternoon.

Arden B. Spires, aged 29 years, a barber of Leon, was shot and killed by his wife, Mrs. Nina Spires, at their home in the north part of Leon about 5:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon. Mrs. Spires had covered the body with two large pieces of cloth. One of them resembled an apron such as is used by barbers.

The woman was at her home when coroner Turner and Officer McKnight reached the place. She made no effort to resist arrest and immediately confessed to killing her husband. Mrs. Spires was exceeding weak from loss of blood from the cuts on her wrists.

She was given first aid attention at once by Dr. Kline of Illinois, who is visiting in Leon with his father-in-law Sidney Blakeman. Dr. R. J. Cabeen, Leon's Physician is out of town.

Although the shot was fired at Spires at close range, the load did not go through his body. Coroner Turner announced after an examination of the body that the shot lodged in the back. Part of the wadding from the shotgun shell was taken from the wound.

The body of Spires was brought to El Dorado about 9 o'clock last evening in the hearse of the W. E. Turner & Son Undertaking Company. Mrs. Spires and her son, Elmer Worrel, aged 13, were brought to El Dorado by Officer McKnight. Both are being held at the county jail. The boy is being held because he has no place else to go.

Spires body was taken to Lyons this morning for burial. He has relatives at that place. The body was accompanied by Dean Spires, a brother, and Everett Percy, both of whom are employed at the T. B. Ellsberry Hardware Store. Funeral services probably will be held at Lyons tomorrow.

Mrs. Spires and her son both say the woman and Mr. Spires had quarreled on numerous occasions recently. From the story told Coroner Turner by Mrs. Spires, a violent quarrel occurred Sunday. The Spireses were in Lyons on that day visiting relatives, Mrs. Spires says.

On the way home, the woman is said to have told Mr. Turner the quarrel became so violent that Spires told his wife she could have her "throat cut from ear to ear." Mrs. Spires also says her husband threatened to put her and her son out of their automobile at Wichita and make them walk to Leon. Mrs. Spires declares however, that Spires at no time made any direct threats against her life.

Young Worrell told a reporter for The Times last evening that his father and mother had quarreled continually for a number of months. He says they were not congenial at any time. He also asserted that the quarrel Sunday followed a visit at the home of his grandmother, Mrs. Grace Spires, at Lyons. He says the latter would have nothing to do with his mother.

Sunday's quarrel evidently was resumed yesterday morning according to the story told Mr. Turner. Late yesterday afternoon Mr. Spires is said to have gone home and informed his wife he was going to leave. He packed a suitcase and was getting ready to depart when Mrs. Spires shot and killed him. The suitcase was found by the officers at the Spires home.

Elmer was not at home at the time of the shooting. He was called to his home and instructed by his mother to call Charles Barr, police officer at Leon. When Barr, reached the home, he was met at the door by Mrs. Spires, who was bleeding profusely from the cuts on her wrists. She had a towel wrapped around them.

"What have you done?" Barr is said to have asked the woman.

"I have tried to kill myself and I have killed him." Coroner Turner, says was the reply.

Barr went into the back yard where he found Spires body. The officers were called.

After learning what had occurred at his home, Elmer is said to have gone down town and it was with difficulty that he was found to be brought to El Dorado with his mother.

When Officer Barr reached the Spires home, Coroner Turner says he (Barr) was handed two notes by Mrs. Spires. Both are believed to have been written after Mrs. Spires shot her husband. One of the notes was read at once. It was written with the belief that the cuts inflicted by the woman on her wrists would cause her death. It pertains to the future care of her son.

The other note had not been read this morning. Coroner Turner said he would not open it until he had conferred with County Attorney R. T. McCluggage. It was expected the note would be opened about noon.

The Spires have lived at Leon for about a year. They went to that place from California, the youth says. Spires has been employed at a barber shop owned by Ben Fletcher, of Augusta. When he was shot, he had on his working clothes, which included a light shirt, blue serge pants and white shoes.

Immediately upon being brought to El Dorado, Mrs. Spires was given medical attention by Dr. F. L. Preston as El Dorado City and el Dorado Township has no regular official physician, since the resignation of Dr. R. B. Earp several weeks ago.

Dr. Preston removed the temporary bandages on the woman's wrists and made a thorough examination of the wounds. He pronounced them dangerous but it is not believed any of the finger cords was severed. The woman was made as comfortable as possible at the county jail last night.

This morning Mrs. Spires was taken to Dr. Preston's office to have her wounds dressed. She was accompanied by her son. The two were then returned to the county jail.

Little is known of Spires past. His parents are said to be separated. His mother lives at Lyons and his father was located last night at Cawker City, Coroner Turner reported this morning. In addition to his brother, Dean who is employed here, he has another brother, Merl, whose whereabouts is not known.

At this point in the case a slight mystery enters. Merl up until Saturday was employed by a dairy at Towanda. He brought milk to El Dorado daily. He is said to have suddenly quit his job either Saturday, or Sunday and left here. He is reported to have gone to Oxford. Merl is said to have quit working for the dairy without informing the manager he was going to leave.

Mrs. Spires also is said to have relatives living at Lyons. Her son says he and his parents visited his grandfather, Dave Gensler, at Lyons, Sunday. Mr. Gensler is the father of Mrs. Spires.
No inquest was held at Leon by Mr. Turner. He determined one was not necessary when Mrs. Spires confessed to killing her husband. The coroner says the woman admitted to him she shot to kill Spires, but did not consider the consequences.

This morning Mrs. Spires talked freely with a reporter for The Times. She told much the same story as that related by her to Coroner Turner yesterday.

"My husband and I could never get along," said Mrs. Spires. "The trouble was caused by Mrs. Spires, mother. She did not like me. If we had not gone to Lyons, Sunday I am sure the trouble yesterday would not have occurred."

Mrs. Spires told her story to the reporter between sobs. She is being held on the second floor of the north side of the county jail. Her son is constantly with her. He is doing his best to comfort his mother, who is realizing more each hour what the murder means.

Mrs. Spires' first husband is Ralph Worrell, who is believed to be living at Sterling. She has not seen or heard from him for several years, she says.

This morning, Mr. Gensler, Mrs. Spires' father, arrived from Lyons. He talked with his daughter.

Mrs. Spires is thirty years old. She is dark complexioned and is attired in a black dress. She weighs about 150 pounds and is about five feet tall.

At noon today, Mrs. Spires said her wrists were not hurting her, and it is believed they will properly heal by the last of the week so the bandages can be removed.

Mr. McCluggage at noon had not talked with Mrs. Spires. He conferred this morning, however, with Coroner Turner and Officer McKnight. The county attorney says it is probable a warrant, charging murder in the first degree will be issued for Mrs. Spires late today. The woman, however, probably will not be arraigned before Justice E. D. Stratford before tomorrow.

Mr. Gensler informed Sheriff Newt Purcell this morning that he has wired, for a sister of Mrs. Spires to come here from her home in Oklahoma. She is expected to arrive tonight.
Mrs. Spires says the second note handed Officer Barr at Leon was written to the mother of her husband, whom she blames for causing the trouble between her and Spires. (El Dorado Times, July 24, 1923)