TRIPLE MURDER CHARGES

Wellington, Kansas---Sept. 26---Otto McKnelly, a car repairer, aged 21, was arrested here today charged with the murder of his father, Theodore McKnelly, his mother, and sister, Gretta, whose bodies were found in a tent on the outskirts of Wellington yesterday.
(The Boston Journal ~ 27 Sept 1912)

McKNELLY HAPPY IN PRISON

Triple Murder Charge is Not Worrying Wellington Youth

Wellington, Kas., Sept. 27---Otto McKnelly, who is in jail here charged with the murder of his father, mother and sister, has started a dancing class and, apparently, is little concerned over his arrest on the damaging evidence against him.

The coroner's jury went to the scene of the murder yesterday afternoon and made a minute investigation. Tracks of a man running through a cornfield were found. They led towards the Santa Fe roundhouse where McKnelly worked, and fitted his shoes.

McKnelly was absent from his work at the car repair shops of the Santa Fe nearly two hours between 12:45 to 2:30 o'clock Wednesday morning and when he returned he told William Arnold, his foreman, that he had been fitting a pair of shoes for a car brake. Arnold had found his lanern in a vacant car and when he asked McKnelly where he had been, and learned that he had been adjusting shoe brakes, he inquired why he hadn't taken his lantern. McKnelly replied that he could see by the arc lamp in the street. The coroner's jury had a Santa Fe employee give an actual demonstration of shoe fitting to car wheels last evening and it was found that it could be done by an experienced man in three minutes. McKnelly has retained W. W. Schwinn for his defense.
(The Kansas City Star ~ 27 Sept 1912)

SAYS HE SLEW A FAMILY

John Kidwell Confesses To McKnelly Murder at Wellington

Hannibal, Mo., Feb. 21---John Kidwell, arrested here today, has confessed to the murder of the McKnelly family at Wellington, Kas., September 24, 1912.

The murder, in which an aged man, his wife and a grown daughter were clubbed with a baseball bat, attracted nation-wide attention on account of its resemblance to the mysterious ax murders, then occurring in Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and other Western states.

Kidwell in his confession implicated the son, Otto McKnelly, who was under arrest for weeks after the mangled bodes of his parents and sister were found in their tent home. Wile a deputy sheriff is accompanying Kidwell back to Wellington, Kas., the sheriff of Sumner County, Kansas, is on his way to Madison, Wis., where young McKnelly has been suing for the $2,000 insurance carried by his father and mother.

GUILT PREYED ON HIM

A picture of the tent scene has been preying on Kidwell's mind. He came here recently from Moberly, Mo., and formed acquaintance with a railroad detective, to whom he remarked that he ws wanted in Wellington. Kidwell seemed to want to talk to someone, and gradually took the detective into his confidence.

Kidwell's remarks indicated to the officers that he may clear up other crimes. In eleven murders in Sumner County in the last five years only one conviction was obtained.

In his confession Kidwell told of finding a baseball bat on his way to the McKnelly tent, of how he crept into the tent and sought out McKnelly, but awakened the wife, who screamed. This awakened McKnelly, according to Kidwell, and in the scuffle the old man was killed. Kidwell said he hit either the wife or the daughter, but did not think he hit both women.

WANTED TO CONFESS AT ONCE

After the crime, Kidwell related, he burned his blood-stained clothes at his sister's home. The crime was heavy on his mind then, he said, but when he thought of telling the police, his sister told him he would be foolish to do so.

Kidwell is 43 years old, a well dressed man of quite demeanor. Since he left Wellington he has also lived in Peoria, Ill., and Sister, Mo.

The spot where the McKnelly tent was pitched was a lonely place several blocks away from any home, a half mile east of the Santa Fe roundhouse. The interior of the tent showed signs of fierce struggles. In addition to being beaten with the ball bat, Mrs. McKnelly was shot through the head.

Otto McKnelly, now 22 years old, then worked as a car repairer for the Santa Fe.

UNBALANCED, WELLINGTON OFFICERS SAY

Wellington, Kas., Feb. 21---John Kidwell while living here married a shoemaker's widow and left her, saying he would commit suicide. She has been trying to find him. The officers here have definite opinions as to who committed the tent murders and believe that the murderer had no help. They believe Kidwell unbalanced.
(The Kansas City Star ~ 22 Feb 1914)

AFTER AX VICTIM'S INSURANCE

Otto McKnelly, Once Held for Wellington, Kas., Crime, Sues Yeomen.

Wichita, Kas., Nov. 9---Otto McKnelly, formerly of Wellington, has entered suit at Madison, Wis., against the Brotherhood of American Yeomen for $2,000 insurance, payable at the death of his father and mother, who were found murdered in a tent a mile west of Wellington the night of September 12, 1912. Gretta, a daughter, also was dead, a victim of the murderer's brutality. Otto, who then was a railroad round-house employee, is the only heir to the insurance.

Otto was arrested pending the outcome of the investigation of the murder of his family, but Judge Swaris of the district court charged him at the preliminary. He disappeared and his filing suit Satuday was the first heard of him for a year. The company will combat the claim and will ask that the suit be transferred to Wellington.
(The Kansas City Times ~ 10 Nov 1913)

CONFESSES MURDER HELD

Blacksmith Confesses Slaying Three in 1912

Conscience Stricken Man's Story Clears Mystery Surrounding Death of Family in Tent

Hannibal., Mo., Feb. 23---John Kidwell, a blacksmith who was arrested here, confessed that he murdered the McKnelly family at Wellington, Kan., on Sept. 24, 1912. He confessed to Robert Merrick, a railroad detective, who roomed at the sme hotel.

Sheriff Lingfelter and Assistant Prosecuting Attorney H. W. Herrick of Wellington, Kan., who witnessed the confession, took Kidwell to Kansas. Kidwell, who is a widower, 43 years old, declared his guilty conscience made him confess.

Kidwell implicated another person in the crime.

Wellington, Kan---Feb 23---The murder of Theodore McKnelly, his wife and 18-year-old daughter, was one of the most brutal in the history of Kansas crimes. The fater and daughter were beaten to death with a baseball bat, while the assailant shot Mrs. McKnelly, after he had beaten her into unconsciousness.

The McKnelly's were slain in their tent, near here, the night of Sept. 24, 1912. Otto McKnelly, aged 21, a son, was arrested at the time, but was freed at a preliminary hearing.

McKnelly, who was 52 years old, was a car repairer. Ill health caused the family to decide to take up tent life. The murder occurred the first night the family spent in its outdoor home.
(Belleville News Democrat ~ 23 Feb 1914)