Murder Mystery Stories for Sumner County, Kansas

Many of our readers will remember the young and dashing Mrs. Mattie Johns, (whose maiden name is Jones) who figured at our hotels, and the divorce suit of Johns vs. Johns during the last term of the District Court for this county--and how she excited the admiration of the men and the envy of the ladies by her dashing style and the manner in which she managed her untamed Comanche steed. Mrs. Johns failed in her attempt to divest herself of matrimonial harness, and returned to her home near South Haven, where it seems she has got into trouble with her neighbors, the nature of which is disclosed in the following which we clip from the Arkansas City Traveler of last week:

“Miss Jones, of South Haven, has been arrested for attempting to burn the school house, and making threats that she would burn the whole town. She is comparatively young and is considered handsome. The cause of the disturbance originated from the young woman being excluded from the school house during an entertainment, on account of her character. The school house was fired, but the flames were extinguished before much damage was done.

Since writing the above, we learn that Miss Jones was not arrested, but had eluded the officers. In investigating this matter another deed was brought to light, which for the past six months has been a mystery. Last fall, Mrs. Jones the mother of Miss Mattie Jones, died very mysteriously, and the facts have leaked out as follows:

Mrs. Jones and Mattie becoming tired of Mr. Jones, who had separated from his wife once, and then returned, laid a plan by which they should rid themselves of him by poisoning the eatables which he would partake of on his return from Wichita, where he had gone after freight. Before the return of Mr. Jones, however, Mrs. Jones became delirious from the effects of ague, and in her delirium called to her son for some coffee. The young man, aged fourteen years, had overheard plans of the women, but in the absence of the boy’s sister, who was working at the hotel in South Haven, he gave his mother the coffee, thinking she had not poisoned it, or she would not have called for it.-- Shortly after taking the coffee the old woman died. Mr. Jones returned at noon the next day, but when the neighbors set his dinner before him, the son told him what he had overheard and warned him not to eat. This caused some suspicion, but nothing was said of the matter until the school house was fired and the general character of Mattie Jones brought before the public, when it was exposed by one of the party who had received the whole story from Mr. Jones and his son.

The village of Salt City, and surrounding country was plunged into a feverish state of excitement last Friday afternoon, by the shooting and fatal wounding of Joseph Lheureux, the son of a farmer residing in that vicinity.

For the particulars of the unfortunate affair, we are indebted to Mr. J. M. Lewis, who came up on Tuesday, with a message for the County Attorney. On the afternoon, above mentioned, Messrs. Jones, Paxton, Dean and Sullivan, were in a room over Bigler’s drug store, when the first named, Franklin Jones, picked up a Spencer carbine and while carelessly handling it walked toward the window. At this moment, Joseph Lheureux, a young man, sixteen years of age, was passing along the street in company with his brother, a lad twelve years old. Jones pointed the carbine at Joseph, told him to surrender or he would shoot him and at the same moment snapped the piece. Jones then repeated the same command, accompanied by the same threat. The boy then turned about and exclaimed that he would surrender. Almost at the same instant the gun was discharged and Joseph Lheureux fell mortally wounded, the ball entering the left side and passing entirely through the body, wounding both lungs in its passage. He lingered in great suffering until Sunday morning at 7 o’clock, when death came to his relief. Jones was arrested Sunday after noon and held to bail. A preliminary examination, conducted by the County Attorney, was held before John J. Letts, Esq., yesterday, the 9th inst. Jones claims the shooting was purely accidental and that he was not aware the carbine was loaded. It is supposed that whiskey, as usual, played a prominent part in this distressing tragedy.

News reached this city Friday last, that a man had been found dead near the road to Caldwell about one quarter of a mile this side of the Chicaskia river. The rumor spread over the whole city, creating the greatest excitement. Capt. L. K. Myers, Sheriff, and Capt. J. H. Folks, Coroner, started at once for the scene of the tragedy; the one to ferit out, if possible, the perpetrators of the murder, and the other to take charge of the unknown remains. Upon inquiry we have ascertained the following facts. As the hack running between Wellington and Caldwell was on its way to the latter place, last Thursday, one of the wheels broke down just this side of Chicaskia and near a place of encampment. For freighters and teamsters. The driver procured another conveyance in the neighborhood and carried his passengers to Caldwell. Friday morning he returned the carriage to its owner and, with him, proceeded to repair the hack. To do this it was necessary to cut a pole from the banks of the stream near by. As they were engaged in doing this the murdered man was discovered. He was found some distance down the bank wrapped in an army blanket, the lower part of his limbs, only, being visible. The remains were so far decomposed as to be almost beyond recognition. The following is as particular a description as could be obtained: Height 6 ft. 9 inch., complexion light, hair very soft and of dark brown color, brown whiskers inclined to be sandy, a fine set of teeth with the exception of the first left molar tooth, which had a piece broken from the edge; the right forefinger was scarred as though from the effects of a felon, age from 22 to 25 years. The only clothing he had on was a checked cheviot shirt and a pair of cotton drawers. Death was evidently instantaneous. A bullet hole was found just back of the left ear and penetrating the brain.

Capt. Myers returned last evening after a fruitless search for the murderer. Several clues have been followed up with indefatigable perseverance but all to no purpose. No one has identified the remains and the assassin is still unearthed. The public may be sure, however, that everything is being done by the officers to bring the guilty party to justice. Common safety demands it¾ humanity demands it¾ justice demands it. We trust ere long to have the satisfaction of information our readers that the efforts of Capt. Myers have been successful in lodging the murderer in jail and identifying the victim. Even the very ground should “cry out against the deep damnation of his taking off.” A reward of $150. has been offered by the County officials for the arrest of the criminal.

Our Hessville correspondent gives the full particulars of the finding of the murdered man near the Chicaskia, and other facts elicited in course of the inquest. The opinion was generally entertained by those, who visited the scene of the murder, that it was committed on Thursday evening. Two men were known to have camped near the spot, where the body was found, on that evening. As they broke camp, and left early the next morning, before the neighbors were up, in the intense excitement of the hour, the belief was created that one of these men was the murderer and the other the victim. Acting on this supposition, Sheriff Myers set about to discover who the campers were, and where the survivor had gone. He found both the men west of Caldwell. This exploded the theory of the murder being committed on that sight, and one of the two men being the victim. They informed the Sheriff that an offensive odor was borne to their camp by the wind, at intervals, that evening before they went to sleep, which undoubtedly emanated from the decomposing body of the dead man. Now the supposition is that the murder was committed previous to this time. Three men, with two wagons, camped at that place on Wednesday evening. The wagons were loaded with boxes supposed to contain goods of some character.

The same teams passed through Caldwell the following day with only two men, so the rumor goes. Too much reliance should not be placed on a report at a time, when excitement and indignation clouds the judgment. However, those parties may be able to throw some light on the mid-night tragedy, and should and will be followed.

This case presents all the characteristics of a foul murder, and no effort should be spared to bring the perpetrators to justice. A number of our citizens have magnanimously offered a reward of one hundred and fifty dollars that the victim might be avenged, and the majesty of the law vindicated.

Last Saturday evening, Coroner John H. Folks was call upon to hold an inquest upon the body of Samuel B. Rainey, of this city. The facts as developed by the testimony were that Rainey had been on a spree for a week; that he bought three ounces of laudanum Saturday afternoon, saying he had the toothache; that he went home about 4 o’clock, passing his wife, who was going up town; that he drew a bucket of water, then took about two ounces of the laudanum and lay down on the bed. His wife returned about 6 o’clock and found him insensible. She then called for help and sent for Dr. W. B. Brengle, who arrived about 6:30 o’clock, but he was past all help. He died at about 8:15 p.m., showing no signs of consciousness.

The jury returned the following verdict: We, the jurors, upon our oaths do say: That the said Samuel B. Rainey came to his death in the afternoon of the 4th day of September, A. D. 1880, from the effects of poison, (two ounces of tincture of opium,) administered by his own hand with suicidal intent.

The deceased leaves a wife and three small children in straightened circumstances. Such are the effects of strong drink.

At 3 o-clock p.m. last Thursday, the 28th ult. the Coroner was notified by telegram from Oxford, that a Mrs. Thompson had died suddenly in that city, on Wednesday night, and that the friends of the deceased were demanding an inquest. Accordingly the Coroner, accompanied by Sheriff J. M. Thralls and Deputy County Attorney J. W. Haughey, drove over to Oxford, arriving at a few minutes before 7 o’clock p.m. The remains of the deceased, Mrs. Amanda Thompson, were found on the second floor of a story and a half building, which formerly constituted the Oxford House and which still occupies, as we understand, the same position in which it was left by the removal of the main building, some years ago. The premises were owned by W. H. Richardson, and had been occupied by Richardson, Mrs. Clara J. Reed and Mrs. Amanda Thompson, for more than a year previous to the death of Mrs. Thompson, which occurred as above stated, in the room in which the remains were lying encoffined at about half past eleven o’clock, on the night of the 27th ult.

A jury was summoned, empanneled and sworn. After a view of the remains, the inquest was adjourned to Friday at 8 o’clock a.m. In the meantime, Dr. J. A. Maggard of this city, who had been subpoenaed for that purpose, made a post mortem examination of the remains, which at 8 o’clock, Friday morning, were given in charge to the friends of the deceased for interment.

The inquest was then resumed and diligently continued until about 9 o’clock p.m. Saturday evening, the 30h ult., when the jury returned the following verdict:

STATE OF KANSAS,

Sumner County.

An acquisition holden at Oxford, Sumner county, Kansas, on the 28th day of April, A.D. 1881, before me, John H. Folks, Coroner of said county, on the body of Mrs. Amanda Thompson, there lying dead, by the jurors, whose names are herein subscribed. The said jurors upon their oaths do say:

That the said Mrs. Amanda Thompson came to her death on the night of the 27th day of April, A.D., 1881, from the effects of Oil of Tansy, taken by, or administered to the said deceased, Mrs. Amanda Thompson by William H. Richardson and Mrs. Clara J. Reed, for the purpose and with the intention of procuring and producing an abortion upon the person of the said deceased, Mrs. Amanda Thompson, and that the said issued Oil of Tansy was procured and furnished by William H. Richardson with a knowledge of the purpose for which it was intended to be taken by or administered to the said deceased.

In testimony whereof the jurors have hereunto set their hands the year and day aforesaid.

J. STEELE WIER, Foreman,

JAP. SUMMERVILLE,

J. D. RUSSELL,

A. BLAKE,

JOHN NOEL,

J. M. BUFFINGTON.

Attest:

JOHN H. FOLKS, Coroner.

In accordance with this verdict, the Coroner issued a warrant directing the Sheriff to arrest William H. Richardson, and Clara J. Reed and bring them forthwith before Justice Copeland. The warrant was served by D. A. Hills. The parties were arrested and reported to the Justice at 11 o’clock, Saturday night, whereupon J. W. Haughey, Deputy County Attorney, appearing for the State, asked a continuance of the hearing of the cases until Monday, the 16th inst. The continuance asked for was granted by Justice Copeland, who held Richardson in the sum of five hundred dollars for his appearance. Mrs. Reed was released on her own recognizance, in the sum of one hundred dollars, to appear for preliminary trial. On Monday, Richardson gave the required bond and was released by the Sheriff.

This is a brief history to date of what constitutes perhaps one of the saddest tragedies that has ever been enacted in all the long calendar of crimes that we find recorded upon the bloody pages of the county’s history. In conclusion, we wish to say that, while in justice to the accused who are entitled to a fair and impartial trial, we withhold the evidence from publication for the present, we are compelled to testify that, in the light of the evidence, accumulated and recorded, the jury were fully justified in returning the verdict that will place the accused parties on trial for complicity in the crime that resulted in the death of the unfortunate victim of a villain’s unlawful lust.