The Butler Weekly Times Newspaper, March 12, 1884, Page 5

FFP one — rf 5 SRR TARERS SPER se ¥, r- of ad he t Bae pote tet 2A DS Hinds MURDERERS CAUGHT’. Assassins of Old Man Wells Behind the Bars. One of the Prisoners Makes a| Clean Breast of the Crime. yo DOUBT OF THEIR GUILT. | Last week the ‘Times published the details of the cowardly murder of John E. Wells, on the night of | Feb. 29th, an aged and respected near Windsor in Below we give farmer residing flenry county. + gecount of the arrest and confession ofthe murderre taken from the Hen- ry County Democrat. ‘Saturday morning the entire neigh- borhood was alive to the capture of an the cowardly assassin, or assasins, and all day and tar into night the country was scoured, with no = suc— cess but'well-founded suspicion. In | : ; connection | jail Monday morning. less time than it is required to tell it, a reward of $200 was raised for the capture of the murderers. In the meantime ex-Sheritt John R. Cason ot Marshall, Saline county, had been telegraphed for by Mr. Wm. P. Walton, a former resident of Brown- ville, and who did so in response to several queries as to who would be agood man to work the case up. Mr. Cason, accompanied by Joe Bartlett, constable of Marshall, ar- nved Saturday evening, and after a survey of the matter, plans were laid accordingly. __ SUSPICION had pretty conclusively fastened the crime on ‘Tom Brownsfield and Frank Hopkirk, two young men of the neighborhood, who had left . for Texas and Califorma about the mid- die ot February. On Sunday morn- ing the report gained currency that they had returned and had been seen in the neighborhood, BEGINNING THE SEARCH. Immediately on their arrival at Windsor, Cason and Bartlett went out tothe Welis residence. After getting what intormation they could there, they became satisfied that the assassins were then in the neighbor - hood. It was agreed that a meeting beheld at Windsor, and a_ posse formed to scour the immediate vi— cinity, which terminated successtully. They were with the posse when Hopkirk was arrested, and proceed- ing to Brownsfield’s home Cason made his arrest. It that the first real clue of their participa- tion in the murder s obtained: Placing Brownsfield of was here v in charge constable Bennett, who was on the outside, Cason then closely ques— tioned the motber and sister. Tak- mg a clue from the evidence before the ceroner—that GUM OVERCOATS were worn by the murderers, he gained the very important informa- tion that these overcoats had been taken about a mile trom the Browns- field residence and hid in a_ railway culvert, by order ot Brownsfield, who gave the coats to Ernest Burton, lad 15 or 16 years old. The coats were given to him: Saturday morn- ing, with instructions to either burn or hide them, THIR’ CAPTURE, a as told by constable Bernett: Sun- day morning some parties from the vicinity of Wells’ residence reported that Brownsfield and Hopkirk had that — neighborhood About g o'clock, by returned to accompanied f Cason and Deputy upstairs. Bartlett, | P. Walton, we left Windsor. Be- fore reaching Wells’ neighborhood S Es we were told that Brownsfield and Hopkirk were in the woods, and larger force should) make a_ closer | search. to Wells’ The returned to Windsor and gathered a posse of remainder house. TWENTY ARMED CITIZENS Just before departing, however, Mrs. Hopkirk sent word privately to Con— | stable Bennett that her son Frank was at Mrs. Burton’s, about tour miles south of Windsor—that he was sick, and to come and get him. took Messrs. Shelton. Cason, lett and Waddili, and went to The remainder the posse were left Jake Youny’s, three miles south of Windsor. Frank Hopkirk was arrested without resist- ance. Burton's. ot at bee : | prisoners. or by the citizens, Shelton and Cason wenton | He: Bart-— Mrs. | He said he had only return- i ed the night previous from Burton, | Kansas. He was left in Shelton and | Bartlett’s care. Inquiry was made | fer Brownsfield, and he said he was | athome. Bennett took him outside | the house, when Cason questioned | his mother and sister, obtaining trom | them important facts res with was arding his | the murder. Brownsfield Bennett on a Burton’s. in a buggy with his mother, and Windsor about twenty citizens, behind to Here Lopkirk was placed | all by} mounted horse, and went went to accompanied ounted and armed. The prisoners were placed in the Bass House, and guarded un- til brought to Clinton and lodged in Sheriff Hopkins and Prosecuting | Attorney Lewis were telegraphed | for Sunday evening—to come on the | first train. that two men had been | arrested, and that MOBBING WAS IMMIN - Boarding the g o’clock train, the} Sheriff and Attorney, O. M. Potts aad a Democrat reporter arrived in Windsor an hour later, and proceed- ing to the Bass House, where the prisoners were confined. A_ large crowd was tound at the hotel en- trrnce, but kindly made way for the party, who were soon on the inside, where the affair was being treely discussed. The Sheriff local officers adjourned to a private room, | where they consulted to what course should be pursued. With determination to hold the prisoners ; and us a AT HLL HAZARDS. the officers decided morning passenger train before re- moving them. The hotel wasclose- ly watched by indignant citizens, and throughout the town squads could be seen passing to and fro, eager to prevent their removal. But as night waned and the cold wind grew cold- er, the streets were comparatively deserted, and present fears of a mob vanished. to await the ATTEMPTED ESC APE. Between ¢ and 2 o’clock Monday morning, the guards and parties in the room below were startled from their meditations by a tearful racket Instantly every occupant of the lower rooms was on the alert, | and a rush made for the protection But it developed that the disturbance was of the prisoners. occasioned by an attempt by Brownsfield to JUMP THROUGH A WINDOW, in the opposite corner to. where he | was reclining oner bed. Manacled | us he was and tour strong guards in the room. The attempt was bold, and shows that he considered his situs- tion as desperate. He was grabbed | by one of the guards, who fell head- long over a trunk in his effort to in- tercept him. Brownsfield succeeded in breaking the window, and over- turning several articles in the room. The guard grabbing him remonstrat- ed against his foolishness—that had he jumped through the window his neck would have been broken by the } tall; to which Brcewnsfield repiied that he’ -‘rather break his neck than to havea gang of d fools break it for him own d QUIET WAS RESTORED. and the vigil continued till half-past made five, when preparations were to conyey the prisoners to the depot, A dozen armed guards formed around them, and in charge ot Sheriff Hop- ns and constable Bennett, some four or five blocks distant. accom- | pamed by a number of others. the | conv smade with at no tempt at resistance on the part of the | for which all should be thankfol, as the slightest rapture would have told a ,. The train the prisoners. were still sadder arriv- ing about 6:10, put aboard and an hour afterward Clinton, safely lodged in jail at ww await the law’s course tor one of ihe taost heinous ermmes ever committed in this section. HOPKIRK’S CONS ESSION. Sitting in the room af the Bess House Sunday night, with voung Hopkirk, and by his side the boy's aged and heart-broken me 5° Mix. Cason. ‘vho is a shrewd detective as well as a brave ana uarelenting ot- heer, ina tone of much sincerity, **Mrs. Hopkirk, 1 believe you are the mother of ths lad?" ‘1 endeavored said: am, and T have always to have him do mght,”’ said the lady‘ | plicated. , Causus with an earnest look into the eves | of the questioner. Cason—It would be much better for the boy, and_ his case would stand much better before the jury which tries him, if he will at this time, make a clean of the whole affair. Mrs. breast H—I thiak so, too. C—I am not caring tor Brownstield, but I am going to pro- tect Frank trom the mob. If he has been in this bloody affair he has been led into it by others older and more Mrs. H— has been accustomed to crime Thatis so. [ know Fra led into it by bad men, if he is im- ldress You had better tell all you know. Frank.”’ Here the moth son, ed her pitronizingly: Cason, “I will tell you the whole story Frank, looking at replied: as I have home to die by the truth.’ Cason then far as I know come began to cross-ques- | tlon Frank and elicited the following: What is your name? Frank— Frank Hopkirk. C—How old are you? F—Seventeen years old the | 21st ot January, 1884. C—When did you leave here? F—February 13th, 1884. C—Where did you go? F—To Fort Scott, lola and Burden Kansas. C—How long did you stay there? F—One week. C— Who was with you? F—Tom Brownsfiel’. . C—Where was the scheme put upto kill Wells? F— It was all planned at Fort Scott. C—Where did you get the gum coats? F—Bought them at Iola, Kansas. C—Where did you stay last Thursday night? F—At Clin- ton. Brownsteld and I stayed at the Jordan House. Brownsfield registered under the name of Allison and I registered as Calvert, while Galloway who is a partner in the crime stopped at the Heckler House. I paid seventy-five cents tor our lodging and breakfast. C-—Where did you stay that dav? F—We all walked to Calhoun. From there we came north to the ‘tsand cut’’ and stayed there until nearly dark. C— Did you all wear hhandkerchiets over your taces? F—No. Tom and Galloway wore them, and went ahead. C—Who went first in- to the Wells house? F—Tom went into the house while George stood window. C—Where were you? F—I was out at the fence. (Mrs. H—Yes, he did nothing but I wore none. at the | what he was compelled to do at the muzzle of a pistol in the hands of these bad men.) C—Who- got Wells’ silver watch? F—Tom got and threw it away near the hedge west of the house. I believe I could find it. C—After the lolling where did vou go? F— Tom and I went to Burton’s rock house, built'a fire and stayed all night there. I never saw George but a few minutes after the shooting. He lett us at the end of the lane, going in one direction, while Tom and I went to the rock house. A POSSIBLE THIRD PARTY. The abcve confession of young Hopkirk implicates one Geo. Gal- loway, a young man who had work— ed last season for James Goodlin, an esteemed citizen and farmer in the neighborhood, and whose life had been threatened by Galloway on ac— count of his dismissal from service on account ot some of his explcits inthe vicinity. A short conversation with Mr. Goodlin list Sunday night develeped these facts: GEONGE GALLOWAY, | a voung man of 22 or 23 vears of age, i worked for him about eight months prio~ to his dircharge, last August. He worked taithfully and well, and appeared to be # young man 0: good habits. Occustonally some imdmehe depredstion, such as tne displace- hinery ete... wou'd ment of farm m: a day or two atter Galloway he had he heard of, 2nd occurrences, © remark that such heen emby some of the neigh- told « Seldom away from home at ‘ uight (to Mr. Goodlin’s knowledge), retiring early, no suspicion was en- tertained ot his being connected with But finally Mr. all was nor marauders. the Goodlin thought and asurveilance was made of Gal- loway’s actions. Alter re along toward the middle of the night | the young man weuld sneak eat of the house. and off the premises. taking one at Mr. Geodlin’s horses. go and join hrs comrades. would | night Return- : ing betore day, he would as quietly return to his couch and rise with the | morning sun to resume his daily la- | bors. One August morning, how- | ever he didn’t resume—being told | by his employer to quit the premises ! forthwith and immediately. Atter | 1 time Galloway left FOR CALIFORNIA, from wk A GIP VALUED AT $25, away with rence he wrote letters to Brownsfield. and Hopkirk. The | bet placed oposite Tea Set consists of 56 pieces fact that letters, written by Gallo-| papi. p : mao sce SATE one a 3aking Powder warranted equal in qualityty to the best in the market ing him to finish up his work here | and come out there, as i RICH CHINAMEN were plenty and could easily be put | out of the way; coupled with the af- | fair at James Goodlin’s | quent threats ot his life, and the ru- | | mor that Galloway had been seen | near Windsor the day ot the crime, to Hopkirk’s | firm convic— | the enrag— and subse- credence first confession. and a tion in the ot populace caused another search of the country, to be made, and had Galloway been found, doubtless his body would be dan- gling from the nearest tree. But Tuesday evening, constable Bennett, of Windsor, received the following telegram from the Chief of Police at Los Angeles, in response to one from Windsor Los An ES, Cai., March 4, Jas Bennett Constable, Windsor, Mo- Geo. S. Galloway is here. W. P. Upton, Chief of Police. gave easy minds ed This precludes all posssbility of Galloway’s immediate connection with the murder. AGAIN CONFESSES. Hopk.:k made, in the presence ot Geo. Hi «meyer and John Oechsli, the following statement: That he had gone to Kansas with Browns- field and could get no work there, concluded to return home. That they stopped at Fort Scott and Clin- ton. Here they registered at the Jordan House, where he says the register shows thev stopped on Fri- day night, the night of the killing, when they really stopped there Thursday night. From here they went to Windsor, part of the distance on foot. When they went to Wells’ house about nine or ten o’clock, and Brownsfield entered. Old man Wells came into the hall, when brownsfield shot him. Wells then rushed in the room for his gun, when Brownsfield came outside again and stood at the window watching Wells. When Wells got his gun, and attempted to prevent him from going outside with it; during which time Brownsfield shot him through the window. After the shot through the window, his wife let go of the gun, when be started tor the door and was met by Brownsfield in the hall, who shot him again three or four times. After that they both en- | tered the house and secured the watch «and left the house. Atter leaving the house they threw the watch away, over a hedge fence im- to afield. That he gave his pistol to Brownsfield, and they went home. ‘Uhat there ed in the crime. DRAMATIC INCIDENT. As the funeral procession moved toward the cemetery, it was met by the officers and posse having the prisoners in charge, and who were hastening them to a place of safety, to guard against mob violence. THE BROWNSFIELD FAMILY. John and Eliza Brownsfield, pa- rents of Tom, came to Pettis counr- ty from Nodaway county, Mo., a} | number of years ago, locating near Green Ridge. The family compris- s no third party implicat- | ed the parents, three sons and a daughter. For time members of the family were engag- ed in herding cattle for Hon. John T. Heard, of Se a. the penitentiary for stealing a mule in September, her brother was sent to Pettis county, trom John Snyder 1882. ‘om and had, for the last two or three been hving with their mother sister (the parents havi: between Windsor and C what called Whie O brothers worked » portion season ior neighbors. “Tom worked eason for the Wells broth H while so engaged had a diffi with John E.. the murdered | who, it appears, had kindly re i strated with hier tor some Of his mis- wavlaved his ot years. r and 1), it he each gsep is, ot ,a deeds. Last summer he land beat Mr. Wells. for which he 1 was arrested and fined. After pav- ling the fige Tom was heard to re- | mark that he **we {get even with | the old man vet."" The 13th of last ! month he left. stating that he was | going to Texas. | FRANK HOPKIRK las ason of Mr. and Mrs. M_ E. Hopkirk. aged and respectable peo- | ple, and are esteemed as good and worthy citizens. F¥ank 1s one of ‘twins, the other dying when three ' vears old. the male } John Browns- | field, jr., an elder brother ot Tom’s, | from | I’. D. Rafter. MC FARLAND BROS. KEEP THE LARCEST STOCK AT THE BEST VY tICcKs IN HARNESS & SADDLERY. An equal assortment and prices can be found at Walnut, McFARLAND BROS., & MILLS. ~ sertood N38 S.ISUOH JH! “aeTCD esao § — Spooner Patent -Collar —PREVENTS CHAF CANNOT CHOKE A HOR: Adjusts itselt to any Horse’s Neck, has two Rows ot stitch ING,— 4 ing, will hold Hames in place better than any other collar. 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