15. A YOUTHFUL MURDERER.
Willie Sells.—In the prison, this convict is called the "baby
convict." When he came to
the penitentiary in 1886, he was but sixteen years of age, and in
appearance much younger. One of the most sickening murders committed in
Kansas is charged to the account of this boy. His home is in Neosho
County. His father, a prosperous farmer, lived happily with his wife and
three children. Willie was the oldest of the children. Early one morning
he rushed from his home and made his way to the nearest neighbor, about
half a mile distant, and with his face and hands covered with blood
conveyed the startling intelligence that the entire family had been
murdered, and he only had escaped. Soon an excited crowd of neighbors
gathered at the home of the murdered victims, and the sight that was
presented has but few parallels in the fatal and fearful results of
crime. The victims had been murdered while asleep. In one room lay the
father and mother of the youthful murderer, on their bed of death. Their
heads had been split open with an axe that lay nearby, and the blood of
one mingled with that of the other. In an adjoining bed-room, covered
with their own life's blood, were found the little brother and sister.
They had been foully murdered with the same instrument that had caused
the death of the parents. Who
was the monster that had committed this terrible and atrocious act? A
search of the premises disclosed the fact that robbery was not the
motive. No property was missing. The survivor was questioned again and
again. He said that a burly-looking tramp had effected an entrance into
the house through a window during the night; that he being awake at the
moment, and becoming alarmed, hid himself, and, unperceived, beheld his
father and mother, his brother and sister, thus foully murdered. A
thorough and extensive search was made, but no clue could be obtained
that would warrant the arrest of any one.
Finally, the surviving child was taken into custody. It was
claimed that his statements of the circumstances connected with the
crime varied, and in several instances were contradictory. The evidence
introduced at his trial was purely circumstantial. After much
deliberation and hesitancy, the jury decided on a verdict of guilty of
murder in the first degree, and this child criminal was sentenced to
imprisonment for life.
He conducts himself well in the prison. On account of his extreme
youth he is given a great deal of liberty. It is with great reluctance
that he talks about his crime, and longs for freedom.
Is this boy guilty? This question has never been satisfactorily
answered in the affirmative. I am informed there was a grave doubt in
the mind of the judge who tried the case and imposed the sentence as to
the guilt of this alleged youthful offender. A chill of horror creeps
over us as we think of the members of this family weltering in each
other's blood. Should he be innocent, it would be awful for this boy to
remain in the Kansas Hell for a lifetime.
