News Articles for Kingman County, Kansas

ROBBERS SLAY GRAIN MAN, SON; POLICE HOLD 2

KINGMAN, Kas., Charges Wednesday were being prepared for filing against two youthful farm hands who, Sheriff J. W. Brite said, related in signed statements that they fatally shot a grain elevator operator and his son who had befriended them.

The slaying of W. W. McClennan, 60, and his son, Arnold, 36, occurred during a robbery that netted only $4.50.

County Attorney John McKenna said he would file first degree murder charges against Cecil Tate, 22, Jacksonville, Tex., and George Frederick Gumtow, 21, Battle Creek, Mich.

Brite said Raymond McClellen, 34, an invalid who is unable to walk and suffers from a speech impediment, witnessed the slaying of his father and brother and then crawled two blocks to a neighbor's house for help.
(The Bismarck North Dakota Tribune ~ May 14, 1947)

TWO FORMER CARNIVAL WORKERS HUNG

Lansing, Kas., July 19---Two former carnival workers were hanged simultaneously at the Kansas state prison early today for the slayings of a father and son who had befriended them.

The two, Cecil Tate, 22, of Jacksonville, Tex., and George Gumtow, 21, of Battle Creek, Mich., went to their deaths at 1:01 a.m., CDT for the slaying of W. W. McClellan, a 60-year-old grain elevator operator and his (continued on Pg. 6 no further info)
(Dixon Illinois Telegraph ~ July 29, 1947)

FIVE SHOTS FIRED

Terrible Affray at Kingman, Kan.

A Prominent Young Man Shoots an Alleged Rival

The Murder Caused by a Quarrel About a Woman

An Attempt to Commit Crime Stopped by an Officer

The Murdered Man Unarmed at the Time of the Shooting

Hutchinson, Kan., Feb. 8, At Kingman last Saturday Taylor Whitelaw, a brother-in-law of Judge Hawk of this the Ninth judicial district and brother of W. M. Whitelaw, late candidate for associate justice of the supreme court of Kansas, shot and killed Steve Bedford of Kingman.
Whitelaw and Bedford had a quarrel concerning a woman when Whitelaw drew a revolver and threatened to shoot Bedford, but was disarmed by an officer and the parties were separated.

Whitelaw then procured another revolver met Bedford coming out of a restaurant, drew the weapon and remarked, "You ______, I am going to kill you."

Bedford struck Whitelaw and he fired five shots, killing Bedford, and sought to make his escape.
Whitelaw was for many years a prominent dry goods salesman in this city, stylish in his deportment and a companionable fellow, though regarded as a little reckless at times and sometimes more dissipated than he should be. (Kansas City Times, February 9, 1887, page 1)

MURDER OVER A DOG

A Kingman County Farmer Fatally Shoots his Neighbor

Kingman, Kan., Aug 1 - Near New Murdock, this county, last Saturday night, George Hughes, and his 17 year old son Allen became enraged at Bob Bomar a neighbor for killing their dog, and went over to the latter's house to settle the matter. A fight ensued and young Hughes shot Bomar with a revolver. The wound was fatal. Bomar dying in a short time, but not before he ran into the house, secured a gun and fired once at his adversaries, without hitting either of them, however.

Young Hughes skipped out and has not yet been apprehended. His father was arrested and is now confined in the county jail here.
The elder Hughes was sheriff of Garfield county for five years during the exciting county-seat wars out there. He declares he has done nothing for which his conscience troubles him. (Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, August 2, 1898, page 5)

A KINGMAN, KAS., SUICIDE

Lewis Leach, Aged 25 Years, Was the First Child Born in the Town

KINGMAN, KAS., Dec. 3---Lewis Leach, 25 years old, committed suicide last night by taking carbolic acid. He was the first child born in Kingman and leaves a wife. The cause of the suicide is unknown.
(Kansas City Star ~ December 3, 1903)

KINGMAN PIONEER KILLS A DAUGHTER

Then Commits Suicide in Home of a Daughter

Kingman, Kans., Aug. 14---W. S. Evans, 87, for many years a resident of Kingman, shot and fatally wounded his invalid daughter, Stella, and then turned the pistol on himself, firing five shots into his head. He died before medical aid could be given.

Evans and his daughter lived with Mrs. Pearl Beal, another daughter. During the temporary absence from home late Friday, Evans shot his daughter. She died a short time afterwards.

Thursday, Evans purchased the gun, a .32 caliber pistol, at a local hardware store. He also bought six cartridges.

Seated at the bedside of his daughter, who had been a semi-invalid for ten years, Evans, brooding over her condition, shot her. Then he fired three shots into his head, walked into another room, fired another shot and while a physician was preparing to give him aid, fired another shot. He died instantly.
(Wichita Beacon ~ Saturday ~ August 14, 1926 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)