Salt Lake Tribune | 1912-12-06 | Page 3 | Murder of Miser is Told in Confession

MURDER OF MISER IS TOLD IN CHFESS1 i Kunsiin Who Was Never Suspected Sus-pected of Crime Admits He Killed Old Man. By International News Sorvice. ATCJIIiiON, Kan.. Dec. 5. John Dorr, who confessed In San Francisco to tho murder of William Rurkoua near Atchison, Atchi-son, gained notoriety here two years ago by shooting and wounding Charles .Marvin, .Mar-vin, because, he said, "Marvin boasted of too friendly relations with Mrs. Abram Spry, Dcrr's mother. William Rarkous. an old hacholor. who lived alone on his farm northwest or Atchison, was found dead in his yard by neighbors, January JG, J00S.. lie' evidently evi-dently had been dead for several days. Barkous was a strange character and was reputed to be worth from $20,000 to 5.10,000. lie was believed to have kept considerable money concealed about his premises, as ho was known lo be afraid of the banks. When he wan found dead a careful sen re h of the premises was made, but no money' was found. Some valuable papers ho had shown Intimate friends also were said lo be missing. Neighbors had frequently predicted he would be killed for his money, and their belief that ho hud been was strengthened strength-ened by tho fact that he had some change In his mouth when found, as If he hud 'tried lo conceal It there. Although the neighbors remained tirm In the belief that he had met with violence, vio-lence, the authorities Inclined to the belief be-lief that he had died of exposure, or from a fall, and no arrests were ever made In the case. While It was known that Derr was given to wandering around the country hunting, he was never suspected sus-pected of the crime.