I was always interested in history, especially when it was exciting history. I would spend a lot of time talking to my older relatives and to other elders in the Maple Hill Community. When they began discussing Rufe King, their conversations always became hushed and they used the darkest possible terms in their vocabularies. I remember my Grandmother Mabel Rachel (Jones) Clark, who knew him and his wife Grace well, saying, "I don't remember anyone who wasn't afraid of Rufe King. Even before we knew he was a murder of the most heinous kind, we feared him. He just exuded anger and hate and was not to be trusted." Those were very strong words coming from a woman who never deliberately hurt a fly in her life.
I have searched in vein for a photo of Rufus King, but I haven't found one. I'd like to be able to see his face and judge for myself. Even with the aid of computer search engines, I haven't been able to find one.
One of the murders committed by King, was that of John Woody. Woody was the nephew of my paternal great grandmother, Mary Eliza Woody Clark. At this point, I'm going to print a transcription of a newspaper article that my Grandmother, Mable Rachel (Jones) Clark kept:
John Anderson Woody was born to James Dosson and Alice Clark Woody in the Snokomo community on March 25, 1889. He attended the little stone school house on Snokomo road while he was growing to manhood. By the time John was 20 years old, he had saved enough money to purchase a new buggy and harness for the horses he owned.
On spring day in 1909, John disappeared and was not seen again by his family. It seemed the last person to see John was Rufe King, a man who owned the livery stable at Maple Hill, Kansas. Rufe told John's parents that John had sold him the horse and buggy and had taken the money to go to Oklahoma. Sometime later, Rufe Kind told the Woody's that he had a letter from John and promised to bring the letter to them so they could read it, but, he never did.
Ten long years went by. John's mother worried and wondered why she didn't hear from her boy.
Then one day, in the month of August, 1919, some children were playing around the sheds at the old livery stable in Maple Hill. They found a skeleton in an old gunny sack hanging in one of the sheds. Rufe King by this time had gone to Colorado to work for a construction company. The children reported the skeleton to their parents who reported it to the county sheriff. In their investigation, they dug up two more human skeletons. The first skeleton was that of a man from Rossville, Kansas whose name was Gutshaw. The other was that of an old jewelry peddler going through the county. The last body to be found was that of John Anderson Woody. It was buried under an old manure pile by the livery stable. They identified him by some dental work. The authorities had Rufe King returned to Kansas and his preliminary trial was held at Eskridge, Kansas. The public was so worked up over the murders that they were going to lynch Rufe King, so the authorities moved him to the jail in Lyndon, Kansas. They held the trail in Lyndon, and Rufe Kind was found guilt of three murders and sentenced to life in prison. He died, serving that sentence at the Kansas State Penitentiary, Lansing, Kansas.
That's a pretty good synopsis of the murders but there are more connections to our families.
At that time, my paternal great grandfather, Leander Emory Jones was the Maple Hill town Marshall. My paternal grandfather, James Peter "Jim" Clark was a deputy Marshall, as was the second husband of my maternal great grandmother, Fred Bonta. King was well aware that he was under suspicion in the murders and had taken his wife to Pueblo, Colorado where he was later arrested and returned to Alma. The Wabaunsee County sheriff knew that emotions were running high. He suspected that King might be lynched and called town marshalls and deputies from across the county to come to his aid. My grandmother, Mabel Clark, told me that as central office operator, she received the call from the Wabaunsee County Sheriff, who asked her to locate the town lawmen and have them come to Alma, as quickly as possible to help guard King.
Grandmother Clark told me that King threatened her father, Leander E. Jones, and her husband, James Peter "Jim Pete" Clark with their lives. He told them that if it was the last thing he ever did, he would see that they died. My maternal Grandmother, Mildred (McCauley) Corbin, told me that her stepfather, Fred Bonta, slept with a pistol under his pillow the rest of his life and was certain that Rufus King would somehow make his death threat good.
A photo of the author's Paternal Great Grandfather, Leander Emory Jones. As is in evidence from this photograph, Lee Jones was an interesting character. His full-time employment was as the owner of a custom steam threshing crew. However he also did day jobs for area farmers. He was also an accomplished musician and played trombone in the NewburyPhilharmonic Band. My maternal great uncle, Robert M. McCauleyWabaunsee County.
This is a 1910 photo of my Paternal Grandparents, James Peter, "Jim Pete" and Mabel Rachel (Jones) Clark. I suppose you could say that my Grandfather's principal occupation was farmer. He also was a horse trader and bought and sold horses. One of his early occupations was the very same thing that Rufus King did---he and his cousin Lee Wilson owned and operated the Maple Hill Livery Stable. The cousins, Jim Pete and Lee sold their business to Rufus King. In addition, Jim and Mabel Clark purchased two pieces of property in Maple Hill, a house with large barn in the southeast corner of the city, and a two-acre pasture in the south central portion of town. The house was just a long block's walk down an alley from the Central Office. From those two pieces of property, they operated a small dairy business. Grandfather Clark, and my father, John Leander "Tim" Clark, milked cows every morning. The milk and cream was then delivered to Maple Hill homes by Jim and Mabel's children, Thelma Maree (Clark) Hedges and John Leander "Tim" Clark.Here's a reprint of an article from the Kansas City Star of August 1919:
THREE SKELETONS UNEARTHED IN MAPLE HILL CASE
John Woody, Paxico Youth Found Sunday by Officials Near Livery Barn Formerly Owned by Rufus King
Maple Hill, Kas. - Another skeleton identified as that of John Woody, the missing Paxico youth, the third uncovered here in less than two weeks, was unearthed Sunday near the old livery barn of Rufus King.
The skeleton was found buried under about six inches of soil in the livery barn yard. The evidence indicates that the man had been slain in his sleep, as the body was apparently without clothing other than a night shirt. It was buried face down in the shallow grave.
Gold Teeth Gave Identity
Identification of the skeleton was made immediately by the boy's father, Dawson Woody, through means of two gold teeth and the youth's black hair. The father announced last Friday that he would be able to identify his son through the means used Sunday. Mr. Woody was present when diggers struck the skeleton of his son.
Maurice McNeill, assistant attorney general for Kansas, who has charge of the investigation and was present when the Woody boy's skeleton was unearthed, announced another murder charge immediately would be filed against king.
Was Choked to Death?
Woody probably was choked to death, according to Assistant Attorney General McNeill. The skulls of the other two men, whose skeletons were found on the King place were badly crushed and the officials were greatly interested before Woody's bones were found as to whether he met death in the same way. It is the theory now, however, that he was seized by the throat while asleep and strangled.
The unearthing of the third skeleton on what now firmly is felt was a veritable "murder farm" was shortly before 4 o'clock. The Woody boy's skeleton was found by diggers about thirty feet east of the spot where what is believed was the skeleton of the old jewelry peddler was discovered last Thursday.
Big Crowd was There
Although Sunday, it appeared almost the whole countryside was present to witness the somewhat gruesome scene, Men, women and children came in motor cars, in buggies and on horseback when it was learned the digging was to be resumed.
When it was announced the excavators had struck another skeleton, the awe stricken crowd filled the old barn lot and the street in front in an effort to view the grave and its contents. Those who were not present at the time of the finding soon managed to get into town. The Woody boy's skeleton was taken in charge by the sheriff and it is likely it will be taken to Alma where the other two are being kept.
Disappeared Ten Years Ago
The Woody boy disappeared about ten years ago while in the employ of King at the livery barn. Following his disappearance King, according to the youth's parents, said the boy had gotten in trouble with a girl and decided to leave. Horses, a buggy and other personal property belonging to the boy were in King's possession. He said he bought them from Woody prior to his leaving. Although suspicious of the story, the Woody family never caused an investigation.
A few months after the boy disappeared, King told his parents he had received a letter from him and furnished the family with the youth's supposed address. A letter was written, but was returned undelivered. From the day of his disappearance the Woody family had never heard from the boy, who then was about 21 years old.
Used Rifle Barrel to Slay?
The skeleton uncovered last week a few feet from where the Woody boy's grave was found Sunday in King's barn lot, is believed that of the old jewelry peddler, who like the Paxico youth and Reuben Gutshall suddenly disappeared.
Buried with the skeleton believed that of the old peddler was the barrel of a .22 rifle. The skull was crushed. It is the opinion of the authorities that the rifle barrel was the weapon with which he was killed. The skeleton was wrapped in a horse blanket and a rope was found around the neck. With the body was a cuff link made from a small shell similar the authorities declare to some that King had. Medical testimony before a coroner's jury was to the effect the skeleton was that of a man past middle age.
Had Gutshall's Team Too
Gutshall with whose murder King is now charged, disappeared in December, 1913. King the last to see him, explained Gutshall as in the case of Woody had gotten in trouble with a girl and left. The next day King had possession of the Gutshall youth's team and wagon. A day or two later he went to Gutshall's home and loaded up eighty bushels of corn and other possessions of Gutshall stating that he had bought the boy out paying him $160 for everything.
Last week while a shed on King's old home in Maple Hill was being cleaned out, a sack containing a skeleton was found. Later the bones were partly identified as those of the Gutshall youth by a brother, John Gutshall. The height, jaw bone and other marks, together with medical statements that the skeleton was that of a young man, were responsible for the part identification. It was then a complaint charging King with murder, was issued and the investigation which has resulted in the uncovering of two additional skeletons was started.
King's Hearing to be Thursday.
King was arrested near the foothills of Pueblo, Col., and returned to Alma, the county seat of Wabaunsee County. When the second skeleton was found the sheriff removed King to Topeka because of the tense feeling here.
King's preliminary hearing on the Gutshall murder charge is set for Thursday at Eskridge. In the meantime Richard J. Hopkins, attorney general for Kansas is seeking the wife of King. Her parents who live near Eskridge, have not heard from the daughter for some time, the authorities declare. In addition officials are seeking a woman who lived in the town near where King was arrested. What she may know, if anything, is not disclosed. (Kansas City Star, August 20, 1919)
There's another interesting family connection to the King murders story. Sarah Jane (Carothers) Yingling, grandaughter of Charles Montgomery Lemon, was living in Maple Hill prior to the murders committed by Rufus King. Her mother, Cynthia Jane (Lemon) Carothers, had passed away at Maple Hill in 1917. Her father, Jerome Lee Carothers didn't know how he could care for or support their children so he decided to adopt them out. His son, Ronald Lee Carothers, was adopted by Adam and Blance (Nutter) Turnbull of Maple Hill and his last name was changed to Turnbull. His daughter, Sarah Jane, was much admired by Rufus King and his wife Grace who were childless. Sarah told me that her father even let the Kings take her for a week or so at a time to see what kind of temperment she had. The first of the bodies was discovered before the Kings had a chance to begin adoption proceedings and Sarah was saved the fate of becoming their daughter.
After retiring from the Maple Hill Central Office, my paternal grandmother, Mabel Rachel (Jones) Clark rented a little house about a block northeast of her old home in the Central Office. My family was living in the house that she and her husband, Jim Pete Clark, owned in southeast Maple Hill. That house was the last home owned and lived in by Rufus King and his wife Grace. It was behind that house that the skeleton of Reuben Gutshall was discovered. Several years after we moved and Grandmother Clark returned to her home, our cousins, Charles Montgomery and Bonnie Lou (Thomas) Mitchell bought the old King home. Grandmother Clark and "Uncle" Charlie and "Aunt" Bonnie all knew the history of the house and where the shed had been located where the skeleton was found. Grandmother and the Mitchells both had garden plots in the area of the shed and I remember them almost gingerly turning the ground every spring, hoping that they would not find some body part that had been missed or another complete skeleton.
Rufus King spent the rest of his life in the Kansas State Penitentiary at Leavonworth, Kansas. Howard Adams, who was a native of Maple Hill, cashier and managing partner of the Stockgrowers State Bank and also represented the area in the Kansas Legislature, visited the penitentiary in official tours and said that every time he saw Rufus King, King would renew all of the threats against those in Maple Hill who he thought had played a role in his arrest and conviction.
There are other elements of the Rufus King Murders related to our families but I will leave those for another time. Happy Trails!
Photo of Rufus King at kshs.org
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