Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--W. F. CAIN KILLS ROBBER--Former Higbee Citizen Shoots a Holdup Man in Jefferson Hotel at Kansas City--Out on Bond.---W. F. Cain, who left here recently with the intention of going to Sheridan, Wyo., but who went no further than Kansas City, where he secured a position at the Jefferson Hotel bar, shot and killed John Elliott, who attempted to hold-up a party of gamblers who had a big game going on in the hotel last Saturday night, and which Cain was guarding, it is said, against robbers as well as the police. The following article taken from the Kansas City Star, gives about all that is known of the affair. Mr. Cain's Higbee friends will be surprised to learn from the article that he is an "expert" card player and "veteran houseman," as during his residence here of thirty years he never followed either occupation. As the killing occurred in the house of the democratic boss in Kansas City, whom the Star can't say mean enough things about, it seems to Mr. Cain's friends here that in its account of the affair in the two articles that follow, in order to put Pendergast in as bad a light as possible, it has gone out of its way by trying to create the impression that the killing was a cold blooded murder. Mr. Cain's friends here feel certain that he was justified in his action and that a jury will so declare. The articles from the Star follow: K. C. Star, August 17. Shortly after 11 o'clock last night, the police received a call to go to the Jefferson Hotel, headquarters for "goat" politicians. There, on the fifth floor, in a brilliantly lighted room, the police found a young man lying on the floor, a revolver in his hand, a bullet through his brain. Booth Baughman, manager of the hotel in the absence of Tom Pendergast "goat" boss, offered the explanation the man had met his death in an attempt to hold up a group of men playing poker. Dr. J. S. Snider, deputy coroner, arrived soon and examined the pockets of the slain man, finding a deputy marshal's commission made out to John Elliott, 2941 East Twenty-third Street. The commission was signed by Harry Hoffman, marshal of Jackson County, and was issued recently to Elliott at the request of the Standard Oil Company, which corporation employed Elliott. A glance at a bankbook carried by the slain man revealed that John Elliott had opened an account yesterday with an initial deposit of $100. Officers identified the dead man as John Elliott, a former patrolman. A well dressed man, apparently about 38 years old entered the room, pushing through the crowd to the silent form on the floor. "I killed him," the man remarked evenly. And he handed a revolver to a detective. "He drew a "rod" on me first," the man added, "and said he intended to "stick up" the card players in that little room over there." The speaker was W. F. Cain, expert card player and veteran "houseman" of gambling games. And as he spoke Cain waved a hand in the direction of a small room adjoining the larger one where the body was. In the small room were several overturned chairs and a round, green covered table on which was a disarray of playing cards and poker chips. "Fourteen men were playing a little sociable game," Cain continued. "Just among friends. The man I shot was playing in the game several times tonight. He left about 10 o'clock in his shirt sleeves, returning a short while later wearing a coat. He went into that room there and watched the card playing a while. I was in this room here. "He suddenly came through the doorway and walked up to me, then quickly jerked out his "rod" and shoved it against my ribs. "Put 'em up--this is a stick up," he said. I knocked down his hand holding the revolver and pulled my gun quick, I let him have a bullet--right in the head. That's all I know." No one in the crowd admitted seeing the shooting. No one admitted participation in the gambling game. No one, in fact, seemed inclined to discuss the incident. The police, even, were less inquisitive than usual. An ambulance finally arrived to remove the slain man to a morgue. Elliott wore an aviator's leather coat, leather puttees, khaki trousers and a soft felt hat. The bullet had entered the back of his head. He fell near the doorway leading into the poker room. Near his body was a small pool table, with cues and balls missing and with pockets closed. It was a "crap table." Cain was taken to police headquarters, where he repeated his statement. Ralph True, a former city detective, told the police he was "lookout" for the poker game, and that he saw Cain knock down Elliott's hand holding the revolver. True, however, said he didn't see the shooting, as he was near the hallway door. K. C. Star August 18. On a $10,000 bond signed by Booth Baughman, his boss gambler, William F. Cain, confessed slayer of John Elliott, deputy county marshal, was released today. Cain's arraignment was on a second degree murder charge before Justice John J. George. His preliminary hearing was set for Saturday. Information against Cain was filed by James L. Kilroy, an assistant prosecutor, who assisted the police Saturday night in taking statements from three persons present in the Jefferson Hotel when the killing occurred. "Three statements indicate self defense," Kilroy said. "The evidence is not sufficient to warrant a first degree murder charge, but the charge will be changed if later developments justify." Cain was arraigned before Justice George. He read the information to Cain. Baughman had volunteered to sign a bond almost before the reading was finished. "How much is the bond?" Baughman asked. "Five thousand dollars. No, I'd better make it $10,000," Justice George answered. One statement was made by Abraham Arenberg, who says he is a cigar clerk from Des Moines, Ia., and has been stopping at the Bray Hotel a week. Arenberg's statement says he saw Elliott seize Cain's arm and pull him toward the poker room, meanwhile pressing a revolver on Cain's chest. Arenberg says he heard Elliott tell Cain to throw up his hands and keep them up, then tell the players to get up from the table. Arenberg says he saw Cain take a revolver from his hip pocket and shoot Elliott in the head. John Turner, 1224 Broadway, says in his statement: "I saw a scuffle between Cain and Elliott in the next room. I saw Elliott with a pistol and I heard a shot. I don't know who fired the shot." Pete Lapitini, a musician living at the Jefferson Hotel, made a statement saying he saw Elliott flourish a revolver, then heard a shot, but did not know who fired the shot. Cain is slightly gray haired, almost six feet tall and is well built, muscular, but not heavy. He has spent the time since his arrest Saturday night in the matron's room at police headquarters. His former position as chief of police of Higbee, Mo., is pointed to by some police officials as the reason for the unusually courteous treatment being given Cain. Scott A. Godley, chief of police, is certain Elliott was killed in an attempt to hold up the gamblers. The position of Elliott's body when found by the police is not explained. He was lying on his back, although he had been shot in the back of the head. His left hand on his breast, his right hand lying on a revolver, but not gripping it. His hat had fallen or been placed on his left shoulder. And, strangest of all his left foot was up against a wall, the heel three feet above the floor. An hour elapsed between the shooting and the arrival of the police. Godley also scouts any suggestion that it would be unusual for a man to go to a fifth floor to make a holdup where there would be time to telephone down to the first floor to stop a bandit. "There are many funny holdups in Kansas City," Godley suggests. "Elliott's motor car was found a block away, with the key in it ready to start," Godley says. "That indicates preparation for staging a quick get-away." Police officials who know gambling house customs agree Elliott must have displayed his revolver first, whether to hold up the game or following an argument of some kind. Game keepers usually slug a man and throw him out, they declare, then, if necessary, pick a less conspicuous place to kill a man. Cain and other game keepers, as well as the gambling equipment on the fifth floor of the Jefferson Hotel, were moved there a week ago when the Mansion Hotel gambling house at 1106 Baltimore Avenue was closed along with other gambling places affected by the underground closing orders from the police. Dr. J. S. Snider, deputy coroner, announced today a coroner's inquest will be held late tomorrow or Wednesday. Inability to determine whether the killing was self-defense or not was expressed by Doctor Snider. Harry Hoffman, county marshal, by whom Elliott was commissioned, has conducted an investigation of the shooting. He expresses belief that Elliott tried to hold up the gambling house. "Elliott gambled often and when he lost he brooded," Hoffman said today. "A year ago he was shot twice after an argument in a hotel on East Ninth Street." Elliott attempted to induce his cousin, Nelson Dickout, manager of a motor car company at Twelfth and Walnut streets to visit the gambling rooms in the Jefferson Hotel Saturday night, according to information received by Mr. Hoffman. Dickout refused and Elliott walked away. Two hours later he was slain. Elliott served a short term in the Jackson County jail in 1917 for stealing chickens. Hoffman told of commissioning Elliott Saturday afternoon, just a few hours before he was killed. Thirty deputies had been commissioned to guard Stardard Oil property at Sugar Creek, Hoffman explained today, and Elliott was commissioned to replace one of the thirty who had resigned. Elliott leaves a wife, father, mother and two sisters. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Born, on the 19th, to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Dupri, a son. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--John Markham of Illinois is the guest of his mother, Mrs. D. W. Bowen. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--J. F. Miller, who recently moved to Texarkana, Texas, has moved to Bartlesville, Okla. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Mrs. Myrl Turner of McFall, Texas, is the guest of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Seymour. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Thos. Hackward orders his address changed from Lafayette to Aguilar, Colo., to which place he has moved. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Messrs. Jack Butterly and Clyde Miller of Moberly, Miss Ruth Durham of Kansas City and Mrs. J. A. Butterly of St. Louis are the week-end guests of Miss Hilda Wright. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Bert Enochs, who moved from Kirksville to Clark last week, spent Sunday with Higbee relatives, leaving for Kansas City where he will take a special course in automobile repairing. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Joe Kirby, Deputy Revenue Collector--Joe Kirby yesterday afternoon received a phone message from George H. Moore, United States revenue collector, at St. Louis, telling him that he had been appointed a deputy revenue collector. This appointment is one of that will be endorsed as a wise choice by Joe's hosts of friends in Moberly and vicinity. He has the qualities and has the official experience which will make a proficient and efficient incumbent of this important office. The appointment is effective September 1, and Mr. Kirby will have his headquarters in St. Louis--Moberly Democrat. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Mrs. H. C. Boyd was called to Jonesburg Monday by the death of her sister-in-law, Mrs. Sallie Kimbrought. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Miss Lillian Jones, who returned from Kirksville last week where she had been attending the state teachers college, left yesterday for Independence for a visit with her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. R. R. Jones. Friday, 22 Aug 1919, Vol 33. No 18--Mr. Arthur Roberts Sr. was called to Huntsville Wednesday by a message stating his brother James had been seriously injured in an accident and was not expected to live. We could learn no particulars whatever. Kathy Bowlin, Additions, corrections, comments welcome.