McJunkin, Elias aids in Henry Helmick murder - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Several weeks ago near Danville, Ill., four young men went out one fine night and shot down in cold blood Henry Helmick, a well to do farmer. They held him up on the highway and in robbing him committed wanton murder. All four were soon arrested and strange to relate, the whole quartette pleaded guilty. The court hears the evidence today from them and will then pass sentence. It is thought that all four will stretch hemp.

One of these young desperadoes is a native of Montgomery County. His name is Elias McJunkins. McJunkins was born on a farm two miles north of Wingate eighteen years ago. When five years old, he moved with his parents to Rossville, Ill., and afterwards to Danville. He still has a number of relatives living near Wingate, the best known being William Baldwin, who is an uncle. Elias visited him last fall and became quite well acquainted in that neighborhood. He is a tall strapping youth, without any appearance of a tough. When asked how he happened to be connected with the murder, he became ill at ease and replied, “Oh, I don’t know exactly how I got into it.” He is of quiet disposition and unlike his companions, does not boast about the murder. If any of the gang is allowed to escape with a penitentiary sentence, Elias will likely be the lad. None of them are over 22 years of age. They read Wild West literature until they acquired a thirst for notoriety and gore.

Source: Crawfordsville Daily Journal Tuesday, 31 October 1893 Edition