GOODLEY, Lydia Perkins - murdered - Putnam

Died: 17 Jan 1892

Buried: Lake Cemetery, Lamar Heights, Barton County, Missouri

Wife Of: Joseph P. Goodley married Putnam County, Indiana 21 January 1874

REST IN PEACE, Dear Lady - kbz

Source: Greencastle Banner and Times, Putnam County, Indiana 21 Jan 1892 p 1

On Monday about noon, William Perkins, Sr of this city received a telegram from Lamar, Mo announcing the sad fact that his daughter, Mrs. Joseph Goodly (sic – Goodley) together with a child had been murdered at their home at Kenoma, Mo. Further than the bare announcement of the murder, Mr. Perkins received no news of the terrible affair until Tuesday, the associated press of the county contained a lengthy and apparently complete account t. We herewith reproduce the article in full: Lamar, Mo Jan 18 – Yesterday afternoon a telegram came from Kenoma, a station 7 miles east on the Kansas City & Memphia Railroad announcing that a woman had been killed there and requesting the presence of an officer. City Marshal Moran and Constable Wilson started through the snow storm for Kenoma. Arriving there they found Robert Hepler under arrest and strongly guarded for the committing of one of the most atrocious crimes known in Missouri.  Hepler had been drinking during the day and about 4 o’clock went to the house of Mrs. Joseph Goodly murdered both the mother and her youngest child, a boy about six years old and left for dead her daughter aged nine. Mrs. Goodly’s head was crushed with a heavy-bottomed chair, one arm and jaw being broken. He assaulted the girl with a heavy iron poker, striking as he supposed, a fatal blow on the head and left her lying across her mother’s prostrate form. The little boy came next and his head was crushed to a jelly. Two of Mrs. Goodly’s children were absent from home at the time, and returning shortly after, found the bodies as above described. Hearing some one in the second story of the house, they hastened to Kenoma, half a mile distant and gave the alarm. Citizens were soon upon the scene, but the murderer had fled, after rifling drawers and boxes up stairs, going directly to his own home, a short distance from the scene of his cold-blooded murder. The little girl showed signs of life and the boy was still breathing when help arrived. The girl, upon recovering consciousness, stated that Hepler had committed the deed and an examination showed his tracks leading from the Goodly residence to that of his own. WJ Harrison and EH Scheyner affected his capture after a desperate struggle and he was brought to Lamar and lodged in jail here at 11 o’clock. The prompt action of Moran in bringing Helper to Lamar prevented a lynching. Great excitement exists among the people of the neighborhood where the crime was committed and it is feared an attempt will be made to take him from the jail. The only motive known for the commission of the crime is that of robbery and revenge. Helper had made threats against the Goodly family. He is about 34 years old and has a wife and five children in destitute circumstances. He denies his guilt and when accused of it uses the most violent and profance language. Joseph Goodly, the husband and father, was reached by a telegram at Cheyenne while on his way west with a carload of horses. The little girl is improving and has given an intelligent account of the brutal affair, clearly fastening the crime on Hepler. This evening Hepler attempted suicide in the jail by hanging himself with a rope made out of a blanket. He was discovered and cut down, but not until he had grown black in the face. Sheriff Garrett, fearing summary vengeance would be taken upon Hepler tonight removed him to Nevada, Missouri.

Source: St. Louis Globe-Democrat Tuesday 19 Jan 1892

Lamar, Mo Jan 19 – A most atrocious double murder was committed 7 miles southeast of Lamar yesterday afternoon in which the wife and youngest son of Joseph Goodly, a prominent farmer and stockraiser were the victims. Robert Helper, a tenant of Mr. Goodly’s living with his wife and two children on the same section of land, conceived the idea that Mr. Goodly, who is now somewhere in Kansas had sent his wife a large sum of money and with the intention of securing this he went to the house of Mrs. Goodly and demanded that what money she had be delivered to him.  Upon being refused, the fiend seized a large iron poker which was near the stove and with it dealt her a blow on the head, crashing the skull.  The murderer then turned his attention to the little 7-year-old boy who was bravely trying to defend his mother. A broken skull and several dark, heavy marks on the boy’s body show where the blows fell that ended his life. A daughter, 9 years old who had been a paralyzed and helpless spectator to the fould deed was then dealt several blows over the head and shoulders, bearing her to the floor in an insensible condition and the murderer supposed killing her. Then commenced the search by Hepler for the wealth which he had so rashly coveted.  Bloody handmarks and stains from his clothing which was also besmeared with blood, show themselves wherever he went.  After a fruitless search he went direct to his home, about one mile away where he was afterward found. Two daughter of Mrs. Goodly, aged 12 and 14 who had been skating on a pond some distance from the house, returned soon after the murderer had left and found the three bodies on the floor of the kitchen where they had fallen. Horrified at the sight, they rushed to Kenoma, a small town about a mile away where their story was told to friends and neighbors were soon at the scene of the tragedy. In the meantime the little girl, whom the murderer had left for dead, recovered consciousness enough to be able to state that Bob Hepler had committed the crime. Two men, well armed, immediately started for his home, where they found him, evidently preparing to leave. After a desperate struggle, during which Hepler tried hard to use a knife, he was reduced to submission with the butt of a revolver, securely bound and taken to Kenoma, where he was held until the arrival of the Sheriff who now has him safely lodged in our county jail.  While there is a strong talk of lynching by many of Mr. Goodby (sic) neighbors, the general opinion is that nothing of this kind will occur and that Hepler will be tried here next week when the regular term of the Circuit Court convenes. He claims that he did not commit the deed. Doctors state the little girl will recover.

Source: St. Joseph Missouri Herald Wed 20 Jan 1892 p 2

Lamar, Mo  Jan 19 – Robert Helper of Kenoma who had been drinking went to the house of Mrs. Goodly, near that village about 4 o’clock and brutally murdered her and her son, a boy about 6 years old and left for dead her daughter, aged 9 years. Mrs. Goodly’s head was crushed with a heavy bottomed chair and one arm and jaw broken. The little girl was struck with a heavy iron poker and left lying across her mother’s prostrate dorm. The little boy’s head was crushed to a jelly.  Two of Mrs. Goodly’s children were absent from home at the time and returning shortly after found the bodies and hearing some one in the second story of the house hastened to Kenoma, half a mile away and gave the alarm. Citizens were soon upon the scene but the murderer had fled after rifling drawers and boxes upstairs, going leisurely to his own home, a short distance from there. The little girl showed signs of life and the boy was breathing when help arrived. The girl, upon recovering consciousness, stated that Helper had committed the deed and an examination showed the tracks leading from the Goodly residence to that of his own. WJ Harrison and EH Scheyner effected the wretch’s capture after a desperate struggle and he was brought to Lamar and lodged in jail. This prompt action prevented a hanging bee. Great excitement exists among the people of the neighborhood where the crime was committed and it was feared an attempt would be made to take him from jail and for the reason he was removed to Nevada last night. The only motives known for the awful crime are robbery and revenge, as Hepler made threats against the Goodly family. Hepler is about 34 years of age and has a wife and five children in destitute circumstances. He denies his guilt and when accused of it used the most violent and profane language. Joe Goodly the husband and father, was reached by a telegram at Cheyenne, Who while on his way west with a car load of horses. A telegram from Kenoma last evening announces that the little girl is improving rapidly and has given an intelligent account of the horrible affair clearly fastening the crim upon Hepler. Last evening Hepler attempted suicide in the jail by hanging himself with a rope made out of a blanket. He was discovered by persons in the adjoining cells who gave the alarm and he was cut down but till black in the face.

Source: Greencastle Banner-Times 28 Jan 1892 p 1

Robert Hepler, the man who brutally murdered Mrs. Goodly at Kenoma, Mo last week was put out of the way on Saturday last, early in the morning. 200 men went from Lamar to Kenoma, Mo and took the murderer from the jail. They returned to Lamar and going to the courthouse yard, Hepler was asked if he had anything to say, and in replay stated that whiskey had caused him to commit the crime. He further stated that he had no ill feeling toward the Goodlys. The noose was then adjusted around his neck and he was soon hanging 12’ from the ground. Although not bound in any manner he did not struggle in the least, while his painful breathing could be heard 200’ form where he was hanged. He was lowered to the ground after hanging 30 minutes and upon examination found to be still alive. Being again pulled up he was allowed to hang about 20 minutes longer when he was again lowered, the last sign of life having in the meantime disappeared and he was removed to the undertakers where his body has been viewed by many hundreds who have flocked here from all part of the county.

Source: Cape Giradeu Democrat 30 Jan 1892 (Sat p 1)