Ray County, Missouri Obituaries - David Killen (1870-1913)




David Killen, was murdered by a Joseph Fricina. 

His death certificate says:
Registration District No. 740
File No. 33889
Primary Registration District No. 5975
Registered No. 11

David F. Killen son of: Fletcher F. and Fannie E. (Wynne) Taylor both of Kentucky born: 13 NOV
1870 in Taylor County, Kentucky died: at 7:20 a.m. on 30 SEPT 1913 in Crooked River Township,
Ray County, Missouri cause of death: Cut in abdomen, Stab wound

undertaker: C. Mansur & son of Hardin, Missouri burial: 5 OCT 1913 in Lavelock Cemetery
informant was: Mrs. Robert Atwell of Rutlege, Missouri


David Killen was killed by Joe Fricina

Dave Killen Disemboweled by "Dago Joe" who was crazy drunk on Lexington whiskey -- a tragic case.



$750 Cash Reward Now Offered

David Killen was fatally stabbed at this home, 3 miles south west of Hardin, south east of this city,
Monday evening at 6:30 o'clock , by Joseph Fricina, an Italian from Peoria , Illinois . He died at 7:20
a.m. , Tuesday.

Killen was a bachelor and has lived for the past ten years on the W.D. Rankin farm and was a good
citizen.

Fricina is a rather handsome Italian over thirty years of age. He goes by the name of "Dago Joe" and is
about five feet six inches high, weighs about one hundred and fifty pounds, very dark hair, is usually
smooth shaven, dark or black eyes, dark complexion, wore brown or brown-checked suit, is polite,
and has a strong Italian brogue.

Fricina worked for several years on the on the Santa Fe as a time-keeper and sometimes as foreman of
an extra gang. On September 19th, 1908 , he was married to Miss Julia Rundell at 7:30 p.m. , by Rev.
W.M. Baker. The bride was the daughter of Samuel Rundell of near Hardin.

To Mr. and Mrs. Fricina a baby boy, Phillip, was born on April 21st, 1911 .

Mrs. Fricina did no find the heart romance with a full-blooded Italian to be to her liking and to her
American tastes. More than once did she find it wise to leave her Dago master and return to her father's
home near Hardin. Last February she was sent home to Hardin by the Probation officer of Peoria ,
Illinois ùùand since that time she has steadfastly refused to recognize Fricina as her husband.

At least twice has Fricina returned, eloquently pleading for her and for the baby boyùùdeclaring her
to be the sweetest little woman in the world and the baby the dearest little boy that ever lived. But the
little American woman rememberedùùand remained in her father's home. In July he came, painting
glowing pictures of his store in Peoria and of his prosperity. He is a good dresser and when "cleaned
up" is a "good looker" for an Italian. On this July trip he consuited Attorney Albert M. Clark here and
talked about getting a divorce from his wife, and wanted possession of his child.

Early last Sunday morning. Fricina landed in Hardin again. He hired Connie Bandy to drive him out to
the Rundell home (which is the first house east of the Buffalo Bridge .) He stayed around the house
nearly all day, pleading with his wife and begging her to go back to Peoria with him. He left and went to
Hardin about eight o'clock that night. He stayed all night at the home of W.V. Bandy, not far from the
buffalo Bridge.

Sunday morning he told Connie Bandy that he was going to have some trouble, "not far away." He
talked angrily about a report he had heard, a rumor that David Killen had been smiling at his wife and
that he had heard that Killen had offered to pay for her divorce.

Fricina told persons that he was going to get "the man" who had been talking to his wife. He said he
was going to kill somebody.

Sunday night he met David Killen in Hardin, but acted very friendly. Fricina and Killen rode together
with George Letzig out to some point near the Buffalo Bridge where they separated. Killen invited
Fricina to go home with him, and the Dago promised to spend Monday night at the Killen house.
Monday morning, Fricina and Claude Bandy started on foot to Lexington . They went across the Killen
place and visited with Dave Killen in the field where Killen was sowing wheat.

Mr. Killen, having heard that the Dago had threatened him, then asked Fricina about it, telling him that
he, Killen, had not disturbed his wife and was not disposed to do so, that he was his true friend and had
been at all times. Fricina put his arms around Killen and told him he was the best friend he had in the
world and again promised to spend the night with him.

Fricina and Bandy went on to Lexington ; they stopped at the McIntyre and Mitchell's saloon and
talked with R.W. Mitchell. From there they went to the corner saloon having an Italian bartender. There
Fricina wrote a letter to his brother in Peoria (special delivery) asking him to send him twenty-five
dollars immediately, care of W.V. Bandy at Hardin. Then they went to McGrew mine where Fricina
applied for a job at digging coal, in the afternoon, rather late, they re-crossed the river and had with
them three quarts of whiskeyùùtwo quarts and two pints.

After six o'clock , Monday evening, they stopped in front of Leroy Slusher's house, which is less than
two hundred yards west and a little north of Dave Killen's home.
Fricina was very drunk and Bandy was passing the blubbering drunk stage with very thick
tongueùùthe Italian was in vile temper, cursing an denouncing Killen. Fricina told Slusher that he was
going to kill Dave Killen on sight.

Bandy begged Fricina to go on home with himùùand Bandy stared up the road north, alone. On
(?)ishing his talk with Slusher, Fricina ran after Bandy to bring him back to the Killen house. Fricina
there threatened to kill Slusher if he told Killen about his plan.

In short, Fricina came back to the Killen home and kicked on the doors, but found nobody at home.
Before Fricina left the place, Killen arrived, Fricina struck Killen with a walking stick or club. Killen
picked up a board and knocked Fricina down. The Italian was permitted to get up on promising to
behave himself. As Killen turned around and started back to his own house, Fricina ran up behind him,
grabbed him, and with a knife in his right had reached round and gave Killen the death dealing gash
which disemboweled him and resulted in his death at about 7:20 a.m. , Tuesday morning.

Fricina and Claude Bandy immediately left the Killen place and went up the road to the Sportsman
residence, then on up to the Sam Rundell house where Fricina tried to start a disturbanceùùbut father
Rundell quieted the Italian son-in-law by knocking him down at the gate with a club and one of the
Rundell boys got a shotgun and drove Fricina off the place.

From this moment the whereabouts and travels of Fricina became uncertain and sought after.
Bloodhounds were brought to the scene on Tuesday before noon and they tracked the Italian to the
railroad platform in Lexington Junction, which correctly indicated (it seems) that the jealous Dago
caught a train at the Junction Monday night into Kansas City.

Sheriff George B. Kincaid was notified Monday nightùùand he joined the search at once.
Prosecuting Attorney Albert M. Clark, Coroner Hannibal Harris, Constable Coombs W. Higdon and
Jewell Mayes left with Dude Delphin in the Burns car about noon Tuesday for the scene of the killing.
The coroner's inquest was held in the Killen yard. The jurors were W.M. Bush, E.M. Chase, G.R.
Tabler, J.M. Happy, C.P. Finley and W.F. Meyers.

The writer examined the body of David Killen; aged 43, a muscular and healthy manùùand has never
seen a more vicious knife wound than that made with a stiletto or dirk in the hands of Joseph Fricina.
The first witness was Claude Bandy, at whose home Fricina stayed Sunday night, Bandy went to
Lexington with the Italian who told Band he was thinking of going to work in the mines there where he
could stay in the Italian camp.

The Missourian is careful to abstain from giving personal opinions of the actions of any witness on any
stand as to what any such actions might or might not mean. The summary of Claude Bandy's testimony
as taken down in notes by the writer was astonishing for its rambling style.

Bandy stated that he was "pretty drunk" on Lexington whiskey and that he was not sure he knew as to
statements and actions of Fricina and Killen.

Witness said he stayed at the gate. Old not hear or see anything till Fricina fell and Killen jumped on
him. Had not heard Fricina threaten to "do up" Killen that day Refused to say he saw Fricina hit Killen
or Killen hit Fricina a falling blowùùbut did say he saw Killen on top of Fricina and heard Fricina
begging Killen to let him upùùand then saw Killen walk away toward the house, and saw Fricina
standing stooped over and take a run and grab Killen from behind and cut him.

Many questions Claude Bandy refused to answer either yes or no. Claimed he was standing at the gate
and was not looking and did see the trouble start.

Bandy's talk was thoroughly disconnected. He sat sobbing and seemingly frightened as he testified and
showed much sorrow and (?)ing in talking of David Killen.

He told of how Fricina had but his arms around Killen that morning and told him that he (Killen) was
the best friend he had in the world. He told also how Fricina had agreed to spend that night (Monday)
as the guest of Killen at bachelor hall.

Claude Bandy further told of the dirk-knife, home made in a special way, and the said blade was about
six inches long, besides the handle, that he carried it in a scabbard at the right inside his pants, that he
wore a belt, that the Italian cut Killen when they were near the ashpile between two trees. That Killen
hollered, "Ed, I am cut," that he was speaking to Ed Kirtley who lived with him.

Here Bandy told of how they went to the Rundell home after the cutting and how Mr. Rundell knocked
Fricina down with a club. On the way to the Rundell home Fricina did not talk about Killen except he
said "I fixed him," Fricina tried to get his arms around Tom Rundell and guess he would have killed him
if he had caught him.

Bandy told how that morning in the wheat field Killen had begged Fricina to not go to Lexington and
get drunk and how Joseph Fricina promised his he would keep sober.

Fricina had a picture of his Peoria store in his pocket and papers showing his bank accounts in Peoria .
Fricina had a rather heavy stick with him that he had used as a cane in coming from Lexington . Brought
three quarts of Lexington whiskey to the scene of the killing Fricina wrote at Lexington to his brother in
Peoria to send him twenty-five dollars to Hardin in care of W.V. Bandy to Hardin and remarked that
he was getting short of cash. Couldn't say who struck first lick. Never saw either strike first lick.
Brother Connie Bandy brought Fricina out from town Sunday morning and the Italian told Connie that
he was going to have trouble and indicated that he was going to fix Dave Killen.

It might be remarked at this point that Mrs. Fricina left her husband the last time at Peoria , Illinois , on
February 26, 1913.

Dr. J.H. Stapp told of being called to David Killen's home at 6:30 p.m. on Monday. Found wound in
the abdomen one inch above umbilicus and nine or ten inches long cutting through into abdomen and
also perforating the intestines in four places. Killen was conscious and said that Dago Joe cut him.
Stayed with Killen till he died at 7:20 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Death was from knife wound.
At this point Leroy Slusher was sworn and testified. The following is a condensed summary of the meat
of his statement, the writer having many more notes that could not be gotten into type on this page.
Live less than two hundred yards west and a little north of David Killen. Was at home at 6 p.m. o'clock
Monday evening when my dogs barked. Looked out, saw two men in road. Dave Killen had told me
Fricina and Claude Bandy had stopped where he was sowing wheat that morning and said they were
going to Lexington.

Sunday night Mrs. W.V. Bandy had told him and Dave Killen that Fricina had threatened to kill Killen
and that Dave must not go to Rundell's place. Mrs. Bandy told Slusher this and she said she had told
Killen.

Told of how he had met Mrs. Bandy in the road Sunday night. He told of meeting Fricina and Killen in
the road that night and saw Mrs. Bandy and Killen talking and that Killen said that he was Fricina's
friend and that Fricina was going to stay all night with him.

Told how he was uneasy about Killen and feared that the Italian was going to murder himùùand on
Monday he told Killen about what he had heard of Fricina's threats and Killen said he wasn't afraid of
the Italian because he had not said anything to Mrs. Fricina in any way that Fricina could object to.
Going back to Monday night at 6 o'clock in front of his house, he said Claude Bandy hollered at him
and said "Come out, I want to see you," Bandy says "I have been drinking and don't you want some?"
Showed two quarts and on pint bottle and Fricina showed another. Slusher said he put the bottle to his
lips but did not drink a drop being afraid that to refuse might start trouble with the two drunken men,
and that they seemed to think that he had drank of the liquor.

Then Fricina became very friendly and told Bandy to let him do all the talkingùùand Bandy kept on
butting in until Fricina threatened to do him up un(?) he shut up. Fricina said to Slusher, "Do you know
that man on the hill"ùùpointing to Dave Killen's house.

Then Fricina poured out a lot of abuse of Killen, threatening his life and accusing his of offering to pay
for a divorce from his wifeùù"the dearest sweet woman and the prettiest baby in the world" as
Fricina expressed it. Fricina said that Killen wanted to marry his wife. Fricina put his arms around
Slusher and was hugging his and asked him what he thought about the Killen story. Slusher said nothing.
Fricina said I am going to get him and then cursed Slusher and told him he would kill him if he said
anything to Killen about it. Bandy had gone on up the road.

Fricina ran after Bandy and brought him back to Killen's gate.

Slusher keeps his cow in Killen's pasture and was near the gate going to the pasture when Fricina and
Bandy returnedùùFricina threatened Slusher but says "go on and get" your cow, but don't speak to
Killen for if you do I will fix "you."



Slusher went after his cowùùand as he was coming back saw Fricina kicking at the front door and
back door of the Killen house and calling "Dave, Dave, Dave, Dave." Killen was not at home but was
then coming down the road.



Slusher got back to Killen's gate with his cow before Fricina and Killen met in the lot about one
hundred feet away. As I hit my cow with a switch I met Dave while the Italian was coming from the
house out toward the lot and in a low tone I said to Dave "for the Lord's sake don't come in here, that
man says he will et you. You take up the road to my house and ran into the cornfield and get away."



Dave said "I am not afraid of Fricina at allùùit is Claude Bandy that he is after, for he told me so this morning."



Fricina was carrying a stout stick as a cane. If Dave had a stick, never saw it. Claude Bandy was at the
gate. Fricina caught his clothes in the wire fence as he crawled through from the house. As Dave came
through the gate, and Fricina was coming through the fence Dave walked toward him and just before
they met Killen said "Howdy, Howdy." Fricina pulled back and hit Dave with his stick, striking him in
the head, rapping him right hard. (This stick was used to give to bloodhounds the scent of the Italian.)
Dave hollered "Oh" and knocked Fricina down with a piece of a board and kicked him and began
beating him.

Fricina said "Dave, Dave let me up I am drinking, didn't know that I hit you, would not hit you if I
hadn't been drunk."

Killen said "You hadn't ought to hit me. You hit me first. If you don't get off this place I will go into the
house and get a shotgun and blow your head off." Then Dave let him up and walked away and Fricina
tackled him again. (Here Slusher showed the board that Killen used.)

Here Killen commenced hollering for Slusher. Slusher came to his rescue, helping Dave. About his time
Fricina got to this feet again, white his head leaning over about waist high and was trying to get into his
right pants pocket it seemed. Slusher saw something bright as if a pistol. Fricina struck at Dave and
Dave hollered and Slusher says that he, Slusher, broke and ran up the road home.

Slusher said he then heard Fricina cursing Killen and saw Bandy and Fricina come back to the gate and
turn up the road towards Crooked River and heard Fricina say "I will get you again, and where is my bottle."
Killen hollered "Oh Leroy, I am dying" Here Slusher described about going over to the house and
finding Killen lying on the bed wit his bowels hanging out. Killen told Slusher that he was dying and to
get a doctor all the doctors quick and to not let that Dago come into the door and tackled him again.
Slusher told about looking up road and seeing the man getting out of sight.

Slusher rode across the field to John Merrifield's' and telephoned for Doctor Stapp who came at once
and the other doctors came later.

Here Slusher told of Killen telling him about his business and to take care of the stock. Slusher started a
fire for hot water and Dave kept trying to talk about his business. Soon neighbors came in and Odd
Fellows took charge of affairs.

Here at this point Slusher said "This is a little different to the way I have been telling how this happened.
I have been saying that I stood at the gate all the time, for I was afraid to tell that I had helped Dave
against the Italian feeling that if the Rundell's took the Dago's part I would be in trouble. I am on oath
and am now ready to talk and tell the whole truth. I did help Dave Killen in the second attack that
Fricina made on him doing this when Dave Killen appealed to me for aid.

Claude Bandy did not take any part in any way, but did try to get Fricina to go on home with him
without stopping at Killen's. Slusher talked very freely and stated many side items not especially
important in the case and not hearing upon the subject.

Connie Bandy was sworn and told about Joseph Fricina coming to Hardin on Sunday morning and
getting him as a liveryman to haul him to Sam Rundell's where the Italian's wife lived with her father.
That Fricina told him he was going to have trouble near Hardin. That he had heard that Dave Killen had
been talking to his wife and in the connection Fricina said he was going to kill somebody and said
further "I will go up to Sibley to my brother and will get my (?) and come back to Hardin and whip all
of them."

He further said, "I'll kill somebody close to this town." Bandy said he told him mother that Fricina said
that somebody had been going to Rundell's and that he was going to kill him.

Saw Fricina and Killen meet at livery barn Sunday night, they went off together like good friends.
Fricina left his pistol in the office at barn but Bandy did not know that I was there till later. Killen and
Fricina got in a buggy, Sunday evening with George Letzig an drove toward Buffalo Bridge.

Fricina said on Sunday that he was going to try to get his wife to live with him and that if she would not
she could go it. Fricina said that he had heard that Killen had offered his wife money to get a divorce.
R.W. Mitchell of Lexington testified about seeing Claude Bandy and Joseph Fricina in the McIntyre-
Mitchell saloon in Lexington on Monday morning. Told of their talk which did not contain any threats.
Fricina claimed to be hunting for mine work and asked for Italians in Lexington and Mitchell directed
him to the camp south of town and to the saloon that has an Italian bar tender.

Charles Rundell told of hearing threats through neighbors that Fricina had threatened Dave Killen. Do
not know that Killen had offered to pay for his sister's divorce. Chas. Said he had not talked with
Fricina because he did not like him.

Walter Rundell, brother of Mrs. Fricina, testified among other-things he said his sister had left Fricina
once before when they had lived together about a year and after two or three weeks came back after
her. Sister has been at home several months this time and Fricina has been writing to her to try to get
her to come back.

Fricina was at Rundell's home most of the day, Sunday. Heard nothing about Dave Killen, Sunday.
Fricina had begged his wife to go with him and she had told him she was not going back. The Italian
told her that he would lose his last drop of blood for her and the baby.

Here he told of Fricina coming back Monday night and that his father would not let him in gate. Fricina
picked up a club and knocked him down. Fricina tried to get in reach of father and Tom Rundellàà

(Continued on page 5 column 1)

(From page 5 column 1)
David Killen Killed by Joseph Fricina

and reached to his sleeve as if for his knife he had previously (bad spot on paper can't read half of line)
Walter (?) now he then ran into the house and get the shotgun and drove Fricina off the (?)



Howier Hoover here was sworn, (?) (?) no know any essential facts (can't read again about ++ line)
Robert W. Sportsman testified, told how Fricina and Claude Bandy stopped at his home after the fight.
Fricina said he would get Killen next morning. Claude Bandy said Mr. Sportsman told of having
warned Killen to beware of the Italian and that within an hour before the fatal blow was struck. Killen
said that he and Fricina were good friends and that there was no cause for trouble.

The coroner's jury promptly returned a verdict to the affect that David Killen came to his death from a
knife wound at the hands of Joseph Fricina and that there were no accessories.

David Killen, son of Fletcher Killen, was born near Campbellsville, Taylor County, Kentucky, on
November 13, 1870 . He had two sisters, Mrs. Bob Atwell or Rutledge , Missouri , Mrs. Ethel Wilson
of Fresno , California , and one brother, Chas., of Fresno . After coming to Missouri they lived many
years near Morton. The mother died in Kentucky , the father in the house at the scene of the murder.
David Millen was a man of generally good habits and was well liked. He was a Methodist and an Odd
Fellow, and his death had shocked and aroused the entire community. Funeral and burial yesterday.
The Missourian arranged to publish a picture of the dead man from the only photograph known to be in
existence, but it could not reach here for this edition.

The Missourian (?) prints the only known photograph of Joseph Fricina and trusts that it may be some
help in finding the man who killed David Killen. The Governor offers three hundred dollars reward, the
county three hundred dollars, and private citizens one hundred and fifty dollarsùùa total of $750.00
reward for the arrest and conviction of the murderer of David Killen.

Fricina certainly went to Kansas City . At three o'clock Tuesday afternoon he put in a call and left his
thirty five cents therefore at the Italian Saloon of Sabino Deferst, 600 e. fifth Street . Bell Phone Main
3005 Y ûû he was asking for Connie Bandy at Hardin. Thinking to catch him napping, he was told that
Bandy was in the country and would be back in three quarters of an hour. Police headquarters was
notified and two detectives went on the job at once.

It was thought that Fricina was calling up to find out how badly Killen was hurt, not having had a
chance to know he was dead. The Missourian suggests that he was also desiring to have "that $25.00"
sent to some new address from Hardin.

Fricina did not show up at 600 E. Fifth Street any moreùùno doubt disappearing into Little Italy and
its shadowiness occlusion from whence few oriminate are ever brought to justice.
Last night a telegram to Prosecuting Attorney Albert M. Clark from Chief of Detectives J. Ghent of
Kansas City said Fricina was under arrest send man to identify. Sheriff Kincaid and Woody Mansur of
Hardin went on the 7:00 Wabash . Up to 11 o'clock last night they had not reported here. Jewell
Mayes called headquarters at that hour and was told "Not Fricina, but look as much like has as twin brother."
Up to 1:30 today Sheriff Kincaid had not reported back here with any word, and it is hoped that he is
following a hot trail.

This reporter of the killing and the coroner's inquest is an example of how The Missourian habitually
seeks to handle the big news of home 3,026 copies are printed and that leaved only a few extras for
counters sales.

The Conservator



Murder Near Hardin



Dave Killen Met Death at Hands

Of Joseph Fricina.



Ray county was the scene of another murder the first of the week. It was near Hardin and Dave Killen
was the victim. An Italian named Joseph Fricina committed the deed and made his escape and at this
hour has not been captured.



So far as the particulars could be learned it seems that some years ago Fricina married a girl near
Hardin by the name of Rundell They separated twice, the last time about three months ago. Fricina
came back and wanted her to live with him and she refused. He told some that he had heard Killen had
offered her money with which to get a divorce and threatened to kill him on sight. Killen was a bachelor
and came to his home and in the presence of some of the neighbors Killen asked him about the threats
and he denied making them. Killen told him he never offered the woman money and that the report was
false. Fracina said he would not kill him and professed friendship saying Killen was the best friend he had.



The nest day or in a short time he went to Lexington and commenced drinking and started home with
two pint and two quart bottles of whiskey. He showed a big dirk knife, with a blade five inches long, to
a man named Slusher saying he was going to kill Killen with it.



Just about dusk Monday evening Fricina reached Killen's house and the latter had been informed of the
threats. He order Fracina off the place when the latter hit him with a club. Killen knocked him down
and one of the neighbors who had told him of the threats was a witness. Killen kicked the Italian a time
or two when he had him down and when he began to beg for his life let him up. Immediately when
Killen's back was turned Fricina slipped up behind him and struck him with the club and they began
fighting with these weapons. Fricin drew his knife and the man who as watching the encounter thought it
a gun and ran away. Fricina slashed Killen across the abdomen cutting a gash ten inches long and
rendering him unconscious. He was found about two hours afterward weak from loss of blood and
grew weaker until the next morning when he died.



Fricina remained in the community for an hour of more and made his escape A man answering his
description was arrested in Kansas City this morning but upon investigation it was found he was not the
man wanted. A reward of $750 is offered for his discovery, $300 by the state and $300 by the county
and $150 by private subscription.



The killing created some excitement in that vicinity we are told and if the murderer had been captured
would doubtless have been summarily dealt with. Killen is spoken of very highly by those who knew him.




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