By 1905 59-year-old William Rapson was frequently arguing with his son 25-year-old Herbert and Herbert's wife 28-year-old Kate. They would fight over the farm of H.N. Nottingham where they were tenants. In early January William agreed to leave the farm. Accounting of the farm started and fights still ensued and they nearly threw fists. Kate would get involved siding with her husband. They all lived in Joilet, Illinois together.
The morning of January 7, 1905, started out normally as the two would take care of the farm together. William and Herbert would go to the barn and feed the cattle and horses. Herbert would climb the hayloft and pitched hay down to the animals.
While Herbert was doing this William brought out a shotgun he had hidden the night before. While Herbert was coming down the ladder William would shoot his son once his head was visible. His death was sudden as the buckshot entered the base of the head and without even a groan Herbert fell to the pavement dead.
William would hide the gun behind the barn door and go to the home and ask Kate for help. She and her mother-in-law did not hear the gunshot. He told her that one of the cows was sick and he and Herbert needed her help with it. So unknowning of her fate she came into the barn first spotted Herbert on the ground.
She would run to her husband as William grabbed the gun. She initially thought he had been hurt, but she noticed that he had been shot she screamed and looked at William horrified. He pointed the gun at her and he was between her and the only exit. He told her "I'm going to kill you". She tried to run the other way away from him.
The chase ended when they were at the far corner of the stable. There was no way out. She tried to cover her face to protect herself. He held the gun a few inches from her head an fired. After he killed her he walked out of the barn not bothering either body. He would make his
He would walk straight to a neighbors home, Lewis Grouger, and tell him "My son and his wife are in trouble." He gave no further explanation and Lewis and William rushed to the barn. Lewis was disturbed by the sight of the murders and rushed to another neighbor for help. Inside the home William's wife had no idea of his crime.
William would reload his gun and take off his boot. He placed the muzzle in his mouth and used his toes to shoot the gun. This did not kill him. When Lewis returned he would find William and William would tell him "I killed them both. I raised the boy and I loved him. Him and his wife were mean to me. They wanted to throw me out to beg."
William would be sent to the hospital and would survive. William would plea guilty. Against what Kate's family wanted William would get life in prison. Because of his injuries from his attempted suicide and his old age even with the minimum of 14 years for both would mean he would die behind prison.
SOURCES:
Find a Grave Herbert
Find a Grave Kate
Chicago Tribune January 8, 1905
Matoon Morning Star January 8, 1905
The Worthington Advance January 13, 1905
The Tamaroa Times January 18, 1905
The Joliet Evening Herald-News March 2, 1905
The Joilet Evening Herald-News March 27, 1905
The Champaign Daily News March 28, 1905
The Joilet Evening Herald News March 30, 1905
The Joilet Evening Herald News April 1, 1905
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