Section 34 of Lansing's Mount Muncie Cemetery Continue up the roadway to the next intersection. The hillside dropping away in front of you with flat, barely visible stones is Section 34. The graves of Richard Eugene Hickock and Perry Edward Smith are 2 rows in front the Spruce tree in the center of the lot. Hickock and Smith are the murderers who were made infamous by Truman Capote's novel In Cold Blood. They were hung just a mile away in the corner of the Kansas State Penitentiary warehouse. Truman Capote purchased stones for their graves, but they were stolen in 1980. The stones were replaced with new headstones. The original stones were recovered 10 years later in Iola, Kansas. But since Mount Muncie Cemetery had never reported the stones missing, the cemetery does not own the stones. The original headstones are now the property of the Kansas Museum of History, but (as a courtesy to friends of their victims, the Clutter family) are not presently displayed.
Another multiple murderer, James Douglas Latham is reported as being buried only a few feet away from the IN COld Blood killers, but I could not find his grave. If you locate it, please email me with directions. Now turn around and retrace your path. When you reach the mausoleum where you previously turned onto this roadway, turn to the left. As you travel down the hill, you will see a large circular set of stones off to the right. Turn right and the road will circle Mount Muncie Cemetery's oldest and largest "baby mound." Take the roadway on to the south and the smaller, baby mound that is currently used is to your right.
Now turn around and retrace your path. When you reach the mausoleum where you previously turned onto this roadway, turn to the left. As you travel down the hill, you will see a large circular set of stones off to the right. Turn right and the road will circle Mount Muncie Cemetery's oldest and largest "baby mound." Take the roadway on to the south and the smaller, baby mound that is currently used is to your right.
Continue straight ahead, and turn left a few feet farther at the next roadway. Stay on the road until the next circle in the road. At this point, the large section without headstones to your right is section 12. This was the cemetery's first pauper section. It contains 5000 burials and individual graves cannot be identified. The road leading north (to your left) will take you back to the cemetery entrance. When you pass the flag pole near the entrance, if you look to your right, you will see a monument donated in 1936 by Custer Post No. 6 of the Grand Army of the Republic and Custer Corps No. 200 of the Woman's Relief Corps.
Mount Muncie Cemetery tour - page
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