Josie Laurens-Kensler: Murder 2nd Degree

Josie Laurens (Lawrence) married John Kensler 22 Jul 1886 in Shoshone, ID.
She was born Joan Josephine Lawrence 8 Oct 1871 in Utah
He was a Civil War vet 1862 at age 18 Born 18 Jun 1845 in Ohio.

They had two children:

Myrtle Estella Kensler 1887-1967
Albert John Kensler 1891-Unknown


Here's the story: 17 Oct 1896

Inmate #565 Idaho State Prison
Rec: 29 May 1897
Crime: Murder 2nd Degree
Age: 25
Term: Life
Discharged: 1 Dec 1909

Accomplice: Albert Rosencrans Freel

Inmate #  564 Idaho State Prison
Rec: 29 May 1897
Crime: 2nd Degree Murder 
Term: Life 
Discharged:26 Dec 1910

According to the story this is what happened:

Text for the above:

 Held for the District Court

The examination of Josie Kensler and Alfred Freel, charged with the  murder of John Kensler, consumed  three days in Justice Mullany's court at Glenn's Ferry, all the legal talent in the county—represented : cro Wolfe, Howie and Sinnott—being engaged on either side. No clue to the whereabouts of the missing man,dead or alive, was obtained,  but most of the evidence was such as to weave strong webs of circumstantial evidence against the prisoners.  The testimony of J. H. Morrow, H. C. Tinglev, Joseph Rosevear and D. E. Bayles showed that all tracks from the Kensler place have been br carefully obliterated and that the, condition of affairs are entirely unharmonious with the stories told by the defendants of Kensler's absence.  Freel states that Kensler woke him up on Saturday night, October l6th, at 10 or 11 o'clock, asking him to go to Ferry and help him spend $1400; that he heard Kensler drive the team and wagon out of the gate and over a culvert crossing an irrigating ditch, and that was the last seen or heard of him. Mr. Bayles found the team in the morning about a quarter of a mile from the ranch, with the forewheels of the wagon hitched to them and one of the reins wound about the hub of the wheel so tight that the horses could not move, and apparently there but a short time; a little further buck he found the balance of the wagon, all apart, but although the ground about was very soft and sandy, there were no indications or tracks of any one getting out or falling out of a wagon; no tracks were found about where the wagon was that the team was tied to, and tracks from the gate leading out seem to have been swept over. All witnesses testified to the apparent utter indifference of Mrs. Kensler, she taking no part in the search for her husband and acting totally unconcerned. Mrs. Canfield testified that Mrs. Kensler told her a few months ago that she would yet be sole owner of the ranch and when witness expressed surprise Mrs. Kensler said, "wait and see." The Bulletin is informed that the prisoners exhibited a remarkable spirit of bravado during the examination. The court placed  them under bond of $500 each pending further investigation. Mrs. Kensler furnished the bond on Saturday and was released, but Freel lingers still in the county jail. 

 Elmore Bulletin, 25 Nov 1896, Wed, Page 3

Then if this wasn't enough drama look what happens next:

She was named Gladys Kensler (1897-1984) even though many feel she was Albert Freel's daughter 

While in prison or shortly after getting out she gets married to an ex-convict named Andrew Renwick Ketchum 28 Mar 1912 in Canyon, ID.  

She was also married to Andrew Thomas date unknown they had a son named Edward Thomas 1914-1982.


Josie's name is complicated, all her prison documents say Josie Kensler with maiden name as Laurens, other trees on Ancestry have her as Joan Josephine Lawrence.

Josie died 17 Aug 1938 in Gallatin, MT.