The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1879-12-19
THE HALLETT MURDER.


Interesting "Reminiscences How Jim
Lane BIuned the Railroad Fellows
There has been a good deal of talk
lately in the newspapers about the arrest
of Talcott, in Colorado, for the murder
of Samuel Hallett, at Wyandotte, a good
many years ago, when what is now the
K. p. railroad was being started The
supposed Tslcott was arrested some days
ago by the sheriff of Wyandotte county,
at Colorado Springs, but the latest Infor-
nation is TO the effect that the right man
is not yet found. The affair has excited
good deal of interest in Kansas, and has
served TO jog the memory of the old set
tier and bring out Il good deal of inter
esting Kansas history in connection with
the affair.
The following communication to the
Topeka Commonwealth was written by
John Speer, we'll known authority on
Kansas affairs, and Is interesting not on
ly on account of the new matter it con-
tains, but also because it may be said to
be the other side, as opposed to the Hal
lett side of the case:
"Fro,a memory, the circumstances, or
rumors OF them, were these: MIR. Talcott
was chief engineer Ofthe Kansas Pacific.
representing the capitalists, the principal
Of whom was John ID. Perry, of st.
Louis, or he may have represented Ere
mont or both. Hallett, in his imperious
way, had demanded that Talcott should
m En m official Nf. 4
the work entirely inconsistent with the
truth, under oath, either TO get the first
subsidy of $4,000 per mile for twenty
miles from the government, or to secure.
more money from the capitalists nv rep
reservations that the first donation was
due OF $320000. This Talcott posi-
lively refused to do. Hallett left for
Washington, attempting to get the proof
in some other way, but when there, met
a report of TalcOtt in the proper depart
ments, which entirely blockadcd his lit
tie game.
Thomas Hallett To whip HIM. Tom
Hallett being a burly, stout man of 200,
and Talcott IL little, feeble man of not
over l2J pounds, the former proceeded
ut once to chastise him, and gave him,
an unmerciful whipping. Talcott
awaited the arrival of Samuel Hallett.
and laid for him with rifle and shot
him dead in the street just after he pass
ed him. 1t was deliberate, prcmedi-
tated act; but the whipping by Tom
Hallett was unmerciiul and undeservcd.
do not believe there was any reason for
the story that somebody in Leavenworth
hired him to do the deed, though that
story was told at the time. If Talcott
had been tried at the time, with the
evidence fresh of his excited condition,
almost to insanity, and under the terrible
provocation, think it is exceedingly
doubtful whether jury could have been
found to convict him.
''In this connection, think may ven
ture TO relate some incidents in connec-
ton with the first work of that road.
John Hallett had a kind of general
charge of it, and seemed to be almost
making his own location as he progress
ed. All Lawrence was startled one day
by report that the road was being grad
ed some three miles north of the CITY.
and committee in two hacks at once
went over TO near where the road now
crosses Mud creek. Nobody was there
to tell anything 10 the committee, and
400 hands passed west slightly grading,
i'll some places merely cutting a little
ditch without even breaking the grass,
but they called il grading. | don't think
there was enough done to stop Il plough
from crossing the track, Various COM
mittees were appointed and conferences
held. At an interview with senator Lane,
Samuel Hallett said he could not vary
his location out of direct line on ac-
count of the road being a great national
highway subsidized by the government,
but finally agreed if Lane would get a
majority of the United States senate to
petition him for such "A change he would
mt once make it. General Lane not only
got every Republican senator to sign the
| request, but induced President Lincoln
to head the petition requesting the Local
tion on the bank of the river opposite
Lawrence and Topeka-for Topeka had
fears of the same treatment Still the
location was not made to Lawrence, and
Hallett wanted 100000 of Douglas
county bonds. Lane then got an amend
atory bill passed, authorizing the loca-
ton to Lawrence and Topeka, but this
| amendatory bill was subject to the ac-
ceptance of the company | was
sent to Washington by the citizens of
Lawrence to work in behalf of the loca-
tion-.John d. Perry. Samuel Hallett,
and perhaps other stockholders being
there. One day, as Lane lay upon a
couch in his room, Hallett came in and
tOOA a scat ny Lame ) Dcti, where he Sui
lay resting himself With all his sauvity
of manner, he said; Senator, we have
concluded that we cannot change the
road to Lawrence unless Douglas coun-
ty will give us 100000 in bonds to pay
extra expenses Lane raised up in
bed, his eyes fairly flashing with indig-
nation. 1t WAS just after the Lawrence
massacre. You shall not get dollar
out of that burned and murdered town.
You shall take up every stump and log
you have buried and make a first-class
road in every respect, and when you get
dollar of your subsidies, let me know
1t Lane laid back in his bed. Hallett
essayed to speak. Lane waived his hand.
No words-my mind is made up. Hal
lett left. | was scared-fearful our pro
ject would be defeated, but Lane merely
remarked, He will want to see me worse
tomorrow than he did today Next day
| met Lane on Pennsylvania avenue. He
drew up his face, and in quizical man.
mer said; 'Hallett sent for me for an in
terview.' We'll, did you have it ~ Moo
| told his friend that Hallett was posi-
tive man, and l supposed had made up
his mind. He will want to see me
worse tomorrow than today The next
day Hallett met him and entered into an
agreement in writing to locate the road
at Lawrence, and both signed it. Lane,
however, put postscript to it, to the
effect that it was his understanding that
the people of Lawrence were to pay for
the extra cost of grading. He also got a
copy of dispatch to John Hmlett in
Sam Hallett's handwriting, which
copied and had sent and then brought
the original to Lawrence. Thus the
road was located.
IL, -
Lane Mr.. Hallett returned to Wyandotte,
and was soon after shot But few DAYS
before the homicide, Samuel and John
Hallett were riding in buggy, when
they met Talcott, and one of them said
to him: Well fix you; Eve have the
tools to do it, and we'll teach you To re-
port Talcott said: Il don't hold Tom
responsible. You could hire any dirty
niger (his own term) to do the work.
And he kept his wort 1alcott was
right about the road 1t was a common
ehna Ill - Il.