Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1883-05-17
THE DODGE CITY TROUBLE.

THE DODGE CITY TROUBLE.
The newspapers of last week contained
sensational and lying accounts of the
trouble which happened in Dodge City
about May LIST. At the time of the alleged
trouble dispatches were sent to the I.eav>
enworth Times. Kansas City Journal and
Topeka Commonwealth. containing brief
account of the occurrence. At this time
no particular thought outside Of Dodge
was entertained of the affair. Two weeks
later. . dispatch was received from Gov.
Click, addressed to one w. F Petition, ask
that . representative Democrat be seus to
Topeka to confer with tho Governor.
Petition was deputized to 60, having been
selected ut caucns held in Harris saloon.
Petillon'ssvisit to Topeka and Kansas City
is well known. he having been the author
of the vile, malicious. lying stuff furnished
the daily papers regarding the situation
IN Dodge City.
The Dodge City TIMES, two weeks ago.
contained.a short. account of the trouble
which has since given SO much newspaper
potorlety. We stated then that the en-
fOrcemenr of the ordinance in regard to
to the Suppression of prostitution ;" had
given some trouble. The ordinance pro-
vided for tho fnipg of all prostitutes
found lettering in saloons or upon the
streets. Three prostitutes, under the ad>
vice of Harris & Short, were employed in
the saloonsOf these men, purposely. as it
has since been shown, to evade the opera
ton of the ordnance. The women were
arrested and placed in the calaboose. The
arrest caused Luke Short to become angry.
and he sought to appcase his wrath by
firing upon City Clerk Hartman. who is
engaged on the police force. Short fired
two shots at Hartman without effect.
Short was arrested and placed under 81, 600
bonds. Short assumed defiant attitude.
He caused the city attorney to rise from
his bed. under threats at the point of the
pistol, in order to obtain bonds for the
women who were arrested. The situation
at this time was critical. Some prompt
aud speedy measures must be taken. Here
was q bold and aggressive defiance to the
law. 1t was known that q conspiracy
existed, for the purpose of making an
armed resistance to the enforcement of
the law. How to meet this armed COM
pact waslarranged by MayoraDeger and
tine police force. On Monday. April 3Oth,
warrants were issued for the arrest of
six persons. including Short, known to
DO engaged in the conspiracy. The
arrests were made without any resistance,
and the men placed in the lookup. The
leave town, and were given the privilege
of making choice of trains. The men
went in different directions. Short went
to Kansas City where he was joined by
Petition, the emissary to the Governor.
Short and Petition verv industrlOusly
furnished the newspapers with the ac>
counts which lave added disgrace to
Dodge City.
Governor Click teiegraphed to Sheriff
Hinkle. on FRIDAY last, asking for infor-
nation in regard to thelsalleged trouble.
ard offering the assistance of the militia
to ''quell the riot or disturbance" The
sheriff replied that Dodge City was in
perfect peace. Messrs. r. Nj. Wright and
-. Hardesty also telegraphed to the Gov
ernor Informing the executive that Dodge
City was in perfect peace and enjoying
prosperity. 1t appears that the Governor
had . company of militia in readiness,
having based his opinion of the situation
in this city from the statements furnished
bv Petition.
At the time of the passage of the ordi>
nance in regard to prostitution, an Ordi-
nance in regard to gambling was also
passed. The object of these ordinances
was for the purpose of putting the vices
under control and providing fines for the
carrying on Of the illegitimate traffic.
Neither prostitutes nor gamblers have
been prevented from plying their business.
But the city council desired that these
vices should be controlled without totally
dispOsing of them. The gamblers asked
that the fines be reduced below the minis
mum. promising strict obedience to the
law in other respects. This demand was
made and was cheerfulIy
given. Immediately upon this action the
prostitutes in Harris saloon were arrested
as we have stated. and also the shooting
afray occurred.
A great deal of stress is laid upon tho
conduct of the city election. The
issue in that election was plain - it
was whether the city should be turned
over to mob, or whether the city should
be governed by men who had decent re-
spect for the law. Mayor Deger and
Beverley. Drake, Emerson.
Sturm aud Bell, and Police Judge Burns
were elected By majOrities of 20 and up
wards. It is probable bad feeling still
existed in regard to the election. which
on the second of April, but under
that bad feeling was probably desire to
run the city as was intended had the |
Harris faction been successful. THE yes,
thugs. robbers, mulderers and Migrants
have 20 abiding place in this city. Had |
the election been otherwise this class of
people would have found hearty welcome |
in Dodge CITY. People who have respect |
for decent conduct and who abhor vice,
and who detest scallawagery would have |
had to seek more congenial quarters. But |
tue better class of our people have willed !
other wise, and will continue to uphold |
aud sustain the authorities in the course |
they have pursued, and in any course
they are likely to adopt for the peace.
dignity and protection of the city.
Dodge City 10 unlike the CITY of two or |
three years ago. While vice and illegiti. |
mate traffic Is carried on here. there is |
restraint in the conduct of these unlawful |
things. The better class of people even
among those who make no pretense Of |