The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1883-05-10
A Reign of Terror

kANsAs Cry, May 9.-LSpecial IA man
named Luke Short, u saloon keeper nj
Dodge City, arrived here to-day, and re.
ported that the ely was in the hands of a
lawless mob which had for week carried
things with high hand not only by driy.
ing out citizens at the point of the revolver,
but intimidating newspaper correspon.
dents and others to such al, extent thar M
mention of their lawless reign had been
made outside OF Dodge City. Acco,d.
ing 10 Shorts story the trouble
began previous to the last city election
and Is light between the tougher element
oi that tough town and its more rpputnb,
citizens. Which faction can lay claim TO
The latter title may be somewhat problem.
atical, though Short declares his party is
entitled TO the honor. He declares that
the mayor of the town, acting with the
mob OF vigilants, drove himself and five
gamblers out OF the place, and are
preparing list of othes whom they intend
serving with notice to quit. lie declares
the vgilantes are headed by the proprietor
OF the worst dance hall in the west, and il
is hisintention to have martial law declared
in the town by Gorvenor Click, having EN-
pioyed an attorney in this city to 20 TO
Topeka and lay the case before the gov.
ernor. AdvCes received from Dodge City
since Shorts arrival here indicate that
there are at least two sides to the story.
The other side is the vigilance committee.
ana IL composed of the best citizens of the
place, and that the object OF their action Is
simply to rid the town of the gamblers and
prostitutes, who have so nverrun the place
MS to render necessary such action as has
been undertaken.
81. LOUIS, May o - Press The Post Dis.
n"tch's special from Kansas City, says; For
tle past ten days remarkable and
aitlins state of affairs have ex 'sted at
Dodge CITY, Kansas, aud ali mention. has
been kept quiet. Several prominent at-
torneys left today for Topeka to petition
Governor Click to place the town under
martial law, The difficulty is the culmi-
nation OF iong'standing fued between two
elements OF that place. which has long On.
loyed the reputation of being a hard place,
III is one OF the places where the saloons
are run openly, and gambling is legitimat.
lied. 1t Is headquarters OF the COWBOYS
and cattlemen of the vicinity.
Before the last city election
the mayor, a man named Webster, pro.
prletor OF dive, half saloon, half gambling
house aud variety hall. He was a rcpre.
sentative OF the lower element and sporting
fraternity. The head OF the element was
W. III. Harris This element was the
quie,er, but there was bitter feeling be- be.
tween the TWO. At the election for mayor
Harris was beaten and Degue, Webster's
candidate, elected, Since then il has been
conceded that Harris would be driven
out. About ten days ago man
named Short, who Is a partner OF Harris
and police officer, had shooting
ailroy, but neither was hurt. Short was
thrown In jail although the evidence
showed he was fired at first. Later fy,
gamblers were arrested and jailed That
night II vigilance committee formed. and
with Tom Nixon, proprietor of one of the
hardest dance houses in the west, at the
head of the crowd repaired to the Jail and
told the prisoners they must leave the
town by next morning. Meantime the Wig.
ilantes took possession of the town. Cor.
respondents of papers were notified they
must not send kilograms. A body armed
men watched the arrival Of each train to see
there was no interference. A LAWYER
sent for from. Larned by one
OF the prisoners, was met
by the vieilants, who leveled a gun ut h.,
htan and told him not to stop. The next
morning five gamblers were put on the
westward bound tram. Short left for Kan.
sas City, where he is now. The city is
practically In the hands OF the vigilants,
and the situation is most serious, from the
tact that the mayor is acting with them.
II was he who notified the prisoners to 90.
The trains are still watched and armed
men guard tine town, while list of Others
who will be ordered out will he prepared
Dodge city isin the hands NJ desperndoes.
and the lives and the property Of citizens is
not safe. Serious trouble is apprehended
Hurricane Sure Enough.