Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-04-06
MALICIOUS.

Last week we published the substance of
letter written by the secretary Of the In
terror to the General Land Office, concern
ing tire fencing Of public lands by persons
In this county. Il appears that the Gov
ernment has information that Andrews &
hcKittrick, who have ranch twelve miles
west OF here, on the Medicine river, have
prevented persons from settling on public
Lands In their enclosure. These gentlemen
deny most emphatically that they have in
terfered In any particular, or that they have
ever prevented any persons from passing
through their enclosure. They say this
matter Is being agitated through spite by
few Of their ncighbors who have already
used their rights to locate on government
lands. These parties who are causing the
trouble are not farmers; nor do they own
more cattle than they have range for; but
they are few men who are continually
trying to agItate the people OH some mat
ter-who have imaginary grievances, and
who are not happy unless they are kicking
up trouble and confusion.
We have cOnversed with several persons
from the neighborhood in which this m-
fortunate state OF affairs exists, and from
their statement we are satisfied that An
drews & AlcKittrick have not been guilty
of any net that should bring upon them the
prosecutions they have endured.
1t has only been few weeks since some
person, In the dead Of night. cowardly CIT
their fence for distance Of about aIrnile.
taking pains to cut between every post. that
the dmags migst be greater. This fence
surrounded lands that had been properly
fled on. There appears to be little ques-
ton as to the identity of the party who
was guilty Of this unlawful act anu. we I'M
derstand there is talk Of instituting legal
proceedings against him.
1t is 10 be regretted that this trou bic has
arisen, for certainly 1t will do much to-
wards engendering bitterness. A man
who would cut the fence OF neighbor
through spite, or jealousy, would, for the
same reason, burn his radge, kill his stock
or destroy his neighbours property. In
CENDARY is the only name We can apply to
such al individual.
II the law has been violated there Is re-
course for the aggrievcd, and outside OF
midnight raids on the violator's property.
This is supposed to be civilized country /:
but the acts Of few persons in this coun-
ty who have been leading In this onslaught
against the rights OF others, would indicate
that they were little more than unciyil-
lied, who totally disregard statutes, but in
sist oil enforcing their views at any cost.
Good citizens will discourage violations
Of the law under all circumstances; anu We
have an idea that there will be a general
discountcnancing of the acts we have spok-
On or in connection with the Andrews &
McKittrick.
Mr.. AcMlttrick made an affidavit which
he Forwarded to the department at WASH
ingtou, In which he alleges that the infor-
nation the department has in this matter
Is false (; that he has not prevented any one
from settling on any land IN his enclosure,
and that he never prevented any one from
passing through his pasture. He says he
has provided good and sufficient gates at
all the private roads leading through his
pasture. He has witnesses who have also
sworn In effect to the same facts.