Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-04-22
WAR ~ RAwllns COUNTY.
Two Men K1llod and One Vvoundo1
end the Ind Not Yet.

On last Saturday news was brought 4
town OF the shooting of man near Scio
the name OF the man which seems 10 be
hold secret, - those who live near the
place where the tragedy occurred, refuse
to tell or do not know the name. It Il
reported that the man shot Was Pat Flem.
ing 8 hired hand.
The cause of the trouble was land mat.
tiers. It seems that one Bothwick had 10.
Gated friend of his on q claim and the
friend failing to make the Improvement
required by law, Homestead papers were
placed over the presumption papers. The
h0mesteader built . house on the claim.
but it was torn down by the Bothwick
gang, the carpenter who was employed TO
build it was pounded up badly, and the
homesteader notified not to attempt to
again build on the place. This
happened some six weeks ago. Last week
the homesteader again made the attempt
to build, securing enough men to put up
the house in one day. Fearing there
would be trouble with the Bothwick
gang, he enlisted dozen of his friends
to stay with him in the house, armed with
Winchester rifles and shot guns. In the
evening wagon was heard approaching
the house. A demand was made for the
Inhabitants to clear out, and on their re-
fusal, about thirty shots were fired by
those in the wagon at the door of the
house, not injuring anyone within. The
6re was returned from the house and one
man was instantly killed and Capt Wal
ling seriously injured, the wagon being
completely riddled with bullets and one
Of the horses killed. The occupants of
the wagon, about dozen in number,
en- -hnH
hastily.
1t was generally supposed this would
end the matter, and the homesteader had
the sympathy Of the people.
On Wednesday the report was brought
to town, well authenticated that the
friends had caught Both
wick at his sheep corral, and shot him. |
killing him instantly. The coroner Of
Rawlins county was informed and the in |
quest will probably take place to-day.
The latest reports say that they have |
Pat Fleming's place and swear |
on him for the many deeds of |
violence traced to him in past years to- |
ward settlers in that region. What the |
result will be is hard to prophesy, but |
one thing Is certain, if the Rawlins coun. |
ty officials are not more on the alert, the |
number of men shot will be swelled.
The feeling on both sides is intenSs and |
the whole neighborhOod is in arms.
The Fleming and Bothwick gang have
been trying to hold down all the country |
around them, and seem to have the enmi-
ty of greater majority of the new SET
tiers.
LATER.-The first man shot was Robert |
Nerville. The cOrOners jury, consisting |
Of David Spear, Mark Fleming, John and
VIM Murphy, John Schmahl and Colt |
leib Knore, found that the murder was |
premeditatcd and that the following nam |
ed are responsible : Isaiah Morris, Sher- |
man Atkinson, Elijah Call, JnO Barber, |
Alden Duell, Isaac Kasiah and his broth. |
er, Jerry Plummer and Henry Ramsey. |
Warrants are out for the arrest of the |
for the murder of Both
wick : Fay Gibbs, John Barber, Joseph |
Barber, Fred See, Philo See, Elijah Call,
Jerry Plummer, Isaac Cazadd, Alton /
Duell, Henry Ramsey and Sherman Ad-
kinsOn. 1t is stated that the Barber |
brothers were not in the county on the
lay of the murder and will be able to
prove an alabi.