The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-07-03
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TOPEKA. June 0-Mrs. 8. N. Wood
has written the following letter to the
Democrat Of this city:
ITO the Editor Of the Democrat:
THE work of the Kansas ssate senate
Is completed. My husband, Colonel s.
N. Wood. was murdered in my presence
yesterday. The brave, true heart Is
stilled in death.
'You remember the attempt Of Az
reli and O'Counor Of Hugoton, to arrest
him last winter on charge of bribery.
Ha gave g bond to appear at Hugoton
this month. Anumber OF our neigh
bors went with US TO Hugoton, though
no one seemed TO apprehend any trouble.
We reached Hugoton not later than II
O'Clock, and as soon as it was known
that we had come, Judge Botkin ad-
iourned court until p. m. Colonel
Wood drove our buggy, with Mrs. Car
penter and myself, to the G-oor of the
church, which was used as court
house, left us sitting in the buggy.
and went in to examine the docket,
While he was in the room OConnor
and two or three others came into
the vestibule or entry. One man re-
NAMED leaning against the outside
door, which was wide open. He had
his right hand in a pocket at his side
or back. O'Connor and another man
walked forward on the main street with
their heads close together, as though
whispering. Judge Botkin came out
and said. 'sHello, Jimmy" Then he
stepped to our buggy and shook hands
with Mrs. Carpenter aud myself in a
very friendly manner-though had
never met him beforehand then walked
toward the main street The man, jim
Brennan, still remained leaning against
the door.
Colonel Wood came out of the court
room into the vestibule and stepped out
upon the ground. AS he did so he
turaed his back to Brennan, and Bren-
nan quickly drew his pistol and shot
him 10 the beck or left shoulder. Colo
mel Wood raised his hand, looked
around and ran along the south side to-
ward the west end of the church.
Brennan ran after him and shot him
again in the back.
II had got out Of the buggy and was
trying to get between them and had al
most reached my husband when Bren-
nan put the pistol close to his face and
shot him through the head, and he fell
and died in about five minutes.
"a crowd soon collected, among them
Judge Botkin and O'Connor. Sheriff
Cam attempted to arrest Brennan, but
he resisted Cam with pistol in each
hand. Attorney B. E. johnson caught
Sheriff Cams hand pushed it down,
telling him not to shoot. Brennan said
he would not surrender to him, but
would let Sheriff Frank Weir of Nor
ton county. take him. Judge Botkin
ordered Weir to take charge of Bren-
nan and he did so. In the meantime
Judge Botkin stated to the crowd that
there would be no more court-that
court would be adjourned for this term.
'O'Connor swore out a warrant be-
fore Davis, a justice of the peace, and
constable Aprell arrested Brennan.
He was then taken by Aurell, Weir and
other friends to Morton county. His
preliminary examination is set for some
in July.
This Jim Brennan has been for more
than q year devoted attache of Judge
Botkin, attending his court at different
places with him. He has been at every
meeting of our county commissioners,
armed and In the room with them, ever
since the beginning of the county COM
missioner and county attorney contest.
These facts have been given me by
men who witnessed them. My husband
was dying and l did not watch the
crowd. There is not the least doubt
but that this murder was planned by
Judge Botkin, O'Connor and other
citizens of Hugpton. Every circum-
stance confirms this conclusion. One
incident | will give:
"a little son of ex-Judge Nash said
in the presence of Mrs. Fleming Of
Ulysses. as we drove into town, Three
comes Sam Wood and they are going to
kill him to-day A girl quickly told
him to keep still-that he was talking
too much.
Soma men with whom l talked in
Topeka last winter will remember that
told them that # Judge Botkin was
not removed from this district my bus
band would be killed. and.the murderer
would have Judicial protection. The
members of the Kansas state senate who
voted to sustain Botkin are responsible
for the murder of Colonel S. n. Wood.
His blood will be required of them. l
have not the slightest hope that any OF
these murderers, whether in official or
unofficial stations, will ever be brought
to Justice. But do know, and thank
God, that His eternal justice never fails.
shall try to be patient and strong. |
can only hope and pray that time will
fly swiftly and that we shall not be
Sundered long,
MRS. S. n. WOOD.
"Woodsdale, Kas., June "a"