The Globe-republican., 1891-07-01
S. N. WOOD KILLED.
Shot Down in the Court Room at
HuQoton.
4 Man Who Took . Prominent Part n
Kansas History From Pioneer
Days to His Tragic
Death.

HUeoroN, Kan, June 24-This city
was thrown into a ferment yesterday
by the shooting of Col Sam N. Wood
by James Brennan. Col Wood was in
attendance upon the court, which is
sitting here, and got into an alteration
with Brennan over the former troubles
over county seat wars and Brennan de-
iberately shot Wood down, killing him
almost instantly.
The murder of Col S. n Wood, took
place in the presence of his wife. Wood
was shot three times, dying in few
moments.
After the shooting Brennan defed
the officers and said that he would not
be arrested by Sheriff Cam, of this
county, but would allow Sheriff Weir.
of Morton county. to take him, as he is
a citizen of that county.
The arrest was made and Brennan is
now in charge of Sheriff Cam. who re-
ceived him from Weir directly after the
arrest
Brennan is recognized as one of the
tough characters of this section and
was one of the principal witnesses in
the famous Cross murder trial which
has recently been returned by the SUI
preme court for new hearing. He is
one of the principal men in Hugoton
and has been prominent in all the
troubles over the county seat removal
questions.
HIS EvENTFUL CAREER
Col Sam Wood was a native of Ohio He
was born at Mount Gilead, December 30, 1898.
He was the son Of David and Esther Mosher
Wood. Quakers- From cary youth he was
educated to Incorporating opposition to
slavery and became an abolitionist of the
most pronounced type. At the age of 10 he
was made cha rman of the liberal party in
his native county and in 1854 he was admit
ted to the bar in Morrow county.
An earnest Opposer of the Kansas and Ne.
braska law. Wood moved to Kansas in 1854 to
assert his principles in that fight. He To-
Gated near Lawrence, where he resided
during the exciting times of 1855 and 1851.
His bravery soon made h i'm prominent in
the anti slavery party and he at once took
prominent part in the early struggles, the
history OF his life being closely interviewer
with that of Kansas rs a territory. He was
not only an effective stump speaker but q
fighter. and Incurred the hatred of the Dor.
der ru1fians. He was a candidate for mem
Der of the first territorial legislature, but
met with defeat. At q meeting out of which
grew the ''Waukarusa war" he was one Of
the principal speakers. He was Kansas
delegate to the Pittsburgh convention In
1856. at which the Republican party was first
formed as a national organization and at the
subsequent con vention which nominated
Fremont for the presidency.
Wood was an extremist in everything he
did His Outspoken manner on any and all
subjects of consequence often made him
hsaeu
his political death But he was irrepressi-
BILE and would bob up serenely at the next
state convention with as much energy As at
the previous one when he had been 20 un-
mero:fully sat down upon.
The first home of this pioneer on Kansas
soil was q claim taken in 1856 six miles west
Of Lawrence Here he erected a small frame
house for his wife and two children and
lived there for q short time only. He both
wro:e and spoke in the cause of the free
state party. His contributions to the few
newspapers OF the day were numerous
scarcely an issue passing Of all papers near
his home bnt they contained one of those
Characteristic. rasping, personal articles in
which he SO delighted in attack ng an
enemy. He was thoroughly well posted on
the Bible, having read it through more than
twenty-five times. He had happy faculty
OF quoting copiously fitting paragraphs in
political arguments.
An 10y W OOU estaOllSneO the Kansas tfS0S
at Cottonwood Falls. The same year he was
elected to the territorial legislature and re-
elected in 1850 He was afterward elected to
the senate and In each house was made
chairman OF the judiciary committee He
was appointed collector of customs at Paso
del Norte, Tex. by President Lincoln. but
resigned at the breaking out of the war.
As captain Of the Kansas rangers Wood
won distinction at Wilson's creek anJ in
other battles. He was removed to Missouri
and placed at the head of Fremont's battal-
ion and finally made lieutenant colonel
After the war he was several times elected
to the senate and house. He was speaker of
he house In 1857. In that year he established
the Chase County Leader. He was appoint
ed Judge of the Ninth judicial district In
1877 During 1869 and 1870 he was engaged in
the cattle business in Texas In 1872 he left
the republican party. which he had helped
to found. and ardently supported Horace
Greeley for the presidency. From that time
he advocated financial and labor reform,
taking more advanced and radical grounds
than either of the old parties. He edited the
Kansas Greenbacker ut EmpOria from Isl
to 1879 and was editor. in chief of the Kan
eas state Journal in 1881 The same year h
was a candidate for congress from the
Fourth congressional distr ict and contested
the election of Judge Peters.
Col Wood was probably sent to the lexis-
iature as representative or senator as often,
IL not more often. than any other man in
Kansas If not q member of the legislature.
his presence could most surely be relied
upon during the entire session.
Col Woods career during the past three
years has added to his notoriety, IL not to
his fame First he became conspicuous be-
cause of the stevens county troubles from
which he absented himself when they be-
came too warm Then his well known abil-
ity gave him prominent place among the
counselors of the peoples party. He was
made clerk of the last house judiciary com.
mittee and outlined he course which the
peoples party took in much of its financial
legislation He early got into q quarrel
with Speaker Elder an the two men were
At outs most of the session
His main fight during the legislature vas
to secure the impeachment of Botkin- He
caused the impeachment proceedings to be
instituted in the house and furnished the
evidence which was submitted to the senate.
At the time of the trial of the Cook broth
ers at Paris. Tex, Wood was present and
had the dispatches sent north which told of
the drunkenness OF Boikin and the action
taken by the citizens OF the town when the
IaN