Huntsville gazette., 1891-06-27
WITHOUT NOTICE
James Brennan Drew His Re-
vOlyer and Fired
Upon Colonel Wood, the Well
Known Kansan.

The Fatal Shooting of Colonel Wood by
James Brennan on the Streets of
Hugoton, Kansas-The Massacre of Mo-
Man's-Land-The Prominency of the
Murdered Man.
HUGoToN, Kas., June 26-Colonel S.
N. Wood, the most noted man in
western Kansas, was murdered here by
James Brennan. The murder of
Colonel Wood is only one of long list
OF tragedies that have resulted from the
notorious Stevens county county-seat
war.
This tragedy resulted directly from
the massacre in No-Man's-Land two
years ago by Sheriff Cross and five
deputi,s by gang Of desperadoes
headed by Sam Robinson. The mas
sacre was the result of war in Stevens
county, Kansas, over the county seat
The war was waged between the towns
of Hugoton and Woodsdale. The latter
was founded by Sam Wood, the victim
of this murder, who was the leader of
the faction which held that in the
county seat election the victory had
been obtained by fraud by the adherents
of Hugoton. Several Intellectual at
tempts had been made. by the Woods
dale people to remove the county
records from Hugoton to Woodsdale
and establish the county seat there.
One day about twenty-five Woodsdale
men armed themselves and marched in
the direction Of Hugs,ton. They were
met by Sheriff Cross of Hugoton with a
posse. In parley (which ensued the
Woodsdale people said they had no be-
igerent intentions and were only going
down to the Indian. Territory hunting.
They marched into the Indian Territory
and Sheriff Cross and his posse followed
them That same might Robinson and
his gang surprised the sheriff and his
deputies. stood them upiin line and shot
them down. A boy, Herbert Toney.
was shot in the arm. He feigned death
and escaped to tell the story.
Most of the Woodalale party were
arrested on a Warrant issued from the
United States Court at Paris, Tex, in
the criminal jurisdiction Of which is the
Indian Territory. The TRIAL resulted in
conviction, the case was appealed to the
Supreme Count, where the verdict was
reversed and the case remanded fol
trial. The case is still pending.
During the trial at Paris, Tex, Bren'
nan was one of theprincipal witnesses
for the state. Sam Woods was ono of
the defendants, counsel and during the
trial handled Brennan without gloves
Brennan swOre revenge, and when ne
heard that Sam Wood1was in town, he
armed himself, and, tafter a search
found Woods standing ON the corner
Without warning herirew his revolver
and fired four shots into his victims
heart. Woods expired without utterine
word.
Sheriff Cam attempted to arrest The
murderer, but Brennan stood the officer
off with his revolver. Finally he sur
rendered to Sheriff Weir, of Morton
county. who turnedihim over to Sheriff
Cam.
Sam Woods was very popular in
WOOdsdale, and when the news of his
murder reaches WOOdsdale it is feared
the people will seek revenge and that
the war between the two towns will be
renewed.
The murdered man was prominent in
the Farmers Alliance and was clerk of
the legislative committee in the lower
house of the last legislature. He was
also one of the steering" committee,
and was about the only fine WORKER
the lower house boosted of.