The southern argus., 1891-07-02
s. N. WOOD KILLED.
shot Down In the Court Room at
Hugoton.
Man Who Took a Prominent Part In
Kansas History From Pioneer
Days to His Tragic
Death,

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-
hberately 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 a 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 a 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 native OF Ohio He
was born at Mount Gilcad, December 30, 1SEo
He was the son of David and Esther Mosher
Wood, Quakers. From early youth he was
educated to uncompromising opposition to
slavery and became an abolitionist or the
most pronounced type At the age OF 10 he
was made cha irinan 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 1857
His bravery soon made him prominent in
the anti. slavery party and he at once took
prominent part in the carly struggles, the
history of his life being closely interwoven
with that of Kansas territory He was
not only an effective stump speaker but
fighter, and incurred the hatred of the bor-
der ruffians. He was a candidate for mem
Der of the first territorial Legislature, but
met with defeat. AT meeting out of which
grew the ''Waukarusa war" he was one of
the principal speakers. lie 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 ventlon 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
many and bitter enemies, who connived at
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 so un-
mercifully sat down upon.
The first home of this pioneer on Kansas
soil was a claim taken In 1856 six miles west
of Lawrence Here he erected small frame
house for his wife and two children and
lived there for a short time only. lie both
wro:e and spoke in the cause OF the free
state party. His contributions to the few
newspapers of the day we're numerous.
scarcely an issue passing of all papers near
his home but they contained one OF those
characteristic, rasping, personal articles I'D
which he so delighted In attacking 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 coplously fitting paragraphs In
political arguments.
In 1859 Wood established the Kansas Press
at Cottonwood Falls. The same year he was
elected TO the territorial legislature and re-
elected in 1860. He was afterward elected tc
the senate and in each house was made
chairman of the judiciary committee He
was appointed collector of customs at P.so
del Norte, Tex. by President Lncom but
resigned at the breaking out of the war.
As captain OF the Kansas rangers Nooo
won distinction at wilson's or 'ek ana III
other battles. He was removed to MISSOURI
and placed at the head of Fremont's Dlttal-
NfnV1s Rf-pn nj n NJ
After the war he was several times elected
To the senate and house. He was speaker oi
the house in 1867. In that year he established
the Chase County Leader. He was appoint
ed Judge of the Ninth judicial district In
1867 During 1869 and 1870 he was engaged In
the cattle business in Texas. In 1917 ne ieil
the republican party, which he had heiped
TO found. and ardently supported Horace
Greeley for the presidency. From that time
he advocated financial and labor reform,
taking more advanced and radical grour1s
than either of the old parties. He edited the
Kansas Greenbacker at Emporia from le'e
to 1879 and was editor in -chet OF the Nan
sas state Journal in 1851 The same year IL
was n candidate for congress from the
Fourth congressional district ana conte"'eu
the election of Judge Peters.
Col Wood was probably sent to the legis-
lature as representative or senator as often
If not more often, than any other man IN
Kansas If not a 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, III not &c
his fame First lie became con 'rtcuous be-
cause OF the Stevens county troubles from
which he absenteh himself when they be-
came too warm Then his well known abii-
ity gave him prominent place among the
counselors Of the peoples party. lie was
made clerk of tho last house Idiciary com
mittce and outlined he course which the
peoples party took in much of Us financial
legislation He early got into a GuaFrei
with speaker Elder an the two men were
| ut outs most Of the session
| His main Fl gh' during the Legislature was
| to secure the impeachm mt of Boiktn lie
| caused the impeachment proceedings to ht
| instituted in the house and iurnIshcd the
| ev sdrncc which was submitted TO the senate
| Al the time OF the trtai of the Cook hroth
| e-s AZ Paris Tx Wood was present and
| hal the dispatch, ! sent north which told "i
| the drunkenness of Bpfkin AID the aci or
/ taken by the citizens Of she town when tn