Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-07-02
S. N. WOOD KILLED.
Shot Down in the Court Room at
HugOtOn.
n Man Who Took q Prominent Part In
Kansas History From Pioneer
Days to His Tragic
Death.

HUeoroN, Kan, June 24-This city
was thrown into 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-
1iberately 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 defied
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 a native of Ohio. He
was born at Mount Gilead, December 80 1875.
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 aboitionist of the
most pronounced type. At the age OF - he
was made cha irman 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 aim 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 as a territory. He was
not only an effective stump speaker but q
fighter, and incurred the hatred of the Dor.
der ruffians. He was a candidate for NOM
Der OF the first territorial Legislature, but
met with defeat. At a 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 Republic an party was nrst
n
subsequent con vention which nominated
FIem0lt 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 rs much energy as at
the previous one when he had been SO un-
mercifully sat down upon.
The first home OF this pioneer Kansas
soil was claim taken in 1856 six miles west
of Lawrence, Here he erected q small frame
house for his wife and two children and
lived there for Il 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 on. of those
MAJ. syistic. rasping. personal articles in
which he SO delighted in attacking an
enem3 He was thoroughly well posted on
tie Rniv, having read it through more than
=: -: - -..vo tiAvs he had happy faculty
of quoting copiously fitting paragraphs in
political arguments
In 1853 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 to
the senate and in each house was made
chairman of the judiciary committee He
Was appointed collector of customs at PasO
del Nortc, 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 and in
other battles He was removed to Missouri
and p.acei at the head of Fremont's battal-
ion and finally made lieutenant colonel
After the war he was several times elected
{" the senate and house. He was speaker OF
tn. house in 1871. In that year he established
the Chase County Leader. He appoint
ed Judge of The Ninth judicial district in
1867 During 1863 and 1870 he was engaged in
the cattle business in Texas. In 1872 he lett
hi hf<h had hnlNN ri
to found and ardentiy supported Horace
Greeley for che 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 at Emporia from 1878
to is19. and Yas editor in CHIEF of the Kan
sas state Journal in 1881 The same year lie
a candidate for congress from the
Fourth congressional distr ict and cOnte ed
the election of Judge Peters.
Col. Wood WAS probably sent to the le2ie-
lature AS representative or senator as often,
IL 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 nOtOrietv, 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 abfl-
ity gave him "a prominent place among the
counse.ors 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 earlv got into quarrel
with Speaker Elder AM the two men were
at outs most of the session
His main fight during the legislature was
TO secure the impeachment of Botkfn. He
caused the impeachment proceedings to be
instituted in the house and furnished the
evidence which was submitted to the nat e.
At the time of the trial of the Cook broth.
at Paris Tex. Wood was present and
had the dispatch, 8 sent north which told OF
the drunkenness of Botkin and the action
taken by the citizens of the town when slle
latter 70; ced to flee to escape their
wrath. Returning home he began to woyk
up the feeling against Botk n. and he sys
Dramatically followed the matter through the
house and the senate.
Missouri Valley Turn Bezirk.
ATCHIsON, Kan, June 24.-The an
hual funniest of the Missouri Valley
Turn Bezirk closed here last night with
ball, during which the successful CON
testants of the athletic spol is were an.
nounced for al-round turning. The
fAo - 49,