St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-01-06
UNC|VILIzED KANSAS.
A Bloodthirsty Mob Kills Two
Sheriffs From an
Ambush.
Judge Botkin Was Marked to
Die Also, But Was
Warned,
The MurderouS Outlaws at
Present Besieging Him
in His House.
Gov. Humphrey Orders Out
the Troops to Suppress
the Savages.

ARKALoN, Kan, Jan. 5.-Another
bloody chapter has been added to the
criminal history of Southwestern Kan
sas. The county seat war between
Woodsdale and Hughton has again re-
suited in bloodshed. A plot to kill
Judge Botkln, an opponent of one of the
murdered leaders of the feud, was put
into execution today, but failed
partially. Judge Botkin was to hold
court at Springfield today. There is a
county seat war on between Springfield
and Arkalon. A mob composed of the
old Stevens county faction were deter
mined that BoIkin should not hold court
at Springfield The sheriff and posse
were on their way to escort the
judge to his court when near the judges
house, they ran into an ambush.
Sheriff Dunn and Sheriff-elect Ray
Guyman were killed. One of the dep
uties is missing. Judge Botkin has
taken refuge in house at Arkalon and
his friends are holding the mob at bay.
His friends are calling on all the able
bodied law-abiding citizens throughout
the country to rally to his support.
The Plot Betrayed.
Three weeks ago Judge Botkin re-
ceived information that mob composed
of members of the citizens alliance of
WoodSdale and Springfield would en-
deavOr to aSSaSSinate him on his way to
court at Springfield this morning. The
information was furnished by member
of the conspiracy. who gave the names
of all implicated in the plot. 1t was
also stated that the judge would be fired
upon at the head of canyon, near Gull
vertS place, one mile southeast of
Springfield. Last night Judge Botkin,
Sheriff Dunn and six deputy sheriffs
held meeting at the house of the
judge, which is two miles due south
Of the head of the canyon. They
decided to scout the country between
the judges house and the court house,
and started from the house of the Judge
at $3.50 this morning. They came upon
the mob, composed of about forty men
with Winchester rifles, and fight en-
sued. 1t lasted until daylight. Sheriff
Dunn was
Literally Riddled
with bullets. All the other officers es-
capped and went to Springfield, where
they barricaded themselves in private
house. The mob pursued them to the
town. County Attorney j. r. Bran
chomp secured the body of Sheriff Dunn
and brought it here.
In addition to the members of the
citizens alliance who composed the
mob. there were also half dozen
desperate characters from Grant
county. All were under the leader
ship Of John Stoffle, recently convicted
In Judge Botkin's court of horsesteal
ing. The instgators and principal NOV
ers in the conspiracy are Mrs. Margare-
Wood, wife of the murdered Sam Wood.
John r. Garrison, of Garden City: At
r. Kilgore, C. S. KilgOre, o. s. Aubry,
of Woodsdale; B. j. Valvorhees, c. L.
Culvert and w. B. Orner, of Spring
field. Judge Botkin mas had detectives
in the camp of the Citizens Alliance of
Woodsdale and Springfield, the past
three weeks, and has in its possession
conclusive evidence.
This afternoon Gov. Humphrey re-
celved telegram from Judge Botkin,
dated Arkalon, urging the governor to
send the adjutant general with troops
to Arkalon on special train as quickly
as possible.
Troops ordered Out
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan. 5.-The following
dispatch was received this afternoon by
AdJt. Gen. Roberts:
1NDEPENDENcE, Kan. Jan. 5-Col. a. N.
Roberts, Adjutant General: Take a COM
Dany OF men and go to the scene of the
trouble i'll Steward county at once If more
force seems necessary as events develop. Or
der it to your aid. Make all arrangements
necessary for transportation and sup
plies. You will use the military to
preserve peace and to protect life and prop
leave for Topeka tonight. Communicate
with me for further orders. Act judiciously
but firmly. 1t seems to me that more than
one company will be necessary.
LYMAN HUMPHREY
Immediately upon receipt of this
message the adjutant general wired to
Col. Rlcksecker TO have Company A, of
the First regiment, meet the regular
Rock Island train at Hutchinson tomor-
row at Z o'clock. The adjutant general
left tonight and will take personal
charge of the military forces.
AThe facts in regard to the conspiracy
discovered by Judge Botkin go to show
that If the attack on him from ambush
proved unsuccessful the mob would go
murder him. 1t is thought an attempt
of this kind Will be made tonight.
History OF the Feud.
Since July, 1888, there has been tur-
MOL in Stevens county. The county
seat contest between Woodsdale and
Hughton eliminated then in the mas
sacre of Sheriff Cross and his deputies
by Sam Robinson and his gang of about
twenty-Seven men from Hughton.
There was an abatement of
the killing then until June
% last, when James Brennan, of
Richfield. Morton county, shot and
killed Sam Wood, of Woodsdale, the
acknowledged leader of the Woodsdale
faction. Brennan was arrested and
after two attempts to give him a trial
on the charge of murder he was taken
back to the jail at Hutchinson to await
the third and last attempt to secure a
jury this month.
This new killing increases the num-
Der of men slaughtered in the counties
of Southwestern Kansas to about twelve,
not taking into account the famous
Leoti Coronado county seat fight in
Wichita county. The direct cause of
the projected attack on Judge L. Botkid
is the fact that ever since the
feud began his sympathies have
been with Hughton, though his home is
at Springfield, Steward county, forty
miles away. James Brennan, who
killed Sam Wood, was his counselor
and friend and travelled about with him