The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1892-01-15
THE BOTKIN FEUD
The Recent Killing Of Sheriff Dunn Re-
calls the Murder Of Colonel
Sam Wood.
The Cause Of the Trouble In the Begin.
ming the Refusal to Remove
BOtkin.

The recent killing OF SherlH Dunn
in Seward county Kansas, and events
incident thereto, calls for some ex-
PLANTATION of the circumstances that
led to the assassination of Colonel
Wood, and the recent reprisals in re-
talliation therefore.
Upon Governor Humphreys first
election in 1888, it was found necess-
airy to find places for many Office
seekers. Among these was disreput-
able lawyer by the name of Theodo-
sius Botkin. The legislature among
others created the Thirty-second judi
cial district embracing several counties
in the southwest part of Kansas.
Pending a regular election, Humphrey
appointed said Botkin as judge of the
district to which he was subsequently
elected as Judge. We will pass over
the county seat fight in Stevens county,
between the towns of Woodsdale and
Hugoton, as most of our readers are
are familiar with the bloody tragedies
enacted there ending in the murder of
Sheriff Cross and party. Residing at
Woodsdale was an eminent lawyer and
politician Familiarity known as Colonel
Sam Wood. He was an old timer and
fought with Jim Lane, and John Brown
in the border ruffan warfare of Kansas.
He was a fighter but preferred honor
able methods, and was, as far as we
learn an honorable man.
He unavoidable came in conflict
with Judge Botkin, because of his cor
rupt methods, but truce was made
between them and Colonel Wood was
in no way connected with the impeach-
ment proceedings that were instituted
later against this corrupt Judge.
The complaining parties in the
Botkin impeachment trial were H. F.
Thompson, editor of the Springfield
Republican; C. L. Calvert, real estate
agent; j. F. Van Foorhls, chairman OF
the republican central committee OF
Seward county; S A. Klein, postmaster
at Springfield; and Rev. Bradley, all
were straight republicans. The COM
plant set forth that the said Theo-
dosius Botkin. judge of the Thirty
second judicial district was incompe-
tent, guilty of oppression in office, a
gambler, habitual drunkard, and cor
rupt in office, and praying that he be
removed from office. This petition
was signed by 1853 names from Stevens
county, 154 from Seward county, 1916
from Grant county and &c from Has
kell county, all legal voters, many
were office holders, and the majority
were republicans. The alliance house
sought by a bill, or concurrent resolu-
ton to abolish the Thirty-second judi
cial district and thus save the state
$40, 900. the cost of this impeachment
trial. This failing, as a matter Of
form they signed the necessary pro-
ceedingst to bring the impeachment trial
squarely before the senate.
Colonel Sam Wood was not q men,
Der of the lower house, but was clerk
of the judicial committee. Formerly
he had been republican but was now
on the side of the peoples party move
ment and was a recognized leader in
his section. He was u quiet observer
of the impeachment proceedings hut
took no active part in them. All Of
these charges against Judge BoTkir
were fully proved by unimpeachable
witnesses. He was proven drunk or
the bench, drunk on the streets, drunk
in saloons and engaged in drunken
brawl in a town outside his district
and that he drank with man charged
with a criminal offense before his
court and promised him acquittal. Il
was proved that he imprisoned mer
without color of law, that he robbed
the town Of Springfield of $4,000, ant
was a sharer in the booty, that he wa'
a blasphemer, one Of his sayings being
that "God Almighty was c.
id fool" Now the republican
senate of the state of Kansas, cleared
this monster and turned him loose OF
the community to continue his out
RACES. and tyrrancies, and to be thu
cause Of murders and assassinations
Botkin lived at Springfield, Seward
county. and Colonel Sam Wood lived
at Woodsdale, Stevens county. Botkir
was holding court at Hugoton, Steven
county, and Colonel Wood in the fol
lowing Of his profession went there Il
examine the court records. Court wa
being held in a church which had I
small vestibuIe. While Botkin's cour
was in session Colonel Wood came in
Whereupon Judge Botkin, without an.
apparent reason, except guilty knowl
edge of the conspiracy. abruptly ad
iOurned court and went out. Whel
Wood had concluded his examination
he proceeded to go out where his wifi
was waiting for him seated in buggy
James Brennan, pal and bod
guard of Botkins was lurking in tn
vestibule, and as Wood went out shO