The farmers' union. (Memphis, Mo.) 1891-1895, 1892-01-14
MOBS RULE IN KANSAS.
OFFICERS SLAIN WHILE DOING
THEIR DUTY.
Two Sherifrs Shot Down and Judge BOT.
kin Forced to Seek Rcfuge-COntinu-
alton nf a Bitter County-Seat War
Armed Factions Fight.
Dunn Is Dead.

A desperate plot to take the life OF
Judge Theodosius BotkIn near Arkalon,
Kan, was fciled. Three officers were,
however, shot down by an ambushed
gang which was lying in wait to kill the
Judge while his honor was on his way to
court. This is the outgrowth Of the
famous feud between Judge Botkin and
Sam Wood, who was shot by James
Brennan June %.
Information received shows that plans
TO kill Judge Botkin were laid three
weeks ago, and that the intended victim
was made aware of it the day following
that on which the assassination had been
arranged. Botkin lives on a claim three
miles from Springfield. His term Of
court was to open there, and the murder
ers were to lie in wait for him in deep
canyon and kill him when he started for
Springfield. 1t was one Of the conspir-
ators that disclosed the plot two weeks
ago, and Judge Botkin kept absolutely
quiet, telling only the sheriff and his
deputy. Accordingly the sheriff and six
deputies met at Botkin's house and re-
mained there till $50 in the morning,
when they started for the dee p canyon to
At daybreak forty citizens OF Woods
dale and Springfield, armed with Win
chesters and revolvers, rode up, a., d,
finding the she-:ff and deputies in am
bush, commenced firing. A desperate
battle cnsucd, lasting until sunrise. The
sheriff and two deputies lost their lives
at the hands of the assassins. The mob
then dispersed and the three deputies
who escaped unhurt went to Springfield
ard reported the killing. Then they
proceeded to Judge Bodkin's place and
warned him OF the danger. He immedi-
ateIy fed with his family to Arkansas,
where he is being guarded till the militia
arrives.
Attorney General Ives, received a dis
patch stating that warrants had been is
sued for the arrest of the murderers.
He said that would do no good, how
ever, for one-half of the people were in
sympathy with the outlaws.
Adiutant General Roberts has ordered
the two companies Of militia at Sterling
and Hutchinson to proceed to ArkalOn,
where Judge Botkin's life is in peril.
When Sam Wood was murdered last
June it was generally charged by his
friends that Judge Botkin and the ad-
herents of the latter were responsible
for the assassination, but no one except
James Brennan, the man who did the
shooting, was arrested. Judge Botkin,
however, did not feel safe in that part of
the country, and spent a great portion
of his time during the summer months
in Topeka, and with his brother, near
Fort Scott.
When court convened at Hugoton,
Stevens County, in September, Attor-
ney General Ives was present to conduct
the examination Of Brennan, and spe-
cial State officer was present to preserve
the peace, but as no attempt was made
to create any kind of disturbance the
State authorities relaxed their vigilance e
and for some time the Botkin district
has been considered safe and peace
able part of the State.
Since July, 1888, there has been tur-
moil in Stevens County. The county
seat contest between Woodsdale and
Hugoton eliminated in massacre OF
Sheriff Cross and his deputies by Sam
Robinson and his gang of about twenty
seven men from Hugoton. There was
an abatement of the killing then until
early last year, when James Brennan, of
Richfield, Morton County, shot and
killed Sam Wood, of Woodsdale, the ac-
knowledged leader Of the Woodsdale
faction. This killing occurred in front
of the little church in Hugoton, Judge
Botkin having converted the church into
n courtroom, where the June term OF
the Stevens County District Court was
being held. Brennan was arrested and
after two attempts to give him trial
on the charge Of murder, was taken
to the Jail at Hutchinson to await the
hi,l 1ac ct AT to- ia,rx
this month. Since Woods death hos.
tilities have ceased in HugotoD, and
apparently have now been transferred
over the boundary line into Seward
| County, which has been peaceful here.
| tofore, though it has always been
acknowledged that Springfield, the
county seat of Seward, has been in sym.
| pathy with Woodsdale and Arkalon, the
| prospective county seat in sympathy
| with Hugoton. This feeling of favorit.
ism, which unquestionably exists, has
evidently risen to that point where i,
| became uncomfortable, and the Spring.
field people have gone in to help out tht
Woodsdale faction.
The new killing increases the number
| of men slaughtered in che counties O
Southwestern Kansas to about twelve
not taking into account the famous
Leoti-CoronadO County scat fight in
Wichita County. There has never beer
feeling OF security in Stevens County
since the famous Hay Meadows massa'
ere of 1888, though at times the public
pulse has been serene and bloodshet
seemed an impossibility. But those mel
in Stevens, Seward, and Morton COun
ties, and in all other counties surround
ing that quarter, never forgive a wron,
or forget an injury. The direct caus'
of the attack on Judge Botkin lie.
in the fact that ever since tn,
feud began his sympathies have beer
with Hugoton, though his home is a
Springfield, in Seward County, fort.
miles away. James Brennan, wh'
killed Sam Wood, was his counselor an,
friend and Travelled about with him ol
his judicial journeys through the coun
ties comprising the district. At the frs
attempt to try Brennan in Septembe
last at Hugoton Judge Botkin refused t
preside, for the reason, he said, tina
Brennan had been his friend. So n
trial was had nor any attempt made t
secure jury until Nov. 4, when Judg
Wall, of Wichita, made the effort
Judge Botkin was in Hugoton when tn
last attempt to try Brennan was made
and it is remembered that when he drov
out of town after the court had failed t
get jury the sheriff of Seward Count
went with him with Winchester owe
his shoulder. The sheriff OF Sewar
County had simply taken Brennan
place as Botkin's body guard.
Poisoned Her whisky.
THE conviction of DIR. Graves for tn