Evening journal., 1892-01-06
JUDGE BOTKIN IN PERIL.
A Kansas Mob Declares It's
Intention to Lynch Him.
THE COUNTY SEAT FBUD RENEWED

A Mob Was Waiting In Ambush for the
Judge, but lie Was warned-A bloody
Battle with sherin-s Posse--soldlers
Ordered 10 the Scene.
ARKALoN, Kan, Jan. GA bloody county
seat war has broken out in this neighbor-
hood and three state officials have already
lost their lives, while armed forces are now
endeavoring TO capture and murder dis.
trict judge A bitter feud has been on in
Stevens couIey ever since the killing Of Sam
Wood by James Brennan on June o. 1891
This feud eliminated IN an ambush being
laid by desperate men for the purpose OF
killing Judge Theodisus Botldn, but the
timely warning gave the Judge opportunity
to escape,
Sheriff Dunn, with six deputies, started
out to find the ambushed men, ran into the
ambushers and were fired upon
Sherif-elect Guyman fell at the first fire,
but was unhurt, and escaped by hiding in
rocks. The mob hunted for him, but failed
to find him. He is now at Liberal Deputy
Sheriff Nixon also hid ia the rocks at the
mouth of the canyon and escaped without a
wound. The mob murdered forty men and
the battle between the officers and mob
lasted from daybreak TO sunrise. One officer
was killed and a number wounded.
The Cause OF the Fead.
There is a county seat war on between
Springfield and Arkalon. A mob composed
of the old Stevens county faction were de-
teImined that Botkin 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 Mrs
Larabie ran TO Judge Botlzinis house and
told him Of his danger. he fed to Arkalon
with his family, has taken refuge in a
house and his friends are holding the mob
at bay His friends are calling on all the
able bodied, law abiding citizens through
out the county to rally TO his support.
Since July, 1888, there has been turmoil
in Stevens county The county seat CON
test between Moodsdale and Hugoton cul-
minated then in the massacre Of Sheriff
Cross and his deputies, by Sam Robinson
and his gang Of about twentyseven men
from Hugoton. 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 Woods
dale faction. This killing occurred In
front Of the little church in Hugoton,
Judge Theodisus Botlan having convert
ed the church into a courtroom where the
june term Of the Stevens county district
court was being held
Brennan was arrested, and after two at
tempts to give him a trial on the charge OF
l 4.Ira Il. al IA
Hutchinson TO await the third and last at
tempt to secure a jury this month. Since
Woods death hostilities have ceased in
Hugoton, and now apparently have been
transferred over the boundary line into
Seward county, which has been peaceful
heretofore, though it has always been ac-
knowledged that Springfield, the county
seat Of Seward, has been in sympathy with
Woodsdale and Arkalon, the prospective
county seat in sympathy with Hugoton
This feeling Of favoritism which unques-
tionably exits has evidently risen to that
point where it became uncomfortable, ana
the Springfield people have gone in 10 help
out the Woodsdale faction.
Dozen Have Bit the Dust.
This new killing increases the number Of
men slaughtered in the counties Of south
MtnAtlM AAAIlNtte 10 LMElNtt uDh NhhAllE INTO
account the famous LeOti- Coronado county
seat fight in Wichita county
The direct cause on the projected attack
on Judge Botkin is the fact that ever since
the feud began his sympathies have been
with Hugoton, though his home is at Spring
field, in Seward county, forty miles away.
James Brennan, who killed Sam Wood, was
his counsellor and friend, and travelled
about with him on his Judicial journeys
through the counties comprising the district
AT the first attempt 70 try Brennan in
September last at Hugoton, Judge Botkin
refused TO preside, for the reason, he said,
that Brennan had been his friend So no
trial was had nor any attempt made TO So
cure jury until Nov 4, when Judge Wall
Of Wichita, made the effort. Judge Botkin
was in Hugoton when the last attempt to
try Brennan was made and it is remem-
bered that when he drove out Of town after
the court had failed to get jury the sheriff
Of Seward county went with him with a
Winchester over his shoulder But this
was no strange sight in that place. The
sheriff Of Seward county had simply taken
Brennan's place as Botkin's bodyguard.
The Judge Appeals to the Governor.
Judge Botkin sent the following letter to
Governor Humphreys at Topeka;
ARKALoN. Jan. e-The plot 70 kill me was
sprung here. A mob Of twenty 70 thirty
Woodsdnle men and about eight Springfield
men laid their plans to kill me from an ambush
on my road to court at Springfield. One Of the
men gave II away. A. K. Kilgore and s. o.
Aubrey Of Woodsdale and O. l.. Calvert J. r.
Yanvories and B, Orner, city marshal Of Spring
field, were planners. The mob is now in pos
session Of Springfield awaiting my arrival
Mrs Larabie, Of Springfield, has just reached
my house with message from the deputies
that the mob intended 70 como to my house to
kill me If they found was not coming TO
Springfield to court / have just arrived at
Arkalon These outlaws, under the guise Of
the Citizens Alliance Of Woodsdale aud Spring
field, should be hunted down, but the civil au-
thorities Of this county are powerless, as we
have no sheriff Please advise. viii remain
here until hear. BorKIN.
Soldiers Sent to the Scene
TOPEKA, Jan. Ex-Governor Humphreys
sent company Of soldiers to the scene Of
he 10 -.