The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-06

Hot Battle Between a Kansas Mob and
n SheriH's Posse.

| AkhALOS. nan, jan o.-AuOther DiOOuy
| chapter has been added 10 the criminal history
| OF Southwestern Kansas. The county seat war
/ between Noodsdale and Hugoton has again
/ resulted in bloodshsd. A plot to kill
| Judge Beakip, an opponent OF one
| OF the murdered leaders of the feud. was put
into execution today. 1t failed, and the bullets
| intended for Judge Beakin ended the life of
| deputy sheriff. Three weeks since Judge
| Beakiu received information that a mob
| composed of members OF the Citizens
| Alliance of Woodsdale and Springfield would
| endeavor to assassinate him on his way to
| court at Springfield this morning. The in
| formation was furnished by member OF the
| conspiracy, who gave the names of all i'm
| plicated in the plot. He also stated
| that the judge would be fired
| upon at the head of the valley, near Cal
| vert's place, one mile southeast of Springfield.
Last night Judge Beakin, Sheriff Dunn and six
deputy sheriffs held meeting at the house OF
| judge, which is two miles south OF the head
| of the canyon. They decided to scout the coun-
try between the judges house and the court
house, and started from the house TO the judges
at 80 this morning They came upon a mob
composed of about forty men with Winchester
rifles, and fight ensued. 1t lasted until day
light. Sheriff Dunn was literally riddled with
bullets.
All the officers escaped and went to Spring
field, where they barricaded themselves in
private house. The mob pursued them to town.
Shortly after day broke Joe LaIabie, court stenog
rapher, was seen by the members OF the judges
family, who all this time had been at home, ap-
preaching the house horseback. The mob
could also be seen in the distance. Larabie
fanked the mob and reached the house, when
he told the judge of the result of the battle
and urged him to fee with his family
10 Arkalon. Not long afterward Mrs.
II. P. Larebie, wife of an under-sherif, also ar
rived at the house with a similar message from
Deputy Sheriff Stein, cashier of the Arkalon
State bank. County Attorney Branchomp Sc
cured the body of Sheriff Dunn and brought it
here 1t will be sent to his family. 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 leadership of John StroT,
recently convicted in Judge Beakin's court
of horse stealing. The instigators and prin-
cipal movers in the conspiracy are Mrs. Mar
garet Wood, vile of the murdered Sam Wood;
John Il. Garrison, OF Garden City; A. II. Kigore,
G. 5. kilgore, o. ). Aubrey, of Woodsdale; b. J.
Valhores, A. l.. Culvert and w. b. Ornerm, of
Springfield. Judge Beakin has had detectives
in the camp OF the Citizens Alliance OF Woods
dale and Springfield for the past three weeks
and has in his possession conclusive evidence.
LIBERAL, Kan, Jan 5.-In Springfield, the
county seat of seward county, this morning, the
sheriff and three deputies were killed by squad
OF men in ambush. 1t is supposed to be the out
come of plot 70 kill Thomas BeGkin, judge of
the judicial district 1t is the result of the fa-
nous stevens county feud. which began in July,
1855, and has continued with few Interrupt
ions since. Seward county, before its organiza-
tion, was part of Stevens county. There is
county seat war on between Springfield and
Arkalou. The mob was composed of the old
Stevens county faction, who were determined
that Beakin should not hold court at Spring
field. The sheriff and posse were on their way
to escort the judge to the court. When near
the judges house they ran into the ambush.
Sheriff Dunn and sheriff Elect Guyman were
killed. one of the deputies is missing Ames
Larabie 10 Judge Beakin's house and told
him OF his. danger. He went to ArSalon with
his family. where no has taken refuge in
house, and his friends are holding the mob at
bay. His friends are calling ali able bod ed,
law abiding citizens throughout the county to
rally to his support.
[Stevsns county is Farmers Alliance strong
hold and at last falls election the Peoples can
| didate for governor had majority over the
| Republican and Democratic candidates COM
| bined. The Citizens Alliance is an ofshoot of