The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-01-07
WHERE LIFE is HELD CHEAP
Mob of Kansas Cut-Throats Intrenched
in a Courthouse Ready to Kill.
The State Adjutant-Ge General and His Men Will
To-Day Conduct Judge Botkin to Spring.
field and Much Bloodshed May Result

ARKALoN. Kan., Jan. 6-Forty as deter
mined and desperate men can be found
on the border are armed to the teeth and
barricaded behind the walls of the court
house at Springfield. Seward county. to-
night Forty soldiers as determined to dis
guard at every avenue OF es-
cape. At this point soldiers are
guarding three of the murderous mob
arrested to-day. under orders to shoot rath-
er than surrender to their companions,
who Will probably endeavor to release
them before day dawns. Still another de-
tachment surrounds the house Of Judge
Botkin to guard against an attack of the
enemies bent on taking his life. Such Is
the situation tonight at the scene of the
atrocious killing of Sheriff Dunn yesterday.
At 2:45 o'clock this afternoon Adjutant-
general Roberts reached here with seventy
five troops under the immediate command
of Colonel Ricksecker. of Sterling. The
company was formed of part of Company
E. of Hutchinson. and Company H. of
Sterling. of the Kansas National Guards,
and met General Roberts at the former
place this morning
The intention of General Roberts Is to as
sist the only constituted authorities in the
execution of the law. He is not here, he
says, to take sides with either belic0se
faction.
Judge Botkin is here at Arkalon waiting
for reinforcements to help him open court
Botkln asked for help chiefly In the way of
arms. 1t Will be remembered that his first
telegram to the Governor was not for
troops. but for arms He thinks that there
are men enough here. but they are not suffi-
GENTLY equipped for the emergency.
Judge Ellis, of Pratt. where the family
of the dead Sheriff Dunn resides, came in
on the train with the intention of taking
the body home. He was accompanied by
the late Sheriff7s oldest son. Judge Botkin
and his followers, all armed with Win.
chesters. awaited the arrival of the
train. The Judge himself, In ad-
dition to his rifle. carried big
six-shooter in his cartridge belt.
Many others were similarly armed. His
and not one in the town wore any covering
on the hands, In order that greater freedom
might be preserved and the quickest &C.
tion admitted of in case of an emergency.
Roberts was that he wanted arms He
would rather have fifty armed and mount
ed deputies than all the militiamen in Kan
sas. To-day BOtkin wired the Governor
again to send one hundred stand of arms
He also wanted the troops kept here three
weeks and the county placed under mar
tial law. General Roberts has telegraphed
the Governor for instructions on this point.
Charles Orner and man by the name OF
Zandt both of Springfield, were arrested
mo n N o. from
here. They were in hiding In canyon
near Judge BotkIn's house. three miles this
sijH of Springfield. Yesterday afternoon
Befkin himself arrested Bay Robinson. of
Fargo Springs, on the streets of Arkaion
and placed him under guard. The three
men are kept under separate guards to pre-
vent them from talking.
Word has been received here that an at
tempt will be made to rescue the prisoners
tonight. On the receipt of that report
BOtkln gave orders that they De shot it the
guards found that their prisoners would be
taken away from them.
About O'Clock Company H. in charge of
Colonel Ricksecker, started for Springfield
in wagons to aid Deputy Sheriff II. p. Lar
rabee, if necessary, in serving thirty war
rants for arrests. Company +, the regi-
mental band and General Roberts remained
here to assist the deputies in guarding the
prisoners and to be ready to repel any
attack which may be made on Arkalon.
Company HI took plenty of provisions and
the,remaining company establishedquarters
in a vacant store building Part of Com
pany III was dropped at the residence of
Judge Botkin to do guard duty tonight.
At shutdown the Judge started from here
for his home, carrying enough arms to fight
dozen men.
Tomorrow morning the military will es-
cort Judge Botkin across the country to
Springfield, the cOunty-sea of Seward
county. q distance of twelve miles. where
he will open court. The troops will remain
there during the term, and also assist the
local authorities in serving warrants for
the arrest of the criminals. There is every
probability that bloody encounter
will take place tomorrow at Spring
field on Judge Botkln's arrival.
The Judges enemies, recognizing the fact
til at yesterdays murder cannot be allow ed
to pass unpunished, are now more than
ever determined to make away with the
Judge. His honor. however. declares that
he will hold court tomorrow in spite of all
the Wood gang. 1t is believed by many
that when the troops arrive at Springfield
tomorrow these meh will see the advisa-
bility of Withdrawing from the building
where they are intrenched tonight, but
that conflict between them and Judge
Botkin's friends can be avoided is hardly
among the possibilities.