The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1892-01-15
STEVENS COUNTY WAR.
a Bold Plot to Assassinate Judge
Botkin.
The Sherin's Posse WayIaid-Shcrin Dunn,
of Seward County, Assassinated-
Troops Ordered to tEo
Scene

ARKALoN, Kan, Jan. 6.-The border
war has again broken out and one
more life has been sacrificed 10 the
feud which has so long been the curse
of this part of the state.
Sheriff Dunn has been shot down and
his six deputies have been in battle
with a band of forty men, who were
lying in ambush for the purpose of as
sassiuating Judge Theodosius Botl1in
as he went from his home at this place
to Springfield to hold court.
Some days ago the judge received in
formation that he was to be killed,
when he went to Springfield to open
court. by a band of san Woods friends.
but he paid little attention to the warn
ing and made his arrangements to go
there and do his duty. Two DAYS ago
he was again warned that his life
would pay the forfeit if he presumed to
go to Springfield, and then he demanded
that the man who brought the warn
ing should be brought before him
This was done and long con-
sultation was held between the
judge, his friends, the county
officers and the informant. The result
of this consultation was that it was de-
cided to send a posse to the front to see
If the men in ambush cou be arrested
and brought to justice.
At about o'clock yesterday morn
ing the sheriff and posse started to-
wards Springfield. and when they got
TO the canyon between here and that
city they made arrangements to lie in
wait for the would-be asSassins.
They had been there but a short
while when body of armed men from
Hugoton and Springfield arrived at the
mouth of the canyon and at once made
an attack upon the officers At the
first fire Sheriff Dunn fell severely
wounded and then his body was
riddled with bullets. The other
men at once saw that the
odds were too great for them and made
their way over The rocks to places Of
safety. Two of them reached Spring
field and thence sent word to Judge
Botl1in warning him of the intention of
the mob to go to his house and murder
him if he did not make his appearance
at Springfield This word was brought
by 4 woman who walked the three
miles in order to carry the message.
The judge at once telegraphed the
facts in the case to the governor and
asked for troops to protect him and ar
rest the violators of the law, as the
sheriff was killed aud there was no
one in the county who could make the
arrests.
HISTORY OF THE FETD.
Since July. lsSS there has been turmoil in
Stevens county The county seat contest he
tween Wood>jale and H--oton eliminated then
in the massacre OF Sheriff Cross ana his Gepu-
ties hy SAN Robinson and his gang Of twenty
seven men from Hurot1n- There vas an abate-
men; o. the killing then until June p last, when
James Brennan. % Richacla. Morton county,
shot and iIl}d sam Wood. @: WoCGSdale- the
leader q rhe WooJSja.e faction.
II occurred ~ front ~ n" little church in
HuCotou. Juo-e TaCoGoS.-s Bc.lyi2 having con
ycrtrG she church mo q CoE-: room. where the
Jane term q: thc Stevens county district court
vas being Held. Brennan was arrested and
after Two attempts - rivc him - trial on the
charge Of murder ne was taken back 10 the jail
az HUIchiLs 10 await The third and last At
tempt Ia secure a Jury this month.
Since Woods Death hcStiiities have ceased
transferred over She boundary line into Seward
county. which b-s been peaceful heretofore.
though il has always hceI! Acknowledged that
Springfield IN" county seat cf Seward, has
been T. sympathy win Woods la g s-3 AT,alou.
the p-u~0.-stE. county seat. in sympathy
with Eu-s-uu. This feeling az favo-it-
s-a. = E-ca UuC-eStioLIl,y exists. has evidently
r5Son 'o Ina, r-iut where il became uEcoltroll-
aide and fhe Springfield people have CoLe u
d y OK Tlf' " .et..l.t .;-st-ll n
Tbs new l.-l.u- -Lcre-S.S The number Of men
- thu cu-I,..- O.: southwestern
aans-- Q .-i % r-tlVe, LC- t.l-ll- INTO account
Tho f:--Cr> L'o1.-, s-CrlCo county :, 1t fi-ht in
" ich.ja county.
Then, has -sve- been % tceltr- Il security In
Stevens ca--at- .n.a Tie famous Hay Meadows
nasSa>r. e. ISL .L0g-l al tines TIE public .
pulse mas been >era-c and blnoG~l.L seemed Al /
ulp1s> a.-it-- fiu; h5--he5--5 are these ren ia I
stevens. Sfra-j and Morton counties ana in a ! !
If The ,o-----s surrounding rL-t quarter. The
never :or-y- q ryrUu- or forgive an injury.
The direct cause OF The projected a-ra-S on I
Judge Theodore BotE!n = he fact hat ever !
'ince Che ta-- hs-4n HI syDpatli.> have been l
sith EuE5.ol, though Is home = q. Spring Z
led >g"a-i county forty miles AVA. James 4
brennan. who killed Sarl Wood. was his cou1-
elor and friend and Travelled about with him on /
Is Judicial Journeys through the counties com
lrisinr The district
Al tEe first attempt 10 try Brennan IN Sep
ember last a. Eugot"n judge Ro-kiu refused
o preside .Cr The -ea~ou. he SAID. that Brennan
laa ben his friend - 10 t-ial Wa had nor
NY attempt mae 20 secure Jury Until No
-CnhCr : hen judge Wal, OF Wichita, made
he CEUr--
Judge Eotllin IVES in HCCoton when last the
ttenpt To try Brennan was made and i i re
lembC-cd That when H. drove OK % town !
fteT the court had failed 10 get o ,ury. the
herl@ Of Seward county went with him with /
Winchester over rs shoulder B-; this vas
% strange s.-At n That Place. The sheriff OF
'ewsrd county had simply taken Brennan's
lace as Botk:n's body guard. Bat the body
uard : dead now. thu dispatches say.
TROOPS ORDERED OUT.
ToFEEA. Kan. Jan. at about 4
'cloc5 YESTERDAY af;ern. on Adiutaat-
General L br-ts re -eived a telegram
r n Gov. HumP9rev a Independence
rderinC linn to oi>pa,ch company of
roops II once :, the scene of the
roubles II Seward county and be
eadv - call out . larger force should
lore hep be wanted The coveraor
old Gen. Roberts u act judicioasIy but
ecisivelv.
Queen of Roumanit Dying.
7 n = Z