The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1892-01-16
ny KEL JIFDG BoTKIN
ANOTHER DARK TRAGEDY FOR
wm ggS9HEHWEST KANSAS.
The DastArdly FI0 Miscarries-Sherin
&pnnn of Seward County RiddIed
with Bullets By the Mob
Militia Called Out.

NhhALON, nan, Jan. Another dark
chapter has been added TO the history of
the deadly feuds of Southwestern Kansas,
and as its result Sheriff Dunn of Seward
county lies dead. while the militia has
been called into the field 10 restore order.
In the favOring darkness which preceded
band of men who sided with the late Sam
Wood in all his conflicts. placed themselves
IN ambuscade at the head of u canon near
Springfield in order that they might assas-
sinate Judge Botkin as he necessarily
passed by to hold court.
The plan for the assassination had baan
long matured, but the noted victim mad
long been cOgnilaut of the PURPOSE of those
whom he well knew to be his enemies.
A lew days ago an entire stranger to
the other informant sent word to Judge
botkin that men would be secreted at the
mead OF a canyon near Calyert's place. one
mile southeast of Springfield, at day light
yesterday morning for the purpose of kill
ing him as he passed along after breakfast,
en- route to his court. Judge Botlin lives
Two miles due south of the head of the
canyon referred to, and the road he usual
~ travels passes within fifty yards of a
place which forms a natural ambuscade.
Judge Botkin received the second warn
ing Sunday night, and it conceded so ex-
actly with the ono which he had received
three weeks before that he believed fully
IN its truth and decided to AXE every
precaution. Monday morning he held a
consultation with Sheriff Dunn, the result
OF which was i meeting of the sheriff and
six of his deputies at Judge Botkin's
house that night.
AZ 3:9O o'clock yesterday morning Sher-
III Dunn and posse started on foot from
Judge Botkin's house for the purpose OF
scouting the canyon, where the assassins
were opposed to be in hiding. They
reached the canyon just before daylight
ana went at once confronted by an organ
Izrd force of between thirty and forty men
who Immediately opened fire on posse.
The fight lasted until sunrise. Sheriff
Dunn was shot in the right shoulder and
at once informed the deputy nearest him
OF the fact. The mob rushed upon the
deputy as he went to Dunn's assistance
and overpowering and disarming him, or
dered him to ''clear out"
The deputy started away but hearing
hiring behind him he looked around and
saw a number Of men standing over
Dunn's body pumping lead into 1t out of
tuelr NlncheSterS.
Sheriff-elect +. S. Guyman was closely
beset and attempted to gain the top of a
bank. Bullets were whistling by him
like hailstones as he was seen to fall as
II literally shot to pieces, but ne has
since been found and is unhurt. His fall
was occasioned by a cramp in the leg, to
which he is subject. The mob hunted for
him for half an hour after the flight Of the
defeated posse, but failed to find him. He
could distinctly see and hear from the hid
ing place to which he had crept, the men
who, Winchesters in hand, were hunting
for him. They made jocose
comments on the excellent mark
manship they had displayed when
they killed Sheriff Dunn and said that
they did not want to go until they had put
a few more bullets into their other man,
Finally they concluded that they had
killed him and abandoned the search. He
was brought to this place and sent to
his family at Liberal yesterday afternoon.
Deputy Sheriffs Stein, Nixon and Custer
escaped from the ambuscade II took
refuge in a private house in Springfield.
CONSERVATION reigned supreme in the
home of Judge Botkin as he and his wife
and children saw at a distance the surging
crowd appear 10 start toward his house.
Suddenly the crowd was seen to stop as if
taken by surprise and looking a mile away
to the northeast Mrs. Botlsiu caught sight
of Joe L2ribee, the court stenOgrapher,
f1anking the mob on horseback and head
ing for the Botkin house. He rode upan<z
told the judge and family iua few WORDS
the whola htl4k &~Hf Qt& tEG#s