The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-01-10
THE KANSAS DEsPERADoEs.
Judge Botki1 VIII Not Leave the Benel
Till kilicd-runeral of Dunn.

who has returned from Pratt, declares
firmly that he will remain here until his
term of Office expires, unless killed. He
will 60 10 Springfield Monday and open
court under military protection. His
house IS still guarded by detachment Of
troops. Aaron Potter arrived here last
night from Springfield, and reported that
on the way here he met q wagon loaded
with seven men, armed with WinchesterS,
moving in the direction OF West Plains.
All were strangers 70 him. and he knows
every resident Of the county.
j courier Just arrived from Hugoton
reports that the posse of Botkin's friends,
who have been chasing Sheriff Dunn's
mu-derers into No Mans land, have been
compelled 70 give up the chase and are re-
turning home.
SPRTSGFIELD, Kan, Jan. 9. - General
Murray Myers, OF the state militia, arrived
today and took command Of the troops.
General Myers and Adjutant-General
Roberts will unite IN q recommendation 10
the governor TO place Stevens and Seward
counties under martial law. The coroner's
jury has completed investigation of the
circumstances of Sheriff Dunn's death,
but the verdict has not been announced.
Warrants for the arrest of several more
persons have been issued. All the troops
are now concentrated at this place. It has
been agreed that the preliminary hearing
of the men under arrest for the assassina-
ton Of Sheriff Dunn, and those TO be ar
rested, shall be held next Thursday at
Liberal, practically neutral town in the
extreme southern part of the county. W.
f. Hutchinson has adjourned the district
court until Monday morning, when it is
supposed Judge Botkin will be present to
hold court.
PRATT Kan. Jan. 9-The funeral of
Sheriff Dunn occurred here today and was
largely attended. At the conclusion OF
the religious services Judge Botkin paid
glowing tribute 10 the courage. bravery
and loyal friendship of the dead man.
Relatives from Iowa and Illinois attended
the funeral
TOPEKA, Kan, Jan 9.-Jozeph Pitzer, of
Arkalon, attorney for James Brennan and
an intimate friend of Judge Botkin,
arrived here this morning and held long
consultation with Governor Humphrey
regarding the condition of affairs in the
Thirty-second judicial district. Pitzer says
there is an oath-bound organization of
Citizens Alliance men in Woodsdale and
Springfield whose object is to kill Judge
Botkin, and if he does not retire from the
bench they viii eventually dispose of him.
THE story of the events which have led I'D to
the deploraele state of affairs in Stevens county,
may be briefly stated as follows: stevens
county lies on the Southern line of Kansas iu..
one county east of the southwest corner
OF the state. The trouble originally
arose over an election held for the
purpose of determining where the
county rest should be established
Hugoton had been the county scar for years
past, but in 1887 a man named Sam Woods q
noted character, who was quite bright, though
he enjoyed far from enviable reputation. con-
ceived the notion OF having the county seat
established at Woodsdale, 9 ltrle town
three miles away. An election was held in the
fall OF that year and the psopIs voted TO retain
Hngotou as the county seat. Woods followers
contested the elsction, and the hearing
came up before the supreme court OF the
state They decided that the election should
stand. Before this decision Woods and ri,
crowd entered the Hugoton courthouse stole
the records and carried them OF TO weodsdsle.
Hugoton people in MOB proceeded 20 Woods
dale and recovered the records The troon,
were called out at this time In ths
election mentioned woodsdals had ,ue-
eeeded in eleeting the sheriff Of the
county, the other officers having been
secured By candidates recognized as Hurotor
men, IN the summer OF 1858 crowd of Hugo.
ton people entered Woodsdsle and there created
disturbance. The sheriff ana his posse went
after them Hugoton, in its turn Organized
posse and sent IL out after the sheriff This
posse came upon that of the shertfFs
while they were sleeping in haystsck at nirht
in what IS known - No Mans Land. The sher.
ii and . number Of his people were killed ont
hight. The troops were again called in AMI
some OF the parties supposed to have had
hand IN this murder were arrested. They were
taken 10 Paris, Texas, where jurisdiction
was then held, and tried before Unitsd
States court Some OF them were convicted
and were sentenced 20 be hanged. This ouieted
matters for awhile, until about six months ago.
when sam Woods was killed. He was coming
out Of the courtr room in Hugoton when soma
one shot him. It vss thought that Jusga
Botkin, the intended victim OF the as.as.ips-
ton which resulted in the death OF shsr-s
Dunn in The early morning OF January S. near
Springfield, was not disinterestsd in the kYIiny
OF Woods, and the lAsters wifs 10 now cbsryaS
with being one OF the eonspirato,s 70 take Jusys
Botkinl