Los Angeles herald., 1892-01-07
ARMED TO THE TEETH
Seward County, Kansas, in a
State Of War.
State Troops Prosecuting a
Vigorous Campaign.
Sheriff Dunn's Slayers Besieged in
the Court House.
Three of the Alleged Assassins Under
Arrest-Judge Botkin Converted
Into Walking Ar
sena1.
Associated Press Dispatches.


Journal from Arkalon, Kan, says: I:
Forty as determined and desperate men
as can be found on the border, and
armed to the teeth, are barricaded be-
hind the walls of the courthouse at
Springfield. Forty soldiers, equally de-
termined and equipped, are trying to
dislodge them and bring them to justice.
Other soldiers are guarding three of the
murderous mob, arrested today, under
orders to shoot them before surrender
ing to their companions in crime who
will probably endeavor to release them
before day dawns. Still more soldiers
are guarding the house of Judge Botkin
from the attack OF the enemy bent upon
taking his life. Such is the situation
tonight at the scene of the atrocious kill
ing of Sheriff Dunn yesterday.
At 2:45 O'Clock today, Adjutant Gen
eral Roberts reached here with seventy
five troops under command of Colonel
Ricksecker of Sterling. The companyis
formed OF part of Company f of Hutch
ison, and H OF Sterling, of the Kansas
National guard, and met General
Roberts at the former place this morn
ing. The intention of General Roberts
is to assist only the constituted author
tiles in the execution of the law. He is
not here, he says to take any body's
part on any side.
At Mineola word is received that the
Woodsdale people have taken possession
of the court house at Springfield, and
Judge Botkin at Arkalon is waiting tor
reinforcements to help him open court.
At Mead it was found that Botkin had
asked that town for help, chiefly in the
way of arms. 1t will be remembered
that his first telegram to the governor
was not for troops but arms. He seems
to think there are men enough here, but
they are not sufficiently equipped for an
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 accom-,
panied by the late sheriff's eldest son.
At Arkalon Judge Botkin and his
followers were awaiting the arrival of
the train all armed with Winchesters.
Judge Botkin himself carried a big
six-shooter in his cartridge belt,
and many others were similarly armed
His vest was unbuttoned to the cutting
wind and not one in town wore any COW
erings ON his hands, in order that the
greatest freedom might be preserved
and the quickest action admitted of, in
case of an emergency. Botkin's first
speech to Adjutant-Genera Roberts was
that he wanted arms. He would rather
have fifty armed and mounted deputies,
than all the militiamen in Kansas.
Today Botkin wired the governor again
to send 100 stand of arms. He also
wants troops kept here three weeks and
the county placed under martial law.
General Roberts has telegraphed the
governor for instructions.
Charles Orner and man named
Zandt, both of Springfield, were arrested
this morning. They were hiding in a
canon near Judge Botkin's house, three
miles this side of Springfield. Yester-
day afternoon Botkin himself ar
springs, on the streets of Arkalon, and
men are kept under separate guard to
received here that an attempt would be
made to rescue the prisoners tonight,
upon the receipt of which report Botkin
ordered that they be shot before sur
rendered.
About O'Clock company H, in charge
of Colonel Ricksecker, started for
Springfield in wagons to aid Deputy
Sheriff Larrabee, if necessary, in
serving thirty warrants for arrests.
Company E, the regimental band
and General Roberts remained here to
assist the deputies in guarding the pris-
oners and be ready to repel any attack.
Company II took plenty of provisions,
and the remaining company established
quarters in vacant store building.
Part of company H is at the residence Of
Judge Botkin to do guard duty tonight.
At sundown the judge started from here
for home, accompanied by his big re-
volver and his Winchester.
Topeka, Kan, Jan 6.-Governor
Humphrey arrived at the executive
Office this morning. ''If there is suffi-
cient power in the state, propose to
have the leaders of this affair arrested"
said he. "This is about all that can be
DONE"
Attorney-Ge Ives, speaking OF
the remedy for the Nlawlessness, said:
1.-THE trouble, so far as can ascertain,
began with an attempt by Col. Sam Wood
to resist what he asserted was the fraud
ulent organization of Stevens county,
which organization was subsequently
legalized by the legislature. There
seems to be a misconception OF affairs in
that county, and the trouble is attrib
uted to the county-seat contest between
Woodsdale and Hugoton. No such con-
test ever existed. After the troubles
resulting from the attempt to prevent
the organization of Stevens county,
rival propositions for bonding the
county in favor OF railroads intensified
the feeling already started between the
different factions, finally eliminating in
the murder of Sheriff Cross
and others, in the neutral
strip, and the attempt to bring
the alleged perpetrators Of that crime to
justice. Subsequently personal troubles
arising between Judge Botkin and Sam
Wood had tendency to spread hostili-
ties. The result was the impeachment
trial of Judge Botkin, which, ending in
his favor, famed the. smouldering em
bers into another fierce flame, which