The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-17
sAnxEY poHAx.
Afsse esveaesea Years Imprisonmsnt
He Waite sslins-rhe Story Of
HIS Life.

n
slim, pale-faced gentleman, perhap
about 80 years Of age. walked tn
streets Of Salina, examining the at
fractions With the interest Of chill
OF ten. His hair and mustache wer
quite gray, but his eyes were bright
and plainly showed the interest b,
manifested In bis surroundings
Occasionally he would shake tn,
hand Of an old acquaintance, snt
those who did not know him, would
gather around some old settler ant
attentively listen to the story Of hi
life. The man WAS Barney Bohan
Just pardoned from the State Pen
itentiary, and on his way to hii
wife and child In Montana, but
said he could not rejoin his family
until he had fret visited J. G. Mob.
Ter. ~ho through all the exciting
scenes Of years gone by, was his
friend and counsel. The man is q
quiet, inoffensive individual, and
one listening to his story will soon
be . symrathizer with him, but in
giving this short account Of the his.
tory Of his life, we do not want to
show him . hardened criminal who
has been justly punished, nor as an
innocent man who has suffered from
the effects Of minds that were guided
by prejudice In passing on his case,
but we will give the story as II came
to US, thinking there are many who
will read with interest the facts Of
one Of the most celebrated cases
ever tried in our courts.
In 1874 Barney Bohan, wife and q
one year old baby girl, were living In
Brookville, this county. Mrs. Bohan
kept the old Brookville Hotel, while
Barney looked after the business Of
bis saloon and billiard hall in Brook
vile, which stood where in after
years the Carlin Bros. had their
drug store. He owned the hotel
property and the adjoining lot north
OF Ii, also the saloon property, and
an so acres Of land adjoining the
town. He was q thrifty young Irish
man, who had the reputation Of at
tending strictly to business, and in-
terfering with no one. On the night
Of the 3rd Of November, 1874, he Was
to his business rs usual.
At . late hour all had departed ex-
cept II. s. Cunningham, NJ. ID. Me-
H. l.. Pestana, VIM. n.
Tbos. Anderson, Barney
BOhan aud his bar-keeper Heffner.
1t was the night before an election,
and Cunningham was q candidate
for Probate Judge. Politics were
rather interesting In those days. and
the discussion that evening Was hard
to stop. Several times Bohan tried
to induce them to go out so he could
shut up his place, but they all OBJ
jected. Finally about four o'clock in
the morning Barney jumped upon q
table and blew the lights out, leav-
ing only the light at the bar still
burning. This seemed to anger VIM.
n. Anderson, who Immediately re-
lighted them, aud exclaimed, He
would see who was running the
place." AID alteration ensued be-
tween VIM. Anderson and Bohan, In
which Bohan was getting the worst
Of it. Suddenly Bohsn, who was on
the floor with Thos. Anderson on
top OF him, reached out his hand and
got hold OF an iron car-brake that
lay on the floor, and hit Anderson q
terrible blow on the head with 1t.
They we're Immediately separated,
and Bohan pushed out Of a back
door. Some of the party were sent
Tor . doctor, others for water, until
The two Anderson boys were left
alone. Boban then appeared at the
'front.' door, entered the room, revolt
yer In hand, and again ordered them
10 quit his place. AS Bohsn entered
The place, William Anderson stepped
between him and the door, armed
with the car-brske, while Thomas
stood in front Of Bohsn with .
billiard cue drawn for blow. 1t
lid not take Bohan long to realize
mis- situation. He fired on Thomas
killing him instantly,
md then on William Anderson, who
lived about seventeen hours after
being shot.
Bohan was deputy sheriff under
rhos. Going at the time, and i'm
gave himself up, and was
edged in the present Saline county
all. Meantime public feeling ran
high over the killing Of the two
Anderson boys, who were merchants
It Brookville, and very well thought |
II. They were buried In Sslina, .
ew days after the killing, and the |
louble funeral naturally created
Iuite q feeling against their slayer.
That night q mob visited the jail
md tried their best to get BOhan out
o hang him. Thos. Going, sheriff,
tut Bohan IN the loft Of the jail and
ave him o Ratchet and told him TO
efend himself, which he could have
one very effectuslly, as there was
My one small opening for the mob
o get through. The mob searched
Trough the jail, and not finding
heir man, started for the loft.
'ome one was hoisted on the
houlders Of two Of the crowd and
Tas about to attempt searching the
oft. Sheriff Going, who stood with
rawn pistol near by, told them that
he man who dared attempt to reach
be loft, would surely die, after
,hich no one seemed anxious to
make the attempt, and the mob soon
fter disbanded.
Bohan had his first trial at the
november term Of court In 1874, for
be killing Of Thos. Anderson, and
'as convicted Of murder In the
econd degree. The motion for q
ew trial was continued until the
ext term Of court.
At the next term the case Of VIM.