The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-09-06

Tor yCaAo tAC anu
dust OF Mike Meagber have lain in Maple
Grove cemetary while the murderer has
been at large prowling over the country.
Yesterday the news came that this same
murderer is in custody in California and
will be brought back to Sumner county for
trial
This news will interest many people in
Wichita as well as all over the southwest
where Mike Meagher was known. He was
one of the early marshals OF ibis city when
it took a man with heart of iron 10 de-
fend the peace and execute the laws.
About - years ago he went to Caldwell
where he died with his boots on in one OF
the most memorable border fights on rec
ord. Up till this very day the Old citizen
Of Caldwell will take you around
to the corner of the Danford block to
show you where the outlaws bullets
Clipped eff slices of brick; and he will do
it with as much soemniGy as a London
guide would SHOW you the room in the
tower where Richard III assassinated the
two young princes Of Edward.
These were dark and bloody times in
Caldwell about that time. George Flat,
one of the most daring men of Texas, was
imported to Caldwell 10 accept the posi-
tion of marshal He governed the town
with all the force a1d energy of dicta-
tor, but not long; for ii soon came to pass
that it was policy to have him removed,
and as in the ancient DAYS of Rome, the
only way man was removed from office
in Caldwell was by assassination. One
night he was shot dead, the next
day be was buried and his sue
cessor was appointed. Either them
or soon afterward Mike Meagher became
mayor of Caldwell The Y. II. G. A,
arn% 4 fsTrf Of in
the politics OF Caldwell In those days, and
the apostles of the law of Hoyle ran the
town. They elected Mike and he pro-
ceeGed to make good mayor.
In the course of time it seemed to be the
policy 10 remove Mike from office, and it
WAS done
There was a famous cattle baron in
Texas about that time named Millet He
was known far and wide over the plains
for having the hardest aud toughest outfit
of COW Lerders IN the known
world. One summer day this outfit
pulled into Caldwell, washed their
faces, took a drink and proceeded to
take the town. Mike Meagher claimed the
right of running that town himself and
this conflict of legal and usurped authori-
ty preciDitaJed, as stated, one of the most
bloody fights in the history of Caldwell.
About siXty-fve citizens, armed hurriedIy
and consequently indltfcrently, rallied TO
the support of the mayor. They hid in
second stories of buildings, behind tele-
graph posts and around corners. Tue op-
position consisted of Talburt and his gang
of cowboys amounting in all to six men
armed to the teeth and as reckless as fanatic
Arabs. For several hours they fought a
guerrilla fight, the desparadoes maintain
ing the most admirable spirit aud tactics
under fire. When the battle closed Mike
Meagher was dead on Main street and a
young fellow named Speer was gasping
his last breath on Fifth street. AT ore
time Talburt actually ran into the middle
of the fire to silence an old fellow who was
shooting at him from the gutter with the
sidewalk for a breasJwork. Twenty shots /
were fired at him but they did not freigh- |
ten Linn bit for he actually disarmed the
old man that was annoying him and Civ
ing him kick told him to go home and
say his prayers. He intended to kill the
man but he saved his life on account OF
his gray hairs.
By this time the ammunition of the out
laws had run very low and they turned
their horses heads towards the Indian ter
ritOry and skipped. In going one of their !
horses gave out ana he stole horse from |
w. +. Campbell, now a prominent citizen
of kIowa and one of the best known horse |
men Of the southwest.
The citizeus formed a posse headed by !
Mr.. Campbell, and they followed the re- |
treating outlaws They caught up with |
them in the Strip and Mr.. Campsrll being |
far ahead of the others the outlaws picked |
him out as special target TO shoot at. |
Mr.. Campbell laid. fiat on the grass |
but the outlaws kept pouring stream of /
lead at him. When the fight ended aud |
the outlaws escaped in the darkness Mr.. |
Campbell picked himself up His arm |
was shot through with bullet. Upon |
further examination he found thirty |
eight holes in his clothing made by the |
shots of the outlaws.
\ price was put upon the head of Tai |
burt, but he Disappeared mYsterlously |
and was not heard of Till few DAYS ago.
One of his party, young fellow named |
Hill. was arrested at san Antonio about |
six years ago, tried at Wellington aud con-
victed.
1t appears that Talburt, short |
ly after the fight, went to Cal |
ifornia where he was arrested recently for !
murder He was convicted but goG "a new /
trial and while awaiting the new trial it |
was ascertained that he was wanted in |
Kansas for the murder of Mike Meagher \
Fearing that be Will be acquitted in "A new |
trial the Callforulsus are willing To give /
him up to the Kansas officers knowing 4
that his conviction here would be a dead 1
CInch. His photographs were sent to the 1
sheriff of Sumner county and that officer /
Seut them up here so that the criminal |
might be identified by Captain Lee OF the |
Salvation Army, who knew the gang very /
well Bedford Wood, Curly Rhodes, Cap 1
Peters, and many others now living here /
knew the famous Talburt very we'll Bill 4
Fosset, now of kingtsher, was a special /
policeman or deputy marshal of Caldwell /
at the time and participated III the fight.
JOHNNY MeagheT. now of FL Reno. spent !
long time ard heap OF money hunting for
Ialourt so that lie might avepge the death
OF his brother, but he was never aO!e TO
locate him.
That was the greatest fight in the history
of the southern border.
DID HE TAKE MORPHINE?