Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-12-13
IN OKLAHOMA TERRITORY
When the Town of Caldwell
Was Under Mob Rule.
A MOST LIVELY PEN PICTURE
And All of it Claimed to be
True City History.
The Towns Tough Early Days and
Tougher Marshals-One Marshal After
Another Buried Until Henry Brown
Volunteered and Proved Too Tough
Even for Caldwell.

IOhl h1lILY Vs. LIZ ANoNs grs--EOlllC
people say that the toughest town in its
time in the entire West was Caldwell.
Those who remember the palmy days of
Pembina or Abilene or Dodge City may
doubt this. They may tell how Llmpy
Stutzman played game of cards for
what is now the town of Pemhina, Oak,
while the Speaker of the Legislature
and the committee on lands stood by to
see fair play. They may tell OF II
lynching on the day of the christening
Of Abilene, or of II general shooting in
which u judge,a hotel keaper,a minister,
and two miners were bowled over when
| Dodge City blossomed out into a city.
But when George Elaf became marshal
| Of Caldwell on the Kansas border in
1880, Caldwell was the king bee of
tough towns. Abilene, Pembina, and
Dodge City had had their day. Sutz-
man had deserted Pembina, Wild Bill
had civilized Abilene with a cutoff
shotgun, and Bat Musterson was en-
gagged in ruling Dodge City with pair
Of heavy six-shouters. Caldwell, being
on the Indian Territory border, was
headquarters for Dave Payne's OKLA
| homa boomers, and the Cherokee Strip
and Texas cattlemen and cowboys, as
| well as paradise for bad men with
killing records and for gamblers. Unless
a man carried an arsenal, swore like a
! pirate, and gambled like tiend, he was
not III good standing in society, and in a
| short time either left town of his own
accord or was carried to the graveyard
ON the hill.
For II long time the bad men ran the
town, and no marshal could keep alive
or in the town long enough to preserve
! order. Then George Flaif turned up.
| His chief and only recommendation was
| his nerve. He was known as bad man.
| 70 show the people that he proposed to
| run the town on border principles, he
started in for a reign OF terror. This he
brought about BY killing three cowboys
one day and two Indians the next. Then
he "lined up" the mayor OF the town
and made him eat crow. That settled
it, and the toughs gave him wide
berth. A plot vas fixed up to get rid
of man they could not control, and
one dark, rainy night some one let loose
charge OF buckshot which struck the
marshal in the back. He dragged him
self up against building, pulled his
six-shooters, and was discovered dead
with gun in either hand. Mrs. Flaff
sent to Chicago for Pinkertun detec-
tive and offered a large reward for the
apprehension OF her husbands muir
derer, but to this day the killing is a
mystery.
The vacant place was taken by Frank
| Hunt, Flatf's deputy. Hunt lacked the
nerve his chief possessed, but was of
the bad-man order. One night he went
to the Texan House to dance. After
many drinks he went inside and sat
down near window to cool off. Sud
denly the lights went out. some one shot
hole through Hunts mead, and orce
more Caldwell WAS without policeman.
The ball went on and Huntw as buried
the next day with proper and becoming
ceremonies. Half tue town got drunk
and the next morning three men were
discovered dead in one saloon
Bat Carr succeeded Hunt and escaped
with his life. He was handsome
gambler, but lacked the nerve to run
such a town. The Mayor and City
Council were powerless once more. The
cemetery on the hill grew larger. The
bad men had things all their own way.
One day Texan rode into town over
the old Chisholm trail He was a
bronzed blond with u Winchester, two
six shooters, and q record as Il fighter.
He had been engaged in the John
Chrisholm war in Texas and had been
u partner of Billy the Kid His name
was Henry Brown and he was broke"
He had heard that Bat Carr wanted an
assistant and lie hunted him up.
81 hear you want a man to do night
shift on the police" he told Carr that
day. "lf you do, I'm your man"
1--WE bury IL marshal here every As
hours" said the marshal with lau~n
at the crowd. "atill, If you don't . IL,
to that feature of the business you can
have the Place
"Suits me to a dot" was the laconic
reply, "Shall get to work right away 2
"Certainly; wade right ill.," said Carr
The boys learned that new man
was on duty and prepared to have sont
fun at his expense. The next day til,
town tarned out and buried two o tn,
wGuld-be jekcrs. Brown was proving
tough customer
Hell get mis- fill, though" said thu
boys.
| A week went by and minstrel snow
struck town. They advertised to wea
| pug ilhlSi anu 'cilltly jim ana MS GROVE
, proposed to have some fun shootn!
I through the hats. The show manage
heard this ami decided to omit that par
| Of the programme; but Brown ast
} learned ot his decision and insisted thu.
i the parade must take place as adYer
Used. He was SO urgent, and his six
I shooter was sos prominently displayed
: that the minstrel men were between til
. devil ana the deep sea, and concluded
! to so ahead as they had first intended.
! I'll take care OF any one who shoot
) at your hats" Brown said, and he KEEP
! his word.
. AS the procession passed down tn
. main street Sandy Jim was sitting on
store box. With yelp OF derision h
; pulled It gun and plugged Il hole throug
u high hat. Before Sandy's comrade
, could initiate his example Brown wa
. down on them. lie got the drop O
sandy and made him throw away hi
i guns. Then he ordered him to rul
: There was nothing else to do. Sand
a started. brown let him get almost on
. OF range, then quickly raised his GU
i and shot him through the head.
= BY this time Browns name was
terror ON the border. He decided tha
: Bat Carr was no man for marshal an
ordered him 10 resign and leave.
- Suppose | don't go, said Carr.
Then they'll carry you out, but onl
as far as the graveyard" said Brown.
Carr left. Then Brown took his plac
He put on Il chum named Ben WheeIf