The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-12-14
ARRAICNED.
The Alleged Murderers OF the
Meeks Family in Court.
THEY BOTH PLEAD NOT GUILTY.
A Desperate Fight Between Two Claim.
ants Near Council Grove, OLA Chi
cago Man Confesses to Forg-
ing Death Certificates.

LINNEUs. NO., Dec. 11.-Sheriff Bar
James Brown yesterday morning
hustled William p. and George E. Tay-
Tor, the alleged murderers of the Meeks
family. out of the st. Joseph Jail and
brought them to this city. The two
brothers were handcuffed together.
Both of the men were very nervous,
and the elder freely expressed a fear of
] their lives before starting, but Sheriff
Barton had taken all precaution to
protect them. At Cameron he was
| Joined by eight deputies, all armed
to the teeth. and at Laclede six
teen additional deputies Joined the
party, at which point they left
the train and were driven over to Lin
neus. Before leaving home Sheriff
Barton swore in twenty-five additional
deputies. whom he armed with Win
chester rifles and ordered them to be
on hand when he arrived. Fully 1000
people met them at the depot and
escorted them to the Jail, and for
a couple of hours excitement was at a
very high pitch, and if they had been
kept over night there might have been
trouble.
The prisoners yesterday afternoon
were arraigned before Judge Rucker
and waived formal arraignment and
pleaded not guilty. They asked for
change of venue and the case was
taken to the Carroll county circuit
court at Carrollton, to be held next
March.
w. P. Taylor said that when the case
was called for trial he had no fear but
what they could prove an alibi and that
they did not harrow out the tracks
aroundthe straw stack where the Meells
family was hidden. He also denies that
they came to Milan on the night of
May 10, and spirited the family away.
He denies writing the letter to Gus
Meeks on Browning bank letter head
telling him to be ready at 10 o'clock
everything is all right. He denies
everything else that was reported dur
ing their flight to Arkansas and says
that when they are put on the witness
stand some very prominent citizens of
Milan and Browning may be implicat
ed in the murder.
USED HOE on A WOMAN.
PERRY, Ok, Dec. 1.-Mary French
and Mary Cartright are the claimants
to the same quarter section of land
near Council Grove, Pottawatomie
county, Ok. Some days ago quarrel
resulted over the right of the women
to the land. during which deadly
fight occurred between Miss Cartright
and Mrs. French. The former used
hoe and handle and Mrs. French some
stones. Mrs. French was struck on
the head with the keen edge of the hoe
and the handle was broken into
splinters over her head. Immediate
trial was had and yesterday the fair
Miss Cartright was held under bond
of 50. 500 Mrs. French, who is Il
beautiful woman, was horribly beaten
up and her face greatly distigured.
ANOTHER LIFE INSURANCE FRAUD.
CHICAGO, Dec. 11.-Another life in
surance fraud was unearthed yesterday
when Police Officer John Hickey of the
Englewood district confessed to having
forged death and burial certificates
and collected $1,000 from the Police
mems Benevolent association, ostensi-
bly, for the widow of eX-Officer Henry
Forgie. The money was paid and
Forgie being seen here, was arrested.
but he disclaimed all knowledge of the
forgery. Hickey, who is n trustee of
the association, was arrested and.
after confessing, returned most of the
money