The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1895-10-16
THRILLING DAYS.

THRILLING DAYS.
SOME ROMANTIC "REMINISCENCES
RECALLED BY OLD SETTLERS.
Crime of Fourteen Years Ago Dlcussed by
an Eye-Witness--A Marshal who Had
Too Much Faith in Moral Persuasion.
KANSAS CITY Oct. 1O.-One of the
oldest settlers of Kansas, John D. Lam
caster, who arrived here yesterday to
spend carnival week in Kansas
City, tells many interesting reminis-
! cences of border life in that State.
He resides on farm in the southwes-
tern corner of the Sunfower State,
near Caldwell, where in early days
outlaws committed bloody deeds,
numbering people as if life amounted
to nothing and robbing them right
and left. They cared nothing for the
law and they had less respect for wo-
men. In few words, they were hui
man devils, bold and daring and des-
perate in their undertakings. The
wilds of Indian Territory were their
place of refuge. and far into the coun-
try, every nook and corner of which
they knew as well as bird knows its
nest, they were safe from attacks and
possible capture. Many were the ex-
peditions of officers of the law that
were totally annihilated by these band
its and many brave life went out in
battles with the desperadoes. Mr..
Lancaster recounts many of these ex-
ploits with avividness that's startling,
and he also tells of famous trial for
murder that will be held late this fall
at Caldwell at which all old-timers of
the border who have escaped death at
the hands of adversaries or the hang
man will be in attendance, either as
witnesses or spectators. And thereby
hangs a record of killings that has few
EQUALS in western history. Mr.. Lam
caster told the story vividly last even
ing.
Jim Talbot was the dashing king of
Kansas and Indian Territory outlaws
in 1881" said he, "a handsome fellow,
tall, and fearless as a lion. Talbot
was married about this time to. the
most beautiful girl in the southwest,
and everyone said that surely he
would settle down. But he had one
enemy in the town whom he had sworn
to kill. The then mayor of Caldwell,
Mike Meagher, had killed stage dri-
ver,. Sir Powell, while marshal of
Wichita several years before. Talbot
and Powell had been chumsfrom ear
ly boyhood and Talbot swore to have
Meagher's life for his frienl's.
Zone day City Marshal Tow Wilson
locked up several of Talbot's gang at
Caldwell, and the latter sent wore, to
the mayor that they must be released.
Meagher told the Marshal of Talbot's
demand and ordered Wilson to stand
pat This the marshal did. Hearing
Of this, Talbot said:
"If my boys are not out of Jail to-
morrow morning, I'll burn down the
town and shoot Mike Meagher through
and through till he'll look like the top
of a pepper-box.'
1T did not take long for Talbot's
warning to spread. Everybody knew
he was a man of his word, a hard
fighter and a dead shot. That night
the town was in a turmoil, and prepara-
tons for the battle of the next day
were hastily made. Weapons that
had not been used for years were
cleaned and new cartridges were sub
stituted for the old ones. 1t was about
9 o'clock when the trouble began.
Mike Meagher retreated to right
angle behind his saloon, and, while
the cowboys were careering wildly
through the streets, shooting at every
thing in sight, and the citizens were
returning the fire from the housestops,
Talbot deliberately walked down the
alley until he caught sight Of Meagher.
Then began a battle royal OF which l
was an eyes witness. Meagher was a
dead shot, but for once he missed his
aim. The cowboy king was more
fortunate. He raised his revolver
deliberately and pulled the trigger.
There was a flash, followed by a re-
port, and the bullet sent Mayor Mea-
gher's soul into eternity. He bit the
dust with a bullet through his heart.
"After killing the mayor Talbot raj
lied his men with wild cry and soon
the desperate cavalcade dashed out OF
the city across the country and south
into the Territory, followed by posse
of enraged citizens. During the fight
i'm the city and in the prairie sixteen
people were killed. Although large
reward was offered for Talbot he .es-
capped, and shortly afterward his pref
ty wife also disappeared, and as years
rolled on the tragedy was almost for
gotten.
cat the time the mayor was killed
Mike Meagher had brother, John, a
killer, miner and man with the per-
sistency of a bull dog. He wasprospect-
ing in the mountain of Colorado when
the fight took place and when he
heard of it he swore he would have
revenge. For twelve years John roam
ed the West with picture of Jim Tai
bot in his pocket and murder in his
heart. A year ago the Kansas author
tiles, through Jim Meagher's agency,
located Talbot in California. he had
wide reputation there as daring de-
tective, and was known as James Tai
bot Sherman, his real name. He was
| q good officer and had a host of friends.
His wife and family were highly re-
spected in the community. Sheriff