The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1895-12-20
KANSAS GHOULS.
Topeka Wildly Excited Over the Grave
Robberics- Militia Under Arms.

AoDueEItS IAilitt6 tnatE I'm
TOPEKA, Kan. Dec. Ex-Governor
Morrill, last night called out Battery
Il of the State militia, stationed here,
to protect the Kansas Medical College,
which was threatened by u mob. He
also wired Captain Mcclure of the
troops at Lawrence to hold his SOL
diers in readiness to take the first
train for Topeka Chief of Police
John Wilkerson stationed a squad of
patrolnen, in charge of Sergeant
Frank Ellison. about the college, and
a sheriff's posse was also placed on
duty. The Governor retired toward
midnight, having notified Captain Nc
Clure that his services would not be
required.
The trouble was caused by the dis
covery in the dissecting room of the
college of the bodies Of three women,
which had been stolen from cemeter-
les in the vicinity of Topeka. One
body was that of o. c. Van Fleets
wife, another was thai of A. l.. Dale's
wife, and the third was that of Mrs.
Patrick Lillis. The cases of the first
two named have been previously re-
ported.
The body of Mrs. Lillis was ldenti-
fed by her son, John Lillis, at q
o'clock last evening. The husband of
the dead woman is foreman of Santa
Fe blacksmith shop at Argentine. Mrs.
Lillis Was buried last Friday. When
her son read about stolen bodies at the
college he feared for the safety of his
mother. In company with Father
Hayden, the well-known Catholic
priest, he wena to the cemetery to
make arrangements to have the grave
guarded. He noticed that the mound
had been disturbed. The grave was
opened and the coffin was found TO be
empty. Lillis went to the office Of
Justice Guy and obtained a warrant to
search the college. The result was
that he found a mutilated body which
he identified as that of his mother.
The city was already greatly excited
on account of the previous discoveries
and the news of the Lillis case, which
spread like wildfirc, was the signal for
a general outpouring of the populace.
The streets were thronged by angry
men, who made threats against the
college and those connected with it.
The authorities were alarmed by the
crowd, and steps were promptly taken
to prevent an outbreak. Deputy Sher-
if Tom Wilkerson, in the absence of
Sheriff Dave Burge, called upon the
Governor for assistance, which was
granted as stated.
Dake and Lillis are members of the
A. O. U. w. A mass meeting of the
eight lodges of the order had been
called to consider the Dake case.
Nearly 1000 members were present.
c, A. Starbird was chosen chairman
and j. w. Gibbons secretary. The
Lillis case was announced upon the
organization of the meeting. This
added fuel to the flames. Men growled
in their anger and hecame demon
strative, but cool heads were in the
audience and good order was main
tanned. Speeches denoUncing the ont
RACES were made. \ committe COM
posed of Judge Ensminger, S.. c.
Miller, a. G. Siler, I. A. Beck, II. 7.
Davis, Charles NJ. Brown. Il. a. Wilson
and III. /. Fletcher was appointed to
draft resolutions.
Probably 1000 men, mostly railroad
employees, stood in the street in front
of the hall while the meeting was in
progress. When those who partici-
pated in the meeting came out and
went their respective ways in q quiet
manner. the crowd outside took up the
cue and dispersed.