Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-10-09
A Foul r1urder.

relation to the death Of Mr.. Sidney
Ruckman appeared in a paper pub
lished near where he resided in Ok
lahoma, which we reproduce for
two reasons. First, to show the
esteem in which Mr.. Ruckmen was
held by his neighbors in his western
home; second, as there have been
conflicting reports as to the man
ner of his death, to give a correct
statement of the facts. The article
is as follows:
"wednesday evening, September
9th, the good citizens Of Watonga
were startled by news coming from
Homestead, that our old friend, S.
Ruckman, of Fay postoffice' was
murdered by two colored persons
near that place on Tuesday night.
Very few believed the rumor, but
when the body was brought here
the hope that the rumor was un-
founded was swept away, and the
public realized that one Of the best
citizens of Blaine county was muir
dered in cold blood. The remains
we're placed into the hands Of the
Free Masons who conducted the
funeral services and gave him a de-
cent burial in the Highland Gene
| terry, four miles north Of Watonga.
Mr.. Ruckman was a good citizen
and highly respected by his neigh
bOrs.
The corouer's inquest ascertained
the fact that two colored men, che
Ben Morris and one Boyd, had COM
mitted the deed and were making
their escape towards the Kansas
line, who we've Immediately purSu-
ed by the Mutual Protective Assocl-
alton Of that place and Ben Morris
1captured, while Boyd made his es-
cape and was making for Mexico
through the Pan Handle.
Ben Morris made full comics
sion, stating that he held a gun on
Ruckman, while Boyd killed him
with a club, pounding his face in.
to a jelly. A preliminary was held
before a justice of the peace IN
Homestead township, and on
Thursday he was committed to the
county jail 70 await the charge Of
murder. Kumors of all kinds and
characters were ahoat, one was thai
that the prisoner would be lynchec
during the night. another was that
the colored people were making ar
arrangements to liberate him and as
sist him out Of the country, anC
declared that race war was or
hand "shure." On Friday nigh
about two hundred armed oOloreC
men stationed themselves along thu
outside Of the Jail, while half o.
thatnu m Der Of whites were sta
toned northeast Of the jail waiting
Developments. But both partle
dispersed before sunrise the mex
morning. Saturday and Sunda,
everything appeared to be quiet
but Monday noon an armed part,
rode from the North east who; iul
medistely surrounded the Jail, bat
. tered down the door, took the pris
| oner from the cell, marched to tn
grove in the eastern part of tow
and hung the culprit to Tree un
til dead. After the ceremony wa
over the coroner held the usual in
quest and his jury brought in a yer
dict that Ben Morris was hange
by the neck until dead by a part
Of masked men unknown to the in
ny. Thus the death Of go good
man as s. Ruckman was partl
avenged.
t The good people Of Watong
o raised a purse Of Sl08 for the cap
! ture Of Boyd, and have sent fou
determined men, B. r. Adams, 4
Chamblln, Mr. Marion and Ed, Coz
|, rigan in pursuit with, instruction
i to follow him until the murderer
caught and brought to justice"
S A letter from Fay, Oklahoma
p Mr., Ruckman's home, dated Sep
Il 8, to a paper of the vicinity, cor
e tains the following personal;
= Mr.. Sid. Ruckman has gone
h Kansas for his wife, who has bee
: visiting with friends in Barbe
?. county"
t 1t was on this trip that NJ
Ruckman LOST his life"