The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-31
BROKE THE MACHINE.

Oil photographers expect 10 near Wnen
q lady comes into their gallery to have
her picture taken. Especially is this
true if the Lady happens to be blessed
with goods looks The expression is.
II know my face will break the ma
chine"
One day last summer one of the pref
tiest girls In the city went into Is-aeI's
gallery, accompanied by several of her
girl friends. After the last touch had
been given to her hair. she was posed
10 the satisfaction OF Mr.. Israel and all
was made ready; he squeezed the bulb
TO the shutter on the camera. When
ne did 1t, the front of the machine"
really did break The young LADY turn
ed scarlet, thinking of the remark that
she had made. She has been leased
ever since by her friends about breaking
the machine
IN THE ASYLUM NOW.
The summer that the Wichita and
Western Railway was built. saw God
dard, Garden Plain and Cheney spring
up like mushrooms. One of the first ex-
citing things in Cheney was a law suit
before Judge Coffey. Harry Strohm
and o. H. Bentley were the opposing
counsel and jury was called. The case
was tried in a new lumber office and
the jury retired to the lumber yard 10
deliberate upon their verdict Judge
Coffey sat on a high box, his spectacles
upon the tip of his nose, with one eye
he gazed At the lawyers and with the
other looked up the new chimney f1ue.
He ruled on all law points, ruling first
for one side, then for another, Bentley
at one time complained of a ruling. and
was very pointedly informed by the
court that the last ruling was in his IA
vor, and it was Strohms turn.
Strohm was a tri1c slow on his cross
examinat ton, and was admonished by
the court TO make haste, the court re-
marking: Every time I take up my pen
it means costs" The defendant won the
case much 10 the disgust Of Judge Coffey
who pronounced the jury set of idiots.
So ended the first law suit in Cheney.
Since then time has wrought great
changes IN the participants in that suit.
The jury and parties are scattered wide
from Oklahoma 10 Washington. Strohm
y
in Wichita, and the Judge is in the in
sane asylum at Ossawatomie, A sad
ending for the Cheney judiciary.
AN EARLY DAY KILLING.
Along toward the latter part of the
summer of 1874, one hot, sultry day,
when men were sitting any where that
2 breeze might strike them, and all ami
mails were seeking the friendly shade
of some tree or building, three cowboys
rode into town over the old Douglas
avenue bridge They were covered with
dust, and their ponies were jaded from
a long days drive. The cowboys were
dressed in the prevailing fashion of the
early days on. the plains. They had on
wide sombreros, red flannel shirts. lea TIL
er leggngs, high heeled boots, with
the large jingling spurs, and the insep-
arabic brace Of six-shooters. The men
rode up Main street until they reached
a saloon, where they proceeded to fill up /
on red liquor. For an hour drinks were |
called for end drank with rapidity. 1t
was not long until the cowboys were III
an ugly mood. They came out and
mounting their ponies, rode over into
a questionable part of the town, where
they CHANGED to meet a powerful color |
ei man. They asked him a question.
which the negro took as an insult and |
which he resented. There was city !
ordinance at that time that made ii
a misdemeanor for any one to wear fire
arms. When any OF the cowboys came !
into town. they left their guns a the !
store where they usually traded. until /
they got ready to- go back to the ranch. |
when they would call and get the revolt /
vers they had left with the merchant /
for cafe keeping. 1t so happened that /
the three men had deposited their guns /
with Mr.. Robert Jacks. who then had a
clothing store just south of where Thos. |
Shaws' music store now stands.
AS the cowboys were without arms,
they could do nothing to the colored |
man but cuss him, which they did in
language that was causiic. The men /
rode off and the colored man came on /
down town.
Mills and Stem were then building
the Miller Building. which Mr.. Shaw
now occupies on Main street They had
two fiery horses VINO nobody could man
age except this colored man. He usu-
ally hauled the sand. brick and lumber
that the contractors. needed in their
work AS they were short Of hands
the colored man was taken off the wag-
on and put TO work carrying morter II
the masons at work on the second story.
The next day the three cowboys and
several of their friends went TO Mr..
Jacks store. and got their guns. pre-
tending that they were going to leave
the town. Only one. however. mounted
his pony and STARTED UP Main street.
The others stood in front of the store.
When he got 70 First street. he turned
his horse around and started On the
-un toward Douglas avenue. Just a
this time. the colored man with a hod Of
mortar started 10 climb the ladder 10
he second floor OF the Miller building.
When the cowboy go; even with the
cowboy sot even with the building he
quickly drew his revolver. and while his
horse vas on the dead run. fired at the
negro. hitting him in the side. The ne
30 fell to tne ground but got up and
,lasping MS han5s about his abdomen
an up the street.
Bill Smith was marshal then. and ne
vas standing about where Nen's shoe
store is today. When he heard the SHOT.
le pulled his gun and called 10 the cow
10Y 10 stop When Bill Smith pulled
lis gun. there wera FIVE leveleld at him
~ TIE men who were standing in from;
" Mr. Jacks store. friends OF the COW
boy They told Smith no; 10 NEEDLE IN
5.ngs tina; did not concern him. As he
vas looking into an arsenal. he did not
NEEDLE and the COWBOY rode cut over
ne bride and disappeared.
The nesrn va taken into the Office OF