Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-10-22
THEIR LAST SUPPER.

very interesting letter from her
home at Myrtle Greek, Oregon In
which she talks of the early days of
Baxter as follows:
al think Il was Ia February 1857,
I wps working at the Hiland House,
little box house Of four or five
rooms, but the best hotel In town
at that time. Everything in the
way of provisions way very high
and scarce and Mr.. Hyland would
frequently caution us to be very
saving. Flour was ten dollars a
hundred; corn meal three dollars q
bushel and the only fruit We had
was dried apples, worth twenty-five
cents q pound.
One night. about 0 o'clock, q Mr..
A. Willard, who was q boarder at
the house told Mr.. Hyland that
there was some very hungry prison
ers, under arrest for horse stealing,
over at Ben Morris saloon for
whom he wanted supper. We pre-.
pared supper and rang the bell
when In walked four prisoners, two
brothers named Miser, I do not re-
call the names of the others.
While the guards stood around
with guns in hands we waited on
those poor fellows. One said:
"Piease give another cup of coffee
and a biscuit, this is my last meal
on earth and I don't want to die
hungry" The next morning. Sun.
day, Capt. Hyland's little girl,
Jeane we called her, came running
in aud said to her mother: "Oh
come and seew Come and see!
Two men were hanging cn one tree;
their faces were as black as the
stove-aud their necks 80 long
and she measured the full length
of her little arm" We went to the
door and there on one little limb
hung the two brothers, not more
than 800 yards from where they had
eaten their last supper."-Galena
Republican.
The Mr.. A. Willard spoken of is
our well known miller. He ex-
plains the incidents substantially
as follows: The Miser brothers
were well known horse thieves and
murderers, who had just been
caught in the red handed murder
of Capt. Williams in the Indian
Territory, q few miles south of
Baxter Springs. The Misers and
two other outlaws accidentally fell
in with Capt. Williams and camped
together, sleeping side by side. In
the morning one of the Misers shot
Williams through the head while
he was sleeping, and robbed him of
his horse and money.
One of the gang came TO Baxter
and told the whole story. At that
time the town was full of outlaws
aud Il was a question whether or
not they were In the ascendancy.
Nearly every night some one was
murdered and there was absolutely
no protection TO life or property.
II required men of nerve to enforce
the law or make an attempt TO ar.
rest q law breaker.
At this time Mr.. Willard came to
to the front, and those who know
him now can realize that at that
time he was q fearless advocate of
Law and order. He Immediately or
ganized q posse of citixens, who
arrested the offenders and pro-
ceeded to try them In q court of
their own where there are no super.
sedeases, appeals, reprieves or
pardous. The two Misers were
found guilty of murder in the first
degree and executed in accordance
with the Baxter code. The others
shortly afterwards met their fate
by other hands.
II 10 q characteristic trait of A.
Willard never to turn q hungry
man away and In furnishing these
unfortunate men with their "last
supper" just before taking leave of
our beautiful healh resort, he ex.
emplified the worthy trait of a
christian gentleman of the hot old
ks,,.aa af novAap