Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-02-14


placed under arrest,
Church Money Used.
"This case was transferred to Stevens
county. where it was dismissed by County
Attorney John Hall, an accessory to the
murder of Sheriff Cross. Some of the par
ties implicated in the kidnapping affair were
leading members of the church, and 1t is
said that $500 that had been raised for
building church was appropriated for
buying the outfit with which Woods and
Price were spirited out Of the country.
,o IN the, the fall r Of 1887 an election took place
LOT sherlH There were two factions IN
Stevens county, and two tickets were nom
inated-one called the Peoples ticket. and
the Peoples ticket John NJ Cross and Sam
Robinson were rival candidates. Cross was
a sort of dark horse. and was successful,
which caused Robinson to feel bitterly
toward him. AT the election Cross defeat
ed Dalton. the Citizen candidate. by 3 ma
Jorfty. 1t was contested. and several months
elapsed before 1t was decided in Cross ia
vor, Cross was Very peaceable man. and
had not become involved in any of the for
mer factional fights between the two towns.
At first the election seemed to be satis-
factory to the Hugoton people, and some of
them went on Cross bond.
Robinson lived at Woodsdale prior to his
defeat for the nomination for sheriff where
he ran hotel. After the election he moved
. his hotel building to Hugoton. and warmly
espoused the fortunes, of that town. He
was made city marshal. While in that po-
sition he ran a gambling house and drank
great deal His conduct was SO offensive
to the best citizens of the town that they
appealed to the county officers to close up
his place.
Rock Island Bond Election.
"In June, 1883, the question of voting
bonds to the Rock Island railroad in con-
sideration OF building two lines through
ha f0
run by Woodsdale and Moonlight in the
north part of the county, and one by La
fayette and Voorhees,. in the south part
of the county, leaving Hugoton midway be-
tween the two lines. The result of the cleo
against WoodsdaIe. The trouble began a
few days before the election on the bond
question. A heated discussion took place
the supporters of Woodsdale and Hugoton.
Sam Robinson fiourished his pistol and
struck James Gerrond; the under sheriff.
peace officer for that place, and n warrant
was issued for his arrest by the justice
OF the peace at Woodsdale: a few days lat
goton to arrest Robinson. and was driven
from the town. several shots being ex-
changed. A conflict was imminent, but the
state militia hurried to the scene and pre-
vented It, Short retained possession of the
warrant, and on Saturday, July q. 1883.
a1 he rno that San
Donald were in No Mans Land, fishing.
and determined to go down after Robinson.
other he set pa to
They proceeded to Goff's creek. in the
strip: where man named Reed was
catching wild horses. When within a half
mile of where Robinson and his crowd were
camped Short sent a note to Robinson. ask
ing him to- surrender. stating he could not
The Cooks advised Robinson to get on his
horse and leave. which he did. Short and
MS party gave chase. They finally corraled
Roblnson. but were unable to effect his cap
ture, and messenger was dispatched to
Woodsdale for Sheriff Cross.
Sheriff Cross Raises a Posse.
Gas soon as the sheriff received the news
he summoned C. W. Eaton. Robert Hub
bard, Rolla Wilcox and myself to go with
him. and on Tuesday evening started to
Shorts assistance. We went to where the
messenger had started from, but failed to
find either Robinson or Short When Short
gave chase to Robinson the Cooks went to
Hugoton, and a party of nine men were
sent to aid Robinson in escaping from
Short This party was led by City Attorney
OConnor: Nothing could be heard of the
party at Hugoton, and a second party was
sent sent out to look for Robinson and the
kansas Short and his men encountered the
OConnor party, and a running fight en-
SUED The Hugoton crowd chased Short
search for Robinson's party, which they
met about dark on the 25th.
Sherln Cross and his posse, falling to
nnd either Short or Robinson. started back
to Stevens county on Wednesday evening
Some of our horses gave out, and we
walked and led them several miles. About
clock at night We went to a camp of
haymakers at the head of Wild Horse lake.
about eight miles south of the Kansas line.
Where We got some water and let our
horses rest and Craze. We talked with the
ca Gamers naet Ia awhile and lay down on the hay
wagon nearby. The moon had risen. We
mad been there about an hour, when we
were suddenly surprised by the appearance
completely surrounded u.s. and who COM
manded us to surrender and hold I'D our
nands. We were searched for arms, but
we mad left our Winchesters strapped to
our SADDLES, about 60 feet away. Robinson
sald: Sheriff Cross. you are my first man.
and Tired at him with a Winchester kill
ing him instantly. He then turned and
said: Hubbard, l want you,' and shot him
also. oe A'iiiA
How Tonney Escaped.
"At the same time. ]. B. Chamberlin.
chairman of the board of county commits
sioners of Stevens county, took my re-
Volver from me, stepped back few feet.
leveled his Winchester. and fired. AS he
did so l. having. my hands up. made
wound in the shoulder, cutting the leader.
the force of the ball knocking me down
When When l realized the situation. I feigned
death: Robinson and his party then, dis
ing the firing. had got out of the wagon.
snot them also, Eaton running several
hundred yards before receiving the fatal
shot. Cross. Eaton, Hubbard and Wilcox
were all shot again. to be sure they were
dead. Robinson and his crowd pulled me
around by the foot to see if I was dead.
Chamberlin assured them that / was. as
ne said he had given me a center shot
After the killing the haymakers asked
Robinson what they must do, for if the
Woodsdale men came there and found the
He told them to hitch up their teams and
follow him. They did so. and all started
north together: After they had been gone
and s9f g6 snd gSs hose
miles to the northeast. My horse was
run down and l was very weak from ex-
haustion and loss of blood and it was
voorhees,. On reaching there 1 found the
news of the bloody tragedy had preceded
me me. and men had gone after the bodies of
the & slaughtered men. An officer started to
get out of the country, as it was feared
that the Hugoton crowd would hunt me
up and kill me. but 1 was too weak to
stand the trip. and was secreted in the
cornfield of physician until friends from
Woodsdale. under the leadership of George
Pierson. arrived and took me away. Rob-
lawmakers home: returned to the scene Of
the butchery and discovered that / was
gone. They set ont to hunt me- but went
in exactly the opposite direction to the enc
taken by their intended victim. After this
shooting of Cross and his men. several cit
liens OF Husoton threatened to burn the
town of Voorhees, and drive its inhabitanl.
out of the country. because they had as
sisted me after l was wounded. Excite
ment wa as at fever heat and state officials
together with eight companies of Kansas