The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-04-12
KANSAS NEWS.
The Passing of a Strictly Kan
SaS Circus Revived.
Widow of Joseph MaemahOn
Sued by George Costello.
REVELED In WEALTH.
Had $4,000 on Deposit When
MacmahOn Was Shot.
Gov. LeWelling Once Sent State
Militia After It.

Kansas City, April 1.-THE widow of
Joseph b. Macmahon, the circus man
who was shot and killed by a Texas
sheriff at Wichita, Kan, last April, was
sued yesterday in the circuit court by
George Costello, Macnahon's partner,
who alleges that Macmahon cheated
him.
The people of Kansas, Oklahoma, and
Texas We're visited for years by Mac
mahon'S circus, which Travelled under a
new name each season. The different
names that his show went under in the
last five years were: Raymond'S Re-
noWned Shows, Sanger & Lent'S Great
European and American Shows, Howe
q CushfngS United Shows, Sands &
Astley's Shows. Bond Brothers Big
SHOWS MacmahOn'S shows were fol-
lowed by such a gang of swindlers, fax
1rS and thieves that several times the
militia of Kansas was called for to sup
press them. Once Governor IeWelling
of Kansas, actually sent company of
the state militia to capture Macma-
hons circus. The sheriff of a certain
county had tried to arrest the gang of
robbers and were driven off with shot
guns. Last April a Texas sheriff went
to Wichita with warrant for the arrest
of Macmahon's circus followers. Mac
mahOn started to argue the matter
with the sheriff and was killed.
George Costello, who brings the suit
against Macmahon'S widow, lives in
this city and will soon leave to join a
circus which he owns in the east. He
says that for five years before Macma-
hons death he owned a one-third in
tereSt in his circus. During those five
years he was advance agent of the
show and drew only a salary and ex-
penses. January 1, 1897, he went to
Macmahon in Wichita and demanded q
settlement. MacmahOn told him that the
show were bankrupt, that it had been
losing money right along and owed
$12,250 in borrowed money, which was
secured by a chattel mortgage on the
whole outfit, Macmahon showed Costel-
10 the mortgages and induced him to
sell his one-third interest in the show
for $500 cash.
AS a matter of fact Costello says the
show was worth $4,000, and had $4,000
cash in bank and all it owed was SO, 500
for printing.
After Macmahon's death in April his
widow was appointed administrator in
Wichita of his estate She had the show
appraised for $1,000, and as she held a
mortgage against it for Sc, 600, she had
a friend, Carl D. Allen, buy the show
in at a sale ordered by the probate
court. Then she paid the debt of $500
for printing and was absolute owner of
the whole thing. She advertised it for
sale and sold all of it but nine cars
and a trick horse.
Costello claims that this show earned
clear of all expenses, 100000 in five
years. If that is true, then the circus
business, as Macmahon ran it, is one of
the best investments in the world.
Last December, eight months after
her husbands death, Mrs. Macmahon
married Charles w. Cessna. They had
taken the $4,000 cash out of the bank
and a trick horse, when Costello discov-
cred, he says, he had been cheated. He
engaged Attorney Finis c. Farr to sue
for him.