The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-17

didn't find them. but he got a note that
evening on his return 70 Collins advising
him to move into some other county
where people weren't so particular about
the virtue OF their neighbors- Wash Field
moved thai night
One Of the reasons why he couldn't 10
cate the Judges that day was that the
Deputy Marshals with him were known.
and every one who saw them passed the
word TO some one else and before the Mar
shaIs mad gone one-fourth OF the distance
the Judges knew they were coming
When this correspondent came into this
country 70 attend a session OF the court in
the hills everybody was alarmed. and It
required the best efforts of Sheriff Dech-
erd for two days TO allay the aQprehen-
SIGN OF the people
From every hill top some one could be
seen in the distance on the lookout, Some
times il was an old man. sometimes boy.
and occasionly the lookout was a rosy
checked. barefoot girl. Several Marshsls
were in the region and the court session
was abandoned The Judges retired into
the dteper forests and were safe from ap-
prehension.
To make their freedom from arrest more
secure a cavalry company mas been organ
lied by Doe. Peedan. a brother Of the
Judge. II numbers 100 rough riders. who
will consider it pleasure 10 get out OF
bed in the middle Of the night. mount a
horse. and ride twenty miles across the
country 20 warn the judges in case Of
danger. Whenever a stranger gets OF
train in s.. Clair county when the Judges
are in hiding his presence Is s!gnaled all
over the county. Men viii leave Of their
work and race with one another 10 be hrsJ
10 carry the news when suspicious char
acter comes into the county.
Before the railroad was built 10 Osceola
and the nearest railroad station was Ap-
pleton City, twenty miles away. the news
Of the>c coming Of a United States Marshal
would be brought on horseback 10 Osceoa
long before the officer could reach there.
When he would arrive there would be no
need to question himto learn his mission.
That had been learned at Appleton City
and boy had made wild ride across the
rugged road.
Notwithstanding the notoriety that has
been attained by the people Of ST. Clair
county out OF their fight with the United
States courts over debt hat they feel they
do not Justly owe. they are. nevertheless.
an honest people. Their hospitality is as
deep-seated as their innate honesty They
refuse TO pay this debt because they be
Leve they do not honestly owe it: that it
was eaddled on them by swindlers who
had no honest motive. A. first Il was only
$4,000 and of that sum they have paid
$4,000 on the principal and something OF
the interest. The bonds. however. bear
interest at the extravagant rate Of 10 per
cent, and the debt has therefore grown TO
be now $4,000
When Judge Phillips found the case in
his court when he came on the federal
bench ne decided that the people Of the
county should not be called upon TO pay
the enormous sum TO which the debt had
grown. He called in the creditors and the
Judge told them that the debt should be
cut down to 800, 90 and that sum he would
endeavor to compel the taxpayers OF St
Clair county 10 pay. OF su the creditors
only General Henderson agreed 70 take
his share of that sum and call Il settle
nlent. The other creditors said they would
take 10 less than $6000H0. The people OF
st. Clair county said that 500 900 was too
much
In the meantime a sentiment began 20
grow in the county in favor Of making
some kind Of a settlement. Il was pro-
posed TO offer the bondholders SCI .0Go.
which is the face value Of the outstanding
bonds. This was considered BY many as a
reasonable sum a which 20 get rid Of the
everlasting worry Of il. and a convention
was called to meet in Osceola Saturday Of
last week. The eighteen townships Of the
county elected delegates as II 20 a county
political convent ION. The delegates met az
OsceOla and organized a convention with
as much form as IL they were about 20
nominate candidates for the county Judge
ships. Harvey Mckinley. A first cousin OF
President Mckinley. was made temporary
chairman Of the convention. and after the
credentials Of the delegates had been
passed upon and an order ~ business
adopted the convention went into execut-
I've session and discussed the question OF
compromise.
In this session q was decided % ado1t
resolutions calling on the County Judges
to submit 10 the people az a special cleo
ton the question Of whether they should
pay TO the bondholders the sum ~ 4291 90
for all az their claims against the county
The convention was declared open and the
vote on the resolution was taken II vss
carried by a vote Of % 10 So Several u
the township delegations voted az a unu
against any comprom.se.
Before the convention was adjourned
General Henderson was invited 70 come
before Il and make a speech. He p kes
for ar hour and q haiti The people % s.
Clair county Ike 70 hear him tax They
Ike 70 ask him sharp questions 5ecause
they know he VII give them sharp ans
wers- He said he was for comp-onllee a.
the sum the convention rad named. O. ~
any reasonable sum. a.. 10 wanted 20 re-fre
tho question and have done Elth g. BE
sad h had been annoyed 5y 70 f-r a quar-
Ter II a century and he wanted IL Of his
hands before Re 6ed.
1--WE s.n't in 10 hurry ABOUT f.. General. "
said a delegate from Doyal towueh.p.
do you not want 90 make some com
promise asked General Henderson
''So2e"
Then VIVA. the devil are yoaso,nr n
this -ouve1tong-'
Jus lauzala' az these 'eGers VIA. ,h.-k
the people IS E7iH' 70 vote 20 E.ve son ss.-
le-s 100 - our good uoorsy"
some day - claims % tae b0-fao-ferT
against = Cls.r county may - sr---es- 7,
may be decided hT tse people ~ 'He roer ~
election tae convention has aske1 f5r. b8t
that -z not ru--- Ir rha s-st pace ere
section wiz M ~ ca'e5 uat8 JadTs
P1I7e sends w--3 % t-s County Ja5gss
t-s- b. Ti 20. trT - have them arrested
11t1 aHrr che eiect-7n sz-s Pesfar se-,
a a-ssza 20 tse c1rre-.t5- o. t5ls er--.