The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-09-27
Usage FARMER WRONGED
William Saar of Allen County Shame
fully Abused by Reckless
Mob Down in 0klahO-
ma Territory.

statement made by Saar about the
shooting of President Mckinley. The
story does Mr.. Saar a grievous wrong
and hence the REGISTER believes it
best to state the full facts.
The Capitals story is as follows
Down at the town of Dewey, Okla,
hay shipper by the name of Saar,
when he heard that the president had
been shot, remarked that he was glad
of it and that it ought to have been
done before. This occurred the day
following the shooting. Saar went
away almost Immediately after max
ing the remark and was gone until the
day the news arrived that the presi-
dent was dead. He did not show up
on the streets of the town until Sun
day. When he was discovered by the
loyal and indignant populace he was
advised TO leave town and leave with
celebrity. Then the crowd assailed him
with ancient eggs, melon rinds, tin
cans and such other bric-a-brac as
happened to be at hand. In addition
to this congregation of some % or
30 people chased him out of town and
pursued him for some two miles into
the country. Our informant states
that as Splinter the hay shipper
made record never equalled in that
country, causing jack rabbit, which
he passed in his flight, to look after
him with unfeigned astonishment.
The facts in the case differ material
ly from this version. The truth is
that William Saar, who belongs to
one of the best families in the county
and is esteemed by all who know him
as an Industrious, loyal and courte-
Gus gentleman, was at Dewey buying
hay for himself and looking after its
shipment and the shipment OF some
hay for John Wood. He spent sever
al weeks in the town, which is a small,
Territorial place. At his boarding
house were several men with whom he
became acquainted and they ioshed
each other and cut up as American
people are prone to do.
One day the telegraph operator, who
spent but small part OF his time at
his Office and who only by chance
would catch dispatch if it went over
the wires, walked into the boarding
house and gravely announced that
president Mckinley has been assas-
sinated." Like many another Saar
thought it but a joke, and calmly re-
marked that lit was probably a good
thing" The operator reallirmed his
statement and then they all talked
over the distressing news. An old
soldier at the table arose Immediately
after learning the news and left the
room.
Saar thought no more about it and
several days later, having finished his
business for the time, returned to lola
and to his home. About a week later
he returned to Dewey to finish ship
ping the last hay. He drove to town
from across country, reaching there
Sunday and appeared on the street.
Some of the hoodlums and toughs and
a few better people who were misled as
to the facts, gathered and began talk
ing of mobbing the stranger who had
expressed JOY at McKinley's assassin
alton. Mr.. Saar met his old soldier
friend on the street and received very
short answer to hisgreeting. "Idon't
want TO talk to you," said the old
man. Saar thought little of this until
later.
The mob gathered to the number of
a score or more. One of Saar's ac-
quaintances asked them to wait; that
he would tell Saar the facts and that
he knew Saar would get out of town if
asked to do so. The friend started to
find Saar, but the mob followed.
They jumped upon him, beat and
cutfed him, pelted him with rotten
eggs and behaved as mobs do when
they have victim. He tried to pro-
test but could not gain hearing.
They ordered him to leave town and
he assured them he would, but they
wouldn't let him go. Finally they
seemed to weary of the sport and he
walked out of town, not being able to
secure livery team.
When about mile from town men,
bers OF the mob on horse back again
surrounded him and took him back to
town. There was more cutting and
abuse and one man hit him in the
face. He returned the blow with in
terest and then stood the humiliating
abuse as best he could. None dared
interfere for some of the crowd had
been drinking and guns were freely
flashed and death threatened to Saal
and his kind. After the ingenuity OF
the mob was exhausted they took hin
several miles out of town and left
him. He walked to farm house
stated his trouble and was accommo
dated with rig and drove to Caney
Kansas, and took the train home.
Battered and weary as he was he yet
felt the disgace worse than the
bruises. Without telling his famil!