Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-03-28
Old Landmark Gone.
Evening News.

men commenced to tear II down AM
now have i, abnu, dismantled. Sool
il will cease 10 uffri,d the eyes ant
arouse the ire of citizens OF Gar
nett in particular and Anderson
county in general. And, yet, mucl
of interest clusters around the ole
structure. Memories, generally
stern. occasionally tender, hove
about its weat,erbeaten walls. Bu
n day or two ago We saw smiling
prattling babe, held in its mothers
arms, COO TO i,s father confined he
hind the iron bars. How much sin
how much of human healtache the
old structure represents. Yet, foI
the most part, wegladly consent that
the dust of oblivion shall cover the
spot that will soon know it no more
For wears il has been Il blemish up
on our beautiful town. and perpet-
ual source of Gli,.nse 10 her people.
Since our splendid court house arose
in beauty beside the old structure
the contrast has been 80 marked and
painful that the murmurings against
the old pile grew into clamor for
it's removal and at last, the commits.
sioners in difference to the will OF
the people sealed its doom.
Yes, the old Jail is going and we
have no tears with which to bedew
its memory. 1t was mistake to
erect it on the public square al first,
and an oflense to leave it there so
long, Some comedies, some traged-
les have been enacted within its
walls. 1t is said that one inmate,
by name John C. Stoffer suddenly
manifested change of heart, be-
came exceedingly devout and sent
for the sheriff to come read the bible
to him.. In response to the request
the unsuspectlng official came and
deceived by The pretended piety of
the prisoner left the Jail door unlock.
ed. The sheriff's trust and confid-
ence received rude shock when
suddenly the sanctified sinner blew
out the light and took leg bail.
The most tragic event connected
with the old structure was the hang
ing Of negro to a gang plank near
the northwest corner, vivid des-
cription Of which is given by Col.
w. A Johnson in his history of
Anderson county.
A widow named Alkaline Duran,
with two children, Junius and Mary
l.. about As years of age who settle
in Galnett in 1857, was the victim.
She resided on Fifth avenue between
Oak and Walnu: streets. One eve.
ming in August 1864, while alone in
her house a negro named Warren.
who worked for DR.. D. w. Houston
entered the house with an AK in his |
hand, and before she realized her
danger, struck her blow OIL the
head, that knocked her out of the
chair n which she had been seated,
and she became unconscious, when
the hurley brute outraged her per
son. She afterward became consci-
Gus, going out of the west door,
when the negro who had made his
exit through the north door, went
around the house, and struck her
another blow, knocking her down,
and with the blade of the AK struck |
her across the neck entirely severing !
the bone. After which he agan
outraged her, then throwing the
bloody ak over the fence, went IT,
his room and bed. After his arpre
htnsion md the confession ot his
hellish crime, he was at 10 o'clock
the following day taken TO the scat
folding at the Jail, then in process OF
construction and publicly executed
by hanging, in the presence of the
largest gathering Of people Garnett
had ever seen before. 1t was the
york Of mob, but because of the
state OF the country at that time and
there being no doubt of his guilt,
the execution was justified by the
people.
The building was erected in 1864.
hence it is one Of the venerable
structures of Garnet 1t will soon
he gone. May>it rest in peace.
ia fUJRs1 lIDuD IN ONE IA