Meade County news. [volume] (Meade, Kan.) 1900-1918, 1902-06-26
LANAMS' CAREER ENDED.
Judge Madison Sentences Each of Them
To the Penitentiary.
FOR A TERM OF TEN YEARS.
Universal Satisfaction Is Expressed At
Verdict and Sentences.

| forofCt ana sentences.
In the District Court last Thurs
day afternoon, Judge Madison sen
fenced Jess and Homer Lanam tc
ten years each, at hard labor, in the
penitentiary. The jury in the Jes:
Lanam case was out only about hall
an hour, after the case had beer
submitted to them, until they re-
turned verdict of guilty as charg.
ed in the information. The history
of this case Is somewhat peculiar
and not strictly in accord with the
rigid enforcement of the law. We
will. briefly, give short narrative
of these cases from the time Lanam
first came to Meade.
In the spring of 1900 Jess Lanam
first came to Meade, and first ap-
peared as prosecuting witness in the
cases against the Beatty and Lewis
boys who were under arrest, charg-
ed with larceny. During the pre-
liminary hearing of John Beatty and
VIM. Lewis before E. D. Smith, then
Justice of the Peace of this town
ship, about the 24th day of July
1900, Jess Lanam shot James Gil
lick, who was in the city that day
attending the hearing. The evidene
of the State showed that about noon
on this day James Gillick and G. o.
Wick had a conversation over two
head of cattle which were claimed
to have been held back by Gillick
out of a bunch he had been keeping
for Mr.. Wick. Mr.. Wick had inform
ed Gillich that Jess Lanam had told
him that he (Gillick) had told Lam
am so. Gillick said he had not and
called Jess Lanam, who was at the
corner of the drug store to the front
of R. R. Wells stere where the con-
versation was being held. Lanam
informed Wick and Gillick that Love
Graham had told him that Gillick
had kept the cattle. Graham was
called by Gillick and denied ever
making this statement to Lanam.
The lie was passed between Lanam
and Graham. Graham walked away
telling Lanam that he was prepared
for fighting and that he (Graham)
was not. Lanam then turned to
Gillick and told him that he had
come here that day to cause him
trouble. Gillick informed him that
he had not, but that if he was look
ing for trouble he could find it. At
this time Lanam drew a gun and
struck at Gillick who raised his arm
to ward off the blow and turned his
back to Lanam. Lanam then fired
the ball taking effect in Gillick's
back, from the effects of which he
fell, face downward. Lanam ad-
vanced and fired a second shot that
glazed the back of Gillick's neck.
A crowd soon gathered and Gillick
was removed to the hotel where he
was cared for and finally recovered.
Lanam gave himself up to Min Ellis,
who was deputy sheriff. He was
taken before E. D. Smith and the
time of his hearing set. Several of
our most prominent citizens went on
his bond at that time. AT the pre-
liminary hearing he was released by
Smith. We will not at this time en-
ter any criticism on Mr.. Smith. We
will say, however, that public senti-
ment at that time as now, as we'll as
the facts in the case demanded that
he be held for trial. A few months
later a warrant was sworn out before
Justice Keith, of Logan twp. There
seemed to be trouble in getting the
warrant served, the proper officers
seemed to be afraid of Lanam, and
someone had to be found whom
Lanam would agree to go with, so
J. R. Griggs was sworn in as dep
uty sheriff, and took him before
Mrs. Painter, Justice of the Peace
of Sand Greek twp, who also refus-
ed to hold him for trial. A third
warrant was issued about year ago
and again search was made for an
officer to take the warrant, Will
King took the warrant and went to
Minneola after Lanam. He found
him intrenched behind a straw stack
in company with some companions,
all armed with Winchesters. King
returned the warrant unserved. II
then fell into the hands of VIM. Bun
van, who took him before VIM. Miles,
Justice of the Peace. of Fowler twp.
where the case resulted in third
miscarriage of justice. With all
these occurrences why should Lam
am have any regard for officers OF
fear of the laws. He was in Meade