The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-06-09

The driving OF Dunbar from the city
Friday by H. T. Culp and a mob OF
citizens added new fuel to the flame OF
hatred which already burned against the
Indian title claimants 1t was decided
to hold a mass meeting Saturday in
Metropolitan hail. the largest nail IN
the city, for the purpose of Riding the
town forever of Indian title claimants
On the streets it was rumOred that the
Horse Thief League of Turner, town
a few miles west of Argentine, was al
the bottom Of the meeting. Many cltl-
zens Of Argentine are members OF TINS
body, which has for its motto the pre-
VentiOn of crime and the protection OF
the rights Of the people" in the south
western section of WyandOtte county
That the movement Friday was not a
mere mob gathering was shown by the
appearance on the streets OF men VINO
watched the house Of the Dunbars until
day began to break Saturday morning.
City Marshal c. +. Enright whose time
~ interference Friday probably saved
Dunbar's life, also watched the house
all night. These watchers were unre-
warded if they expected Dunbar to re-
turn, for he did not appear.
Friday morning II. T. Culp, who on
the previous day gave R r. Dunbar a
beating on one OF the principal streets
of Argentine. went to a stone quarry
IN Argentine heights, where he had or
dered the men who were working under
Dunbar lease to quit work, and found
wagon. Culp, drawing two revOlVers,
compelled the men to mount into the
wagon and drive downtown Culp stood
erect in the wagon Here goes Dun
bar" he shouted. A mob of 100 len
gathered behind the wagon. At the
Santa F'e depot the crowd turned into
Spear avenue and halted before Dun
bars house. They ordered him to come
twice at the house. The shots attract
ed City Marshal c. F. Enright who ad-
dressed the crowd and ordered it to dis
perse. Culp, after telling the negroes to
leave town. handed his two revOIvers to
Enright. Thus probably saved Dun
bars life, for scarcely had the city
marshal taken hold of the weapons
than a cry of There he goes" Went up
from the crowd. over the foot viaduct
which spans the Santa Fe railway track
a thousand feet away ran the old man;
behind him armed with a shotgun to
cover his fight ran his son George.
They were fleeing for their lives. From
the viaduct to the bridge is only a block
and both made their escape.
In the afternoon the citizens of Isa-
bella place and Argentine heights tore
down the fences built by Dunbar and
drove the tenants he had placed on the
land from the locality.
The Indian titles. as they are called,
have been source Of trouble to people,
not only in Argentine, but in Johnson
and Miami counties. R R. Dunbar was
blamed for all this as in every case he
was the agent of the Indians claiming
a title. A suit was fled by Dunbar,
who would claim that the land belonged
to some Indian in the territory for
whom he was agent, because he was a
descendant of the ShaWneeS, who orig
inally occupied the land. AS these In
dams were wards Of the government,
they had no right to sell the land. Dun
bar would then take possession. Last
Sunday a party of men acting under
n q II
Isabella place at midnight. The citizens
of the addition drove the Dunbar men
away. The excitement which followed
this act has grown until yesterday it
was at fever heat. and Dunbar would
meet with violence if he appeared in
the city.