The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-07

slender, blue-eyed. mild looking man,
and when Johnson's friends heard of his
anger they laughed a the absurdity OF
his fighting with Frank.
The one street of Ellsworth was very
broad, being built on each side of the
railroad between which and the houses
was wide space for wagons. Johnson
was pointed out to the wagon master
on the east side of the street and he
started across Though strangers per-
sonaliy the alert SalOonkeeper recog-
nized his man and knew the time had
come It was kill or be killed. With
hand on revolver Johnson waited il
silence. A hundred men watched from
a distance. Neither spoke till they were
close together. each taking in every
movement of the other. Each face was
white and set. When only a few feet
separated them a sentence or so pass
ed, heard only by the two Then to-
gether, as if drilled in the act, each
pistol was out and flashing. Neither
fell. Both pistols were emptied- john
son stopped as If to draw his knife
from his boot when his muscles relaxed
and he fell forward unconscious. At
this Allen turned toward the Larkin
house where he was stopping, walked
about thirty PAGES. when he turned
and suddenly sat down in a saloon
door. Men gathered about him and he
asked if Johnson was dead. He was
told that the man was dying He then
said: I'm dizzy; somebody help me
to I-arkins'-" On the way he Informed
those assisting him that he was wound
ed though he thought slightly. He
was helped to bed and a doctor sum
moned. All were astonished to learn
he had two wounds, one so near the
heart that the shock alone was danger
Gus. Allen died before morning. while
Johnson's wounds proved unimportant.
BAD MAN HANGED.
/ Frank Johnson had been in many
/ fights. but never had killed man be
q
had but defended his own life. He was
/ an evil-tempered fellow naturally and
seemed TO grow worse. His neIghbors
didn't like this and advised him to
mend his temper. He told them to go
to hell"
He closed his place one suItry night
and was about to leave the room when
some one called him from the road. It
was very dark but he saw outlines OF
( a hOrseman in the highway After
some plausible excuse for his coming
the caller got him to go out, but he
carried a cooked revolver with him.
The moment he walked away from the
door several men who had been stand
ing on each side against the house
closed in behind him. He heard some
( thing and turned quickly. Others came
out of the darkness on every side and
he was disarmed, dragged and bound
without even disturbing those sleeping
in the house. The sound of marching
/ feet was muffled by the deep dust in
4 the road as he was carried rapidly to-
ward town. He knew his fate was
sealed SO wasted no strength in appeal
or struggles.
On the banks of the Smoky Hill river
near the Marshall house, was a large
/ cottonwood its trunk hoary with age
To this Johnson was carried. a pickle.
rope knotted about his neck and the
other end thrown over a convenient
bough. This was seized by willing
hands from below and drawn outward
and the body thus raised was left tin
all struggles ceased. There died Frank
Johnson, a victim of his own sullen
temper. Not a word was spoken from
beginning to end. No orders or instruc-
lions were given. Each grim shadow
] did its mart with silent nracisinn