Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1905-12-01
s1.5o PER ANNUM.

old Burleigh building on broadway,
nearly opposite the new court house,
with Jurisdiction extending from
! Manitoba south and west into the
present boundary of Wyoming, being
at that time the territory of Dakota.
There within the walls Of that old
court house many notorious crimi-
nails were confined, guarded by y. S.
Marshal Litchfield and his two deput-
les: Falkenburg and Gaiibraith. The
: first county jail built at Yankton
was of logs, 1sx2O feet, located in the
alley between Cedar and Walnut
streets; about four hundred feet
southeast from Yankton's new
building.
Sam King, assisted by Nick Hanson
and James Olson built 1t in the
spring Of 1868, and :. before completed
it was used to imprison Ambrose
Anderson (now an inmate of Neb-
raska poor house) for drunkenness and
disorderly conduct.
Many notorious prisoners were con-
fined in the old log Jail, among whom
was a border ruffian named James
Sommers. He lived with an Indian
wife near Pappineau's ranch in the
upper Missouri country, and often
visited Yankton for supplies. Dur
ing his oft repeated pilgrimages to
the old capital city, Jim and his law
less band Of followers usually cele-
brated their advent into the old
town by getting drunk at Wambole's
saloon on Broadway. Having griev-
ance, he raided the sStar OF the
West'' in the fail Of 1868, an opposi-
tion saloon run by a notorious char
acter named Tom Maxwell. After
driving the proprietor out Of his
building, Sommers and his followers
proceeded to issue free drinks to am
admiring crowd Of drInkards. While
carrousing there, a half-breed Indian,
son of Theophile Rruigher, rode up
to the front door Of the saloon and
called for drink of whisky. Jim
Sommers ordered him to dismOunt
and come in and get his s.pfzen' over
the bar. This order was not Obeyed,
and the young Indian tried to ride
on horseback through the open door
of the saloon. Jim called out .shalt
there" and raised his six shooter and
shot the horse, killing him on the
spot. For his disorderly acts, Som
liners was arrested by Sheriff Black
and his assistant, and was imprisoned
in the old log jail. During the night
the desperate broke jail and was seen
on the following morning parading
the streets of Yankton, threatening
vengeance on Sheriff Black and his
assistants. He carried a large Colts
revolver swinging it about in
threatening manner, and while in
front of Wombole's saloon said: Boys
watch me do little black smith work
here"
STOPPING down In the street he conn
menced to hammer on his handouts
irving to break the chain that held
them together and while In that atti-
|tude Sheriff Black and city marshal,
George Smith, rushed upon him and
re-arreSted him.
Sommers was tried before Judge
ICongeton and fined for violation Of
law and order. He promptly paid
his fine with costs, amounting to
eighty dollars, and after his release
continued his drunken carousals, re-
taking possession Of the Star Of the
West saloon. While he was there
Sheriff Black attempted to re-arrest
him and was shot by Sommers in the
Igroin, who then made his escape on
lhorsehorse into the wilds of the up
per Missouri country.
Sheriff Black fingered on the border
lands between life and death for
many months, recovering sufficient
strength to accept a subordinate gov
ernment appointment at Washing
ton-a physical wreck.
Sommers died violent death, near
the present city of Chamberlain, shot
by his nephew during a quarrel about
his claim to some timber lands.
4 In conclusion ] would say: There
are many other incidents connected
with the settlement OF Yankton
county that are intensely interesting,
and worthy Of mention, but my time
is limited and / will yield to other
speakers who are to follow me, know
J ing they will interest you.