The Topeka state journal., 1906-05-02
FALL PROVED FATAL.
Patrick f. Sugirue Who Was Hurt at
Copeland Is Dead.

Patrick F. SugLrue, postmaster at the
Solids Home at Fort Dodge who was
fatally injured by falling down the
elevator shaft at the Copeland hotel
yesterday afternoon died at Sformont
hospital this morning at $3.50 at the age
Of So. He was on the second hoor when
the accident occurred which cost him
his life and as he was alone at the time
1t will never be known how it happened.
The first that was known of the acct
dent was when those who were crowded
close to the elevator door on the office
floor heard a swish and felt the rush
of displaced air as the body of Mr.
Sughrue Iell. n7he distance fallen was
probably twenty-five feet but the base
ment floor WIS covered by rubbish and
scrap iron which aided In making the
fall fatal. DR.. Mum who cared for the
injured man after lerWas taken to the
hospital pronounced the injuries fatal
after an examination which showed
that his skull was fractured, both arms,
one leg, his shoulder and his Jaw frac-
tured as well s several broken ribs.
Mr.. Sughrue was one of the oldest set
tiers in western Kansas, having settled
there nearly thirty years ago when
Dodge City had the reputation of being
one of the widest towns in the west
He with mis- t. in brother Mike came to
Kansas shortly after the war closed and
settled at Leavenworth, remaining there
but short time when p. +. or Pat"
as he was best known went to Dodge
City as the post blacksmith for the
government which place he filed for a
number OF years. He was elected sheriff
shortly after when the spirit of the west
was the widest and during the time
that he filled this office earned the title
Of THE Fighting Sheriff which clung
to him to the day of his death.
AS an officer, and as a man he earned
for himself reputation of which any
man might rightfully feel proud. He
was as tender-hearted as woman yet
when called upon to act the sterner
role with the law violator was feared
as possibly no man ever has been by
that element.
His face to the day OF his death bore
the marks of powder burns caused by
the explosion of a gun In the hands of
Ed Julian. who sought his life when
threatened with arrest. Julian after
wards being killed or murdered as the
plalnsmen of that time put 1t by the
notorious Ben Daniels.
Pat Sughrue was sheriff at Coronado
at the time Of the famous county seat
fight between that town and Leoti, in
which a dozen or more men lost their
lives. His brother Mike" who came
to Kansas with him was elected sher-
If of Clark county and died two years
ago. He was attending a Republican
convention in Topeka. and was taken
Ill and while he lived to reach his home,
died shortly afterwards.
Mr.. Sughrue was known among his
associates as man of high character
a fearless officer and enc who could be
depended upon. which is the highest
encomium which can be passed upon
a man who lived the prime of his life
/ in the widest Of the west, when it was
! experiencing the most strenuous times
4 of its existence.
Mrs. Sughrue win arrive from Dodge
City this afternoon to accompany the
remains to their home at Dodge City,
where the remains viii be inferred
along side of his friends Of frontier
days. many of whom met violent deaths
and died with their boots on. Such IS
/ the end Of one who seemed to bear a
charmed life and escaped the bullets
Of the desperadoes who feared and
hated him and who did penance fol-
their wrong doing owing to his fear
/ lessness and bravery