Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1908-03-25

Never IN the history OF Barber county
were our people so horribly shocked as
they were last Thursday night when the
awful, heartrending news was flashed ov-
er the wires that Sheriff E. l.. McCrack-
en- was shot and mortally wounded at
Kiowa, by James Clark, better known
as Dad Clark, while attempting to
serve warrant on him.
Sheriff McCracken fingered until D.
10 Saturday afternoon when he passed
away.
Clark is a notorious bootlegger who
has been hanging around Kiowa for a
number Of years. He worked, at times,
at the cobbler trade as a side issue to
cover his real business. The day before
the shooting he was wanted as witness
IN a petty larceny case and subpoena
was issued for him, but when Deputy
Sheriff Downtain went after him he had
left and secreted himself. Later in the
day warrant was issued charging him
with selling whiskey. In the evening he
returned to his house and barricaded the
doors. Sheriff McCracken and City
Marshal Bunton of kiowa learned of his
return and they went to the house to ar
rest him. They asked Clark to come out,
told him who they were and what their
business was. Clark made no answer
but did considerable shifting through the
house. Finally they broke down door
and for CIark's benefit talked Of firing the
house. This frightened Clark and he es-
capped through window and ran into an
clubhouse. Sheriff McCracken followed
him and walked around the little building
several times telling him he must come
out. Clark continued to be silent and as
1t was nearly train time the sheriff con-
cluded to bring matters to focus and
stepped to the door which by this time
was partly opened. Clark was at the
door and in the darkness it appeared to
the officer that he had his hands up and
Mr.. McCracken reached for him. AT
that moment Clark pressed his revolver
against the sherif's breast and fired.
Sheriff McCracker did not fall but in
mediately began to fire into the out
house. Clark closing the door and stand
ing in one corner as soon as he had shot
Sheriff McCracken fired four shots into
three sides Of the clubhouse, after he wa:
shot, and had Clark Stood in any other
corner he would have been killed. Al
the fourth shot Clark got out and startec
to run. Marshal Bunton, who was some
80 feet distant then fired and hit Clark
in the leg which felled him and lost hi
revolver. He then began to beg for hi
life. Bunton took charge Of Clark anc
after the three had walked short dis
tance Sheriff McCracken said to Bunton
Clark I'm all in" and fell. He tolc
Bunton as soon as he was shot that h
was hurt but he did not think seriously
Marshal Bunton then called for Georg
Leonhart whose house is close to tn
Clark house. turned the prisoner over t
him and summoned physicians and othe
help to care for Sheriff McCracken. H
was carried to a small restaurant close t
the Santa Fe depot where Drs. Cloud
Fulton and Harris Of kiowa took charg
OF him. During the entire night no hop
whatever was given for his recovery, i
fact he seemed to be dying then and di
not rally until Friday morning. Dr.. UI
degraf Of Anthony and Dr.. ]. H. Dor
ovan Of this city and Dr.. Basham
Wichita all joined the other physician
during Friday and the battle to save She
if McCIacken's life was vigorously pro
.ecuted. But the encouragement Of the
eminent physicians was shortived. II
seemingly favorable conditions that e
listed during the greater part Of Fnda
began to vanish at O'Clock in the eve
ing when vomiting began and mu'
blood and putrid matter W
ahrown of. Until that time Sheriff M
Cracken himself was cheerful and h
confidence Of being able to win the b.
tle. His courage was characteristic
ahe man. he maintained bright dispo
zion and even joked with the anxic
.friends surrounding him. but when
was seized with the Stomach trouble
foresaw the result, made a few reque
concerning business matters and along
the night hpsed into semi-consciousne