The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-07-26
THIS CLAIM SAFE
HutchinsOn's Vigilants Take
Law Into Their Own Hands.
Affair Stops Practice Prevalent
in Early Days.
POSSE AFTER PIERCE
Old Soldiers Decide to Use Arms
if Necessary.
Plan to Drown Jumper in
Greek Fails.
POSSE AFTER PIERCE

Hutchinson, Kan, July 26.-Down on
the banks of Sand creek, at the edge Of
Elmer, is a historic spot.
For there the only vigilance commit
| tee in Reno county's history was
| formed, and there for the only time in
the history of the county. an outraged
and indignant people took the law into
| their own hands.
1t was years ago this summer, but
many of the active participants are still
| living here.
Fay Smith, now a member of the
| board of county commissioners and
/ Thos- Robertson, who was killed by a
/ bull few years ago, had claims near
each other in Lincoln township. For
some reason they decided to trade their
| claims, and in order to do so it was
necessary for them to relinquish their
lands to the government and take new
filings.
f. Pierce Of Hutchinson, heard that
they were about to do this. and watch
| ing his chance, as soon as the relin-
quishment was filed by Mr.. Smith,
Pierce jumped in and made a filing on
the land.
Pierce jumped the claim one after
noon and that evening began erecting
a small frame house, in order to legally
hold the land
The VigiIantes Come.
Word soon spread that he had done
this and the next day 40 settlers of
Lincoln township banded themselves
together. heavily armed. and marched
/ to the place. Nearly all in the party
were old soldiers, and Capt. Hedrick,
who now lives in South Hutchinson,
was leader OF the party.
Claim jumping wasn't very popular
then, and as there had been a lot of it
going on the settlers were determined
to put stop to it, explained Commits
sioner Smith 'They wouldn't let me
90 al hut ai1 eaff IN
the business.
''They fully expected to lynch the
claim jumper If necessary, and they
wouldn't have hesitated to do it,
When they reached the claim Pierce
was called out and presented with the
| following written notice:
Mr.. Perceive, citizens of Lincoln
township, and neighbors of ]. L. Smith,
do demand that you relinquish your
filing on the northeast quarter of Sec
ton II. town a, range 6.
I'VE as neighbors of J. L. Smith, have
firmly resolved and bound ourselves to
defend him in all these proceedings.
We have resolved that If mild means
| Will not answer we will resort to force,
/ for we are determined to protect him
| in his just right"
Pierce refused, and made a dash for
his wagon, standing nearby in which
| he had some guns. Capt Hedrick gave
a command and four heavily armed
members OF Cfle posse were given the
command to shoot.
Jumper Faces Death.
Pierce then surrendered. He was
marched half a mile south, across
where Elmer now stands, to Sand
| creek. There was water in the creek,
enough to drown a man.
I'VE will give you 90 seconds to con-
sent TO sign that REIMBURSEMENT" said
Capt. Hedrick in cold, firm tones.
He pulled out his watch and began
counting so. Four men were holding
Pierce on the bank of the creek, ready
to throw him in and drown him.
Before Hedrick had reach 40 in his
| count Pierce gave in. He was led to
the nearest house. where he signed the
paper. He soon after left the country.
The last heard of him he was sent to
the penitentiary for some trouble else
where.
THAT broke up claim jumping in this
part of the country said Commission
er Smith. ''And incidentally it led to
Capt. Hedrick being elected sheriff of
the county, for it made MIN so popular
that the boys rewarded him with that
offIca