The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1911-12-21
MASSACRE ENDS
WILDCAT ROAD
Citizens Of Missouri, Ignored by the
Court and Thrown into Jail, Shoot
Those Who conspired To Exploit
Them.
BY Robert Augustine in
Railroad Magazine.

you navy VI Nh'
Gum City, Missouri massacre, you are
Young. 1t occurred in the early eight
les when wildcat insurance companies
and railroad building on paper were
rampant. The president of corrupt
county court. one of his associates, his
bondsmen, and the county attorney,
we're taken from passenser.train by
o company of reputable citizens, lined
up and riddled with bullets. The Off.
cials were from Harrisonville. the
capital of Cass County, the county
adjoining that in which Kansas City
is situated.
A corporation known as the Kan.
sas City and Memphis Railroad Gin
papy-not the one that was afterward
projected and which constructed the
charter. One of the provisions gave
the county courts the right to vote
bonds without submitting the ques
ton to the taxpayers of the country
through which the road was to
be built
The president of the county court
of Cass county was named Stevenson.
He learned his business as contrac-
tor on the Erie Canal of New York.
The court was composed of three, but
Stevenson was the whole bench.
He was an INSCRIPTIONS and defiant
bully
Cass county, on the Kansas border,
espoused the Southern cause, and
most of its yeomanry left their fields
and workshops and went to the front.
The Jayhawkers Immediately fell up
on the homes and stock. They burned
and killed, driving from the section
the families whose fathers and sons
were in the army.
When the war was over as many
Cass county men as escaped the hor-
rors of the conflict returned to find
, little left except the ground on which
their homes had stood. For several
years afterwards the county was bur.
dened with debt, and taxes continued
10 increase.
The Kansas City and Memphis Rail
road Company went into the county
and asked the court to vote bonds to
the amount of 100000. The Cass Coun-
ty Herald official organ of the court,
persuaded" the court to make the
order. As the court approved every
bill rendered by the paper for Off
cial patronage, regardless of price,
the court was easily influenced by its
arguments
Citizens in every township Of the
county met and protested. The peti.
tion was signed by nearly every man
OF influence in the county and com
mttee of reputable farmers took the
petition to the court and presented 1t.
1t was yoluminous document. When
unrolled 1t reached twice around the
courthouse square.
After II was presented, Stevenson.
president of the court, declared that
the act was in contempt and ordered
the sheriff to remove the petitioners
committee to Jail
The sheriff asked il the order was
constructive.
mo, sir" Numbered Stevenson, 1t
means what | say, behind the bars.
The committee was marched to
prison.
The county organ praised the court
for It's order and advised the people
to submit. Indignation meetings were
held in every township and the court
and the organ were denounced. The
organ retorted with italicized editor
ials. Subscribers ordered their papers
stopped, any anonymous letters
reached the editor threatening his
plant with destruction il the paper
continued to abuse the public.
The paper continued and the orfic,
was burned. The concern was insured
in wildcat company. II failed the
day before the office was destroyed
The county court furnished funds to
new plant. The resuscitated organ
began anew Meanwhile the JAILED
committee secured bail. A new cleo
ton was at hand. The citizens tickle
was elected.
A few weeks before the old count.
court was to end its career, Steven
son, his bondsman William Dutro
the county attorney, Clyne, and tn
second member of the court left tn
county seat on the late Afternoon
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