The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-25
Indian Descendant Has Been
Using Her Shotgun.
Asks Protection Against Inva-
sion of Sacred Graves.
IN HEART OF KANSAS CITY, KAN.
For Years LYDIA B. COnley Has
Guarded the Cemetery.
City Officials Have Been Mo-
Testing Burying Ground.

LYDIA B. Conley. descendant of the
Wyandotte Indians. who for 20 years
has guarded. sometimes gently and
sometimes at the point of shotgun.
the graves of her ancestors in Huron
cemetery, in the heart of Kansas City,
Kan, against dissertation by the
hands of white men, today in the fed
eral district court here filed an appli-
cation for an injunction restraining
officials of Kansas City and others
from molesting the ancient burial
grounds.
Harry A. MendenhaIl, mayor of
Kansas City, Kan; William w. Cor
don, chief of police of the same city:
James Shaw, Oscar w. Anderson and
John Doe of Lawrence. are all
named as defendants in the applica-
ton. The plaintiff states that the de-
PENDANTS have already cut down trees,
destroyed flowers on the graves and
graded up the bones of persons buried
! in the cemetery.
says that in a treaty made between
Franklin Pierce. president of the
United States in 1855, and the Wyan-
dotte tribe, the Huron cemetery was
set aside for all time as a reservation
and burial place for the Wyandottes
| and their descendants. For the last
twenty years. the plaintiff says, she
| has cared for her fathers and moth
er's and other relatives graves in the
| cemetery and erected dwelling
| house thereon.
She asserts that on April 16, 1918,
/ the defendants entered the sacred
burial grounds and cut down trees
and destroyed flowers on her parents
graves. On May Is. she says. they
broke the lock on the dwelling and
| burned it and cut down shrubbery.
Two days afterwards, the plaintiff al
leges, the defendants invaded the
cemetery with scrapers and began
grading up graves and the bones of
"a
she says, includes those of the veter-
ans of the war of 1912. Besides ask
ing the permanent injunction, Miss
Conley also asks for temporary
restraining order against the defend
ants.
Landmark of the West.
The Huron cemetery, standing In
the very heart of the business district
of Kansas City, Kan. is one of the
lancient and historical landmarks of
the middle west. Much history, tragic
and romantic, has been woven around
!, it, and a lot of it was made by the
Conley family, of which the plaintiff
is a member.
. When the Conleys began guardins
the burial grounds about 20 years
ago it was because the modern
buildings of the white men were be-
ginning to close around the hill on
Il which they are located. The federal
building was erected on one side and
. Otner improvements DcSdh dihioSe ~
j cramp the ancient cemetery. Since
that time public officials have at
Il tempted to invade the plot and mod
. lernize it, and create it into park or
make other public improvements
thereon.
Sometimes alone. and sometimes
. with the aid of relatives. LYDIA Conley
defeated all these plans. Some years
Il ago an attempt was made to begin the
improvements. but LYDIA, with WICK
ed looking shotgun in her hands. un-
, aided and alone, stood off the invad-
ers.
. Years rolled on and similar at
, Itempts were made but LYDIA, in her
, lone watch over the souls OF her de-
| parted ancestors, disputed the rights
to the plat successfully until recently
when the city officials of Kansas City
obtained an upper hand after LYDIA
had held them at bay for several days
Then the officials entered and began
: liynnroven1entS