Year: 1872

From the Missouri Democrat


Hays City, Kansas, is not q pleasant
place to live in, or 10 die in. People die
there more readily than they can live there
and the graves with which the cemetery
is abundantly studded are ofwhat may be
called abnormal origin. The revolver is q
more prolific source Of obituaries than any
other disease, and bowel complaint is far
less fatal than the Bowie-knite For wears
past Hays City has been the abode of the
most desperate characters in the Union,
and consequently the scene of the most
terrible tragedies which ever made even
the inhabitants of that dark and bloody
border country ashamed of the reputation
OF their class and locality. On Thurs
d#y night last, in Hays City, there was
done deed of fearful note, and this was
the deed and the manner of its doing:


a few days before one Jack Wright went
to Hays City from Dodge City, the pro-
spective terminus of the Atlantic, Texas
and Sante Fe railroad, to buy some lum-
Der for building purposes In one of the
low doggeries with which Hays City
abounds, he met one Met LELAND. Il resi-
dent Of Ellsworth, and Familiarity known as
the Wickedest Man in the State. Both par
ties had been drinking and both were slim
ulated to jealousy by the presence of Il
trail il not fair one, in the person of Net
tie O'Baldwin. Words ensued, and then
McClelland loudly asserted that the only
object which he had in going to Hays City
was to kill Jack Wright, and that now was
the appointed time. In 4 moment amid Il
inghttul din of profanity and remon-
STRANGE, pistols were drawn, and their
short, sharp crack announced that murder
was being done. McCleland's first shot
pierced Wrlghts stomach, and lie fell to
the ground mortally wounded.


Ills death-wound, however, did not pro
vent him from thrice firing on and wound
ing McClelland. One ball took effect in
the desperado's head. another in his lett
hand and third in his abdomen-all three
wounds being severe but not necessarily
fatal In moment the fight was over;
and in less than half an hour after its oc-
cnrrencc Wright was a corpse ,McClclland
Il prisoner. and the woman, O'Baldwin.
an exile, having departed no one knew
whittier. McClelland's wounds were dress
ed and he was placed in Jail, the base
ment Of onestory frame building used
as Court A chain was fastened to
his ankle, and the other end oi it was ias-
tened TO one of the posts supporting the
building. To The same post was fastened
in y similar manner n well-knOwn horse
thief, "Pony" Donovan, who had received
frequent warnings to leave that section
OF the country under penalty of death
warnings which he had treated with con
tempt. The community had been terribly
excited. by the shooting ail'ray and the M
rest of Donovan, and suspicious knots Of
men met at all the street corners, mnttcr-
ing ominously that two such ruilians
would not be allowed to leave the city
alive, or. indeed to see the dawning of
another day.


The night, however, passed away un-
disturbed, and the pale beams of another
morning sun shonc in ON the lcttcred
wretrhes. This delay in the execution OF
the popular vengeance was only accorded
to await the return of messenger, who
had been sent to Dodge CITY to BRING to
Hays City u brother Of the murdered man.
The next night came. AT the dead mid
night hour u band of men met in the
square; all were armed all silent They
approached the Jail and surrounded it,
by the light OF their torches could be seen
crouching against the post to which they
were chained the two desperadoes, the
graver criminal, McClclland, swathed in
bandages. The mob had no pity for them,
who were fastened there like cattle await
ING the axe OF the butcher A curse of
hatred broke from Donovan's lips. Me.
Clelland was asleep, but started mp as the
light flashed upon him. Its lurd glare
was to him rs the blaze of opening hell.
In Il moment the glistenmg barrels Of Il
dozen guns were thrust through the WIN
dows I; detonation followed, and when
the thin blue smoke cleared away out on
its curling wrcaths tloatcd the guilty soul
Of Pony" Donovan.


McClelland, q man Of iron frame, was
shuddering and moaning in IN agony from
which death soon relieved him. Thus
persisted, without n word Of warning or Il
moment for reflection and repentance,
these two miserable men.


The event has caused much excitement
and much regret in Hays City. The pub.
lie are divided in opinion, nearly ali re-
GREETING that an act of popular violence
should have occurred in the city when the
regular authorities were abundantlV able
to Vlndcate the majesty OF outraged law.
while they all acknowledged that the muir
dpred men deserved death, and that crime
has attained to such proportions in the
vicinity as to require vigorous repressing.
Indeed, the whole country in the vicinity
is ravaged by organized bands of dcs-
peradoes, whom to oppose or resist is to
court violence and death


Only Il few DAYS since one of thsc bands. |
under the leadership Of Jack Donovan, Il
repuled brother to the one killed in iail |
and Black run Off thirty mules from the
vicinity of Dodge City, and seriously
wounded Il man who was on herd at the
time. They attire themselves Indian
fashion, thus screening themselves from
recognition, and shifting their crimes to
parties, thus when any members
OF these parties are caught they are most |
dealt with, and evidence is
point blank that these two who were thus |
suddenly hurled into eternity by an out
ragged and eXasperated populace met fate
they only too richly deserved.