Much of the early history of Cowley County Courthouse and early matters pertaining to the [City or County] Jail come from the 1872-1875 editions of the Winfield Courier. It is necessary to point out that microfilm copies of the Arkansas City Traveler did not start until 1876. MAW

1872

First Courthouse in Cowley County Considered As Temporary.

[COWLEY COUNTY.]

Winfield Messenger, Friday, March 15, 1872.

Winfield Has Temporary Courthouse. Courthouse to be Erected.

Winfield has 8 dry goods stores, 8 grocery stores, 3 drug stores, 3 hardware stores, 1 auction store, 3 meat shops, 3 saloons, 3 hotels, 2 tin shops, 1 harness shop, 2 shoe shops, 3 livery stables, 3 blacksmith shops, 3 bakeries, 3 wagon shops, 5 carpenter shops, 3 paint shops, 1 photograph hall, 1 bank, 2 churches, 1 clothing store, 2 cabinet shops, 1 millinery shop, 1 news depot, 1 silversmith shop, 1 wholesale liquor store, 4 land offices, 1 barber shop, a temporary courthouse, 2 lumber yards; and in fact, nearly all the trades and professions are liberally represented. There are 5 church organizations, 1 Masonic lodge, 1 odd fellows lodge, besides literary and other societies. There is an excellent and large public school, besides Sunday schools and other means of instruction.

The buildings of Winfield are of a good, substantial class, and well painted: most of them white. Some of the buildings are of magnesian limestone, from the adjacent quarries, and several others are about to be erected of the same material. Among the buildings to be erected this season is a schoolhouse to cost $5,000, a courthouse, a flour mill, a large first class hotel, and many fine business and residence structures.

Temporary Courthouse.

[CITIZEN’S MEETING.]

Winfield Messenger, June 28, 1872.

Agreeable to appointment a number of citizens met at the courthouse in Winfield to take measures for holding a celebration. After considerable discussion it was decided not to celebrate at Winfield, whereupon a committee, consisting of Messrs. Walton, Boyle, and Bryant, was appointed to procure teams for the accommodation of persons wishing to attend celebrations elsewhere.

A sufficient quality of powder was donated for the national salute, to be given at daybreak on the morning of the fourth, and a committee was appointed to superintend the firing.

The meeting then took into consideration the subject of

INCORPORATING WINFIELD,

in which much interest was manifested by all present. On motion, J. B. Fairbank, S. H. Myton, and A. T. Stewart were appointed as a committee to draft petitions and circulate them.

On motion the meeting adjourned. J. D. COCHRAN, Chairman.

ALBERT YALE, Secretary.

Courthouse and Jail Bonds.

Winfield Messenger, Friday. July 12, 1872. [Editorial.]

“WATCHMAN, WHAT OF THE NIGHT?”

One pretended objection to the courthouse and jail bonds is, that the county seat might be removed. This is simply ridiculous. The Walnut Valley will always be the center of population, east and west, in Cowley County. In the Walnut Valley will be flourishing stations (for a railroad will soon certainly be built down the valley), and towns along the Walnut River in this county will be built, of which, of course, Winfield and Arkansas City will be chief. And while the Grouse is an excellent valley and will sustain two good towns, the Arkansas Valley is much broader, and will contain the heaviest population.

What object then, outside of the immediate locality of an aspirant for county seat, and outside of enmities founded upon envy and malice, could the people have in changing the county seat? What would be the consequence in so doing? We will tell you. Winfield, alone, will pay for one fourth of the taxes of the whole county the coming year. The faster she grows, the more she lightens the county of taxation. Would it be wise now to kill the goose that lays the golden egg? Why try to cripple and stop the growth of the best town in the county, and one of the best (and soon will be the best), in southern Kansas? What is Winfield doing for the county? She is building bridges for the county, which justly belonged to the county to build, and which the county has the benefit of, which will cost her not less than $13,000. Has Winfield no claim upon the good will of the county? Where can the farmer find a better market in which to buy and sell?

Is it wise for the farmer to destroy his own market? Two splendid grist and flouring mills are being erected at Winfield, where every farmer in time will want to bring his grain. And manufactories will soon follow.

Is it wise for the people to spread a wet blanket on all this prosperity, when they are the direct recipients of all the good and evil done to Winfield?

Bah! The people are not such fools. And the envious discontents can organize an expedition to the planets in a balloon with as much hope of success, as to expect the people of this county to prefer the town of Tisdale to Winfield for county seat. And the people will prefer to apply the $1,000 which a county seat election would cost them to the building of county buildings in Winfield.

Courthouse.

Winfield Messenger, July 12, 1872.

A township convention was held at the courthouse last Saturday, and delegates were elected to the county convention. The delegates chosen were L. J. Webb, J. P. Short, and W. M. Boyer.

Request by County Commissioners: Vote Bonds for Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Messenger, Friday, July 19, 1872. Editorial.

ALBERT YALE & CO., Publishers.

Message from County Commissioners.

RECAP: Request to voters of Cowley County to vote for bonds for courthouse and jail. Request signed by County Commissioners: Frank Cox, Richland Township; O. C. Smith, Bolton Township; J. D. Maurer, Dexter Township. After their statement, more editorials appear requesting votes for bonds for courthouse and jail.

This was followed by another item about “Land Office at Wichita.” Changes made in officers seemed to be welcomed by editor.

Jail & Courthouse A Public Necessity According to Commissioners.

Winfield Messenger, July 19, 1872.

The County Commissioners, who all reside outside of the township, say that a jail and courthouse building is a public necessity.

Election Called by County Commissioners for Courthouse & Jail.

Winfield Messenger, July 26, 1872.

TO THE VOTERS OF COWLEY COUNTY.

FELLOW CITIZENS:

The undersigned, your board of County Commissioners, having called an election upon the proposition of voting bonds to be expended in constructing a Court House and Jail, feel constrained to state in this way the reasons for our action.

During the last twelve months, ending July 1st, the expense of caring for prisoners and providing suitable rooms for county offices in this county has created an indebtedness of about $1,000.

To this expense must be added the consideration that there is no security in the care of criminals nor safety to the county books and records. These books, records, plats, office furniture, etc., have cost the county over $4,000, and in case of loss by theft or fire, it would cost the citizens individually and taxpayers collectively many thousand dollars for new books and new records—many of which could never be replaced at any cost or trouble.

With $15,000 in the hands of this county, we will erect a three story stone building at least 45 feet square, the lower or basement story of which shall be used for a jail. The second story shall be partitioned into rooms for the county officers and shall be furnished with fire proof vaults for the safe keeping of the records. The third story shall be completed for a courtroom. This building will be located on a block of land isolated from other buildings and owned by the county, which land will be donated to the county.

The tax to be levied for interest on account of the issue of $15,000 in bonds amounts to but a trifle more for the first year than the extra expense of caring for prisoners and paying rent during the year past; and in the future the expense of caring for prisoners under the present system will be more expensive than in the past.

The taxable property of the county this year is about $1,250,000; and as Winfield Township will be said to be more directly interested in the construction of this building than other townships, we will say that the tax roll for 1872 shows that Winfield Township contains one fourth of the taxable property of the whole county while it contains only about one eighteenth of the territory in the county.

No tax will be collected to redeem a bond or pay interest upon the amount issued until January, 1874, at which time $2,500 will be due, when we may reasonably expect that the taxable property of this county will amount to $2,250,000 or double its present value; in which case the Courthouse and jail tax will be one tenth of one percent, or one dollar on every $1,000 worth of property in the county. Each year after 1874, the levy of tax for this purpose will be less than the previous year, and the amount of property will be greater; hence after the first year the tax will be less than one tenth of one percent.

FRANK COX, Richland Township.

O. C. SMITH, Bolton Township.

J. D. MAURER, Dexter Township.

COMMISSIONERS OF COWLEY COUNTY.

Discussion of Election to Vote Bonds for Cowley County Courthouse & Jail.

Winfield Messenger, July 26, 1872.

Pleasant Valley Township.

Brags about Posey Creek and Pleasant Valley Township being the best!

In regard to voting bonds for the erection of a courthouse and jail in the town of Winfield, the writer of this has not as yet had but little conversation with the people on that subject, but thinks there will be quite a number that will go for the bonds.

Our valley here is fast settling up and good houses are being built. Now is the time for persons who wish to secure lands at low figures in this valley. A POSEY CREEKER.

Courthouse & Jail Bond Election Defeated.

Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872. Editorial.

THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE STIFLED.

The County Commissioners met this morning to count the votes cast at the recent Courthouse Bond election at which the voices of the county expressed their wish in favor of the bonds, by a clear majority of over one hundred votes, but the enemies of the proposition appeared in force and by their attorney and a quibble of the law defeated the will of the people. The commissioners called the election properly and the people sustained the proposition, but Tisdalites commenced legal proceedings to defeat that expression and the friends of the bonds believe that a lawsuit over the election would cost the county more than the question at issue would justify. Besides, the bonds would be depreciated in value if they should have been issued and then followed with a lawsuit about their legality. These quibblers about technical points, these men who persist in throwing into the courts the popular will for the purpose of defeating it will be remembered.

Report that Tisdale Will Give Bonds for Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872.

The Traveler says that Tisdale will give $15,000 in Township bonds to build a Courthouse and Jail. As her assessed valuation will not allow her to legally vote $5,000 we would respectfully inquire where the other $10,000 is to come from. It’s only a small amount, but yet is something possibly Foughty or some of her other numerous (?) millionaires will donate it.

Courthouse.

Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872.

The Republicans of Winfield and vicinity met at the courthouse in this place on last Saturday evening for the purpose of organizing a Grant and Wilson Club. The organization of the club was perfected by the adoption of a constitution and by-laws, and the election of the following named persons as permanent officers: L. J. Webb, president; E. B. Kager, Vice President; E. S. Torrance, secretary; H. Brotherton, Treasurer.

J. A. Myton, E. Davis, and E. P. Hickok were elected as members of the executive committee.

Decision by Board Not To Canvass Vote on Courthouse & Jail.

Excerpts from meeting...

Winfield Messenger, August 16, 1872.

Commissioners Proceedings.

Winfield, Kansas, August 16th, 1872.

Board of County Commissioners met in County Clerk’s office, pursuant to adjournment. Present: Frank Cox, O. C. Smith, and J. D. Maurer.

Met as adjourned. Proceeded to take up the canvass of the votes on the Jail and Courthouse bonds and upon discussion the Board declared the vote not in accordance with the amendment law of 1872, and therefore decided not to canvass the vote.

No Courthouse in Cowley County!

Winfield Messenger, October 4, 1872.

FIRE. Last Friday night the Walnut Valley Billiard Hall building caught fire in the upper story; but fortunately, was put out before any damage was done. If the fire had got to the roof, with the wind blowing as it was, no device of man could have saved the east side of Main street from Ninth Avenue north. The County Treasurer’s office is kept in the story where the fire started, thus the financial records of the county came very near being destroyed on account of our not having a Courthouse, where such things can be made safe from destruction by fire.

1873

Jail and Railroad Bond Elections Declared Void.

Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.

Elections. The elections for jail and railroad bonds were declared void on account of an informality in the call.

First Jail was Considered a Temporary Facility.

Temporary County Jail.

Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.

It was ordered by the Board that a temporary jail be built of the following dimensions, 12 x 18 feet and 10 ft. high, built of 2 x 6 oak spiked together and not to exceed in expense the sum of five hundred dollars in cash and it was further ordered that the County Clerk be authorized to receive sealed bids upon the building of said jail after advertising for proposals in the Winfield COURIER for two weeks, and that he let the same to the lowest responsible bidder and enter into contract with the same upon plans and specifications to be on file in the Clerk’s office.

County Board Decides to Erect a $500 Jail.

Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.

Boarding Prisoners. A bill of $120 against the county for boarding prisoners at the rate of $10 per day was presented to the board of County Commissioners at their last session. After some discussion, the board decided to erect a suitable building, the cost of which should not exceed $500 in cash. This saves to the county the expense of transporting prisoners to and from Emporia jail for about forty dollars each, and secures board at 60 cents a day per capita.

The economy of this is apparent as the total cost of the building will be gained twice over during the next twelve months. At the expiration of that time, a Court House and jail will have been erected, that will do credit to one of the newest counties in the state.

Excerpts from meeting...

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.

Board of County Commissioners met in County Clerk’s Office, January 6th, 1873.

Present, Frank Cox and J. D. Maurer.

The County Board (owing to the informalities of the call of the elections to take place on the 11th and 18th of this month) made the following: That the order calling the elections on the 11th and 18th of January, 1873, for the purposes of voting for and against the issuing of bonds to be used in the building of a court house and jail and also the subscribing of stock to the Kansas and Nebraska railroad be revoked and declared void, and that no elections will be held on those days.

Board Orders Building of a Temporary Jail.

It was ordered by the Board that a temporary jail be built of the following dimensions, 12 x 18 feet and 10 ft. high, built of 2 x 6 oak spiked together and not to exceed in expense the sum of five hundred dollars in cash and it was further ordered that the County Clerk be authorized to receive sealed bids upon the building of said jail after advertising for proposals in the Winfield COURIER for two weeks, and that he let the same to the lowest responsible bidder and enter into contract with the same upon plans and specifications to be on file in the Clerk’s office.

Bids for Temporary Jail.

Winfield Courier, Saturday, January 11, 1873.

Notice for Sealed Proposals.

Notice is hereby given that sealed bids will be received at this office up to Jan. 21st, 1873, for the building of a temporary jail for Cowley County to be built from plans and specifications to be seen at my office, contract to be let to the lowest responsible bidder on the 21st day of January 1873, at 1 p.m. The county reserves the right to reject all bids if necessary. A. A. JACKSON, County Clerk.

Opposition to Bonds for County Buildings.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1873.

From the Arkansas City Traveler of the 12th we find the expression of the people reflected in the following.

“We do not favor the proposition for county building bonds, now before the people, because we do not reap an immediate benefit therefrom. We do favor building a temporary structure that will answer all demands and save great expense to the county. When the proper time comes we shall advocate permanent county buildings, but it will be when our incomes are greater and our taxes less.”

Our people will be rejoiced over this free admission of the selfish spirit that ever actuates and controls inhabitants of rival [NEXT WORD OBSCURED].

What will be the verdict of Winfield township in this matter?

Will our people in good faith be made the dupes of a plot to re-enact the scenes of Cherryvale and Independence, by granting to Arkansas City the much coveted position of a termini of a north and south road that originates no place and has the same destination.

The courthouse and jail bonds of this county should be voted, yet Winfield is not so solicitous as to urge through the press a tax upon the people unless they consider it to the advantage of the county to incur this expense.

Let us have an unbiased expression of citizens of the county not swayed by unfair means that we may know in what channel the minds of the people run on the subject of home economy. You can imagine the effect that would be produced on the mind of immigrants to find in the county a tax for a railroad that goes to enrich a foreign company the same that benefits are accruing to the county, while there is not a single improvement in the county in the shape of public buildings, but a heavy expense attached for the transportation of prisoners one hundred miles to a suitable place of confinement, together with office rents, etc., that is continually leeching the hard earnings from the farmer.

Contract Between County Board and City of Winfield.

Jail, Courthouse, and County Offices.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, April 24, 1873.

Substance of an Order Made by the Board.

A contract was entered into by the Board, with the City of Winfield; the latter to build a jail to cost not less than $2,500.00 and the county to erect a courthouse and county offices, at the cost of $8,500.00 cash. A committee was appointed to get up a plan and specifications which, when affected by the Board, the County clerk shall publish a notice for sealed proposals, for thirty days, in the Winfield COURIER and Arkansas City TRAVELER.

Temporary Courthouse and County Office Rooms.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 1, 1873.

The attention of contractors is called to the plan and specifications for a courthouse, advertised in another column.

SEALED Proposals will be received by the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas, at the County Clerk’s Office up to May 30th, 1873, at 1 o’clock P.M. for the construction of a Temporary Courthouse and county Office Rooms not to exceed in cost $10,000. Plans and specifications of the work and material to be seen at the County Clerk’s Office at Winfield, Kansas. The right to reject any and all proposals is reserved.

A. A. JACKSON, County Clerk.

Courthouse and Jail.

Excerpts from article...

[ARTICLE DESCRIBING WINFIELD/COWLEY COUNTY.]

Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 8, 1873. [From the Atchison Champion.]

WINFIELD, KAS., April 24, 1873.

County Commissioners have advertised for bids for the purpose of erecting a $10,000 courthouse. The proposition was first made on condition the city would build a $2,500 jail, which the City Council has accepted. We saw the plans and specifications of the courthouse, which is to be a two story brick, 40 x 50, with stone finish. The first floor will contain eight offices and a hall eight feet wide. The courtroom will occupy the entire upper story, except space for the stairways. The bonds have been negotiated; and the City Council have appointed a committee to perfect plans and specifications for the erection of a jail at once.

Excerpts from meeting...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 5, 1873.

The County Commissioners met in the County Clerks’ Office. Present: Frank Cox, O. C. Smith, and J. D. Maurer.

Proceeded to select a location for the Courthouse. After due consideration of the different propositions submitted, it was decided to locate the building on South one-half of Section 169, the Winfield Town Association deeding the same to the County.

Proceeded to open the bids for building the Courthouse. Nine separate bids were received, ranging from $6,550 to $8,000. The Contract was awarded to the lowest bidders, Messrs. Bailey & Sloan, of Rock Township, and they were given till Tuesday to produce their bondsmen to qualify in double the amount of the bid.

Courthouse and Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 5, 1873.

The County Commissioners last Saturday acted upon the county building matter, and designated the square in the east part of the city, which was tendered the county by the Town Company, as the block upon which shall be erected the county buildings. Messrs. Bailey and Sloan were awarded the contract for the building of the courthouse, and steps will be taken by them immediately to begin the work.

The New Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 5, 1873.

Through the kindness and courtesy of our capable Deputy County Clerk, Mr. J. P. Short, we are enabled to give our readers some idea of the new Courthouse, that is to be. The building is to be 40 x 50 feet; two stories high; the lower story 11 feet high in the clear; the upper story 13 feet high; hall 8 feet wide, running entire length of the building, with doors opening into rooms, eight in number on either side. At the head of the stairway, which runs from the main entrance door in the hall, are two small rooms which may be used for Jury, hat and cloak room, etc., or if necessary, can be added to the courtroom by folding doors. The courtroom proper is 37 feet 4 in., by 34 feet 10 in., in the clear, lighted by two large 4-light windows. The building is to be built of brick with a stone foundation. The contractors are Bailey & Sloan. The building is to be completed by November 1, 1873.

In connection with the above we understand the city has procured lots in the rear of the courthouse on which the City Fathers propose to locate the Jail.

Altogether it is a very desirable location, and we hope the contractors will do a good honest job; one that will be a credit to themselves, and a benefit to the county.

Courthouse.

COMMISSIONERS PROCEEDINGS OF JUNE 10, 11.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 19, 1873.

In regard to the Courthouse award, it was ascertained that the county must pay its indebtedness in warrants, and that bids for cash could not be legally considered and the whole proceedings were set aside and an order made that sealed bids for erecting the Courthouse according to the plans and specification on file in the Clerk’s office would be received until 2 o’clock p.m., the 11th inst., and the County Attorney was directed to inform the former builders of the order made.

Adjourned until 11th inst.

11th inst. Board met as per adjournment.

All present: proceeded to open bids for Courthouse. Three bids were read, and the contract was awarded to Messrs. Stewart & Simpson, at $9,000 in scrip, their’s being the lowest bid to give bonds in double the amount of the bid, and the sureties to qualify in double the amount of the bond or for $36,000.

Messrs. Stewart & Simpson returned with their bond, and signed the contract. The sureties to the bond then qualified in the sum of $75,000. Bond approved.

Board adjourned until regular meeting of July 7th, 1873. FRANK COX, Chairman,

A. A. JACKSON, County Clerk, Per J. P. SHORT, Deputy Clerk.

Courthouse Injunction Suit.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 31, 1873.

The long talked of injunction suit to restrain the Board of County Commissioners from issuing the orders of the county to pay for the Courthouse has been commenced by Bailey & Sloan. We are sorry that lack of space forbids comment this week but will pay our respects to it in our next issue.

Progress of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 21, 1873.

Our New Courthouse is rapidly “looming up.” The walls are now one story high, and the contractors expect to have the building ready for use at the Fall term of Court.

Courthouse Plans Changed by County Board.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 4, 1873.

The Board of County Commissioners at their meeting on the 3rd inst., changed the plan of the Courthouse, so as to have a double gable instead of a single gable roof. They have also increased the height of the walls of the upper story two feet, and made provision for the building of a handsome tower upon the center of the roof.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 9, 1873.

Two or three of the cells of the jail are now in readiness to receive and retain any of our citizens who can’t behave themselves outside.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 16, 1873.

The courthouse is enclosed.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 23, 1873.

The jail will be dedicated by a dance tomorrow night.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.

The jail dedication dance of last week was a grand affair. The jail was illuminated. The two Cranes were perched upon stools in the corner, scraping sweet strains on the entrails of some defunct feline, a single set was formed upon the floor in the shape of a hollow square walking through the changes of a quadrille; a solitary lady sat upon one of the benches which were ranged along the wall, a few of the gents were practicing some choice jig and clog steps in the corner, while the remainder of the assembly (fifteen military “stags”) gathered in a knot near the door gazing at and enjoying the scene almost as much as the participants. C. L. Rood was acting officer of the day and chief spokesman, which positions he filled with the dignity becoming the occasion. Owing to the wonderful success of this effort, Rood thinks he will give another entertainment of the same character some time.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.

Go to the Old Fellows’ sociable in the Courthouse on the 6th of November.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.

The award for seating the Courthouse was let to the Kansas School Furniture Company of Iola.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.

S. H. Myton was awarded the contract for furnishing the stoves, pipe, etc., for the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 30, 1873.

The members of the Fraternity of Odd Fellows will give a Sociable on Wednesday evening, November 5th, in the large room at the Courthouse. Evening entertainments will be of a social character. Supper will be provided at an early hour.

SOLICITING COMMITTEE: Mrs. M. L. Mullen, Mrs. J. J. Todd, Mrs. S. W. Greer, Mrs. Braidwood, Miss J. Stewart, Mrs. J. Bullene, Mrs. Jeffreys, L. J. Webb, T. A. Blanchard, A. S. Williams, G. W. Martin, Mrs. Fannie V. Curns, A. G. Jackson.

COMMITTEE ON PREPARING AND DECORATING THE ROOM: P. M. Shell, J. W. Curns, A. J. Thompson, Miss Ada Millington, Miss Quarles, Mrs. McMasters.

COMMITTEE ON KITCHEN: J. J. Williams, P. M. Sholl, F. D. Davis.

COMMITTEE ON MUSIC: Miss Lewelia Blandin, Miss Kate Lowery, Miss Kate Porter, Miss Braidwood, J. Swain.

COMMITTEE ON RECEPTION: Mrs. Flint, Miss J. Stewart, Mrs. Capt. Davis, J. J. Williams, J. Swain, Dr. Houx.

By order of the general Committee.

L. T. MICHENER, REV. J. W. LOWREY, D. N. EGBERT, JOHN SWAIN.

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 13, 1873.

Soldiers’ Reunion on Thanksgiving Day. At a meeting of the committee of arrangements held at Dr. Mansfield’s, the following reception committee was appointed. Enoch Marris, A. H. Green, J. C. Bigger, E. C. Manning, Mrs. C. M. Wood, and Mrs. Flint. Soldiers arriving in the city will please report as early in the day as possible to the above committee at the city council room in the jail building just north of the courthouse, register their names, and receive their tickets for dinner. A full programme will be published next week.

C. M. WOOD, President.

J. P. SHORT, Secretary, pro tem.

Excerpts from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, November 20, 1873. Editorial Page.

THE TELEGRAM SOUNDS OFF.

“Another Swindle.”

The circumstances are just these: A short time ago, our readers will remember the Telegram was made by Mr. L. J. Webb the County printer, the official County Paper. Not liking the Telegram they laid their heads together to concoct some plan whereby they could vent their spite against the Telegram, and thereby deprive it of the County Printing. They agreed to annul the contract with Mr. Webb, but then came a little hitch between Cox and Smith. Cox wanted to award the printing to the “COURIER” and Smith wanted his pet, the “Traveler,” to get the benefit of the change.

The Telegram would have the people believe that the County Board were bad men, but as one single evidence of their integrity and official ability, we call attention to the beautiful Courthouse erected by them at less expense than any similar building in the state.

Courthouse and Jail Building.

Winfield Courier, November 20, 1873.

GRAND ANNUAL RE-UNION OF THE SOLDIERS OF COWLEY COUNTY,

ON THANKSGIVING DAY, NOV. 27, 1873.

A CORDIAL INVITATION To participate in the festivities of the day is hereby extended to all the soldiers residing in the county. The following PROGRAMME will be observed.

AT 10, A.M. THE Reception Committee will commence to make up the Roster and distribute tickets for DINNER To all whose names are entered thereon.

AT 11, A.M. SOLDIERS will fall into line, in marching order, on Main Street, the right resting on Ninth Avenue, under the direction of the officer of the day, CAPT. McARTHUR, And march to the COURTHOUSE Where an address of welcome will be delivered by Captain S. C. Smith, The Mayor of Winfield, and the organization of the Soldiers’ Union completed.

AT 1, P.M. SOLDIERS will fall in for dinner.

AT 3, P.M. THERE will be a meeting in the Courthouse, and addresses will be delivered by the following soldiers: Chaplain E. P. Hickok, Maj. J. B. Fairbank, Capt. James McDermott, A. D. Keith, S. M. Fall, Maj. T. B. Ross, Rev. N. L. Rigby, J. C. Bigger, Esq., and other soldiers present.

AT 7, P.M. THERE WILL BE A GRAND BALL! And dancing will be in order, to conclude the festivities of the day.

The proceedings of the day will be enlivened with appropriate music by the Winfield and Arkansas City Cornet Bands. A. A. JACKSON, Chairman Committee on Arrangements.

J. P. SHORT, Secretary.

Committee on Music. T. A. Wilkinson, Chairman, Mrs. W. D. Roberts, Miss Emma Leffingwell, L. J. Webb and John Kirby.

City Council Room in Jail Building North of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 20, 1873.

Soldiers’ Re-union on Thanksgiving Day. At a meeting of the committee of arrangements held at Dr. Mansfield’s, the following reception committee was appointed. Enoch Maris, A. H. Green, J. C. Bigger, E. C. Manning, Mrs. C. M. Wood, and Mrs. Flint. Soldiers arriving in the city will please report as early in the day as possible to the above committee at the city council room in the jail building just north of the courthouse, register their names, and receive their tickets for dinner.

“County Jail.”

Winfield Courier, November 20, 1873.

There is a man confined in the county jail for the offense of stealing a corn knife. He was committed for the period of about seventy days. Squire Gans, of Windsor Township, a reformer in the late election, and an advocate of economy in county expenses, was the justice who rendered this ridiculous judgment.

New Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 27, 1873.

Over fifty characters in full costumes will appear in the tableaux of Pilgrim’s Progress.

Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress in tableaux vivants at the new courthouse Dec. 9th and 10th.

Winfield Courier, November 27, 1873.

Readings, tableaux, and songs representing Pilgrim’s Progress will be given at the new courthouse Dec. 9th and 10th, 1873, under the auspices of the Baptist Church. Single tickets, 50 cents; season tickets 75 cents. Children under 12 years 25 cents.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 4, 1873.

The Soldiers’ ball Thursday evening was well attended, about 90 couples being present, and was acknowledged by all as being the finest affair of the season. The courtroom makes a splendid dancing-hall, and everybody seemed to appreciate it. Messrs. Webb and Jackson deserve praise for the interest manifested by them to make the ball pleasant and enjoyable.

Description of New Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873. Editorial by James Kelly, Editor.

The Courthouse is now completed, and the county officers assigned to their respective places. We think that a description of this beautiful structure will not be altogether uninteresting, at least, to the tax payers of the county; although we may say right here, that no pen picture can give more than a crude idea of this splendid building.

The main building is 40 x 50 ft. The foundation is of stone, rubbleworked, cut-stone water-table, door, and window sills. The walls are 16 in. thick, and are of the best quality of brick. The first story is 11 ft. high, and the second 15 ft. The roof is what is commonly denominated double gable truss and heavily iron strapped, and bolted, with a tower 22 ft. high, the foundation posts of which are 12 x 12 inch oak timbers extending clear across the entire width of the building, the whole surmounted by a beautiful weather-vane, constructed by Mr. C. R. Sipes of Arkansas City, and we believe, a present to the county. A hall 8 ft. wide runs through the building, from South to North, with heavy double panel doors at each end. The offices are arranged on each side of the hall, six in number, and are 13 x 15 ft. sq. with two large 10 light windows in each room. The Courtroom proper is on the second floor, and is 37 x 38 ft. in the clear. On the north end, and on either side of the stair landing, are two jury rooms each 12 ft. square, which open into the courtroom by folding doors. The inside is painted both inside, and out, with three coats, and has three coats of plaster, the last a plaster paris finish; and is, on the whole, one of the best, prettiest, and most substantial buildings, of the kind—and certainly the best for the money—in the state. Of the contractors,

STEWART & SIMPSON

we need say but little: their work speaks for them. The brick bank building of M. L. Read, and now the courthouse, will stand as monuments of the skill, honesty, and integrity of Messrs. Stewart & Simpson, long after they will have passed away. The sub-contractors, Messrs. Rice & Ray, carpenters, also deserve special mention. But our space will not permit us to say further than that they have shown themselves to be master workmen, and have done the county a good, honest job.

We cannot close this imperfect sketch without saying a word for our county Board, Frank Cox, O. C. Smith, and John D. Maurer. They early saw that the building of good substantial buildings would be a saving to the county every year. The history of our neighboring county, Howard, is just now a case in point. Election after election has been held, the county seat moved, to use a homely phrase, “from pillar to post.” Thousands of dollars annually squandered in vain attempts to settle it. They, in common, with all right thinking men, saw that in a short time the history of Cowley would furnish but a parallel to the history of Howard, and that so long as the county had no buildings of her own, the county seat was simply a bone of contention, to be pulled hither and thither at the whim or caprice of any who might take it into their heads to move it.

The Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County have built a better courthouse, for less money, than can be found in any other county in the state. No stealing, no jobbing, no trickery, of any kind whatever, but honesty, faithfulness, a desire to do the very best for the public have marked the history of the enterprise in an uncommon degree. The Board of County Commissioners deserve the thanks of every taxpayer in Cowley County.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

The County officers will move their offices to the Courthouse next Monday.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

The Union Sunday School, and Congregational services by Rev. Mr. Parmelee will be held next Sabbath at the Courthouse at the usual hour.

New Courthouse Accepted.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

The County Commissioners have accepted the new Courthouse and took it off the contractor’s hands, allowing them their last payment, at the recent meeting of the Board.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

The continuation of the sublime allegory Bunyan’s Pilgrims Progress has been postponed on account of the inclemency of the weather, and will be concluded next Tuesday evening at the Courthouse.

News About One Who Enjoined Building of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

Our old legal friend, “Judge” M. S. Adams, who removed to Wichita in order to run for Congress, and came down to Winfield to enjoin the building of our Courthouse, we notice by the Wichita Eagle has succeeded in having himself employed on one (1) case out of eighty (80) on the Docket of the Sedgwick County District Court.

Courthouse Activities.

Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.

The Co. Commissioners at their last meeting accepted the Courthouse. And the contractors, Messrs. Stewart & Simpson, take this method to return thanks to their bondsmen, S. C. Smith, Charley Black, R. B. Saffold, Hiram Silver, S. H. Myton, Rice & Ray, J. J. Ellis, J. D. Cochran, M. L. Read, J. C. Blandin, John Lowry, and C. A. Bliss, for the confidence reposed in them when they were entire strangers, and to say that they are honorably discharged from any further obligation on account of the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Friday, December 19, 1873.

In our description of the Courthouse last week, we made a misstatement in regard to the weathervane which embellishes the cupola of said building. We had understood and so stated that C. R. Sipes, of Arkansas City, made and presented the weather indicator to the county. We have since been informed that the aforementioned article was purchased of Mr. Sipes by T. A. Rice, who made the donation.

Winfield Courier, Friday, December 19, 1873.

Board of County Commissioners met in Clerk’s office, December 9, 1873. All present. After a thorough inspection of the work, the Courthouse was accepted from the contractors, and the bondsmen discharged.

District Clerk authorized to procure blanks for his office.

Superintendent of Public Instruction was authorized to procure a black board and stationery for his office.

The county officers were assigned to the Courthouse on Monday, December 15, 1873. After that date no bills for office rent will be allowed.

James Kelly was directed to procure appropriate signs and place the same on the office doors of the Courthouse.

The County Clerk was directed to have the wood prepared for the stoves in the county offices.

The sheriff was ordered to set up the county stove that is in the District Clerk’s office in the courtroom of the Courthouse.

The following bills were audited and allowed. [Only mentioning a few.]

Stewart & Simpson, last payment on Courthouse: $4,390.00

Stewart & Simpson, extra work: $131.00

Winfield Courier, Friday, December 26, 1873.

The agony of the individual who has become worried about the money raised two years ago for a school bell will now be over, since its deep tones are heard from the belfry of the Courthouse, where it will remain until a suitable place is prepared on the schoolhouse. For further particulars, inquire of the school directors. MRS. MANSFIELD.

1874

Jail and Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 2, 1874. Editorial Page.

A Peep Over the Shoulder.

This number completes Volume 1st of the WINFIELD COURIER. One year ago it was started to supply a want long felt, not only in the Republican party, but among businessmen of all shades of opinion, who desired a good advertising medium. . . .

The buildings erected during the year just closed have been of the most substantial kind, the most prominent of which we call to mind, the splendid brick Bank building of M. L. Read; the neat Drug house of Maris, Carson & Baldwin; the magnificent flowering mills of C. A. Bliss and Blandin & Covert; the jail and Courthouse; the residences of Kirk, McMillen, and Dr. Graham. These are but a few of the many built during the last twelve months, and they are such as to do credit to any town in the state. Bridges of magnificent proportions span all main streams on the roads leading to town. . . .

“County Jail.”

Winfield Courier, January 2, 1874.

A murderer now occupies the county jail.

Winfield Courier, January 2, 1874.

A SHOCKING TRAGEDY AT LAZETTE!

A MAN STABBED TO THE HEART AND DIES ALMOST INSTANTLY.

THE BLOW CLAIMED TO BE STRUCK IN SELF-DEFENSE.

THE ACCUSED WAIVES TRIAL AND IS LODGED IN JAIL.

One of the saddest affairs we have ever been called upon to chronicle occurred at the town of Lazette, in this county, at a masquerade ball given there last Christmas eve. The chief actors in the horrible tragedy were Winfield Scott Osborn, the victim, and Thomas T. Rucker, the accused, of Lazette. Being somewhat acquainted with the accused, and desiring to give a true version of the affair, we went to the jail and got the story from Mr. Rucker himself, and which runs something like the following.

Rucker was introduced by Osborn to a Miss Della Coates and requested her to dance with him, which she refused to do disguised as he then was (Rucker being masked) and on turning to leave her he encountered Osborn, who said: “What is this game you’re trying to play on me?” Rucker replied that he was not trying to play any game on him, when Osborn retorted in an angry and excited manner, “Come out here G__d d___n you; and I’ll whip h__l out of you.” Rucker told him that he had done nothing but was not afraid to fight; whereupon the pair accompanied by a number of others went outside.

What happened after that the accused very properly refuses to disclose, and only adding that the many wild and exaggerated accounts already afloat will not be believed, but asks the public suspend their judgment until the facts are brought out in a fair and impartial trial.

Thomas T. Rucker, the accused, was born in New Orleans, and was 27 years old last July; he is of medium height, light hair, blue eyes, and has none of that “bully look” generally accredited to persons accused of such a crime, but on the other hand would strike the close observer as a young man who must have had the advantage of good moral training in his younger days. He is well known at Lazette and on Timber Creek, where he bears an excellent character.

Of the murdered Osborn we can say but little. He, we understand, was almost a stranger in Lazette, having come there from Joplin, Missouri. Rucker says he never met him to speak to him until the evening before the fatal Christmas eve.

The prisoner after learning what he had done, no doubt overcome with fear and remorse as well as appalled at the consequences of the bloody deed, attempted to kill himself. In speaking of his widowed mother, who lived at Burlington, Missouri, and how the sad news would affect her, the prisoner was deeply moved and could hardly answer our questions, which shows that he is not at all insensible, nor without feeling. What the Coroner’s Jury will show we do not at this writing know, as the result of their deliberations have not been transmitted to this place.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 9, 1874.

Rev. J. E. Platter will preach in the Courthouse next Sabbath, at 11 p.m.

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 9, 1874.

The Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Frank Cox, John D. Maurer, and O. C. Smith, completed their labor, as a Board, last Monday. We have not the time or space to review their actions for the last two years, except to say that, although we have differed with them on some things, yet on the whole we believe that their every action will bear the closest scrutiny of the veriest fault finder. No one will doubt their honesty except he who never drew an honest breath or had an honest emotion. Their ability will compare favorably with the average, and we doubt if other men could have been selected in the county who would or could have done better.

The completion of the Courthouse, securing a splendid jail to the county without the expenditure of one dollar, the successful defense of two vexatious lawsuits, at but little cost to the county, all attest the honesty and faithfulness of the late Board of County Commissioners of this county, and just so sure as time rolls the time will come when the people of this county will be free to acknowledge that the old Board has been foully and maliciously misrepresented.

The new Board enter upon their duties next Monday, under the most favorable auspices. Everything in working order. The affairs of the county shipshape and little to do but hold her “so steadily” for the next two years. We shall deal fairly by them as we have with their predecessors, and we hope that the new Board may prove themselves as able, honest, and efficient as the old.

City of Winfield Owns Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.

The popular opinion, and one which we entertained ourselves, was, that the county owned the jail, it having been built by the city of Winfield and donated to the county, as we supposed. But the new board of commissioners discovered the other day that the city owned the jail and only gives the use of it to the county.

Courthouse. Prisoners in Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.

The new Board of County Commissioners met in the clerk’s office.

Present: R. F. Burden, M. S. Roseberry, John Manly, who had been duly elected and qualified. Moved by M. S. Roseberry, and seconded by John Manly, that R. F. Burden act as permanent chairman of the Board.

Ordered that the Sheriff be allowed the sum of $1.33-1/2 each per diem, for boarding and taking care of prisoners until further action in the matter by the board.

E. B. Kager appeared and asked the board to provide a safe for the safekeeping of the funds in his possession. Matter laid over.

The county clerk was authorized to advertise for responsible bids for 20 cords of wood.

Ordered that the county clerk have the sheriff hunt up all the county property that can be found, and invoice the same to said sheriff who shall receipt for said county property.

The county clerk was also instructed to have bolts put on jury-room doors, and sash stops put on all the windows of the courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.

See notice in another column inviting bids for twenty cords of wood.

NOTICE. Notice is hereby given that I will accept bids for furnishing 20 cords of wood for the county, to be delivered at the Courthouse. Please make your bids for hard and soft wood of merchantable quality. Bids to be opened and contract let on the 24th day of January.

M. G. TROUP, County Clerk.

Winfield, Jan. 13, 1874.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.

The new Board of County Commissioners met last Monday at the courthouse and organized by electing R. F. Burden of Windsor Township, chairman. Mr. Burden is a careful, prudent, and experienced man. He held the position of county commissioner in Iowa for six years, so that he is no novice. The new board appear to be an intelligent and practical set of men, and bid fair to meet the expectations of all the well wishers of the county.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1874.

Last Saturday, Deputy Worden organized a Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry in Winfield. There were twenty-four charter members present, fourteen gentlemen and ten ladies. The officers so far as we could learn are: A. T. STEWART, MASTER; J. D. COCHRAN, OVERSEER; N. C. McCULLOCH, LECTURER; J. G. SERVICE, SECRETARY; JETHRO COCHRAN, CHAPLAIN; MRS. SERVICE, CERES; MRS. MARY A. McCULLOCH, POMONA; MISS BURGER, ASSISTANT STEWART.

The next meeting will be held at the Courthouse next Saturday, the 17th.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 23, 1874.

The oratorio of Esther is to be put upon the boards at the courthouse some time next month under the auspices of the congregational church.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1874.

The Ladies of the M. E. Church will give an Oyster supper and Social in the Courthouse at Winfield, Feb. 4, 1874.

City Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 30, 1874.

PRISONER ESCAPED!

Rucker’s Lodgings Vacated!!

Worthlessness of the City Jail!!

Wednesday morning last, our city was thrown into a tumult of excitement by the announcement that Thos. Rucker, the Lazette murderer, who had been confined in the city jail at this place since the tragedy last Christmas was missing. The inhabitants of the town immediately proceeded to the jail and soon found that it was no hoax, but a bona fide fact. Scouts were immediately dispatched in every direction, but failed to discover any trace of his whereabouts.

The means by which he escaped are very indefinite. It is generally supposed that some outside party opened the doors and gave him his liberty, although it is possible that he had the tools furnished, and did the work himself. At any rate he has gone and the next thing is to find him, although Sheriff Walker is confident that he will soon have his hands on him, as well as the one who gave him his freedom.

And while he is gone, it would be well if the city council would put the jail in a condition to hold him an hour or so if he should be brought back. A man who has a friend in the world and wishes to get out need not stay in his cell an hour. In the first place, there is nothing to prevent anybody giving a prisoner anything they wish, as the windows have nothing to protect them except some iron bars with space enough between to throw a sledge hammer.

Then again, the jail is at least twenty rods from the nearest human habitation, and the building could be bombarded with a ten pound cannon and the noise would be hardly heard by the citizens at home. The doors are also in such a shape that Rucker could easily have lifted them off the hinges with a crow bar. If some protection was put around the windows and the upper story occupied by a family, it would become more difficult for a prisoner to make his escape when LAST THREE LINES IMPOSSIBLE TO READ.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874. Editorial Page.

THE COUNTY DEBT.

We understand, since our arrival at home, that an effort is being made to have Mr. Martin procure the necessary legislation allowing the Board of County Commissioners to fund, or rather bond, the county indebtedness. We do not believe that the people of Cowley County wish this thing done. Twelve months ago, the circumstances were altogether different. Then we had a Courthouse to build and many thought it necessary to provide funds for that. But now that our county buildings are all complete, we can see no necessity for it. We are very well aware that it would be money in the pockets of a few, for instance, county officials, who have to take most, or all their fees, in scrip. But we are now hopeful that the tax next year, with care and economy, will clear the county almost, if not altogether, of debt. In the present state of affairs we would not favor any bill authorizing the Board to bond the debt without first submitting the question to a vote of the people of the county. And we hope that whatever legislation Mr. Martin secures in that particular will provide that the question be so submitted. We would be glad to hear from our readers on this subject, that we may act understandingly in the matter and take such action as will place the county on the best financial basis having due regard for those who hold the county’s “promises to pay.”

Courthouse.

GRANGES CREATE COUNTY COUNCIL IN COWLEY COUNTY.

Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874.

Fifty-seven grange delegates, being nineteen granges represented by three delegates each (the Lazette grange not being represented), met at the Courthouse in Winfield, on Monday, February 2nd, at 11 o’clock a.m., for the purpose of organizing a County council. The meeting being called to order Mr. A. S. Williams was made Chairman, and N. C. McCulloch, Secretary pro tem. The Council was then organized and the following officers were elected: A. S. Williams, Master; T. A. Blanchard, Secretary; A. T. Gay, Overseer; W. A. Freeman, Gate-keeper. A. H. Acton of Bolton Township, Simeon Martin of Maple Township, and John Irwin of Rock Township were elected Trustees. A Constitution and By-laws were adopted, a copy of which we are sorry to say we have not yet received. After the matters pertaining to the County Council were satisfactorily settled, they proceeded to choose delegates to the State Council. The following are the delegates chosen: J. J. Johnson of New Salem, B. A. Davis of Silverdale, and Adam Walck of Grand Prairie.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874.

Sheriff Dick Walker has a new and safe way of keeping his prisoners. Since the jail has been “broke” so much, he takes them to bed with him. We understand that Mr. Walker will not trust anymore of his prisoners in the jail while the city authorities carry the keys.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 6, 1874.

Last Tuesday Sheriff Walker arrested, on Grouse Creek, Wm. Slater and a man named Bryant charged with assisting Thomas Rucker to break jail last week. Mr. Wm. Slater is an uncle of Rucker’s. Before leaving, Rucker gave Slater a deed to his land. Bryant owned up to his part of the transaction, which was the bringing of a horse from Slater’s to Rucker wherewith to make his escape. The men were up for a hearing before ‘Squire Boyer yesterday, but the case was continued until Saturday, when if any charge is found against them, they will be taken to Emporia for safe keeping.

Winfield Courier, February 13, 1874.

David Slater and James W. Bryant, the two men who were arrested a short time ago on the charge of assisting Rucker to break jail, were up before Justices Millington and Boyer last Saturday, for a hearing. Judge T. H. Johnson appeared for Slater, and asked a continuance, which was denied. He then waived an examination for his client, and Slater accordingly gave bail in the amount of $1,500.00, to appear at the next term of the District Court. County Attorney E. S. Torrance dismissed the charge against Bryant, in order to make him a witness in the case. The bail for his appearance as a witness was fixed at $1,000.00, which he has so far been unable to give, and is yet in the custody of the sheriff.

Jail Difficulty.

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.

It will be seen by reference to Mayor Smith’s card in another column that the city authorities have proposed a fair and honorable adjustment of the jail difficulty to the county board. They cannot expect more than the entire control of the building and its occupants.

Winfield Authorities Turn Over City Jail for Use by County With Stipulations.

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.

An Explanation.

Winfield, February 17, 1874.

EDITOR COURIER: As a misapprehension seems to exist in the minds of some in regard to the ownership and occupancy of the jail in this city, will you allow me through your columns to make a statement of the facts in the case.

On the 19th of April last, a written contract was entered into between the City of Winfield and the County of Cowley, according to the terms of which, the county was to build a Courthouse at Winfield at a cost of $10,000 county orders, or $8,500 cash. The City of Winfield was to erect a city building at the cost of $2,500 in which was to be a jail for the accommodation of both city and county, and the city was to give to the county the free use of the jail for the confinement of prisoners, so long as the county should want it for that purpose. Both buildings were built according to contract, each costing something more than the specified sum. The city building is two stories high. On the first floor are six cells with grated windows, and four of the cells have iron doors; the doors of two are of hardwood. The second story is finished as a hall. On the completion of the jail, the key was delivered to me by the builder, and at the request of Sheriff Parker—he having a prisoner ready to occupy the jail—I delivered the key to him, since which time the city has never had control of the jail proper. The city has held possession of the hall over the jail, which has been used for various purposes by permission of the city.

I presume that the misapprehension that exists arises from the fact that J. M. Young, who was acting jailor by appointment of Sheriff Parker, and afterwards by Sheriff Walker, was also City marshal; but the city never claimed any control of his acts as jailor, nor did he receive any instructions as such from the city authorities. Since the escape of the prisoner Rucker, the Sheriff deeming it necessary that the hall over the jail should be constantly occupied, the County Commissioners asked for a conference with the City Council, which was immediately convened for that purpose. At this conference the city offered to give to the county the use and control of the entire building, both stories, on condition that the prisoners of the city should be taken care of without expense to the city, except for board which the city would pay for. I believe the city has honestly and faithfully complied with the terms of the contract, and even offered more than required. S. C. SMITH.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.

Iron Point, in his items to the Traveler, alludes to the “side editor” of the COURIER. For what we will say to you here, sir, Iron Point, you need not go around the bush to find the “side editor” to lay the blame upon. What appeared in the COURIER last week, in reference to the records of the county, seemed to us then (and we have nothing to take back) to be justified by the facts.

We think so still. There is nothing in that article that could compromise you, if you could make a satisfactory explanation (which you had better have done than occupy your time attacking an imaginary “side editor” of this paper.). While the defunct Allison talked the way you do, we had nothing to say. But when such chat comes from an official of the county, a person from whom we might expect, at least, fair dealing, the matter changes; hence this article.

Your “pooh, pooh! Manning wrote it,” is of the same piece as your items to the Traveler a year ago. Your cry of “stop thief,” at the Probate Judge and County Attorney was to divert attention from yourself, by making the people believe they were the thieves and scoundrels, and now you would fain have people think that it was Manning who was after you, and that he was actuated by personal spite toward yourself and Mr. Jackson, on account of the town site difficulty.

Now we wish it distinctly understood that this article is not written because we object to having Col. Manning’s name associated with the COURIER. By no means, we only wish that we could induce him to take editorial control. As a newspaper writer we know he has few equals, and as to his honesty, much as has been said, and written about him, certain it is, he has never been accused of stealing. You, however, had better busy yourself in clearing up those dark suspicions which permeate the air and hover as a dark cloud just now over the Courthouse, and which seem to be inclined to centre upon you, who were one of the main instigators in the senseless howl raised against honest county officials a year ago. After fair consulting with the committee of investigation, we have concluded to suspend our account of these dark transactions, but a few more insults like the above may compel us in self-defense to tell the public what we already know, and should you be struck by a barbed arrow in a tender spot, you will have the satisfaction of knowing that you yourself invited the attack.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1874.

The Presbyterian Church holds a communion service next Sabbath at 11 A.M. in the courthouse. Preparatory lecture on Saturday afternoon at the same place. Preaching in the evening. J. E. PLATTER, Pastor.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.

Remember that Col. E. C. Manning lectures before the Teacher’s Institute this evening at the courthouse.

“County Jail.”

Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.

Four horse thieves are now residing in the County jail in this city.

Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.

Constable Burt Covert arrested Albert G. Headrick a few days ago in Howard County, on a charge of stealing a pair of horses from Judge Saffold sometime last Fall. He had a preliminary examination before ‘Squire Boyer and in default of bail was lodged in jail to await his trial at the March term of the District Court.

Jail Referred to as “Covert House.”

Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.

The prisoners now boarding at the Covert House were each treated to a new suit of clothes yesterday morning. Our “devil” declares himself in readiness to commit fornikaboogry, of some kind, in order to be sent to jail, and get a new suit. If anybody ever did need new clothes, our “devil” does.

Miles Escapes from City Jail at Arkansas City. Retaken and Put in “County Jail.”

Winfield Courier, February 27, 1874.

Miles, the horse-thief who made his escape from the city jail last Friday week, was retaken by constable McIntire, A. W. Patterson, and Mr. Draper last Saturday, on Coal Rock Creek, thirty miles east of this place, at the house of Mr. Johnson. He made his escape by chipping the wood with a hatchet and burning the door of the jail. The hatchet used he claimed to have stolen from Bowen’s Grocery. After his escape he laid out in the grass near Pat Somers’ place all day and all night, and then went to houses on the Walnut, where he was fed by people knowing him to be the identified thief who had escaped. He was delayed two days on account of not finding the Walnut River bridge, but afterwards crossed it and went to Grouse Creek and from thence to Coal Rock Creek, where he was taken. Traveler.

Miles was brought to Winfield and placed in the county jail for safekeeping.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 6, 1874.

Minutes of the Teachers’ Association, Held at Winfield, Friday, Feb. 27th, 1874.

The Teachers’ Association of Cowley County, Kansas, met in the council room of the Courthouse, according to published arrangement, Supt. Wilkinson presiding.

The following teachers were present: Miss Jennie Greenlee, Miss Mary Graham, Miss Allie Klingman, Miss E. Fowler, Miss Ellen Wickersham, Miss Jennie Hawkins, G. W. Melville.

The association proceeded to business by electing G. W. Melville Secretary pro tem. The constitution and by-laws being read, the election of officers for the coming year was then taken up, and resulting as follows.

H. H. Martin, President, Miss Jennie Greenlee and Miss Jennie Hawkins, Vice Presidents, Miss Mary Graham, Treasurer, G. W. Melville, Secretary.

Mrs. Mina Hawkins, Corresponding Secretary.

EXERCISES OF THE DAY.

Organization of classes and method of conducting recitation—Miss J. Greenlee.

A general discussion of the following topics:

Uniformity of text books in our schools, bad wood, etc. Participated in by Miss Wickersham, Miss Greenlee, and others. Some very good ideas were brought out.

Parents and friends visiting schools was well discussed, and it would have been well if parents generally could have listened to what the teachers said upon that subject. It was said, and on good grounds, that if parents would visit the schools more frequently that there would be less fault found with teachers.

The question was then asked if it were right for teachers to offer an inducement in the way of a literary exercise once a week to induce parents to visit the school? Miss Millspaugh taking the side that it was wrong, that parents who took so little interest in the schools that they had to be coaxed there by a treat of something outside of the every day exercises, that there ought not to be any trouble taken by the teacher to induce them to come.

Supt. Wilkinson made the suggestion, or rather requested the teachers of Cowley County, to teach the map of the county by townships and ranges, and gave the method of doing it.

The following subjects were merely touched upon:

Neatness in children, indicative of intelligence in parents. Teaching as a profession, or as a stepping stone to something higher.

Committee on programme for the morrow to report after the lecture in the evening.

Committee: Mrs. Mina Hawkins, Miss Jennie Greenlee, Miss E. Fowler, Miss Ellen Wickersham, Miss Mary Graham.

Adjourned. G. W. MELVILLE, Secretary, pro tem.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 20, 1874.

The Oratorio of Esther will be presented at the Courthouse on Monday and Tuesday evenings of next week under the auspices of the congregational church of Winfield. Prof. A. D. Battey of Topeka has charge of the exhibition. Our friends in town and country will be treated to the finest entertainment that has ever been presented to the public in Winfield, upon this occasion. Rev. Parmelee takes the part of King, and Mrs. M. A. Arnold is to be Queen. Thirty-five actors, dressed in costumes, take part in the performance. Everybody should be present.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

The cantata of Esther the beautiful Queen, which was rendered at the courthouse last Monday and Tuesday nights, was a splendid affair in every instance, and is universally pronounced to be the best home talent entertainment ever given in Winfield. The adaptability of each player to the particular part assigned them was a noticeable feature, and each performed their part so well that we dare not make “any invidious distinctions.”

We cannot however avoid mentioning those who took the more prominent parts. Mrs. M. A. Arnold as Queen, Rev. J. P. Parmelee as King, E. C. Manning as Haman, A. T. Stewart, Mordecai; Mrs. W. D. Roberts, Zeresh; Miss Kate Johnson and Miss Mary Braidwood as Maids of honor; Charles Black, Harbonah (the King’s Chamberlain); Ed. Johnson, Hegei; A. A. Jackson, Hatach; W. L. Mullen, High Priest. They could not be surpassed in any city in the land. Miss Helen Parmelee as organist deserves special mention, as very much depended on her, always prompt, making no mistakes. The chorus was good, and taken as a whole, we venture to say that Winfield will not soon witness the like, and few towns in this country with their home talent could produce so splendid a spectacle. Too much cannot be said in praise of Prof. A. D. Battey, who drilled the class, and superintended the performance to its close.

“County Jail.”

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

An attempt was made by the prisoners in the county jail to escape, a few nights since. With a nail and a stick of wood, they had broken the lock so that the door could be easily opened when the shades of night furnished an opportunity for escape. But about this time the jailor, Burt Covert, walked in and stopped their little game.

Jail at Winfield.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1874.

Ex-Marshal Young was arrested last Tuesday, charged with having assisted in the escape of T. T. Rucker from the jail at this place, some time since.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 3, 1874.

Four papers have been going the rounds of the city this week. One was a petition to the city council to grant Joseph Likowski license to retail spirituous liquors, another was a petition to the City Council to grant E. R. Parker license to sell spirituous liquor, another was a petition to Judge Campbell to make the sentence of Wm. Bryant as light as possible, and the fourth was to raise by subscription enough money to pay the fine of Al Headrick and liberate him from jail. Every man keeps his lead pencil handy now.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.

District Court Proceedings.

State of Kansas vs. McMasters. Charged with petty larceny. Plead guilty and fined $50 and sentenced to 48 hours in county jail.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.

RECAP OF SHERIFF’S SALE: BREWERY CHATTELS, JOHN N. YERGER.

PLAINTIFFS: Aug Kurtzeborn, M. A. Rozenblatt, Sol Bauman and Meyer Bauman, partners under the firm name of L. Bauman & Co.

DEFENDANT: John N. Yerger.

PUBLIC NOTICE is hereby given that under, and by virtue of an Execution issued on the judgment in the above entitled cause and to me directed and delivered, I will on the 22nd day of April, A. D. 1874, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the brewery of Himelspaugh & Yerger, about one mile west of Winfield, in said county of Cowley, offer at public sale, and sell to the highest bidder for cash in hand, all the right, title, and interest of the defendant, John N. Yerger, in and to the following described chattels to-wit: Three (3) large barrels. One (1) tub. One (1) mash tub. Thirty (30) beer kegs. One (1) force pump and hose.

Said property having been levied upon as the property of said defendant, John N. Yerger.R. L. WALKER, Sheriff.

Fairbank, Torrance & Green, Attorneys for plaintiffs. April 10, 1874.

Note: Believe this was the “Cave Brewery.”

NEXT ITEM CALLS FOR SALE OF THE PROPERTY.

PLAINTIFFS: Aug Kurtzeborn, M. A. Rozenblatt, Sol Bauman and Meyer Bauman, partners under the firm name of L. Bauman & Co.

DEFENDANT: John N. Yerger.

RECAP: Sheriff selling at the courthouse in Winfield to the highest bidder for cash, all the right, title, and interest of John N. Yerger in and to the following described land situate in said county of Cowley to-wit.

Beginning at a point on the North line of the South half of the South West quarter of section number twenty-nine (29) in township number thirty-two (32) South of Range Four (4) East twelve (12) chains East of the North West corner of said South half of said quarter section, thence South 6" West Four (4) chains, thence North 54" 15' east four (4) chains, thence north 6" East two (2) chains and eighty-two (82) links, thence due West on line three hundred and eighty-two (382) links to the place of beginning, containing land 86-100 acres more or less. The said land having been levied upon as the property of said John N. Yerger.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1874.

Suit has been commenced in the U. S. Circuit Court of the District of Kansas, by one George L. Thompson, for the recovery of something over $6,000, interest included, for which he holds the warrants of this county. Who Mr. Thompson is, we know not, neither does it matter for the purpose of this article. The best legal talent concur in the opinion that judgment will be rendered against the county, for the amount claimed, and the costs of the suit.

The COURIER is charged with being in some way the remote cause of the action against the county, because it is alleged that we opposed bonding the debt. Here is what we did say in the COURIER of Feb. 6th, last.

THE COUNTY DEBT.

We understand, since our arrival at home, that an effort is being made to have Mr. Martin procure the necessary legislation allowing the Board of County Commissioners to fund or rather bond the county indebtedness. We do not believe that the people of Cowley County wish this thing done. Twelve months ago, the circumstances were altogether different. Then we had a Courthouse to build, and many thought it necessary to provide funds for that. But now our county buildings are all complete, we can see no necessity for it. We are very well aware that it would be money in the pockets of a few, for instance, county officials, who have to take most or all their fees in scrip. But we are now hopeful that the tax next year, with care and economy, will clear the county almost, if not altogether, of debt. In the present state of affairs, we would not favor any bill authorizing the Board to bond the debt, without first submitting the question to a vote of the people of the county. And we hope that whatever legislation Mr. Martin secures in that particular will provide that the question be so submitted. We would be glad to hear from our readers on this subject, that we may act understandingly in the matter and take such action as will place the county on the best financial basis, having due regard for those who held the county’s ‘promises to pay.’

It will be seen that the main feature of the above article is to submit the proposition to the voters of the county. If the majority of the legal voters think it would be best to bond the debt, they can so express themselves, and then should it turn out to be a bad bargain, they can blame no one but themselves.

But it is useless to argue the point now; no enabling act was passed, and consequently, the Board can take no action in the matter, unless they may proceed under the act of a year ago, and bond $15,000 of the debt, which is all that act will admit. But it is a “leetle” queer that the very argument we made use of last year in favor of bonding the debt, should be used against us this year, by those who opposed the measure, and signed a remonstrance against it last year.

Whatever else the COURIER may be accused of, ambiguity is certainly not one of our failings; we endeavor to make ourselves understood. The COURIER frankly gives its reasons for the faith it held a year ago. Here they are: “Twelve months ago the circumstances were altogether different. Then we had a Courthouse to build, and many thought it necessary to provide funds for that. But now our county buildings are complete, we see no necessity for it.” There, gentlemen, are the COURIER’s reasons for its seeming opposition to the proposition to bond the county debt. Now, gentlemen, you who signed a remonstrance against it last year and talked, and argued against it, you who denounced those who favored it as being a ring of county officials, to defend the county, what has come over the spirit of your dreams, that you now so ardently advocate what you denounced as a steal last year? Did you oppose it because you hadn’t all the scrip you wanted? And favor it now because you have your wallets full of warrants ready to convert into the bonds of the county? Honest, straightforward answers will relieve the public mind wonderfully.

We will have more to say on this subject hereafter.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1874.

The Presbyterian church holds service next Sabbath in the Courthouse morning and evening. J. E. PLATTER, Pastor.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1874.

The City Council met at the Courthouse April 20, 1874, at 7 p.m. Mayor S. C. Smith in the chair. Councilmen present: J. P. McMillen, H. S. Silver, S. Darrah. Minutes of last meeting read and approved.

On motion, S. Darrah was duly elected as President of the Council for the ensuing year. H. S. Silver, S. Darrah, and R. B. Saffold were appointed a standing committee on finance for the ensuing year. S. Darrah, J. D. Cochran, and J. P. McMillen were appointed a standing committee on streets and sidewalks.

City Council Proceedings.

The Mayor, with the consent of the Council, appointed the following city officers for the ensuing year. M. L. Robinson was duly appointed City Treasurer; J. W. Curns was duly appointed City Clerk and qualified as such. T. H. Suits was appointed City Attorney. Z. T. Swigart was duly appointed City Marshal.

The bill of A. J. Jones for services as policeman one day and one night, $3.00, was audited, allowed, and ordered paid. Bill of Burt Covert, $12.25, for boarding prisoners was referred to the finance committee. Fee bill “City of Winfield vs. Adolphus H. Green” of $36.40, was referred to the finance committee.

The sealed proposals for the City Printing were opened and rejected. The clerk was authorized to ask for new bids.

On motion, the Clerk was authorized to advertise for bids to build sidewalks along 9th and 10th avenues, where they have not been built as required by ordinance.

The time fixed for the regular meeting of the City Council was the first and third Mondays of each month.

On motion adjourned to meet Wednesday morning at 9 o’clock a.m.

J. W. CURNS, Clerk.

Council met in pursuance of adjournment April 22nd, at 9 a.m. Present: Mayor Smith, and councilmen Cochran, Silver, Darrah, and Saffold. The Clerk being absent, R. B. Saffold was chosen as Clerk pro tem.

The bids for the City printing for the ensuing year were then opened and read, and the contract awarded to James Kelly, editor of the Winfield COURIER, he being the lowest bidder.

On motion a committee of three were appointed, consisting of McMillen, Cochran, and Silver, to provide a “pound” for the city and have the same enclosed. On motion, adjourned.

R. B. SAFFOLD, Clerk, pro tem.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1874.

The Congregational church will have service at the courthouse next Sunday at 11 a.m. and 7-1/2 p.m. Preaching by Rev. J. B. Parmelee.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1874.

There will be a meeting of the directors of the Cowley County Agricultural Society on Saturday, May 16th, 1874, at 2 o’clock p.m. at the courthouse. J. B. FAIRBANK, Secretary.

Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.

Sunday School Festival.

There will be a festival in the courthouse next Tuesday eve. It is got up entirely by the children of the Union Sunday school. There will be a supper, and fine music by the children. All turn out and have a good time.

Jail at Winfield.

Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.

Al Headrick is in limbo again; this time it is for stealing a horse in Labette County. He had been working for a man named Humphries, living twelve miles southwest of Parsons, and being out of work and out of money and not being anxious to walk away, he “borrowed” a horse and rode away. He says he meant to turn the horse loose and start him back home after he got to Grouse Creek, but his great aversion to treading on mother soil overcame his scruples in regard to keeping other people’s property and so he rode on. He stopped at a schoolhouse to attend church, a few miles north of town, on Timber Creek, where he was arrested by Sheriff Walker and Constable Shenneman, and lodged in jail at this place. Sheriff Walker started with him for Labette County, yesterday morning.

County Jail.

Excerpt from article...

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1874.

Items from the Traveler.

Out of ten men who have stolen horses in this locality, only one has escaped, and he had to leave the mules and run for his life. Four are in the penitentiary, two are in the county jail, and three were shot. It is no use to steal horses from about Arkansas City. The people are too determined and too full of energy to endure it.

Taken from City Jail in Arkansas City to Jail at Winfield.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1874.

Horse Thieves Caught.

Two men, William Gilmore and Francis J. Seltz, who have been stopping at the mouth of Grouse for some weeks, and of whom we spoke last week, warning the people to look out for them, were overtaken and captured on the Shawkaska River, by Curry, Keho, Blair, and Roberts, last Sunday morning. The men took the horses from the Kaw Agency on Thursday night, came up Grouse Creek, and were going west. The horses belonged to Big and Little Lewis Pappan; half breed Kaw Indians. The horses were missed at daylight, and the Indians started in pursuit, tracking them all the way to Bolton Township, where they received the first news of them. Pappan’s horses were tired out and he persuaded the above mentioned men to follow them on Saturday night, by whom they were captured the next morning.

At sight of the men the thieves ran and were only stopped by the firing of Curry. Seltz received the shot from Curry’s carbine, the ball entering near the wrist and paralyzing his arm. At this, the thieves gave themselves up and begged to be well treated. On Monday morning they were arraigned before Justice McIntire and plead not guilty. The preliminary trial was waived, and the parties were bound over to appear at the district court in the sum of $1,000. Failing in bond, they went to jail.

Bill Gilmore is a man of about 26 years of age, over six feet tall, dark hair, intelligent expression, and mild countenance. He was born and raised in Arizona, and has spent most of his time on the border and among the Indians. In 1861 he was with General Custer, and carried dispatches from Camp Supply to Fort Dodge for General Sheridan, during the fight on the Washita. He is deeply prejudiced against Indians, and claims he would not have stolen from the whites. In conversation with Mr. Gilmore, we find him to be a well read and experienced man. Wild life and excitement is as familiar with him as his every day meal.

Francis J. Seltz is a younger man than Gilmore, with a countenance not as good or mild. He is a good conversationalist, however, and speaks fluently and rapidly. Seltz did not care to give his history, and was perfectly indifferent on some subjects. His life has been mostly confined to the east, until a few years past. He has had some difficult encounters, but only in self defense. He was free to say that he was a good shot with a carbine and could have killed the four men that were after him if he chose to, but did not want to do it.

With these additional captures, we should think horse thieves would choose some other locality for their operations. Traveler.

The thieves are now resting quietly in jail in this city.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1874.

Prof. H. B. Norton will deliver two lectures at the Courthouse on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings of next week. The subject on Tuesday evening, June 2nd, will be “Glacial period of the Northern Hemisphere.” On Wednesday, June 3rd, his subject will be “Genesis and Geology.”

The popular interest awakened in regard to scientific subjects has led many of our scientific men to prepare lectures suited to meet this demand. Prof. Norton is one of the leading educators and scholars in the west, and as a popular lecturer meets with favor everywhere. Go and hear him. The proceeds are for the benefit of the Presbyterian church building fund.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 5, 1874.

Council met at Courthouse May 18, 1874. Mayor S. C. Smith in the chair; Councilmen present, H. S. Silver, S. Darrah, J. P. McMillen, and R. B. Saffold. J. W. Curns, Clerk. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved.

The bonds of Joseph Likowski and Reinhard Ehret to the City of Winfield as dram shop keepers were presented to the Council and on motion were approved.

Finance committee asked further time on the bill of Thos. H. Benning. The bill of J. W. Curns for service as Clerk, and stationery $9.23, was allowed.

The application of Z. T. Swiggart to have his salary raised from $35 to $50 per month was referred to the finance committee.

The petition of J. C. Weathers to have the grade lowered between 10th and 12th Avenues on Main Street was referred to the committee on sidewalks.

On motion order number 195, on the treasurer of Winfield in favor of J. M. Young, marshal, was canceled.

An ordinance providing for the levying and collecting of license tax was read by sections and duly passed; the vote on passage stood, ayes McMillen, Darrah, Silver, 3; nays 0.

On motion council adjourned. J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

The council met at the courthouse June first, and there not being a quorum present, council adjourned to meet June 2nd, at 4 o’clock p.m. J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 12, 1874.

In the Traveler report of the judgment taken against the county by Geo. L. Thompson, it erroneously gives it as “Scrip issued for the building of the courthouse.” This is incorrect. It was not the scrip issued to build the courthouse on which the county was sued.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 19, 1874.

The Council met at the courthouse June 2nd in pursuance of adjournment. Present: S. C. Smith, Mayor, and councilmen McMillen, Silver, and Darrah, J. W. Curns, Clerk.

The committee on Marshal’s salary reported favorably on allowing the Marshal $40.00 per month for his salary, provided he charge nothing for removing nuisances. On motion the report was accepted and approved.

An ordinance in relation to the pay of the City Marshal and Street Commissioner was read and duly passed. The vote on the final passage was ayes McMillen, Darrah, and Silver, all the members present voting in the affirmative.

The committee on the petition of J. C. Weathers and others to have the grade on Main street lowered reported unfavorably thereon; on motion the petition was referred back to the petitioner.

A petition was presented signed by Wm. F. Marshal and others asking that a dram shop license be granted to A. G. Vinson. Two remonstrances against granting gram shop license (unless every requirement of the law be strictly complied with) were presented, signed by S. H. Myton and others and one signed by John McQuiston and others. On motion the petitions were all referred to a committee consisting of H. S. Silver, J. P. McMillen, and Samuel Darrah.

A petition was presented asking the council to call an election to determine whether the city should issue scrip to purchase the grounds of the Winfield Cemetery. On motion the petition was referred back to the petitioners.

An ordinance in relation to dog tax was passed; vote on passage was as follows: Ayes McMillen, Silver, and Darrah.

The bill of Z. T. Swigart of $50 for services as marshal and street commissioner.

Bill of Wm. Allison of $6 for printing was presented and referred to finance committee, and severally allowed and ordered paid.

On motion the council adjourned to meet June 15th, 1874, at usual hour.

J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

Council met at courtroom June 15th at usual hour, and there not being a quorum present, adjourned to meet Wednesday at 4 o’clock p.m. J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 19, 1874.

The two horse thieves recently committed to the county jail, were but recently discharged from the Kansas Penitentiary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 26, 1874.

Complete arrangements have been made at the Courthouse for the dance on the eve of the 4th, for music, ice water, and refreshments. Dancing begins at 7 o’clock, promptly.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 3, 1874.

The 98th anniversary of American Independence will be celebrated at WINFIELD! On the votive day, JULY 4th!

Arrangements have been made to make this one of the Grandest Celebrations ever held in Southwestern Kansas. No labor or expense have been spared to make it an ENTIRE SUCCESS.

An invitation has been extended to the SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION to be present, and they have accepted and will without fail participate in the exercises adding to the interest of the occasion by giving a DRILLING EXERCISE.

The Patrons of Husbandry (Grangers) are expected to be present in FULL REGALIA!

Hon. John Guthrie and Geo. R. Peck, have been invited and are expected to be present.

The festivities of the day will be closed in the evening with a grand display of FIREWORKS. (In the purchase of which over $200 have been expended) after which a Grand Ball will be given in the fine Hall at the Courthouse.

PROGRAMME.

A national salute of thirty-seven guns will be fired at sunrise.

The procession will form on the north end of Main street, at 10 o’clock, in the following order: Winfield City Silver Cornet Band, Floral Car with goddess of liberty and thirty-seven young ladies, representing the several states in the Union, Reception Committee and Speakers, SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION, Patrons of Husbandry in Regalia, CITIZENS!

And march through the principal streets of the city to the grove on Walnut River.

Exercises of the day will commence by Music by the Band.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence.

Vocal music, Red, White and Blue solo, by Mr. John Swain, and chorus.

Orations by Hon. John Guthrie, and other eminent speakers.

Music by the Band, Vocal music, solo by Mr. Hall, Music by the Band, Basket Dinner and Toasts, Music by the Band, Vocal music, Star Spangled Banner solo by Mrs. A. H. Green, and chorus of 37 young ladies in costume, Music by the Band.

Grand Tournament by the Fantastic company of Winfield, after which there will be several heat and dash races at the Fair Grounds, for which some celebrated horses are now in training.

The exercises of the day will close with a grand display of fire-works at 8 o’clock p.m., and a Grand Ball at the Courthouse. By order of committee. G. S. MANSER, Chairman.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 3, 1874.

NOTICE. We will run a double seated carriage with careful driver from all parts of the city to the picnic and fair grounds the 4th. Also to the ball at the courthouse at night. Parties wishing to engage can leave their orders at our office in stables on Manning street.

DAVIS & FERGUSON.

Courthouse Determined “Unsafe.”

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1874.

The Courthouse is reported as being in an unsafe condition. The self-supporting roof, is not a self-supporter at all, but is pushing the walls over.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1874.

The Frontier Base Ball club have issued invitations for a Ball, which was to be given in the courthouse, but owing to the unsafe condition of that building will be held in the Lagonda House. The members of the El Dorado Base Ball club are expected to be present. The company has been carefully selected, and the boys propose to make the Ball a first class affair.

Courthouse a “Failure.”

Winfield Courier, Friday, July 17, 1874. Editorial Page.

“It will be observed that our $12,000 courthouse is a failure. That was a pretty little job to put on the county. We hope that the responsible parties, and those who voted for them will feel proud of their work.” Arkansas City Traveler.

The above was written by Prof. H. B. Norton, who is left in charge of the Traveler during the absence of the editor. How did you observe that our $12,000 courthouse was a failure, Professor? We promise that Prof. Norton got his information from the following, published by us last week.

“The courthouse is reported as being in an unsafe condition. The self-supporting roof, is not a self-supporter at all, but is pushing the walls over.”

Is there any failure in the simple fact that some of the braces in the roof are insufficient? But the Prof. says, “It was a pretty little job to put upon the county, and hopes that the responsible parties who voted for them will feel proud of their work.” We have always entertained the highest regard for Professor Norton, believing that he was incapable of anything cruel or mean, but if the above is a fair sample of his spirit, if he still loves to be revenged on Winfield, then we are compelled, though with the greatest reluctance, to change our opinion of Professor Norton. The Prof’s squib is of the same piece as that of C. M. Scott, in his letter to the Cadiz (Ohio) Republican, when he says, “Arkansas City is the principal town in Cowley County.” No, Prof., there was no job about the courthouse, so far as the County Board, or those who voted for them were concerned.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 17, 1874.

The ladies of the Congregational society will give an ice cream social in the Courthouse on Wednesday evening, July 22nd. A cordial invitation is extended to all.

MRS. LOWREY, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 17, 1874.

Statement of the Expenses of the Old Board Of County Commissioners.

The following is a statement of the expenses of Cowley County for all purposes during the year commencing July 1st, 1873, and ending July 1st, 1874. Showing the amount expended during the last half of 1873, and the amount expended by the new board for the first half of 1874. Also the receipts of the year and the liabilities of the county at the beginning and end of the year.

Note: Lengthy and complicated statement skipped. Giving totals only.

Expended by Old Board: $20,305.70

Expended by New Board: $5,499.89

Total Expended For the Year: $25,805.59

Old Board spent $10,600.69 for courthouse and $670.03 for furniture for it.

New Board spent $129.19 for courthouse furniture.

New Board spent $222.00 for investigating committee.

Statement had other pertinent entries:

Amount of scrip afloat July 1st, A. D. 1873, $16,971.17.

Total expenditures for the year: $25,805.59

Receipts for the year: $15,151.59.

Amount of scrip afloat July 1st, 1874: $27,625.07.

I, M. G. Troup, County Clerk of the board of County Commissioners, hereby certify that the above is a correct statement of the expenditures, receipts, and indebtedness of Cowley County for the year ending July 1st, 1874.

Witness my hand and official seal this 14 day of July, A. D. 1874.

M. G. TROUP, County Clerk.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

There will be preaching at the courthouse by Rev. J. B. Parmelee Sunday, August 2nd, morning and evening at the usual hour.

Courthouse Determined Now Perfectly Safe.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

The Courthouse is now perfectly safe; in fact, safer than it was at first. Mr. J. Williams deserves special mention for the manner in which he performed the work.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

The Frontier baseball club will give a Ball at the Courthouse tomorrow evening complimentary to the El Dorado base ball boys.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

The Presbyterian church holds service in the courthouse next Sunday. Subject of sermon in the evening: The vice of Gambling. JAS. E. PLATTER, Pastor.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

Horse Thieves Caught. Fun for the Lawyers, But Death to the Tax-Payer.

Last Saturday three young men who had just returned home from Texas were arrested here on charge of horse stealing. They had been followed from the Indian Territory by the parties who owned the stock, and overtaken in this city just as they were trying to dispose of the stolen property. It being late Saturday evening the boys were lodged in jail to await examination Monday morning. However, late Saturday night, Brown, one of the number, with his attorney, L. J. Webb, Esq., appeared before Squire Boyer, waived examination, and in default of bail, was sent to jail to await the September term of the District Court.

The other two, Brocknell and Onstott, were brought up for examination on Monday morning. Squire Boyer, on the motion of the County attorney, and knowing that the U. S. Marshal was ready to re-arrest and take them before the Federal court at Arkansas City, discharged the prisoners. No sooner was this done and Hill, the U. S. Deputy Marshal, attempted to serve his warrant then revolvers were flashed in his face, by two or three deputy Sheriffs of the county. Of course, he was powerless, and the prisoners were immediately re-arrested by a warrant issued by Squire Wood.

Again they were locked up for the night, and Tuesday morning brought before N. H. Wood, Esq., where they plead guilty, and in default of $1,500 bail, each, they were again sent to board at the expense of the county, where all three now await their trial at the next term of the District Court.

This case certainly presents many curious and anomalous features. It is the only case we have ever seen where the accused insisted upon their own guilt, and retained three prominent lawyers to help them plead guilty. The County attorney was willing and even anxious to have them turned over to the U. S. Courts, and thereby avoid expense to the county. But, not their attorneys, Messrs. Webb, Hackney, and Johnson, who insisted that their clients were undoubtedly guilty, and should be held for trial here.

We have no wish to manufacture sentiment one way or the other—but of one thing we are sure, and that is, if the ends of Justice could be reached just as well (which in our opinion it could) by handing them over to the U. S. Commissioner Kellogg, at Arkansas City, and save this county considerable expense, that was just what should have been done. Cowley County has no desire to pay for anybody’s whistle but her own.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

The county jail has now six boarders.

City Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.

[Published July 24th, 1874.]

Ordinance No. 40.

An Ordinance to protect property in the City of Winfield.

Be it ordained by the Mayor and Councilmen of the City of Winfield.

SEC. 1. That it shall be unlawful to sell or give away any fire crackers within the corporate limits of the city of Winfield. Any person violating the provision of this section, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than five dollars for each and every offense.

SEC. 2. That it shall be unlawful to fire off fire crackers within the corporate limits of the city of Winfield. Any person or persons violating the provisions of this section, shall, upon conviction, be fined five dollars, or imprisoned in the city jail not less than twenty-four hours, nor more than seven days for each and every offense in the discretion of the court.

SEC. 3. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication.

Approved July 21st, 1874. S. C. SMITH, Mayor. J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

Frontier Club Barred From Usage of Courthouse by Sheriff.

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1874.

Base Ball.

The El Dorado base ball club of El Dorado, played the Frontiers of this place a match game of ball on the grounds of the latter last Saturday, which resulted in the victory of the Frontier’s by a score of 35 to 38. Play was “called” at 3 o’clock p.m., and the game was called at 7, in the middle of the ninth inning, it being too dark to finish the game with safety. According to the rule, therefore, the score was counted at the end of the eighth inning.

The game was a very poor one, which was mainly owing to the strong wind which blew from the south, carrying the dust into the eyes of the catcher, and taking the ball whereso’er it listeth. The Winfield boys in none of their scrub games ever played so poorly. Not a whitewash was made on either side.

Bob Sheather of the Frontier’s, made the only home run, and put ten men out on first base, Cruden assisting six times. Walton caught two fouls and put two men out on 3 strikes, but at the fifth inning, having badly bruised his hand, he took second base and Cruden took his place behind the bat. Cruden caught one fair fly, five fouls, put one man out on second base, and one on three strikes. Hane put one man out on second base, and Morris one on third. Webb assisted once, Morris once, Walton once, Siemmons once, and Kenan twice.

On the side of the El Dorado’s, Gossard caught two fair flies, Shryer two, and Myers one. McIntire caught nine fouls, put one out on three strikes, and one out on home base, etc.

PLAYERS FOR FRONTIER BASE BALL CLUB.

Walton, Kenan, Siemmons, Sheather, Cruden, Morris, Webb, Hane, and Stewart.

Scorers: Frontier—V. B. Beckett. El Dorado—J. C. Elliott.

The ball in the evening was not as great a success as it would have been if Sheriff Walker had allowed the use of the courthouse, which he refused to do, whereupon the Valley House was procured and used, and a select, though small crowd, was in attendance. But everything passed off pleasantly, and as far as we know, the boys were well pleased with the entertainment.

The third game will be played at Douglass, on one of the days of the fair, which will be held in the middle of September next.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 14, 1874.

Patrons of Husbandry.

The following will be the programme for the grand social feast, August 22nd, 1874, to be held on the grounds of T. H. Johnson, C. M. Wood, and J. F. Graham, one-half mile north of the city of Winfield.

PROGRAMME.

1st. Each subordinate Grange will come in procession, accompanied by its Marshal, or his assistants, who will be at the courthouse.

2nd. The grand procession will form on the courthouse commons, at 11 o’clock a.m. sharp, and march through the principal streets of the city, thence to the picnic grounds in the following order.

Winfield Cornet Band, Patrons of Husbandry in regalia.

Arkansas City Cornet Band, Patrons of Husbandry in full regalia.

EXERCISES AT THE GROVE.

Music by the Winfield band, Song by Supt. T. A. Wilkinson, Prayer, Music by the Arkansas City Band, Oration, Instrumental String Band, Supt. T. A. Wilkinson, Dinner, Music by both bands, Toasts, responses, and songs., Suggestions for the good of the order, Music, Home Sweet Home, by the Arkansas City Silver Cornet Band.

A. T. STEWART, Committee of Arrangements.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1874.

Attention Battalion! Let every able bodied man attend the meeting at the courthouse tomorrow (Saturday) night to organize a Militia company.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1874.

George Walker brought T. O. Hill’s horse and the thief with him when he returned from Independence last Saturday. The thief, whose name is Bozark, asserted that a young chap named Bodwell, who lives a couple of miles from this city, stole the horse and brought it to him and he merely took it away. Bodwell was immediately arrested, but after a preliminary examination before Justice Boyer, was released. Bozark was placed in jail to await his trial at the next term of the district court.

Jail and Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1874.

Last Tuesday was about as lively a day as we have seen since the fourth of July. We were first startled by seeing crowds of men and boys dashing up the street and disappearing in Curns & Manser’s office, and, not wishing to mourn alone, we soon found ourselves standing on a chair in the aforesaid office gazing at the struggle of two of our prominent lawyers, who were trying their wind and muscle in a scuffle, in which neither had an occasion to crow over the victory, they being about equally matched. The only one we felt sorry for was Justice Boyer, who adjourned court about a minute too soon to fine them for contempt.

The crowd next gathered at Darrah & Doty’s livery stable where a couple of our citizens were trying the effect of chairs and fists upon each other’s heads. They were separated before either was hurt.

Before the crowd had yet dispersed from the scene of this mill, they were startled by the news that the prisoners were escaping from the jail, and off they hurried to see what could be seen. Bozark, the fellow who was caught with Hill’s horse in Independence, and put in quod the day before, had been at work at one of the windows, and had so far succeeded that it is acknowledged that if he had been allowed to work another hour, he would have been able to walk out without any trouble; he had taken off the casing of one of the windows by some means and pried the bars nearly out of it.

We next sauntered into the courthouse, where the delegates to the convention which met yesterday were chosen, which being over, we quietly returned to our respective business. We were expecting that the excitement of the day would finish with a fire, but were fortunately mistaken.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

Capt. Kager’s company (G.) will meet Saturday at the courthouse at 3 o’clock p.m., as seen by the card published elsewhere.

Excerpt from article...

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

Right Front in Line. March!

Pursuant to a call, the citizens of Winfield and vicinity met at the courthouse on Monday evening, the 24th, electing J. J. Williams as chairman, and W. W. Walton Secretary; E. B. Kager stated the object of the meeting to be the organization of a company of State Militia.

Capt. J. B. Nipp, being called upon, made some very good suggestions besides giving the latest news from the frontier. He thought that there was more danger of an invasion by the Indians now than there had ever been. The Osages demanded the return of the ponies and one thousand dollars each for the Indians killed in the recent engagement with the Militia. These terms will not be conceded by the Governor, and an open war on the extreme border this fall and winter is threatened.

A sufficient number having signed the necessary oath, they were sworn in by Capt. Nipp. They then proceeded to the election of officers, resulting as follows.

Capt., E. B. Kager; 1st Lieut., A. T. Shenneman; 2nd Lieut., L. J. Webb; Orderly Sergeant, W. W. Walton.

Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.

The festival held by the Grangers of Cowley County, in the woods northeast of Winfield, on Saturday last, was a success. At an early hour the different Granges commenced driving into the city and taking up position on the Courthouse square, awaiting the formation of the procession, and at eleven o’clock, when the procession was formed, not less than three hundred teams were within the city limits. The procession, which was over a mile long, was headed by the Chief Marshal, H. W. Stubblefield, followed by the Winfield Band; next came some fifty or sixty horsemen, and then the different Granges—some thirty in number—with their banners, flags, and mottoes flying to the breeze. Near the middle of the procession and at the head of the Creswell Grange came the Arkansas City Band.

The following are some of the mottoes:

Bethel Grange, “Our Watchword—Reform.”

Floral, “United we Stand, divided we fall.”

Winfield, “Honor to whom Honor is due—The success of the Farmer is the Success of the Nation.”

Grand Prairie, “Reduce Expenses—Plow Deep.”

Philomathian, “Sit Lux.”

Little Dutch, “In God is our Trust—Justice to all—The Farmers forever.”

Creswell, “Better days are coming—In the soil we Trust.”

South Bend, “Agriculture—Our Hope. No honest labor we despise.”

Union Grange, “In Union there is strength.”

Vernon Grange, “Our Liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain.”

After patrolling the principal streets of the city, the procession headed for the Picnic Ground. Upon reaching the grove, the meeting was called to order by A. S. Williams, Master of the county council, followed by the bands supplying some excellent music, after which a motion to adjourn for dinner was put and unanimously carried.

The afternoon exercises were opened by music from both bands followed by a song from T. A. Wilkinson and others. Prayer by Rev. Martin, of Vernon Grange, and a speech by Amos Walton.

The following toasts were then given by the Toast Master, A. N. Deming.

“The laboring class.” Responded to by T. A. Wilkinson of the Winfield Grange.

“The Dignity of labor.” By G. N. Fowler, Little Dutch Grange.

“The Province of the Grange.” By John Irwin, Darien Grange.

“Grasshopper and Chinch Bug.” By P. W. Smith, Philomathian Grange.

“The State of Kansas.” By H. W. Stubblefield, Sheridan Grange.

Several other toasts were to have been given, but time would now allow.

The meeting then adjourned and the assemblage sought their respective homes apparently well satisfied with their first annual reunion.

Excerpts from meetings...

Courthouse Repairs. Prisoners’ Care and Board.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.

Commissioners’ Proceedings.

Board met pursuant to adjournment. Present: R. F. Burden and M. S. Roseberry.

The following bills were presented and acted on as follows.

J. J. Williams, courthouse repairs: $33.00

J. W. Strickland, courthouse repairs: $9.50

Stewart & Simpson, courthouse repairs: $26.00

M. Miller, courthouse repairs: $14.62

S. H. Myton, courthouse repairs: $2.17

A. H. Green, drugs for prisoners: $15.00; $14.47.

T. G. Peyton, phy. for pris.: rejected.

SEPTEMBER 10, 1874.

Board met pursuant to adjournment, R. F. Burden and M. S. Roseberry, present.

The contract made between A. H. Green and the Board for medicine for prisoners, is this day revoked, and it is agreed between Dr. G. W. Graham and this Board that Graham shall have the sanitary care of the prisoners of Cowley County, and Graham shall furnish his own medicines until further ordered.

In the matter of boarding the prisoners of Cowley County made by this Board with the Sheriff, is this day revoked.

Courthouse.

The next item I find most confusing! Especially reference to Walker! [MAW]

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.

John Brocknell, James Brown, Henry Bozark, and Dick Walker all take their meals at the Courthouse now. They will receive proper attention at the hands of Judge Campbell at the next term of the District court.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.

We publish elsewhere a call for a meeting of the citizens of this place, at the courthouse on next Tuesday, for the purpose of organizing a Literary and Scientific Association for the establishment of a Library and Reading Room, the employment of public lecturers, etc. This city has long felt the need of something of this sort and we are glad that the matter has been taken hold of at last. Let everybody attend the meeting next Tuesday evening.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1874.

We, the undersigned citizens of Winfield, agree to attend a public meeting to be held in this city, to take into consideration the desirability of organizing a Literary and Scientific Association, having in view the establishment of a Library and Reading-Room, the employment of public lecturers, the encouragement of literature, and otherwise promoting moral and intellectual improvement. Said meeting to be held at the Courthouse, at 7 o’clock p.m., on Tuesday, September 22, 1874.

(Signed) D. A. Millington, W. Q. Mansfield, E. S. Torrance, V. B. Beckett, M. L. Robinson, John E. Allen, James E. Platter, E. C. Manning, T. H. Johnson, A. H. Green, Wm. Bartlow, A. H. Hane, J. B. Fairbank, J. W. Curns, G. S. Manser, and M. L. Read.

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874. [Editorial by James Kelly.]

THE POST OFFICE “RING.”

WHAT IT DID, AND TRIED TO DO!

HOW TO KEEP A RASCAL IN OFFICE.

The Men Who Control the Opposition.

Chapter of Sound Reading.

The readers of the COURIER will bear witness to our patience under the slanderous misrepresentations of the Telegram and its allies, for two years past. We have hoped in forbearance to avoid a conflict with the “ring” that keeps that paper on its legs. Long since the people of the county withdrew their support from it on account of its personal abuse and unreliability. For more than a year it has been kept running by desperate makeshifts, by moving from room to room, and from garret to cellar about town because it could not pay rent. By paying its employees with promises, by borrowing material, by taking continuances in court against creditors who were trying to compel it, or its editor, to pay their honest debts, and with the aid of all the subterfuges, practiced only by scoundrels, backed by a ring that we hereafter describe in detail, it has succeeded in maintaining a sickly existence.

The ostensible purpose of its being is reform in politics and abuse of Manning. The real purpose of its being is the maintenance of the “Post Office ring” in Winfield. This ring has no influence in the country whatever except through it organ, the Telegram.

If a democrat in Pleasant Valley wants an office, he knows he must get it without the aid of the republican party—hence he comes to town, joins the post office ring in the abuse of the republican party, and says that Manning runs it. This is reported to the Telegram and at once Mr. Democrat is called a hardy son of toil, and a good man for some office. No questions are asked about his qualifications in reading, writing, or spelling, nor is his past character looked into. It is enough to know that he is opposed to Manning.

If a bull-head from Tisdale Township wants an office, whose ignorance and stupidity makes him a failure as a farmer, and who cannot get an endorsement from any intelligent man in the county, he at once seeks the P. O. ring, puts in some heavy anathemas against the Republican party in general and Manning in particular, and he is at once reported to the Telegram as a good man from Tisdale to work up the reform ticket in that locality.

If a bummer of Arkansas City, who has been kicked out of the Republican party for incompetency, ignorance, and rascality, wants an office, he writes an abusive article about Manning specially, and the Republican party generally, signs himself “Republican” or “farmer,” sends it to the Telegram for publication, whereupon the P. O. ring set him down as one of the “good, noble, and true,” men of Creswell Township who are disgusted with conventions and party lines, and who will make a good candidate on the “reform” ticket for some office.

Now and then a man who has voted for the Republican ticket for years from principle, is proposed for some office, and is beaten in convention because some other man is thought to be better, and he in a fit of passion and disappointment will fall to berating the Republican party or some of its members, whereupon the P. O. ring and Telegram fall to besliming him and convincing him that he was beaten by a trick, and that merit has no show in the Republican organization, and his only hope is to be a “reformer.”

When the creditors of Allison or the Telegram press too hard upon the concern for pay, postmaster Johnston, or M. L. Read, step in with either cash or security and give relief. They can’t afford to have the thing go down. Thus the P. O. “ring,” by management, and the Telegram by blowing, have made and are making perpetual war on:

1st. The Republican party of Cowley County.

2nd. On the financial interests of Cowley County.

3rd. On the material development of Cowley County.

4th. On the business prosperity of Winfield.

Now we propose to show how it is done, and to show up the men who are doing it.

As to the first charge: the Republican party of Cowley County is or should be composed of men who adhere to the principle and policy of the national party, and carrying its principles and policy into Cowley County affairs, they demand that honest, competent, and honorable men be put in office, and that the public money be economically used, and strictly accounted for. That manufactories be fostered and markets for produce be established. To this end has the COURIER labored. To this end have the active members of the party devoted their energies politically. We challenge from anyone a successful contradiction of this statement.

The P. O. ring and the Telegram, have done for two years, and are still doing their best, to destroy the Republican party, and to defeat its noble mission. Two years ago this fall the

P. O. ring opposed the Republican nominees and worked up the liberal ticket and supported it. Capt. McDermott, the Republican nominee, was elected to the House in spite of them. As a member of the legislature from Cowley County he sent forty copies of the Commonwealth every week during the session, to the Winfield post office for distribution among the people here that they might know what the action of their representative was. Postmaster Johnston did not distribute those papers, but destroyed them, and Capt. McDermott knew nothing of it until his return. Not one word of reproach can be raised against Capt. McDermott while a member of the legislature.

Nor can one word of reproach be truthfully said against any of the county officers elected by the Republican party two years ago, save it be some acts of the county board.

Now we declare that neither the Republican party nor any of its active members were responsible for the actions of the board which were subject to criticism. The county board was composed of two men, Messrs. Cox and Maurer, who were elected by the Republican party, and Mr. Smith, the other, was elected on the liberal ticket. There are but one or two acts of that board that can by any stretch of the imagination be subjected to justifiable censure. One is the erection of the courthouse, without authority from the people, another was extravagance in purchasing books and blanks for the county officers.

For the first act, Col. J. M. Alexander and the P. O. ring are responsible. They are the parties who more than anyone persuaded Mr. Cox to make the contract with the city of Winfield to build a courthouse and jail.

Mr. Maurer, one of the Republican commissioners of the county, never consented to the movement. This action of the board was taken, too, in the face of a protest against it, signed by several prominent Republicans of Cowley County, E. C. Manning among the number.

The Telegram at the time endorsed the action of the board, and ridiculed the protest. This action of the P. O. ring cost the county $12,500.

For the second act A. A. Jackson, a Democrat, elected on the “people’s” ticket, is responsible. He was familiar with the wants of the various county officers, and ordered books and blanks at pleasure. He obtained the confidence of the board and either recommended all the books and blanks that were ordered or else ordered them himself, and afterwards obtained the sanction of the board by stating that they were necessary. Jackson made a certain percent on all the books and blanks ordered by him by special arrangement with the various firms from which he ordered them. Jackson was one of the Telegram’s pets at that time and a howler against the Republican party, and of course that paper had no word of censure for him. By this arrangement the county lost several thousand dollars.

The two acts above mentioned are all that could in any fairness be censured, unless it be claimed that the salaries allowed some of the county officers be considered too high. This may be true, but no party is to blame for that. Col. Alexander and other pets of the Telegram told the board that the salaries allowed the County Attorney and Probate Judge ought to be allowed, and several Republicans, among the number, E. C. Manning, discountenanced all these propositions, and Col. Manning declined to accept one half of the salary of the Probate Judge, notwithstanding he was entitled to it under the terms of his partnership association with Judge Johnson. He told Judge Johnson at the time that the salary was too large and he would not have a cent of any such money. So much for Colonel Manning, who we think deserves this mention at our hands, in passing, as he has been accused by the Telegram and its snuffers with being at the head, or bottom, of all the rascality ever perpetrated in the county.

An examination of County Clerk Jackson’s books, which was demanded by the COURIER and Mr. Troup, the Republican County Clerk, who succeeded Mr. Jackson, developed the fact that Jackson’s books, through incompetency, criminality, or both, were in a scandalously incorrect condition, and that J. P. Short, Deputy County Treasurer, had embezzled several thousand dollars of public money. Short was not a Republican elect, but was a member of the P. O. “Ring,” a pet of the Telegram, and a howler against the Republican party.

An investigating committee of three, two of whom, the Chairman and one other member, opposed the Republican party last fall, has thus far failed to find anything wrong with the affairs of the Republican county officers although they have been in session several months.

The Telegram is for anybody or anything that will keep T. K. Johnston in the Post Office at Winfield, and serve the interests of its masters, Read & Robinson, and Alexander & Saffold.

When the COURIER expressed the sense of the Republicans of Cowley County, by reproaching Judge Lowe, our member of Congress, for his vote in favor of the salary gain bill, the Telegram made haste to endorse Judge Lowe, and the P. O. Ring sent Lowe a marked copy of each paper. About that time there was an effort made to put Johnson out and put in somebody else, but it failed through Lowe’s influence. Lowe was told that all the Republicans wanted was a man in harmony with the party, no one was particular about the individual. But the COURIER had incurred Mr. Lowe’s displeasure for denouncing him in common with the other salary grabbers. This coupled with the “Ring” endorsement of him saved T. K. At the present hour, after abusing the Republican administration, national, state, and county, for two years, the Telegram hoists the Republican State ticket because it knows it will be elected anyway. This is done to get Governor Osborn’s endorsement to keep Johnston in the Post Office. It then hoists J. K. Hudson’s name, a newspaper publisher, as a candidate for Congress because he is a “farmer,” and hoists R. B. Saffold’s name for State Senator because he is a “reformer,” and opposed to the Republican party; while H. C. St. Clair, the Republican nominee, is a practical farmer and a patron of husbandry.

Now the Telegram and the “ring” are moving everything to organize an opposition to the Republican party of Cowley County this fall. Why? Because the Republican party won’t endorse Johnston, a man bitterly obnoxious to the public, and notoriously dishonest, as postmaster; won’t give the carpet-bagger from Leavenworth, Alexander, an office; won’t favor the bonding of the County debt so as to enable Read & Robinson, and a few non-residents, to convert the several thousands of dollars of Co. scrip that they hold, into cash. These are the real reasons, no matter what their pretended reasons are. This disposes of charge No. 1.

Now for charge No. 2.

“War on the financial interests of Cowley County.”

At the time the County Board let the Courthouse contract, Read & Robinson, bankers, were behind the scenes with the money bags. No one would take the contract unless the scrip could be cashed. Read & Robinson, bankers (known as M. L. Read), took the scrip at 65 cents on the dollar. They got it all. In August of last year, the Telegram “Ring” tried to hold a “farmers” political meeting at Winfield. They partially failed of their purpose. Rev. William Martin was one of the speakers of the occasion. The “ring” saw that Martin was the kind of stuff to make an available candidate out of, for the Legislature. He was just about stupid enough to be “above suspicion.” So T. K. Johnston went out to the old man’s home shortly after the meeting to interview him. He found the old man “sound,” found him possessed of that qualification without which no “reformer” in Cowley County is considered sound, that is, he was opposed to Manning (that he didn’t know why he should be, doesn’t matter), and were he not a Reverend, might be induced to curse him, which would make him the more desirable. Anyway, he would oppose him and that was a good start in the right direction (although Manning was an invalid in the state of New York at that time and had been all summer, but at last accounts he was alive and consequently dangerous); then he would keep T. K. in the Post Office, and favor bonding Read & Robinson’s scrip, and besides was “above suspicion.” But the old man didn’t want to be the representative, or said he didn’t, nor would he consent to run. T. K. came back gloomy. The horizon about the Post office was beginning to get somewhat cloudy. By a little strategy, however, by representing to the old man that the people considered him “above suspicion,” and demanded that he make the sacrifice, the old man yielded. “Reform” delegates were worked up in Martin’s interest, and he was nominated. By Telegram falsehoods he was elected, and almost the first thing he did was to try to bond the scrip. The Telegram, backed by Read & Robinson, at home, and Allison at his elbow at Topeka, helped him. But the COURIER and the people opposed the measure and he failed.

Last week the Legislature met in extra session to relieve the destitute. Martin went to Topeka. Just before he went to take his seat, he had an interesting interview with members of the “ring.” We understand they went in a carriage to his residence in the country and what took place at that interview, of course we can’t tell, except by what the Hon. William did when he reached Topeka. The second bill introduced into the House was “House bill No. 2 by William Martin to bond the debt of Cowley County.” It is no measure of relief, no stay of law, no postponement of taxes, no appropriation for the needy, no act of any kind for the relief of the poverty stricken of Cowley County, but an act to convert the scrip of Read & Robinson, Geo. L. Thompson, J. C. Horton, et al, into Cowley County bonds. This, too, in the face of the well known opposition of the taxpayers of Cowley County to bonds of any kind.

Charge No. 3: they make “war on the material interests of Cowley County.” To this we say, that by stirring up strife, by seeking to promote personal ends, by detracting from the influence of those who would work unselfishly for the welfare of the whole county, they prevent that material development that awaits us if our people would work and counsel together.

The one overshadowing interest to Cowley County, after the distress of the present hard times is provided for, is the building of a railroad through the Indian Territory. The Republican party is turning its attention to this question.

The P. O. ring and the Telegram are too busy looking after county bonds and “available men” who are “above suspicion” to pay any attention to it. The “ring” delegates to the “reform” congressional convention (Allison and A. Walton) did not go to Emporia and demand a recognition of the interests of Cowley County in that convention. They remained at home still looking for available men who were “above suspicion,” and to help Johnston watch the post office for fear Manning might steal it in their absence.

Cowley was not represented in the convention that nominated J. K. Hudson. What did these fellows care about a market for the farmer’s produce so long as they could get their votes? On the other hand, the Republicans sent active, able men to represent them, in the Republican convention at Emporia. Those delegates demanded that the candidates should be pledged to a railroad direct to Galveston, through the Indian Territory. The majority of the delegates in that convention lived on railroads that already lead to Galveston, and defeated the Cowley County resolutions offered by Col. Manning.

Now the Telegram jeers those delegates for their failure. The Telegram and the P. O. ring sneers at the efforts made to wake the people of Cowley up to the importance of this question.

As to the fourth charge, “war on the business prosperity of Winfield.”

The P. O. ring, and the Telegram, in order to divert attention from their real designs, must abuse and malign someone, and these are generally the best men in town and county. A. T. Stewart, J. B. Fairbank, C. M. Wood, Rev. Parmelee, C. A. Bliss, W. M. Boyer, and others, together with all the county officers it could not control, have suffered calumny at its hand. The people of the county are taught that the citizens of Winfield are thieves and cutthroats. This drives people away from the town. This divides our people among themselves. It prevents a cooperation among the citizens of the place in any laudable endeavor, either charitable, educational, religious, moral, or social, or for the general prosperity of the place. No one can deny this.

The COURIER has endeavored to establish good feeling among our own people, and to show to the people of the county that there was no cause for bad blood between town and country. It and its friends have received nothing but abuse in return.

The cabal that backs the Telegram in its baseness has its head and front in Alexander & Saffold, Read & Robinson, and T. K. Johnston. This “ring” is what Alexander calls the “respectable faction in the Republican party.”

We have written what we have written in calmness, after carefully considering the whole subject. We have no desire to make personal assaults on any man. But we have come to the conclusion that longer submission to the assaults of this “ring” upon us, through their mouth-piece, would be cowardly. And in the interests of the people of Cowley County, who have so long been mislead by the misrepresentations of this “ring,” we herewith fire our first shot.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 25, 1874.

Proceedings of the Meeting of the Winfield Literary and Scientific Association.

A meeting of the citizens of Winfield was held at the Courthouse September 22, 1874, for the purpose of organizing a Literary Society.

W. Q. Mansfield, M. L. Robinson, J. C. Fuller, Rev. Mr. Platter, Rev. Mr. Rigby, W. W. Walton, and E. B. Kager were appointed a committee to prepare a plan of organization to present at a future meeting to be called by a committee.

We hope all the citizens will take an interest in this society for such an institution, well sustained, can be made a source of much pleasure during the winter, of great and lasting profit.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 2, 1874.

Programme of the Literary and Musical Entertainment to be given at the Courthouse in Winfield, in connection with the Teacher’s Institute, for the benefit of the Public School Organ fund, on Wednesday evening, October 7th, 1874.

Listing participants only.

Prof. E. J. Hoyt, leader, orchestra; Glee club; poem by W. W. Walton, essay by Miss Melville of the Emporia State Normal School, son by Mrs. Russell of Wichita and Prof. E. W. Hulse, essay by Miss Jennie Greenlee, duet and chorus by Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. A. C. Wilkinson, instrumental music by Miss Ora Lowry and T. A. Wilkinson.

A farce in one act, “Specter Bridegroom, or a Ghost in Spite of Himself,” was put on by T. A. Wilkinson, James Kelly, W. W. Walton, V. B. Beckett, A. H. Hane, Fred C. Hunt, Mrs. James Kelly, Mrs. Flint.

Single tickets 50 cents; 75 cents for gent and lady. Children half price.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 15, 1874.

Henry Bozark, the prisoner who escaped from Sheriff Walker in the dark on Monday night, was re-captured by deputy Geo. Walker today, on the head of Timber Creek. He is now in jail awaiting transportation to the penitentiary. Prisoners may as well understand that it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a man to get away from Walker’s posse.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 15, 1874.

Brown, Brocknell, and Onstatt, who have been resting here in jail for some months past, had a hearing before commissioner L. R. Kellogg last Monday, and Brown was discharged. Brocknell and Onstatt were bound over to appear before the U. S. District court of Arkansas; E. S. Torrance appeared for the prosecution, and Hackney and Webb for the defense.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 12, 1874.

A public meeting will be held at the Courthouse on Monday evening next, Nov. 18, at 7 o’clock, for the purpose of receiving the report of the Committee, appointed to draw up a constitution, etc., for the Winfield Literary Institute. All are invited. J. E. PLATTER, Secy.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 19, 1874.

The Masons are already making preparations for their ball, which is to be given at the courthouse on Christmas night.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 26, 1874.

The band boys give a dance at the Courthouse tonight.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 26, 1874.

There will be a meeting held at the Courthouse next Monday evening, the 30th inst., to organize an Aid Society. Let everybody come out. We would suggest that the pastors of the different churches announce the meeting from their pulpits next Sabbath.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 26, 1874.

Last Monday evening those of our citizens who felt interested in the organization of the Literary, Library, and Scientific Association, called the Winfield Institute, assembled at the Courthouse and subscribed their names to the Constitution. A charter is to be procured immediately and no efforts will be spared to make the Institute interesting and instructive. The mere mention of the names of the prime movers of the affair is sufficient guarantee of the success and permanence of the Association. This is a matter in which all of our citizens should feel interested and we hope to see the names of the major part of our citizens enrolled on the society’s books before long.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 26, 1874.

Programme of the open session of Winfield Grange, No. 865 P. of H., to be held at the Courthouse Thursday evening, Dec. 8th, 1874.

Opening address by the Worthy Master, Music, Prayer by the Chaplain, Essay, by Brother N. C. McCulloch, Instrumental music, Paper by brother J. F. Graham and sister T. A. Wilkinson, Music, Essay, the private indebtedness of Cowley County, by brother T. A. Wilkinson, Music, Address by brother A. S. Williams, Master of County Council, Music, Essay by brother J. B. Evans of Vernon Grange, Address by brother A. Frazier, of Maple Grove Grange, Address by brother A. N. Deming, Music, Speeches by volunteers.

An invitation is extended to the general public.

COMMITTEE OF ARRANGEMENTS: T. A. Wilkinson, J. F. Graham, R. H. Tucker, A. T. Stewart, N. C. McCulloch.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 3, 1874.

Eli Perkins, the great humorist, lectures at the courthouse next Tuesday evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 3, 1874.

The Rev. Father Shurz, of Wichita, will hold service at the Courthouse in Winfield on New Year’s day.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 3, 1874.

The citizens of Winfield and vicinity assembled at the Courthouse on Monday evening, Nov. 30th, 1874, for the purpose of organizing a central relief committee for Cowley County.

On motion A. S. Williams was chosen chairman, and J. W. Curns, secretary, of the meeting.

On motion the following persons were appointed as a central relief committee for Cowley County, to act in conjunction with the state central relief committee: Rev. S. E. Platter, Chairman; Rev. N. L. Rigby; Rev. J. McQuiston; Hon. T. R. Bryan; Hon. H. S. Silver.

On motion the Cowley County Central Relief Committee was instructed to immediately issue an address requesting that local relief committees be organized in each township in the county, and that such committees report their organizations to the Cowley County Central Committee, and the amount of destitution which exists in their several townships, as soon as possible.

Motion carried that a copy of the proceedings of this meeting be forwarded to the state central committee at Topeka.

Moved and carried that the publishers of the various newspapers of this county be requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting.

On motion adjourned. A. S. WILLIAMS, Chairman. J. W. CURNS, Sec.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874.

Rev. J. E. Platter will preach at the courthouse next Sunday evening upon the subject of Temperance.

Courthouse.

WINFIELD INSTITUTE.

Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874.

A meeting of the members of the Winfield Institute will be held at the courthouse on Monday evening next for the purpose of electing the directors and transacting other business.

D. A. MILLINGTON, Chairman.

Winfield Courier, December 10, 1874.

The opening lecture of the winter course in connection with the Winfield Institute will be delivered at the courthouse on Thursday evening next, Dec. 17th, by Rev. J. E. Platter. Subject, Good Society. A cordial invitation is hereby extended to all citizens, and their cooperation solicited. Lecture free. D. A. MILLINGTON, Chairman.

Winfield Courier, December 17, 1874.

The members of the Winfield Institute met at the courthouse last Monday evening and elected a board of directors, consisting of W. Q. Mansfield, T. E. Johnston, D. A. Millington, Rev. J. E. Platter, J. C. Fuller, Rev. N. L. Rigby, J. B. Fairbank, Chas. C. Black, and E. B. Kager. According to arrangement they met last evening and elected from the number a president, secretary, and treasurer, to-wit: D. A. Millington, president; W. Q. Mansfield, secretary, and T. K. Johnston, treasurer.

Among the objects sought to be accomplished by this movement is the establishment of a public library and reading room, and it is the intention of the directors to make all necessary effort to insure success. To this end, therefore, donations of books are solicited from all who are friendly to the enterprise, and of those desirous of becoming members of the Institute. Books will be taken in payment of dues, if desired. Standard works in good condition, on history, theology, science, travel, fiction, and miscellaneous literature will constitute the library; and it is intended to furnish the reading room with a selection of the leading publications, periodicals, and magazines of the day.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 24, 1874.

There will be a literary, musical, and dramatic entertainment given in behalf of the public school organ fund of Winfield, under the management of the Winfield and Arkansas City literary and dramatic clubs, at the courthouse in Winfield, immediately following the holidays. A full programme will be appear in the next issue of the COURIER.

JAMES KELLY, T. A. WILKINSON, E. W. HULSE. Committee on management.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 24, 1874.

At a regular meeting of the Winfield Grange No. 866 P. of H., held at the Courthouse on the evening of December 22nd, A. D. 1874, the following officers were duly elected for the ensuing year: Brother A. T. Stewart, Worthy Master; brother A. N. Deming, Overseer; T. A. Wilkinson, Lecturer; H. N. Banner, Steward; J. F. Graham, Asst. Steward; W. R. Land, Chaplain; N. C. McCulloch, Treasurer; S. E. Burger, Secretary; Marshal Land, Gate keeper; Sister A. C. Wilkinson, Ceres; Mrs. McCulloch, Flora; Pearly Burger, Pomona; Bertha Land, Lady Asst. Steward. A. T. STEWART, W. M.

1875

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 14, 1875.

The third public entertainment of the Winfield Institute will be given at the courthouse on Wednesday evening, Jan. 20th, consisting of musical and literary exercises.

Covert’s Residence Above Jail; Courthouse.

[This is a guess on my part. Believe Covert lived above the Jail. MAW]

Winfield Courier, January 14, 1875.

Last Monday evening as we were passing the courthouse, the cry of “fire” startled us and we followed Ed Bedilion and N. C. McCulloch up the stairs of Burt Covert’s residence. As we entered, the table, from which the supper dishes had not yet been taken, and a board partition against which the table stood, were blazing brightly. Mr. McCulloch pulled the cloth from the table and let the dishes fall upon the floor, breaking the major part of them. The blazing cloth he threw out of doors after which the fire was soon extinguished. The trouble was caused by the explosion of a kerosene lamp. Immediately upon noticing the fire burning down into the bowl of the lamp, Mrs. Covert grasped her babe and with her sister (the ladies being alone at the time) went to the courthouse and informed Messrs. Bedilion and McCulloch of the fact. While they were gone the lamp burst with the above result.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 21, 1875.

The entertainment given at the courthouse last week for the benefit of the school organ fund, in which the Arkansas City Dramatic Club took part, lacked just two dollars of paying expenses.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 21, 1875.

A young man named Joe Straidler, formerly in the employ of J. G. Titus of this place, took it into his head to raise the “wind” slightly, on his own hook a day or two ago. So being fully aware of the stringency in the money market, especially in Cowley, devised a by no means original plan whereby to replenish his much depleted exchequer. He drew up a note, and unlawfully, and feloniously attached thereto, such “filthy lucre” raising names as J. G. Titus, and C. C. Black. The note, so well endorsed, was presented by this young man to the Arkansas City banks for “shave.” Luckily, however, the signatures of the drawers were well known there, and after a careful comparison with those on the note, they were found not to be identical. Whereupon word was dispatched to Messrs. Titus and Black, who struck right out in quest of Joe, and much to his discomfiture, found him, and brought him before Justice Boyer, where he waived examination and was sent to jail.

Joe certainly acted cutely in making the note. It was drawn for $114.69, the cents giving it the appearance of exactness. But Joe erred in offering to shave these gentlemen’s paper so ruinously, as their paper is not the kind which goes a begging for buyers. No doubt Joe is well enough satisfied as he is boarding at the expense of the county.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 28, 1875.

DIVISION OF THE COUNTY.

All last week, rumors were rife to the effect that an attempt was being made to divide Butler County on the twenty mile strip, take six miles off the north end of Cowley, and out of said territory, form a new county. Several gentlemen living at the north side of our county came into this office during the week and informed us of the fact, but at the same time we could not believe that the report had any well grounded foundation. Saturday, however, D. A. Millington, Esq., received a letter from Captain Shannon, of Augusta, Butler County, warning him that such a move was on foot, and asking our cooperation in frustrating the measure.

Mr. Millington circulated a remonstrance against any attempt to change the boundary lines of Cowley County, which remonstrance received three hundred signatures in a very little while.

A meeting was called the same evening at the courthouse, which was numerously attended notwithstanding the fact that only a few hours notice had been given. The meeting was organized with D. A. Millington as Chairman, and James Kelly, Secretary. A resolution was unanimously passed, opposing the giving away of any part of Cowley County. Speeches were made by A. T. Stewart, Wm. Bartlow, and others.

The meeting resolved unanimously to send Col. E. C. Manning to Topeka to watch our interests. Nearly enough money was subscribed on the spot to pay his expenses. A committee consisting of A. T. Stewart, Wm. Bartlow, and Wm. Rogers were appointed to canvass the town to raise the balance needed. These gentlemen, acting with their usual zeal and energy, did their work before they slept that night, and the result was that Col. Manning was in Topeka Tuesday noon. Now we defy any committee to best that time. The meeting acted wisely in sending Col. Manning. He has brains and experience and is perfectly able to cope with all the divisionists they may send from Butler County. We have not heard from Col. Manning, but expect to before going to press.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 28, 1875.

Winfield Institute.

Dr. W. Q. Mansfield will lecture before this Institute at the courthouse on next Wednesday evening, Feb. 3rd, at 7 o’clock. Subject: Physiology.

Exercises will open and close with vocal and instrumental music.

As is well known the science of Physiology is a specialty with the Doctor, in which he is fully posted up in all the latest discoveries, and in which he has ideas. Therefore, this lecture cannot fail to be of great practical value to his hearers. All are invited to attend.

Tickets of admission for sale at the Post Office, and at Mansfield’s drug store.

Single tickets 15 cents, 2 for 25 cents, 10 for $1.00, admitting to any of the regular exercises of the Institute. D. A. MILLINGTON, Pres.

Courthouse Bell.

Winfield Courier, February 4, 1875.

One week from tomorrow (Friday) evening, the ladies of the M. E. Church will give a sociable at the residence of Mrs. McMasters. This is the first of a series of sociables to be given—one by each church—the proceeds of which are to be applied toward paying the remaining indebtedness on the courthouse bell. The debt amounts to $120. Everyone is invited to attend these sociables and thus assist in liquidating this debt.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 4, 1875.

DIED. At his residence in Arkansas City last night, of pneumonia, Mr. L. W. Emerson. He was sick but five or six days. Our citizens will remember him in the enjoyment of health and vigor, as if it were but yesterday, in the character of “Dr. Banks” in the play of “On his Last Legs,” rendered a short time ago by the Arkansas City Dramatic Club at our courthouse. He was a young man of good habits and blameless character, and in his death our neighbors of Arkansas City lose a valuable and exemplary citizen.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 4, 1875.

The Presbyterian church holds a communion service on next Sabbath morning. Preaching on Friday evening by S. B. Fleming of Oxford. Also Preparatory Lecture on Saturday after-noon at 2 o’clock p.m., at which time parents having children to be baptized will please present them. All these services to be held in the courthouse. J. E. PLATTER, Pastor.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 11, 1875.

Bankrupt Sale.

In the District Court of the United States for the District of Kansas.

In the matter of Hiram Brotherton, Bankrupt.

By virtue of an order issued out of the aforesaid Court, I will on Monday, the 1st day of March A. D. 1875 at 1 o’clock p.m. of said day at the south front door of the courthouse in the City of Winfield, county of Cowley, State of Kansas, sell to the highest and best bidder, for cash, all the open accounts, and promissory notes against divers persons, remaining unsettled and unpaid, now in my hands belonging to said bankrupt estate. R. L. SAFFOLD.

Assignee of the Estate of Hiram Brotherton, Bankrupt. Winfield, Feb. 8, 1875.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 11, 1875.

The sociable which was to have been given at the residence of Mrs. McMasters next Friday evening will take place at the courthouse on the same evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 18, 1875.

Grand Union Temperance Meeting.

At the courthouse on next Sunday evening, Feb. 21st, at 7 o’clock, all the ministers in the city and some from a distance will be present. Several speeches will be made upon the subject of Temperance, and good music is expected. All are invited. Come one, come all.

By order of Committee.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 25, 1875.

Little Dutch came down en masse to attend the temperance meeting at the courthouse last Sunday evening.

Winfield Courier, February 25, 1875.

The grand temperance meeting at the Courthouse last Sunday resulted in a full house. J. M. Barrick, Esq., of Rock, was the principal lecturer. His discourse was interesting and well received.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 25, 1875.

Winfield Institute.

The fourth lecture of the winter course will be delivered at the courthouse on Monday evening next, March 1st, by Prof. E. P. Hickok. Subject: Ocean Currents. Tickets 15 cents, 2 for 25 cents, 10 for $1. W. Q. MANSFIELD, Sec.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 11, 1875.

There will be an entertainment given at the Courthouse tomorrow evening by the members of the Grammar School of this city. The proceeds will go towards the School Organ Fund. It is to be conducted by the scholars in the Grammar Department, no outsiders being in any way allowed to assist them in their exercises. This entertainment will doubtless disclose some of the heretofore hidden talent of the youth of our city. All should attend. Admission twenty-five cents.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 11, 1875.

The Public Schools give an exhibition at the Courthouse Friday evening, the 12th of March, and the following is the programme.

Opening song: “Come join our Choral Number.” Salutatory: Miss Ella Manly. Song: Primary School. Essay: “The American Indian”—Fred Hunt. Violin Duet: Willie Leffingwell and Harold Mansfield. Recitation: “Paul Revere’s Ride”—Miss Ella Freeland. Song and Conversation: “The Bell kept Ringing for Sarah”—Miss Mattie Minnihan. Dialogue: “How they kept a Secret.”—Misses Laura and Ida McMillen, Nellie Powers, Eugenie Holmes, Jennie Hane, Maggie Dever, Mary Cochran and Harold Mansfield. . . .

Other participants: Mattie Minnihan, Inez Griswold, Harvey Thomas, Eugenie Holmes, Cora Andrews, Jessie Millington, Lillie Ford, Nettie Quarles, I. E. Johnson, Raleigh Milspaugh, and Frank Howland.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.

The exhibition given by the schools of this city last Friday night at the courthouse was a genuine success, reflecting credit alike on scholars and teachers. The exercises differed somewhat from the printed programme and we were unable to keep the “run of the play”; consequently, we can only speak of it in general terms. There was a paper, or rather a fling, read by I. E. Johnson about some of our citizens, including ourself, which we thought at the time we would notice at length, but will pass it for the present by simply saying that the spirit evinced by the perpetrators in seizing the occasion of a school exhibition, and innocent children, as instruments through which to vent their petty spites, is, to say the least, contemptible.

Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.

The Public School Exhibition given at the courthouse last Friday evening was financially a success, as well as otherwise, as the following will show.

Total receipts: $35.50

Total expenditures: 8.00

Credit to Organ Fund: $27.50

Courthouse Bell.

Winfield Courier, April 1, 1875.

Winfield takes a Blaze.

Last Sunday night, about 12 o’clock, the Bradish House, one of the largest hotels in this city, was discovered to be on fire. The proprietor, Mrs. C. M. Bradish, made the discovery just as the fiend was getting well under way and immediately gave the alarm. Soon the deep tones of the Courthouse bell conveyed the fearful tidings to the entire city. Men and women, standing not on the order of their going, but with a garment stuck on here and there, rushed to the scene. Every effort was put forth to subdue the flames, but without avail, and the bystanders turned their attention to the protection of the nearest buildings.

Fortunately the night was calm, with what little wind there was blowing from exactly the right quarter. It seemed, indeed, that this, our first misfortune, had been largely mixed with mercy. For it is conceded by all that had the wind blown from any other quarter, or had it been as strong as usual, at least half of the city would have been now in ashes.

Several incidents connected with the fire we think worth relating. Mr. S. H. Myton, who roomed there, on hearing the alarm, hastily dressed himself by sticking but one leg in his pantaloons, drew one suspender between his legs and the other over his shoulder. Thus arrayed he mounted gallantly on the roof, and, with water supplied him by Mr. B. F. Baldwin, succeeded for a time in keeping the fire at bay. But, alas, his victory was of short duration. Just as he had received a fresh bucket of water, he missed his footing and tumbled head over heals to the ground. Curiously enough Mr. Myton sustained but little injury from his perilous fall.

Another: the next morning Mr. Isaac L. Comfort, who boarded there but slept in another part of the town, started as usual for his breakfast, entirely ignorant of the destruction of the house, and did not discover it until he had reached the ashes. His feelings can be better imagined than described.

Several of the boarders sustained more or less loss by the burning of clothes, trunks, etc. Mrs. Bradish succeeded in saving considerable furniture. The house and furniture, we understand, is mostly covered by insurance.

Thus have we received our baptism of fire.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 29, 1875.

Winfield Institute.

The public is informed that an entertainment of unusual interest, for the benefit of the above Institute, will take place at the Courthouse on Friday evening, May 7th. The most notable feature of the exercises will consist of a Big Spelling Match—a mighty wrestle with Webster and Worcester, by volunteers of both sexes. This projected raid on the “unabridged” will be governed by rules similar to those adopted at all spelling matches now so popular throughout the country.

At a meeting of the directors of the Institute, held on Wednesday evening last, Prof. W. C. Robinson and Prof. A. B. Lemmon were appointed captains, Mr. J. B. Fairbank, pronouncer, Mr. E. S. Bedilion and Mr. B. F. Baldwin, referees.

In this war of words, Worcester’s comprehensive speller will be used. It is hoped that everyone friendly to the movement, regardless of age or sex, whether living in the city or out of it, will take a lively interest in this contemplated frolic with the vowels and consonants, and promptly enter the list in this intellectual and friendly contest. The exercises of the evening will be interspersed with vocal and instrumental music.

Tickets 15 cents, admitting two 25 cents, 10 for one dollar.

W. Q. MANSFIELD, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 27, 1875.

One day last week the boys at the Courthouse attempted to illustrate the cold water ritual of the Methodists by sprinkling each other. Judge Gans, an old hand at the business, “frowed de last water fust” on Dick Walker, and Dick, not being partial to water in any form, handed a pitcher full to Troup, which, owing to his carelessness, landed on top of his head. This set the ball to rolling. Troup returned the compliment by emptying his coal scuttle of dirty water in Walker’s left ear. Then Bedilion and Walton joined in only to get treated to more cold water than they had been used to lately, and they retired satisfied. Then Walker and Gans formed an alliance, which they were just sealing with a “shake,” when the irrepressible Troup put in his ladle and sent them off shaking themselves and swearing vengeance against him. They soon proved too much for Troup, for while he was guarding the pump and watching Dick, Gans stole upstairs, and emptied four gallons of muddy water down his shirt collar, and in attempting to retreat, he was overhauled by long Dick and treated to another bath, which closed the circus for that day. They are now suffering from bad colds, the penalty for using too much cold water when their constitutions were not used to it.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 10, 1875.

Ice cream and strawberry festival tonight at the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 10, 1875.

The ladies of the Presbyterian and Congregational churches will give an ice cream and strawberry festival tonight, at the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.

The Festival.

The festival of the Presbyterian and Congregationalists last Thursday night, at the Courthouse, was a very pleasant affair. Strawberries, ice cream, lemonade, and all sorts of cake in great abundance. The receipts of the evening was some $60.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.

Attention, Company G!

In pursuance with an order from Headquarters, Co. G., of Cowley County Militia, will meet at the Courthouse in Winfield, Saturday evening, the 19th, inst., at 8 o’clock sharp, to elect officers to fill the present vacancies in said company, and to transact such other business as may possibly come before them. By order.

A. T. SHENNEMAN, 1st Lieut. and Acting Com.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 24, 1875.

The following letter, as will readily be seen, was written by Col. J. M. Alexander of this place to the Leavenworth Times, Times, from which we clip it.

WINFIELD, COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS, June 11th, 1875.

Editor Times: I write, because I think that the people of that portion of the state which has lately suffered from the locusts, will feel refreshed on learning that other portions of the country are extraordinarily blessed with good and abundant crops. The inhabitants of this section of Kansas are exultant over their prospects. An extensive acreage of wheat was sown in this, and adjoining counties, last fall; and now, the eye of the traveler becomes almost wearied at gazing over so vast an area of wavy golden grain, about ready for the reaper, and which is expected to yield an average of 25 bushels to the acre.

My friend, Mr. Frazier, of the celebrated Occidental Hotel in Wichita, in riding from that city to this, a distance of 45 miles, counted 169 wheat and rye fields on his way.

Our farmers are beginning to catch the inspiration of the true and noble science of agriculture, and are becoming laudably ambitious. Hundreds of acres of sod are being turned over this season for an extended wheat and rye culture; and if the corn crop follows with proportional exuberance, this land will soon teem with wealth.

The opinion that I have heretofore expressed that, this (Cowley) county is superior in beauty and landscape, in her area of forests, in her numerous, clear, and copiously running brooks, and in her fertility of soil, to any county in the state, I am more than ever confirmed in. And such I believe will be the candid judgment of everyone who becomes versed in the geography of the state. Nor is the population inferior in average intelligence and accomplishments to that of the elder counties.

Last night I attended a strawberry and ice-cream festival at the courthouse given by the Presbyterian and Congregational churches; and there I met as intelligent gentlemen and as accomplished ladies—as recherche in mode, save the costliness in apparel—as I have witnessed in far older and larger cities. It is true, the absence of wealth forbade any particular attention to the elegant arts of Pompadour and Maintenon, in matter of wardrobe; but I may say in truth, and without intending invidiousness, that Miss M. and Miss G., late teachers in Winfield; Miss S., late from Virginia; Miss H., late from Mississippi, and others had I time to name them, were as graceful and lovable young ladies as any critical gentleman would wish to meet.

Almost everyone I meet inquires anxiously after the condition of Col. Anthony. I find a deep-seated feeling prevailing in the country that a great wrong has been done his case; and even those who never knew the Colonel personally, appear to feel an unusual anxiety for his recovery. J. M. A.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 24, 1875.

Lost. Mrs. W. B. Doty lost a nice summer shawl last Thursday night one week ago at the festival held at the Courthouse. It is evident that some other lady took it by mistake, as she left one in place of it. The shawl may be left at the livery stable of Darrah & Doty, or at this office, where the owner can get it.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 1, 1875.

A grand ball will be given at the Courthouse in Winfield Monday evening July 5th. Good music will be in attendance.

Courthouse Chimney Damaged.

Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.

Saturday night a violent wind and thunderstorm passed over town, completely demolishing an unfinished building belonging to Johnnie Read, and one chimney of the Courthouse.

From Courthouse to Brewery.

Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.

It took 147,200 pieces of type to set up the tax list as printed in our paper last week. These pieces lying end and end would reach a distance of 12,266 feet, or from the Courthouse to the—brewery and back again.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 22, 1875.

The Congregational festival at the courthouse last Thursday evening was well attended. The tables over which Mrs. Howland and Mrs. Wait presided were well patronized, and we think the ladies at the other end of the hall had no reason to complain as we noticed the frank and open countenances of Prof. Lemmon and the senior editor of the COURIER up there the greater part of the evening. A lemonade stand from behind which Misses Manley and Powers handed out the cooling beverage and took in the nickels was a feature of the evening. Several old fashioned songs were sung by an impromptu “glee club,” and everybody seemed to enjoy themselves.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.

A Harvest Ball at the Courthouse tonight. All are invited to attend.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.

Rev. J. H. Roberts preached at the Brane schoolhouse six miles below town last Sunday and Rev. Platter preached to an unusually large audience at the Courthouse at the same hour.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.

More fun at the Courthouse: a “horned toad” this time with Gans and Bedilion as chief mourners!

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 26, 1875.

Musical Institute three nights each week at the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 2, 1875.

There will be a meeting of the Republican County Central Committee, of Cowley County, held at the Courthouse in Winfield, on Saturday the 11 inst., to transact such business as may come before it. T. R. BRYAN, Chairman. JAMES KELLY, Secretary.

Courthouse Grounds.

Winfield Courier, September 9, 1875.

The Grasshoppers of Vernon, and Frontiers, Jr., of this place, play the second game today on the grounds by the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 9, 1875.

Big day at the Courthouse Monday. Everybody rushed to see our worthy Deputy Treasurer, Frank Gallotti. He had his hair cut a-la-Comanche, but that wasn’t all that attracted them. It was the last day of grace for paying delinquent taxes.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 30, 1875.

Miss Sadie Webb, late of Topeka, is writing in County Clerk Troup’s office, and Mrs. Clara Flint in Register McCulloch’s office at the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 14, 1875.

Our readers are informed that the first concert of the Winfield Musical Association will take place at the Courthouse, on Friday evening, Oct. 22nd.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 14, 1875.

Reform Convention!

Meeting of the Unterrified and Slaughter of the Innocents!

The Republican Ticket Indorsed Almost Throughout!

The convention of self-styled Reformers met at the Courthouse in this city last Saturday and organized with M. B. Leonard of Creswell, for Chairman, and C. G. Holland and Ed Millard, Secretaries.

The Committee on Resolutions, of which T. M. McIntire, of Creswell, was chairman, reported the following which, on motion, was rather meekly adopted.

1. Resolved, That the policy of further contraction of the currency at this time is calculated to bring financial ruin to the agricultural, manufacturing, and commercial interests of the country and will only be of advantage to the bond holders and money loaners of the East.

2. Resolved, That the National bank system was originated and has been sustained in the interest of the monied oligarchy of the East and has subserved no purpose save the protection of that interest at the expense of the productive and commercial interests of the West.

3. Resolved, That the course of the administration in subsidizing the local press of the country by the appointment of partisan editors to federal offices is destructive of the independence and usefulness of the press and merits the hearty condemnation of all patriots.

4. Resolved, That competency and honesty being the qualities which should alone commend a candidate, we hereby pledge ourselves to the nominees of the convention so long as we remain convinced that they possess these qualifications and no longer.

T. M. McINTIRE, Chairman.

George Melville then read the programme, which was that nominations begin with Representative, then Treasurer, etc., down to Coroner, which programme was adopted with some misgivings on the part of the more wary, believing, as they did, that George had some hidden object in view.

W. P. Hackney, the Republican candidate, was the only nominee for Representative, the Reformers being out of that kind of timber.

A call being made for Mr. Hackney, that gentleman came forward and told the convention that he was a Republican and as he had been placed at the head of the Republican ticket by the County Central Committee, he would be pleased to receive the indorsement of the convention, etc. The convention then nominated Mr. Hackney by acclamation with a few dissenting noes.

Nominations for Treasurer being in order, O. F. Boyle, of Winfield, and C. G. Handy, of Tisdale, were put on the track. Mr. Boyle’s friends were confident that they could run right off from Handy, but they didn’t know that the unknown Tisdale nag was ridden by a very light weight. The race was a close one, Mr. Handy winning it by one vote. Never was there a convention so badly taken by surprise. No one expected to nominate Mr. Handy and the announcement was hailed with anything but enthusiasm.

The next heat was for Sheriff, for which there were five entries, to-wit: Hoffmaster, Deming, Lippmann, Shenneman, and R. L. Walker. Walker’s name was withdrawn and Shenneman declined in favor of Deming. The last ballot resulted in favor of Hoffmaster.

Five candidates were nominated for Register of Deeds: Henderson, Roseberry, Allison, Cheneworth, and Howland. Mr. Roseberry rose to a personal explanation and charged Amos Walton with misrepresenting him and thought this would be a good time for Amos to “take it back.” He was also willing to read a recommendation given him by the county officers, but the Chair couldn’t see it, and Mr. Roseberry was chalked off. First ballot: Henderson, 16; Howland, 12; Roseberry, 6; Allison, 28; Cheneworth, 18. No Choice. Here Mr. Cheneworth withdrew his name and said that he had been solicited to become a candidate, and the inference was, by those who had control of the convention; but there was something back behind the screen which would slaughter him and he preferred to withdraw his name. By this time it was apparent that the race would be between Allison and Henderson, Howland and Roseberry having already been lost sight of. The last ballot proved Tom Henderson the winner by 17 votes, Mr. Howland receiving but one vote and Roseberry none.

From now on all interest was lost in the convention, it having gone against nearly everybody’s prognostications, and some two dozen defeated candidates went home disgusted, which left the convention pretty thin.

Dr. Headrick was nominated for Coroner.

John Stalter was nominated in the 1st, Daniel Grant in the 2nd, and R. F. Burden in the 3rd Commissioner Districts.

Amos Walton was appointed a Central Committee and the convention adjourned.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 21, 1875.

We are pleased to hear that Prof. E. P. Hickok has consented to deliver his highly interesting and instructive lecture on “Ocean Currents” on Friday evening, October 19th, at the Courthouse, under the auspices of the Winfield Institute.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 28, 1875.

The first concert of the Winfield Musical Institute was given at the Courthouse last Friday evening to a large and appreciative audience. We have not space to give it the mention it deserves. The participants were of our “home talent,” and had we the ability to criticize, we would not speak one word but in the highest terms of praise of those who so generously furnished us with such an entertainment.

The concert was a success financially and otherwise.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 28, 1875.

Railroad meeting at the Courthouse Tuesday night, Oct. 26th, 1875.

Meeting called to order for the purpose of discussing the railroad question; organized by electing Dr. Mansfield chairman, and Amos Walton secretary. Col. Alexander stated the object of the meeting to be to work up correspondence with different parties on the railroad question.

Mayor Millington spoke at some length of the necessity of such an enterprise and that action should be taken immediately in order to cooperate with the counties north of us at once. On motion D. A. Millington, J. E. Platter, M. L. Robinson, and J. C. Fuller were appointed as a committee to carry out the intention of said meeting. On motion, adjourned.

W. Q. MANSFIELD, Chairman. A. WALTON, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 11, 1875.

The first of a proposed series of Sunday School Concerts came off at the Courthouse last Sunday evening, as was previously announced. The evening was splendid, the audience large, and the exercises good. It was a “free for all” concert, which may or may not account for the unusually large audience. We never knew that there were so many children in this town till last Sunday night. We counted fourteen twins as they stood on the platform singing, all looking alike, clean, and pretty. The difficulty on determining which was which when their exercises came on was obviated by each one having a number.

The little fellows did the best. Some of them rendered their parts like “grown people.” Masters Graham, Robinson, and McClelland deserve special mention.

The very small girls, too small almost to have names, performed their parts and spoke their pieces very nicely.

Those who took part in it, one and all, did well. The “usual collection” was taken up.

Winfield Jail.

Winfield Courier, November 18, 1875.

Arkansas City has three lawyers, no saloon, no drunks, no whiskey, no police officers, and no one in the caboose. Winfield jail contains a crazy man, and one addicted to overdosing with corn juice. Arkansas City Traveler.

Correct. Winfield has twelve lawyers, two saloons, 0,000 drunks, plenty of whiskey, live police officers, and two boarders in her twenty-five hundred dollar jail. Yet with all these blessings (?), Winfield does not pay one iota of city tax. Arkansas City, the highly moral and economic town, pays ten mills on the dollar as a city tax. How do you like that for a contrast, Mr. Traveler?

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 18, 1875.

Members of Winfield Grange No. 805 are requested to be present at the next regular meeting, on the 23rd inst., at the Courthouse, as there is business of importance to transact.

S. E. BURGER, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 18, 1875.

The Band boys will give a dance at the Courthouse next Thursday evening.

Winfield Courier, November 25, 1875.

Don’t forget the dance to be given by the Band boys at the Courthouse tonight. The best of music will be in attendance.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 25, 1875.

The Concert to be given by the Winfield Musical Association on the evening of December 3rd promises to be the best entertainment ever offered to a Winfield audience. It will consist in selections from the rarest and best authors. Solos, duets, and quartettes are being practiced nightly by this organization. The programme, however, will be varied. A serio-comic song, with clog dance accompaniment, will be a laughable after piece, while the pretty fine instrumental pieces in preparation will give us something to admire and remember. The stage platform will be enlarged to suit the better convenience and to match the beautiful curtains purchased by the society. We expect to see the Courthouse crowded to its utmost capacity on this particular evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 2, 1875.

WOOD WANTED.

The undersigned will receive written proposals for bids for furnishing Forty Cords of wood for the County until December 10th, 1875. The wood to be mixed green and dry, and delivered at the Courthouse in Winfield as needed, and payment made in Cowley County scrip. R. L. WALKER, Sheriff.

Dec. 1, 1875.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 2, 1875.

On Christmas Eve, the M. E. Sunday School will have a Christmas tree at the courthouse. Old St. Nicholas will be there with lots of presents for the children, so the boys and girls may expect a good time.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 9, 1875.

The concert given last Friday evening by the Winfield Musical Association for the benefit of their leader, Prof. Hoffman was a very creditable entertainment as well as a financial success. The Courthouse was crowded with a good humored audience. The performers did their “level best” to give satisfaction, and we believe they succeeded.

The choruses, songs, duets, and instrumental pieces were mostly from the best masters and well rendered. Several members of the association are very fine singers, but make no pretension to musical proficiency beyond what is met with in similar amateur organizations.

The initiatory performance of an “overture” by our Cornet Band was played by them in their usual clever manner. Prof. Hoffman’s execution of the “Victoria March” made other than English hearts beat with delight.

To little Ida McMillen much praise is due for her rendition of “Carnival of Vienna.” She performs sweetly on the piano. For the beautiful song, “No Tidings from over the Sea,” we have to thank Miss Maggie Dever. A severe cold prevented the usual wide range of voice peculiar to her. Miss Ella Manly sang with much taste, “O, dear, the men are so Stupid,” winning a rapturous encore from the elderly maids, men who have met their “fate,” and mother-in-law in prospectus.

The “Passaic Waltz,” a duet on the piano by Masters Richie and Harold Mansfield, was well done. For boys so young we think they perform excellently well.

OTHERS MENTIONED: T. J. Jones, Mr. Black, Gallotti, Dr. Mansfield, Mr. Swain, Jeanne and Edwin Holloway, Misses Stewart and Bryant, Jennie Holloway.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 16, 1875.

The Christmas tree at the Courthouse on Christmas eve bids fair to be a very enjoyable entertainment. All children under fifteen years of age are to be admitted free, and all wishing to bestow presents upon their friends are invited to make use of the tree.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 16, 1875.

Attention, Patrons!

All delegates of subordinate Granges are requested to assemble at the Courthouse in Winfield on Wednesday, December 23rd, at 1 o’clock P.M., for a business meeting. Also at 7 o’clock in the evening of the same day, for the purpose of conferring the fifth degree. All members of the Order in good standing are respectfully invited.

A. S. WILLIAMS, Master, District Grange.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1875.

The concert given by the M. E. Sunday School last Sunday evening was an agreeable one. The children, both young and old, did well. The Courthouse was crowded. Many were compelled to stand up during the entire performance, while others, not being able to find standing room, had to go away. The appearance of that audience would rather disprove the assertion that we overheard the other day, that “we are tired of concerts.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1875.

We again call attention to the Christmas tree at the Courthouse on Friday evening next. The committee on reception of presents—Mrs. W. H. H. Maris, Miss Jessie Millington, Mr. Wallace Miller, and Mr. John Roberts—will be at the Courthouse from 1 to 4 P.M., Friday, to receive all presents intended for the tree. Everybody is invited to make use of the tree as the medium for the bestowal of presents intended for their friends. Be sure to have all presents in the hands of the committee by 4 o’clock P.M. so as to give time for arranging them upon the tree.

The committee on decoration of hall will be at the Courthouse during the whole of Friday afternoon. Be prompt, for you have plenty of work to do.

The programme of the entertainment is as follows. Music: “The Children’s Jubilee.” Invocation: By Rev. Adams. Music: “Glad Tidings.” Address: By Rev. J. E. Platter. Music: “O, List to the Notes.” Address: By Rev. Blevins. Music: Christmas Carol. Santa Claus and Christmas Tree. Music: “Song of Christmas Eve.” Benediction.

Let everybody go and have a pleasant time with the girls and boys.

1876

Courthouse.

Excerpts from very long news item...

CENTENNIAL ISSUE.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, January 6, 1876.

As specimens of “literature” of that day we produce the following circulars which were issued a short time previous to the first election held in the county, to-wit: May 2nd, 1870.

CRESWELL.

To the voters of Cowley County:

The Creswell Town Company ask leave to present to you the claims of Creswell as a location for the county seat.

We, the Town Company of Creswell, furthermore pledge ourselves to erect a first-class stone or frame building not less than thirty feet square and two stories high, suitably arranged for a courtroom and county offices; and to deed the same, with one entire block of not less than fourteen lots, centrally located, to the county, to be its property so long as the county-seat remains at Creswell; the building to be completed within six months after Creswell is chosen permanent county seat.

The question of taxation is one of great importance to the people of a young and undeveloped country. It is only at the cost of heavy taxes that the county will be able to erect a courthouse and other county buildings. This expense the Creswell town company propose to wholly assume.

Reference to present Courthouse in 1876 follows...

The present population of the city of Winfield is about 800 on an area of 200 acres. It has 221 buildings among which the most prominent are the Courthouse, built in 1873 at a cost of $12,000, of brick with a showy belfry and cupola, probably the best courthouse in Kansas, costing no more than it did.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 6, 1876.

The Sunday School will meet at the Courthouse at half past two o’clock P. M. in future. The first bell will be rung at two o’clock. They are getting a new library.

Excerpts from long article...

Insuring Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1876.

Commissioners’ Proceedings.

Winfield, Kansas, January 10, 1876.

New Board of County Commissioners met in regular session. Present: R. F. Burden, W. M. Sleeth, and Wm. White.

On motion of W. M. Sleeth, R. F. Burden was elected chairman of the board for the ensuing year.

In the matter of insuring the courthouse, the board, after first ascertaining the rates of different companies represented by the local agents of the city of Winfield, agree to take a $5,000 policy on said courthouse, $2,500 to be taken in the “Home” of New York and $2,500 to be taken in the “Kansas” of Leavenworth, Kansas. It is hereby ordered that an order be drawn on the County Treasury in favor of T. K. Johnston, agent of the “Kansas,” for $75.00 and an order in favor of A. H. Green, agent for the “Home,” for $75.00 in payment of said policies.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1876.

A fellow giving his name as John Tolls is in jail on the charge of stealing a horse from Sam Endicott.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 20, 1876.

The District Grange of Cowley County met at the Courthouse last Saturday in the afternoon and evening. About fifty new members were added to the Order and received the fifth degree.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 20, 1876.

The great interest in the revival meetings at the Courthouse is unabated. Several of our most influential and active citizens have experienced a change of heart, and the good work is still spreading.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 10, 1876.

THAT RAILROAD MEETING.

The Farmers Speak!

And Demand Legislation.

Last Saturday a large concourse of representative men from all parts of Cowley County assembled in Winfield to give expression to their views upon the railroad situation. The meeting was held in the Courthouse. The room was packed full and many were left outside that could not gain admittance for the jam.

Mayor D. A. Millington was chosen Chairman, and I. H. Bonsall, of Arkansas City, selected as secretary.

A committee on resolutions consisting of A. B. Lemmon, S. M. Fall, of Lazette; R. P. Goodrich, of Maple City; W. R. Watkins, of Liberty; S. S. Moore, of Tisdale; J. B. Holmes, of Rock; H. L. Barker, of Richland; Enos Henthorn, of Omnia; Mr. Harbaugh, of Pleasant Valley; T. M. Morris, of Beaver; L. Bonnewell, of Vernon; Amos Walton, of Bolton; and S. B. Fleming, of Creswell Townships was appointed.

The committee retired to prepare the resolutions, and during their absence speeches were made by several persons, the most notable of which were those of Judge Ross and Judge Christian. The resolutions reported by the committee were adopted.

Some opposition was manifested to the resolution asking that the proposed law should allow a majority to vote aid to railroads, but it was voted down by more than two to one. The opposition came principally from non-taxpayers around town. There were but a few of the town people out. The Winfield citizens preferred that the farmers should conduct the meeting. The Arkansas City band furnished music for the occasion. Intense interest in the proceedings were manifested and the meeting adjourned with three cheers for a railroad.

On motion three delegates to the Peabody convention, on the 27th inst., were appointed, to-wit: Rev. J. E. Platter, Judge T. B. Ross, and C. M. Scott.

A feeble effort to have the meeting declare against a narrow gauge railroad was promptly tabled. A vote of thanks was tendered the Arkansas City band.

We give the preamble and resolutions.

WHEREAS, We, the people and producers of Cowley County, unless we have a railroad in our county, will expend within the coming year, in time, labor, and money, half a million of dollars for transporting grain, lumber, and merchandise to and from the nearest railroad stations, and in losses by being compelled to sell in a distant town on a market temporarily unfavorable, thus leaving the producers utterly without any profits on their labor, which sum, if saved to the county, would yield to the producers an enormous profit; and

WHEREAS, Though our county would probably vote such aid by a two thirds majority, as the law now requires, yet a failure by any other county along the line to give such majority would be fatal to the road; therefore, it is by the people of Cowley County, Kansas, in mass convention assembled,

Resolved, That we earnestly appeal to the Legislature of Kansas, now in session, to enact a law enabling counties and other municipalities to vote aid in bonds or cash sufficient to induce the construction of railroads where they are needed.

Resolved, That we earnestly appeal to the Legislature of Kansas, now in session, to enact a law enabling counties and other municipalities to vote aid in bonds or cash sufficient to induce the construction of railroads where they are needed.

Resolved, That such law should allow such aid to be given by a majority vote.

Resolved, That our railroad law should be amended so as to allow the voting of a reasonable amount of bonds as aid in the construction of a railroad within our county.

Resolved, That such law should provide that all taxes collected from such railroads, within any county or municipality, shall, to the extent of the amount of principal and interest of the aid given, be paid pro rata to the counties and municipalities giving such aid, and applied to the payment of such interest and principal.

Resolved, That our Representative and Senator at Topeka are hereby earnestly requested and instructed to labor to procure the enactment of such a law as is herein contemplated.

Resolved, That the Topeka Commonwealth, all papers in Cowley County, and other state papers interested, be requested to publish the proceedings of this meeting.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 10, 1876.

The Register of Deeds has taken the room in the Courthouse formerly occupied by the county attorney, and Judge Gans has moved into the Register’s old office, thus leaving the District Clerk and Register in adjoining rooms with a new door between them.

Courthouse.

COMMUNICATION FROM “OBSERVER” TO TRAVELER.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 16, 1876. Front Page.

To the property owners and people of Cowley County, and more especially the Board of Commissioners. I wish to call your attention to a fact that many of you are aware of: the condition of your county records. A stranger visiting your courthouse at Winfield would be astonished, as I was, to find neither safe nor vault in the building.

Enter the Recorder’s office: there lies in an old wooden desk, without doors, the only evidence of your title to and ownership of your farms, houses, stores, and other possessions.

Adjoining is the office of your County Treasurer, where all your taxes are paid in, and where the records of them are kept.

In case of a fire occurring about Christmas time, where would you be after your money was paid in and the records destroyed? Passing along, you come to the County Clerk’s office, where all evidences of the indebtedness of your county and its finances are recorded.

Next you come to the Probate Judge’s office, where are recorded the wills of your deceased friends; the appointment and proceedings between guardians and minors, children that are unable to take care of themselves or their property; the records of your marriage, and all your dearest rights.

Cross the hall, and there you find the office of the Clerk of the District Court, where are recorded all the judgments between you and your neighbor, between the State, the public against the violators of law, and disturbers of the peace, and all other judicial proceedings.

All these valuable records in these five offices are liable to be destroyed at any moment by the bursting of a lamp; the falling of a stove; or that convenient and ever occurring event, a defective flue; or by the malice of some evil disposed person, who may wish to gratify some petty revenge, or destroy some record that may be obnoxious to him or his friends, in any of the five offices above mentioned.

Let not another month pass without something being done to protect these records from fire or other means of injury. Don’t whine and talk about the expense, and the increase of your taxes. Just stop and think what is at stake: what the records of these offices are worth to the county. . . .

[Writer recommends a vault over a safe as the vault would be cheaper.]

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1876.

A dance at the Courthouse last Tuesday evening.

Courthouse Yard.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1876.

If the County Commissioners will fence the Courthouse yard, the people of Winfield will plant a grove there. What say you?

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1876.

The Rev. S. D. Storrs, of Quindaro, Kansas, will preach in the Courthouse, on Sunday morning, February 29th, at the usual hour. Mr. Storrs is the agent of the American Home Missionary Society, and visits this place to look after the interests of the Congregational church. He is an able speaker and will preach a sermon worth listening to.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1876.

The Superintendent of the Union Sunday School spent a few hours last Saturday canvassing for funds for a library for the school. He secured over one hundred dollars, which, added to the amount now in their treasury, makes them about one hundred and fifty dollars to be expended in books. This with books donated heretofore will give them a very fine library. The school meets at the Courthouse at half past two o’clock every Sunday afternoon.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 2, 1876.

The ladies and friends of the Baptist church will give a Centennial supper, at the Courthouse, on Thursday evening, March 9th, 1876. Ladies and gentlemen will appear in the costume of one hundred years ago.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 9, 1876.

Winfield Musical Association.

The Third Grand Concert of the Association consisting of vocal and instrumental selections from the best operas, songs, duets, choruses, quartets, etc., will take place at the Courthouse on Friday evening, March 17th, 1876. Tickets 25 cents. Reserved seats 35 cents.

Winfield Courier, March 16, 1876.

The Concert that is to be given next Friday evening at the Courthouse will be the best thing of the season. Tickets for reserved seats at Baldwin’s drug store.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 30, 1876.

The District Grange meets at the Courthouse Saturday.

Damage to Courthouse Flue & Read’s Bank Vault.

Winfield Courier, March 30, 1876.

The heavy wind storm last Monday night blew a flue off the Courthouse, and also blew down the building from over Read’s vault, leaving the deposits interred there at the mercy of burglars and the pelting rain.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 30, 1876.

REV. CANAVAL, the new Methodist minister, preached his initiatory sermon last Sunday evening at the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 6, 1876.

The Rev. Dr. Chas. Reynolds, of the U. S. Army, will deliver a lecture in aid of the building fund of the Presbyterian church in Winfield on Wednesday evening, April 19th, 1876, at the Courthouse. The Doctor, it will be remembered, visited us about a year ago and delivered a very interesting discourse to an appreciative audience.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 12, 1876.

One crazy man is confined in the County jail.

Courthouse Grounds. Fencing Public Square.

Winfield Courier, April 13, 1876.

Last Saturday was “Arbor Day.” But as the weather clerk paid no respect to the Mayor’s proclamation, it was decided by our citizens, rather than have a “damper” put upon their proceedings, to pay no attention to it themselves. We might say it rained last Saturday, but we have no desire to draw upon your credulity. It didn’t rain; it just “poured down!” The day wasn’t largely observed. The clouds and rain were too opaque for an extended observation. Several of our citizens set out trees. Mr. Lemmon planted twenty—in one hole, Mr. Troup likewise buried about the same number, and Mr. Platter “healed in” a nice lot of maples and poplars. The county officers held a meeting and decided not to adorn the Courthouse grounds until they had some assurance from the county fathers that the public square would be fenced and the trees protected.

Excerpts from meeting...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 13, 1876.

City Council met in adjourned session, March 21st, A. D. 1876.

Present: D. A. Millington, Mayor; N. M. Powers, C. C. Black, and M. G. Troup, Councilmen; B. F. Baldwin, City Clerk.

The following bills were presented, read, and allowed, and on motion of M. G. Troup, the Clerk was ordered to draw a warrant on the Treasurer for the same.

M. Miller, padlock and nails for city, 85 cents; Simpson & Stewart, repairs on jail, $3.00.

On motion of N. M. Powers, the City Clerk was instructed to make out and present to the County Commissioners a bill of $8.00, amount paid to Simpson & Stewart for repairs on the jail.

Excerpts from meeting...

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876. Front Page.

Full Report of All the Business Transacted by the Board of County Commissioners Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, April 10, 11, and 12.

COUNTY CLERK’S OFFICE,

WINFIELD, KANSAS, April 10, 1876.

Board met in regular session. Present, R. F. Burden, W. M. Sleeth, Commissioners; A. J. Pyburn, County Attorney, and M. G. Troup, County Clerk. Journal of last regular session read and adopted.

Bills were presented and disposed of as follows.

Kirk & Gordon, jail repairs: $1.50

Margaret Winner, prisoner bill: $21.70

Harter Bros., prisoner bill: $5.60

Kirk & Gordon, jail repairs: $4.00

Kingsbury & Somes; jail repairs: $4.00

W. G. Graham, prisoner bill: $3.75

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 19, 1876.

LECTURE. Mr. Charles Reynolds will lecture at the courthouse in Winfield this evening, for the benefit of the “Building Fund” of the Presbyterian church of that place. Subject: “The March and Convoys of Civilization.” Admission, 50 cents.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 10, 1876.

The water at Winfield took the board walk between the courthouse and town.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 11, 1876.

Republican Work.

The following townships have reported the proceedings of last Thursday’s conventions.

Winfield Township caucus met at the Courthouse at 2 o’clock p.m.; M. G. Troup was selected as chairman and E. C. Manning, secretary. Thirteen delegates to the 88th District Convention were elected as follows: D. A. Millington, J. C. Monforte, M. G. Troup, A. H. Green, T. J. Jones, T. B. Myers, Geo. Robertson, Sam. Burger, C. A. Bliss, E. P. Kinne, J. L. King, J. P. McMillen, and E. C. Manning.

Silver Creek Township caucus elected Wm. May and A. P. Brooks as delegates, and selected a township central committee consisting of Sam Jarvis, chairman, T. P. Carter, and A. P. Brooks.

Harvey Township: R. C. Story, delegate. Township committee chosen: R. C. Story, chairman, W. F. Hall, secretary, and R. Strother.

Pleasant Valley Township: Committee chosen: C. J. Brane, chairman, Samuel Watt, secretary, and S. H. Sparks.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 18, 1876.

Republican District Conventions.

Pursuant to call the Republican delegates from the townships of the 88th Representative District met in convention at the Courthouse in Winfield last Saturday.

On motion, W. B. Norman, of Maple, was chosen chairman, and Wm. White, secretary of the meeting.

After the usual formalities were disposed of, the delegates present proceeded to vote for two delegates and two alternates to represent this district in the State Convention, May 24, 1876. The choice fell upon D. A. Millington and E. P. Kinne, with respective alternates, as follows: Charles Eagen, of Rock, and J. M. Alexander, of Winfield.

All motions to adopt resolutions declaring for Presidential candidates were tabled, though the meeting was strongly Blaine in sentiment.

On motion the following District Republican central committee was chosen: L. J. Webb, B. Shriver, and W. B. Norman.

On motion the convention adjourned sine die.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 25, 1876.

A Strawberry and ice cream festival will be given at the Courthouse on next Tuesday evening, May 30th, by the Ladies’ Aid Society of the Presbyterian church. All are invited to attend.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 25, 1876.

The citizens of Winfield will meet at the Courthouse at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, to discuss the question of celebrating the Fourth at Winfield. Let there be a good turn out. This notice is issued at the request of several citizens.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.

Last Saturday, pursuant to call, the citizens of Winfield met at the Courthouse and organized a meeting by calling D. A. Millington to the chair and electing C. M. McIntire secretary.

After deliberation as to what steps should be taken to appropriately celebrate the 4th of July of the Centennial year, the following committee was appointed to draft a plan of procedure and report to a meeting of citizens last night: James Kelly, J. P. Short, C. M. McIntire, W. B. Gibbs, and W. C. Robinson.

At the appointed hour, Wednesday evening, the meeting assembled at the Courthouse and organized by selecting C. A. Bliss, chairman, and J. E. Allen as secretary. The committee made a report which, after some amendments made by the meeting, was finally adopted.

Gen’l Supt.: Prof. A. B. Lemmon.

County Historian: W. W. Walton.

Committee of Arrangements: C. M. Wood, M. L. Bangs, W. B. Vandeventer, John Lowry, J. D. Cochran.

Committee on Programme: H. D. Gans, E. P. Kinne, James Kelly, B. F. Baldwin, W. M. Allison.

Committee on Speakers: E. C. Manning, L. J. Webb, Chas. McIntire.

Committee on Finance: W. C. Robinson, W. P. Hackney, O. F. Boyle, M. G. Troup, J. C. Fuller.

Committee on Music: J. D. Pryor, Mrs. W. D. Roberts, Miss Mollie Bryant.

Committee on Toasts: A. J. Pyburn, J. E. Allen, J. P. Short, Dr. J. Hedrick.

Committee on Stand: W. E. Tansey, T. B. Myers, W. B. Gibbs.

Committee on Decoration: Frank Gallotti, John Swain, I. Randall, Mary Stewart, Jennie Greenlee, Ada Millington, Mrs. Rigby, Mrs. Mansfield.

Committee on Invitation: D. A. Millington, L. C. Harter, J. B. Lynn, C. A. Bliss, J. P. McMillen, H. S. Silver, A. H. Green, S. S. Majors, C. M. Scott, T. B. McIntire, R. C. Haywood, J. L. Abbott, John Blevins, T. R. Bryan, H. C. McDorman, Mc. D. Stapleton, S. M. Fall, J. Stalter, Wm. White, S. S. Moore, Jno. McGuire, H. P. Heath, J. O. Van Orsdol, G. B. Green, W. B. Skinner, J. W. Millspaugh.

Committee on Fireworks: G. S. Manser, T. K. Johnson, C. C. Haskins.

Meeting adjourned to meet at the call of the General Superintendent.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.

The strawberry festival on Tuesday evening at the Courthouse was well attended and the receipts amounted to $56.55.

Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.

W. E. DOUD, an old typo of this office, now editor and proprietor of the Censorial, published at Eureka, Kansas, has been visiting old friends in this vicinity for the past several days. He attended the strawberry festival at the courthouse Tuesday night, and is now ready to weather out another summer on the flint hills of Greenwood. Of course, he waxed that moustache in the pastepot of the COURIER office immediately after arriving.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 8, 1876.

E. B. Kager, who used to be county treasurer, called at the courthouse Monday and looked over the railing at his deputy, Mr. Huey Erastus, now engaged in the practice of his profession at Arkansas City.

City Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 22, 1876.

Ordinance No. 40.

An Ordinance to protect property in the city of Winfield.

Be it ordained by the Mayor and Councilmen of the city of Winfield.

SEC. 1. That it shall be unlawful to sell or give away any fire crackers within the corporate limits of the city of Winfield. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than five dollars for each and every offense.

SEC. 2. That it shall be unlawful to fire off fire crackers within the corporate limits of the city of Winfield. Any person or persons violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be fined five dollars, or imprisoned in the city jail not less than twenty-four hours nor more than seven days for each and every offense, in the discretion of the court.

SEC. 3. This Ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication.

Approved July 21st, 1874. S. C. SMITH, Mayor. J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

Ordinance No. 40 was passed July 20th, 1874 (See Journal A, page 55), and published July 24th, 1874, in the Winfield COURIER. J. W. CURNS, City Clerk.

I. B. F. Baldwin, Clerk of the city of Winfield, do certify that the above is a true and correct copy of Ordinance No. 40 as appears on page 48, book A, record of Ordinances of the city of Winfield. B. F. BALDWIN, City Clerk.

Winfield, June 20, 1876.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 22, 1876.

One of the leading spirits who opposed making an appropriation of city funds for railroad purposes recently made a speech at the courthouse, favoring using fifty dollars of city money for fire works on the 4th of July. He probably had fire works for sale. By inquiry you will find out that this consistent (?) man is T. K. JOHNSTON.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 29, 1876.

Rev. Croco, acting pastor in the absence of Presbyterian Platter, preached an interesting sermon at the Courthouse last Sabbath.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 6, 1876.

The “Winfield Scalpers,” or Hays and Wheeler Club, meet at the Courthouse tomorrow evening at 7½ o’clock to perfect their organization. Every member should be present.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 6, 1876.

COWLEY COUNTY’S CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.

A Proud Day for Winfield.

The regular proceedings of the day being over, the people resolved themselves into a committee of the whole, for pleasure, handshaking, and a general good time, and came back to town to watch the base ball game and other amusements.

In a few moments a band of outrageously dressed beings issued from the Courthouse, jumped upon wagons, horses, and oxen, and started up Ninth Avenue to the tune of “Yankee Doodle” and “Auld Lang Syne.” As they rushed up the avenue, followed by wonderful crowds of people, horses frightened, men whooped, and women cried:

THE “CALITHUMPIANS”

have come. The “band” consisted of a fife and drum, a yoke of oxen, three “niggers,” and a big horn. The driver beat the drum, the drummer the oxen, and they all yelled vociferously. A little negro boy, the whites of whose eyes could be seen a half-block, sitting on a dry goods box on the top of another wagon drawn by oxen, had on his back a placard written in large letters, “The God of Liberty.” The ragged end of this motley crew was composed of masqued horsemen, Indians, Revolutionary soldiers, wild border rangers, and hoodlums; all went whooping along together. The procession was headed by a masqued leader dressed in a bed-ticking suit, with an immense paste-board hat. He blew a long dinner horn and kept his hoodlums in good shape. They marched and counter-marched up and down the streets for an hour, much to the amusement of the thousands of spectators, and then disappeared. The Calithumpians were a complete success.

This ended the day’s enjoyment, after which came the FIRE WORKS.

The “fire works” were not a complete success. The committee on fire works were appointed to make a grand fizzle, not a success. They accordingly made a fizzle. It was not in accordance with the “programme,” nor with the wishes of the hundreds of people who lay around the courthouse and nervously watched the platform where the roaring rocket was expected to scoot till a late hour that night. We don’t see why the fire works didn’t come. We know they didn’t come, however, and the committee alone must bear the blame.

Excerpt from meeting...

City Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 6, 1876.

City Council Proceedings.

On motion A. B. Lemmon and C. A. Bliss were appointed as a committee to confer with the board of County Commissioners in regard to disposing of the city jail to the county.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 13, 1876. Editorial Page.

HAYES AND WHEELER CLUB.

The necessary steps are being taken to organize a Hayes and Wheeler Club in this city. At a public meeting held at the Courthouse, on the evening of the 16th inst., Capt. W. E. Tansey was chosen chairman and Wirt W. Walton secretary. The object of the meeting being stated, Capt. E. R. Evans presented a roll containing the names of over sixty persons who had agreed to join such an organization and provide themselves with a suitable uniform for campaign and gala day purposes. Speeches were made by several prominent Republicans. After which a committee was appointed to draft a constitution and report at a subsequent meeting. Considerable enthusiasm is manifested by the getters up of the club. It is thought the name of the club will be “The Winfield Scalpers.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 13, 1876.

The ice cream festival given by the goodly Methodists of the city, at the Courthouse Tuesday evening, was largely attended. Socially, it was a success; whether financially, we have not been informed.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 10, 1876. Editorial Page.

THE CENTENNIAL REFORMERS OF WINFIELD.

Driven into their Holes and Smoked out.

A Chapter of History Worth Preserving.

Recap: Involved Winfield Township: Republican local hierarchy versus local Democrats and Independents (self-styled Reformers).

At meeting in Courthouse 45 “Reformers” tried to control the organization of meeting called to obtain candidate for State Senator nomination from 88th representative district.

“Suddenly A. H. Green, a ‘leading Reformer,’ took the floor and called the meeting to order and nominated as chairman one of his followers. . . . James Kelly, chairman of the Republican Township Committee, called the meeting to order and L. J. Webb nominated Capt. J. S. Hunt as chairman. A rising vote was called for, resulting in 39 for, 12 against Hunt, a few not voting. J. P. Short was chosen secretary. . . . The balloting commenced and a large number of names had been registered, all of which voted for what were known as the Manning delegates, whereupon ‘the Reformers’ discovered that they were in the wrong convention. . . . Subsequently, and after nearly 100 ballots had been cast, and many voters had retired from the hall, W. P. Hackney and two or three others returned to the meeting and complained that the call for the meeting was irregular and he thereupon gave notice that on next Tuesday Aug. 8th at 4 o’clock p.m., the Republicans would hold another meeting. He and Tansy denounced the resolutions [made voters pledge themselves to support Hayes & Wheeler] as a gag and the meeting untimely, etc. Aligned against them: Prof. A. B. Lemmon, E. S. Torrance, L. J. Webb, Samuel Burger, and S. W. Greer.

The Cowley County Telegram dated August 4, issued on Monday morning, August 8, had the following article.

MORE CONTEMPTIBLE TRICKERY.

Within the past few days Cowley County has been the scene of more of that contemptible trickery and political intrigue and corrupt practices which has made the leaders of the Republican party, in the county, so odious in the sight of an honest people. And especially was Winfield the ground on which one of the dirtiest of these jobs was put up. Knowing that if the masses of the party were present at the primary convention, called for the purpose of electing 10 delegates to the county and district conventions, to be held on the 12th of the present month, the delegates selected by them, and who would, without question, vote for their men, no matter how odious they were, or what their records were, would stand no show for election. So they hit upon a plan whereby their friends would be sure to be present while the opposition would be busily at work on their farms and in their shops.

The day set by the county central committee was the 8th—the call so read—the Republican organ so stated in an editorial, and urged that upon that day every voter should turn out. Right in the face of this they quietly send out their strikers to tell the “faithful” that they must come in four days earlier, as the convention would be held then and their presence was needed. On the morning of the earlier day determined upon, a few posters were posted up in out-of-the-way places calling a primary for that afternoon. So far their little plan worked well, but when the Republicans who were opposed to this way of transacting business saw this, they went to work and gathered together a force sufficient to scoop them, which they would undoubtedly have done, had not one of the ring-leaders of the corrupt gang rushed through a resolution requiring that each man who voted should subscribe a pledge to support the nominees on the National, State, and county ticket. The “gag” a hundred or more Republicans refused to swallow, and they had it all their own way, electing their ticket by a majority equal to the number of their friends present. The whole proceedings were corrupt, illegal, and scandalous, and engineered by a set of political tricksters of whom the people of the whole county entertain feelings of the greatest disgust. It is only a continuation of the corrupt practices they have been foisting upon the people as Republicanism for years past—and such a job as will cause the honest voters of the county to repudiate their entire outfit at the polls next November.

The men who managed the affair are respectively candidates for State Senator, County Superintendent, Probate Judge, Representative, District Judge, and County Attorney. Let the voters spot them. . . .

On Tuesday, August 8, before 4 o’clock, Cliff Wood, A. H. Green, T. K. Johnston, John D. Pryor, N. M. Powers, Joe Mack, and 5 or 6 others who do not desire to have their names published, because they do not approve of the action taken, slipped over to the courthouse one at a time by different routes and pretended to hold a meeting. . . . A few minutes before 4 p.m., Mr. Manning went to the courthouse to have the bell rung and upon entering the courthouse found that C. M. Wood was occupying a chair at the table as chairman and John D. Pryor occupying another chair in the capacity of secretary. Mr. Manning took the floor and inquired if the meeting was organized, and to what style of proceedings it had arrived whereupon a “reformer” at once moved an adjournment, which was at once put and carried, and ten of the purifiers of Cowley County politics fled the room in such haste as to leave three or four others who had not fully comprehended the trick, sitting in wonder at the unseemly haste of those present, and expecting to have a chance to vote for delegates.

As soon as Mr. Manning entered the room a bystander rang the bell, whereupon nearly one hundred voters poured over to the courthouse. A meeting was organized by electing S. D. Klingman as chairman and B. F. Baldwin secretary. The action of the “reformers” was related to the meeting. A committee on resolutions was appointed, which soon reported the following, which was adopted by sections, with but one dissenting voice to the first resolution.

They passed more resolutions, which endorsed the previous action taken.

Manning and his group won again!

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 10, 1876.

Last Saturday the Republicans of Winfield Township met in caucus at the courthouse, at 4 o’clock p.m., and elected the following delegates to the county convention, to be held next Saturday in Winfield.

R. L. Walker, A. B. Lemmon, Nels. Newell, T. B. Myers, C. C. Pierce, M. G. Troup, E. P. Kinne, James Kelly, E. S. Torrance, and John Mentch were elected delegates, and W. M. Boyer, T. L. King, John Weakly, S. M. Klingman, S. Johnson, H. L. Barker, G. W. Robertson, J. E. Saint, John C. Roberts, and A. Howland, alternates.

The vote stood 91 for the ticket elected and 9 for the ticket that was defeated. It is an able delegation and was very enthusiastically supported.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 17, 1876. Editorial Page.

The Republican county convention convened at the Courthouse, in Winfield, on Saturday, August 12th, at 1 o’clock p.m., and was called to order by A. B. Lemmon, chairman of the Republican county central committee. R. C. Story was elected temporary chairman and James Kelly secretary. A committee on credentials was appointed, consisting of Messrs. E. S. Torrance, J. W. Tull, A. B. Odell, T. R. Bryan, and S. M. Jarvis. The committee reported the following persons as having been duly elected as delegates and alternates to the convention.

Silver Creek Township: Delegates, S. M. Jarvis and Z. W. Hoge. Alternates, H. Smith and A. P. Brooks.

Spring Creek: Delegates, F. M. Nance and R. P. Goodrich.

Pleasant Valley: Delegates, S. H. Sparks and C. J. Brane.

Nennescah: Delegates, A. B. Odell and Wm. Bartlow.

Beaver: Delegates, T. W. Morris and L. Bonnewell.

Dexter: Delegates, J. D. Maurer, T. R. Bryan, Jno. Wallace, and G. P. Wagner. Alternates, W. W. Underwood, J. H. Service, F. A. Creager, and O. P. Darst.

Maple: Delegates, H. H. Siverd and W. B. Norman.

Otter: Delegates, J. J. Smith and B. Hockett.

Harvey: Delegate, R. C. Story.

Tisdale: Delegates, S. S. Moore and A. B. Scott.

Vernon: Delegates, J. S. Wooly, J. Millspaugh, and F. W. Schwantes.

Sheridan: Delegates, Barney Shriver and E. Shriver. Alternates, J. W. Hamilton and R. R. Longshore.

Rock: Delegates, Frank Akers, A. V. Polk, Hiram Fisk, and C. H. Eagin. Alternates, J. C. McGowan, E. G. Willitt, L. J. Foster, and R. P. Akers.

Richland: Delegates, Alex Kelly, M. C. Headrick, Danl. Maher, and J. H. Phelps. Alternates, J. O. Vanorsdal, F. W. Bowen, N. G. Larkin, and S. D. Groom.

Bolton: Delegates, W. E. Chenoweth, Frank Lorry, and Will Thompson. Alternates, H. B. Pruden and Strong Pepper.

Windsor: Delegates, C. W. Jones, D. Elliott, and J. W. Tull.

Creswell: Delegates, I. H. Bonsall, Nathan Hughes, Geo. McIntire, O. P. Houghton, H. D. Kellogg, and Wm. M. Sleeth. Alternates, A. A. Newman, R. A. Houghton, T. C. Bird, W. H. Speers, Elisha Parker, and W. S. Hunt.

Winfield: Delegates, R. L. Walker, A. B. Lemmon, Nels. Newell, T. B. Myers, C. C. Pierce, M. G. Troup, E. P. Kinne, Jno. Mentch, James Kelly, and E. S. Torrance. Alternates, W. M. Boyer, T. L. King, Jno. Weakly, S. D. Klingman, S. Johnson, H. L. Barker, G. W. Robertson, J. E. Saint, John C. Roberts, and A. Howland. E. S. TORRANCE, Chairman.

A. B. ODELL, Secretary.

On motion the report of the committee was adopted.

Subsequently the following delegates presented credentials and, on motion, were admitted to seats in the convention: E. C. Clay from Liberty, L. Lippmann and Ben. French from Silverdale, and D. W. Willy from Cedar Township.

On motion B. H. Clover was allowed a seat in place of delegate Jones, who was absent.

On motion the officers of the temporary organization were made permanent officers of the convention.

On motion the convention proceeded to nominate, by ballot, a candidate for State Senator. The result of the ballot was as follows: E. C. Manning receiving 42 votes; C. R. Mitchell 5 votes; I. Moore 1 vote. E. C. Manning having received a majority of all the votes cast was declared duly nominated.

On motion the following named persons were selected, by acclamation, as delegates to the 3rd District Congressional convention: L. J. Webb, R. L. Walker, J. B. Evans, M. G. Troup, and E. C. Manning; and the following named as alternates: L. Lippmann, J. W. Millspaugh, S. S. Moore, T. W. Moore, and A. B. Lemmon.

On motion the following named persons were elected as delegates to the 13th Judicial convention: W. B. Norman, T. R. Bryan, E. Shriver, S. M. Jarvis, Dan Maher, E. S. Torrance, and D. Elliott. Alternates: S. H. Aley, C. R. Mitchell, T. A. Wilkinson, S. S. Moore, L. Lippmann, A. V. Polk, and A. B. Lemmon.

On a rising vote the following resolution was unanimously adopted by the convention:

WHEREAS, For the first time in the history of Cowley County, the Republicans thereof are called upon to nominate a candidate for the office of State Senator to fill said office for the next four years from said county in the Senate of Kansas, and

WHEREAS, during the term of four years next ensuing, for which the said Senator from Cowley will be elected, there will occur the election of two United States Senators by the legislature of the State of Kansas, and

WHEREAS, the honor of our State, and particularly of the Republican party thereof, has heretofore been sadly tarnished by the open, notorious, and unscrupulous use and receipt of money in aid of the election of United States Senators by the legislature of the State of Kansas; therefore be it

Resolved, by the Republican party of Cowley County that every consideration of public policy and political integrity imperatively demands that our representatives in each house of the State legislature, at the time of such approaching United States Senatorial elections, should be men against whom character for personal probity and political integrity not even the breath of suspicion has ever blown. And, be it further

Resolved, that as the Republican party of Cowley County numbers, within its membership, hundreds of men whose characters are as spotless, both personally and politically, as the new fallen snow, and whose abilities are fully adequate to the honorable and efficient discharge of the duties of State Senator, we will therefore, in the coming contest for that important and honorable position, support no candidate therefor whose past and present political as well as personal history will not bear the closest scrutiny and most unsparing criticism when viewed in the light of the foregoing resolution.

On motion the convention adjourned sine die. R. C. STORY, Chairman.

JAS. KELLY, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 17, 1876.

The Presbyterian choir, assisted by other singers and instrumental music, will give a concert at the courthouse next Tuesday evening, Aug. 22nd, for the benefit of Rev. Croco, the pastor in charge. We have been permitted to be present at a rehearsal, and assure our readers that the prospect is that the entertainment will be good. Give them a full house.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 17, 1876.

Eighty-Eighth District Convention.

Pursuant to call the delegates of the 88th Representative District met in Republican convention at the courthouse, in Winfield, at 10 o’clock a.m., Saturday, August 12, 1876.

R. C. Story, of Harvey Township, was elected temporary chairman, and C. H. Eagin, of Rock Township, temporary secretary.

On motion a committee on credentials was appointed, consisting of one delegate from each township present, to be named by the delegates themselves. The following named gentlemen composed the committee: E. S. Torrance, of Winfield; Alex. Kelly, Richland; J. W. Tull, Windsor; J. S. Woolly, Vernon; A. B. Odell, Ninnescah; and A. V. Polk, of Rock. Pending the report of the committee, Capt. James McDermott being called, came forward and made a brief speech, which was enthusiastically received, after which, a few remarks, in response to a call, were made by the temporary chairman.

The committee on credentials then submitted the following report.

“Your committee on credentials beg leave to report the following named persons entitled to seats as delegates in the convention.

Vernon Township: J. S. Wooly, F. W. Schwantes, and J. W. Millspaugh.

Winfield: R. S. Walker, A. B. Lemmon, Nels. Newell, T. B. Myers, C. C. Pierce, M. G. Troup, Jas. Kelly, E. P. Kinne, John Mentch, and E. S. Torrance.

Harvey: R. C. Story.

Rock: A. V. Polk, Frank Akers, J. C. McGowan, and Charles Eagin.

Windsor: C. W. Jones, D. Elliott, and J. W. Tull.

Richland: Alex. Kelly, M. C. Headrick, Daniel Maher, and J. H. Phelps.

Tisdale: S. S. Moore and A. B. Scott.

Nennescah: A. B. Odell and Wm. Bartlow.

Sheridan: E. Shriver and Barney Shriver.

Maple: W. B. Norman and H. H. Siverd.

Silver Creek: S. M. Jarvis and Z. W. Hoge.

On motion the report of the committee was adopted.

On motion the officers of the temporary organization were made the officers of the permanent organization.

The object of the convention being to elect two delegates and two alternates to attend the Republican State convention on the 16th inst., at Topeka, a ballot was had resulting in the election of James Kelly and Wirt W. Walton as such delegates, and A. B. Odell and J. P. Short as such alternates.

There being no further business before the convention, on motion adjourned sine die.

R. C. STORY, Chairman. CHAS H. EAGIN, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 17, 1876.

Wanted. A good milch cow. Apply to H. D. Gans at the courthouse, Winfield.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 24, 1876.

At the Republican Delegate Convention of the 13th Judicial District, which met at Winfield Courthouse August 21, 1876, called to order by A. B. Lemmon, chairman of the Judicial Committee, it was determined that the following were entitled to seats in the convention from Cowley County: W. B. Norman, E. S. Torrance, S. S. Moore, Dan’l. Maher, D. Elliott, E. Shriver, and S. M. Jarvis. Hon. W. P. Campbell was declared unanimous choice of the convention for Judge of the 13th Judicial District. E. S. Torrance of Cowley County became a member of the Central Judicial Committee for district.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 6, 1876.

Recap: The Cayuga Chief Manufacturing Company, Plaintiff, versus Thomas M. Carder, Defendant. Sheriff R. L. Walker. James Christian, Attorney for Plaintiff.

Sheriff to sell at the south front door of the courthouse in Winfield, for cash, the following premises, to-wit: Beginning 24 rods south of the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of section 22 in township 33, south of range 6 east, running thence north, parallel with the first line, 40 rods, thence east to place of beginning, containing 5 acres, with the appurtenances thereunto belonging, valued at $75.00; and the Dexter Mill Property, consisting of five acres of land, with all appurtenances thereunto belonging, situated on the northwest corner of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of section 13, township 33, south of range 6 east, situated in Cowley County, appraised at $3,000.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 7, 1876.

A Call. The Republicans of Winfield Township will take notice that a meeting of the Republican voters of said township will be held at the Courthouse on Saturday, the 9th day of September, at 3 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of selecting delegates to attend the county convention, called for Saturday, the 16th of September, 1876. Also, to elect ten delegates to the 88th Representative District convention, to be held September 16th, at 10 o’clock a.m.

JAMES KELLY, Chairman of Committee.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 14, 1876.

The many friends of Rev. J. E. Platter will be pleased to learn that he will be with them again next Sabbath. He will preach in the courthouse at the regular hours.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 14, 1876.

H. T. FORD, who has been in the mercantile business here for two years, was arrested last Saturday and lodged in jail on the charge of disposing of his property with intent to defraud his creditors. A. G. Wilson, an endorser of one of his notes, made the affidavit and Ford was committed. Monday morning Webb & Torrance applied to Judge Gans for a writ of habeas corpus, which was not granted. Mr. Torrance is now in Chautauqua County before his honor, Judge Campbell, on the same business. Hackney & McDonald are attorneys for the creditors.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876. Editorial by Wirt W. Walton, Editor.

The scenes at the Courthouse last Saturday will never be forgotten by the participators and the witnesses. That convention will go into history as the most remarkable that ever assembled in Southwestern Kansas. Strong men alternately wept and cheered. Men who went there for a moment, simply to “see,” remained till night, as though held by a magic spell. Enemies, opponents, and friends alike sat for two long hours and listened to the electrifying speech of the man whose name heads this article, and at its conclusion arose and gave three long, loud, hearty cheers for E. C. Manning.

Ever since the nomination of Col. Manning for the State Senate his enemies have been at work, secretly in some localities and openly in others, trying to create a sentiment against him which would ultimately result in his withdrawal from the race. As we said in last week’s issue, they were afraid to allow him to appear before the people and vindicate himself. They wanted to repudiate his nomination, and yet not give him an opportunity to be heard. They secretly set to work. They organized an anti-Manning ring, with Winfield as the center, and the outer limits of the county its circumference. They selected a leader and invited everyone, regardless of party, to join them. They sent ambassadors into every township to help carry the primaries and influence them to send up anti-Manning delegates to the County Convention. Teams could be seen leaving and returning to the office of the chief at all hours of the night. The primaries were held, and it was ascertained that two or three townships had elected anti-Manning delegates, besides the two townships that had bolted the convention that had nominated him. The “antis” were jubilant and more courageous. They held midnight caucuses and daily conferences.

The leaders residing in Arkansas City met the Winfield delegation and agreed upon a plan of action. They telegraphed it to the lesser lights; “Annihilation of Manning and all his friends” was their watchword. The cry was taken up and resounded from the Flint Hills to the muddy Arkansas.

Staunch friends hitherto, quaked with fear. Brave outspoken leaders wanted to compromise, but the “antis” were merciless and would offer no quarter. The Traveler held up its clean hands in holy horror and repeated the old worn out charges of bribery and corruption against Col. Manning. Its editor thought he saw a tidal wave, and he jumped for it. He struck on a rock below the water line, as the sequel will show.

Saturday, long before the hour of convening, the courtroom, halls, and jury rooms were crowded with leading men from all parts of the county. There were at least five hundred people in and about the Courthouse when the convention was called to order. By intuition it would seem the “antis” arranged themselves in one part of the hall, leaving the remainder for the other delegates. Temporary officers were chosen and proper committees appointed. The committees retired from the room. Everything was quiet. A kind of deathless stillness—a stillness portentous of a coming storm seemed to pervade the atmosphere during their withdrawal from the hall. The chief of the “antis” had counted hands and was satisfied with the result. He calmly took a seat and cast his eyes admiringly upon his forces who were systematically arranged in the rear—those with the strongest lungs and largest feet in front—ready to cheer at the word. The committee on credentials reported, and after a little skirmishing, the report was adopted. The temporary organization was made the permanent, and then the chairman of the committee on order of business reported that a nomination for County Attorney should be first made, followed by the other officers, to be named. The “antis” on the committee presented a minority report in the shape of a resolution, asking Col. Manning to withdraw from the Senatorial nomination. This was their “order of business,” in fact, the only purpose for which they were there.

At this juncture Mr. Manning arose and requested that the convention proceed with the regular business before it, make its nominations, elect a county central committee, and then “go through him” at its leisure. The majority report was adopted and the convention named the candidates of its choice. The “antis,” still belligerent, were the first to open fire.

The charges, as published in the Traveler, of the 13th, were read and commented upon. These, it was thought, would be enough to frighten the little band of patriots in the west to an unconditional surrender.

In answer to the cry, “Where’s the man that made these charges?” their author drew himself up, folded his arms, and with an annihilating look and tragical mien, intended to strike dire consternation in the ranks of the “minority,” slowly said, “I AM THE MAN!” This was followed by an exultant yell from his backers. Twenty men from the other side arose simultaneously, and for a few moments the air was filled with cries, anathemas, and moving hands that boded no good to this self-styled leader.

The scene beggars all description. The “antis” saw what was coming; they saw that they had awakened a sleeping lion without his keeper. The “antis” moved to adjourn, but the cries of “No! No!” “Let’s hear Manning!” rang out from all sides. The effort to adjourn brought Manning to the rostrum. He dared them to adjourn, after making those charges, and not allow him an opportunity to speak in reply. The motion to adjourn was voted down. So they were forced to remain and meet the issue they had courted. Order was restored, and Col. Manning began at “No. 1,” and boldly and fearlessly answered every charge that maligning enemies had bandied over this county for the past five years. He took them up one by one and went through them as only a man could do, who knows in his heart that he is innocent.

In answer to the “ninth charge,” of having demanded money from a certain candidate for his vote in the U. S. Senatorial contest of 1871, he opened and read a letter from the Hon. gentleman himself, pronouncing the charge as false from beginning to end. This was received with the wildest applause—cheer after cheer went up from that vast assembly, shaking the old Courthouse from cupola to foundation. It was the most complete and thorough vindication a man ever had. Everybody was wild with excitement.

“Three cheers for Manning,” were proposed, and amidst the wildest hurrah, joined in by both friends and opponents, the convention adjourned sine die.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876. Editorial Page.

Pursuant to call of the County Central Committee, the delegates to the county convention met in the courthouse, in Winfield, on Saturday, Sept. 16th, at 11 o’clock a.m., and organized by electing Capt. J. S. Hunt temporary chairman and C. H. Eagin temporary secretary.

On motion the convention adjourned to meet at 2 o’clock p.m.

2 p.m.; convention called to order; Capt. Hunt in the chair.

The committee on credentials being called submitted the following report: Your committee on credentials find that the following named gentlemen were duly elected as delegates to this convention, and all are entitled to seats therein.

Beaver Township: L. K. Bonnewell, C. W. Roseberry.

Bolton: Frank Lowry, W. Thompson, W. E. Chenoweth.

Creswell: N. Hughes, I. H. Bonsall, Geo. McIntire, O. P. Houghton, H. Kellogg, and W. M. Sleeth.

Cedar: W. A. Metcalf.

Dexter: James England, T. R. Bryan, W. Creager, Willis Elliot.

Harvey: R. C. Story.

Liberty: F. McGinnis, Justus Fisher.

Maple: Wm. B. Norman, H. H. Siverd.

Nennescah: Wm. Bartlow, A. H. Beck.

Omnia: E. H. Henthorn.

Otter: H. C. Fisher, Geo. Childers.

Pleasant Valley: Sam Watt, Albert Dean.

Rock Creek: Reuben Booth, Chas. H. Eagin, J. M. Barrack, Wm. White.

Richland: Sam Phenix, J. O. Vanorsdol, Amos Jarvis, W. F. Bowen.

Silver Creek: John Clover, Wm. May.

Silverdale: L. Lippman, Wm. Butterfield.

Spring Creek: A. Wiley, S. B. Callison.

Sheridan: S. W. Graham, F. M. Small.

Tisdale: J. F. Thomas, S. S. Moore.

Vernon: J. S. Wooley, D. M. Hopkins, J. B. Evans.

Windsor: S. M. Fall, C. J. Phenis, J. N. McCracken.

Winfield: J. D. Pryor, W. P. Hackney, C. M. Wood, G. W. Robertson, Joel Mack, E. C. Seward, Geo. Youle, H. Brotherton, W. D. Roberts, J. S. Hunt.

On motion the report of the committee on credentials was adopted.

On motion A. H. Green was allowed to vote as proxy for E. C. Seward, principal, Frank Hutton, alternate.

The committee on permanent organization reported J. S. Hunt as chairman and Chas. H. Eagin as secretary, and John D. Pryor as assistant secretary.

The committee on the order of business submitted two reports.

The majority read as follows:

A majority of your committee recommend the following order of business, viz: 1st, nomination of county attorney; 2nd, nomination of probate judge; 3rd, clerk of district court; 4th, county superintendent of public instruction; 5th, secretary of county central committee.

Signed, WM. B. NORMAN, S. S. MOORE, R. C. STORY.

The minority report read as follows:

A minority of your committee recommend, 1st, that in view of the serious charges made against the political character of Col. E. C. Manning, the nominee of the Republican party of Cowley County for State Senator, that he be removed and that the central committee of the Republican party of said county immediately call a new convention to nominate a candidate in his place, and recommend the passage of the accompanying resolution.

Resolved, That E. C. Manning, the Republican nominee for the office of State Senator be, and he is hereby requested to said nomination, and that the County Republican committee immediately call a new convention to nominate some other man in his stead.

2nd. That a county central committee, consisting of one member from each township, be selected by the delegates from the respecting townships, and their names reported to the secretary.

3rd. That in election of candidates, the clerk call the roll of townships, and as each township is called, the chairman of the delegation rise in his place and renounce the vote of the township.

4th. That we nominate a candidate for county attorney.

5th. That we nominate a candidate for clerk of district court.

6th. That we nominate a candidate for superintendent of public instruction.

7th. That we nominate a candidate for probate judge.

That we nominate in the order named.

Signed, W. P. HACKNEY, NATHAN HUGHES.

The majority report was, on motion, amended so as to include the second clause of the minority report, which gave each township one member of the county central committee, and the report was adopted.

The nomination of county attorney being next in order, the names of John E. Allen and James McDermott were offered as candidates. The ballot resulted in favor of McDermott by a vote of 32 to 30. On motion the nomination was made unanimous.

Next in order was probate judge, which resulted in favor of H. D. Gans over S. M. Jarvis. Vote stood 36 to 26.

Clerk of district court, E. S. Bedilion, was nominated unanimously by acclamation.

For county superintendent, the candidates were W. C. Robinson, of Winfield, and R. C. Story, of Harvey Township; result in favor of Story, 35 to 26.

The following named gentlemen were selected members of county central committee.

Beaver: C. W. Roseberry. Bolton: J. C. Topliff. Creswell: C. M. Scott. Cedar: W. A. Metcalf. Dexter: Jas. McDermott. Harvey, S. S. Newton. Liberty: Justus Fisher. Maple: W. B. Norman. Nennescah: Wm. Hayden. Omnia: Wm. Gillard. Otter: R. R. Turner. Pleasant Valley: Albert Dean. Rock Creek: Chas. H. Eagin. Richland: J. O. Vanorsdol. Silver Creek: S. M. Jarvis. Silverdale: L. Lippmann. Spring Creek: R. P. Goodrich. Sheridan: Henry Clay. Tisdale: J. F. Thomas. Vernon: J. S. Woolley. Windsor: B. H. Clover. Winfield: T. K. Johnston. J. S. HUNT, Chairman.

CHAS. H. EAGIN, Secretary. J. D. PRYOR, Assistant Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876.

DR. HUGHES, one of Creswell’s old “stand-bys,” was at the Courthouse on the 16th.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876.

The teacher’s social at the courthouse last Friday night was a very pleasant affair. Duets, quartettes, promenades, and a general effort on the part of everybody, to try to get acquainted with everybody else, seemed to be the order of the evening. The institute’s reporter writes it up in better shape than we can, so we “respectfully refer” you to her column.

Excerpts from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 21, 1876.

Minutes of the Cowley County Teachers’ Institute.

Agreeable to the call of the County Superintendent of Public Instruction, the teachers of Cowley County met in annual institute on Monday, Sept. 11th, at 9 o’clock a.m. On account of sickness in his family, Mr. Wilkinson was unable to attend, and the duty of conducting the Institute devolved on Prof. A. B. Lemmon.

Friday evening at 8 o’clock the teachers and many of their friends in the city met at the courthouse for a social reunion. Every person present seemed a self-constituted committee of one to have a good time. Teachers, forgetting the times they endured during the last term of school, or the anxiety they feel over where they shall work next time, rubbed the wrinkles out of their foreheads and wreathed their faces in smiles; young attorneys put away all thoughts of injunctions, appeals, and bills of particulars, and went zealously in search of attachments; they came without demurrers or stays of proceedings; young merchants dropped the yard stick and scissors, forgot the price of a “new suit,” quinine, spelling books and paregoric, and sought “bargains” of a different kind; young bankers and money-lenders quit thinking about checks, drafts, and mortgages, and their hilarity would lead one to think their consciences are not troubled by reflections on thirty-six percents, but that quite likely “they loaned out money gratis;” editors and politicians laid aside the “care of State,” and took part in the general enjoyment. Thus closed a very successful session of the Cowley County Teachers’ Institute. It was emphatically a session for work. Everyone had something to do and did it to the best of his ability. The influence of the Institute will be felt on the schools of the county during the coming year. MARY A. BRYANT, Secretary.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 28, 1876.

Mr. Torrance returned from Topeka one day last week with the necessary “papers” to release his client, Mr. Ford, from jail. It will be remembered that Ford was arrested and lodged in jail on an affidavit charging him with disposing of his goods for the purpose of defrauding his creditors. Mr. Torrance applied for a writ of habeas corpus to the Probate Judge. After hearing the argument, Judge Gans decided not to release the prisoner. Mr. Torrance moved to vacate the order of arrest before Judge Campbell, at chambers. The motion was overruled. He then went to Topeka and applied to Associate Justice, D. M. Valentine, for a writ of habeas corpus. Hon. John Martin, the Democratic candidate for Governor, appeared and argued the “other side of the case.” In the language of the lawyers, Mr. Torrance “got away with him,” for he gained his point, came home, and had his client released from custody.

Mr. Ford was shortly afterward re-arrested, however, on a new affidavit and order of arrest, and is now in jail awaiting next week’s term of court. A suit for damages may grow out of it, based on the ground of false imprisonment. Mr. Torrance has shown unusual persistency in the management of this case.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 28, 1876.

The Republican County Central Committee met at the Courthouse last Thursday and proceeded to organize by electing C. W. Roseberry temporary chairman and W. H. Gillard temporary secretary.

On motion the following officers were chosen for the coming year: S. M. Jarvis, chairman, and C. H. Eagin, secretary.

On motion adjourned to meet at call of the chairman. W. H. GILLARD, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 28, 1876.

Pursuant to a call of the committee of the 88th Representative District, the delegates to the representative convention met in the courthouse at Winfield on Saturday, September 16th, at 10 o’clock a.m. Capt. J. S. Hunt, of Winfield Township, was elected temporary chairman, and Chas. H. Eagin, of Rock Township, temporary secretary.

On motion a committee of five on credentials was appointed: C. H. Eagin, G. L. Walker, S. S. Moore, H. H. Siverd, and F. M. Small were the members.

The committee on credentials reported the following delegates entitled to seats in the convention.

Winfield Township: N. C. McCulloch, J. H. Hill, Chas. Love, J. M. Bair, G. W. Arnold, E. G. Sheridan, J. S. Hunt, W. D. Roberts, G. S. Manser, W. G. Graham.

Maple Township: W. B. Norman, Capt. H. H. Siverd.

Richland Township: Sam Phoenix, J. O. Vanorsdol, Amos Jarvis, W. F. Brown.

Sheridan Township: L. W. Graham, F. M. Small.

Vernon Township: T. B. Ware, B. N. Hopkins, Geo. L. Walker.

Nennescah Township: Wm. Bartlow, A. H. Beck.

Silver Creek Township: John M. Clover, Wm. May.

Tisdale Township: J. F. Thomas, S. S. Moore.

Harvey Township: A. D. Smith.

Rock Creek Township: Reuben Booth, C. H. Eagin, Wm. White, J. M. Barrack.

On motion the report of the committee was adopted.

A motion to allow W. P. Hackney to vote as proxy for G. W. Arnold, principal, and E. P. Hickok, alternate, and to allow T. K. Johnston to vote as proxy for J. H. Hill, principal, and W. E. Christie, alternate, was lost.

On motion the temporary organization was made the permanent organization.

Nominations being next in order, the name of Leland J. Webb was placed before the convention, and he was nominated by acclamation.

The convention then adjourned sine die. J. S. HUNT, Chairman.

CHAS. H. EAGIN, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 28, 1876. Editorial Page.

DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

The convention met at the courthouse last Saturday and temporarily organized by electing E. P. Young chairman and J. W. Curns secretary. Committees were appointed and the convention adjourned till 1 o’clock.

On reassembling the committee on permanent organization reported Amos Walton as chairman and P. W. Smith as Secretary.

The committee on credentials reported the following as delegates.

Creswell Township: J. Benedict, A. Walton, T. McIntire, M. E. Welch, R. Hoffmaster, W. Goff.

Silver Creek Township: M. J. Thompson, Thomas J. Payne.

Beaver Township: W. D. Lester, Geo. Wright, B. W. Jenkins, W. A. Freeman.

Windsor Township: W. R. Bedell, B. Cue, G. W. Gardenhire.

Pleasant Valley Township: W. H. Nelson, West Holland, J. P. Eckels.

Dexter Township: Wm. Moor, W. E. Meredith, C. N. Gates, A. Hightower.

Maple Township: A. Walck, David Walck.

Richland Township: T. Hart, Jas. Howard, S. B. Hunt, C. R. Turner.

Tisdale Township: C. C. Krow, J. G. Young, W. C. Douglass, E. P. Young.

Vernon Township: G. W. Kimball, Kyle McClung.

Winfield: J. W. McDonald, J. B. Lynn, J. D. Cochran, J. W. Curns, N. W. Holmes, C. C. Black, A. J. Thompson, Wm. Dunn, T. B. Ross, G. W. Yount.

Ninnescah Township: P. O. Copple, Chas. James, P. W. Smith.

Sheridan Township: Sol Smith, J. H. Morrison, Wm. Morrow.

Omnia Township: Elisha Harned, John Smiley.

The following townships were reported not represented: Bolton, Silverdale, Spring Creek, Otter, Cedar, Harvey, Liberty, and Rock, whereupon H. S. Libby arose and presented his credentials as a delegate from Spring Creek. On motion the reports were adopted.

Judge McDonald moved that if there were any persons present from those townships not represented, they might be admitted as delegates from said townships—carried.

On motion of Judge McDonald, John McAllister was admitted from Liberty, W. H. Grow and A. D. Lee from Rock; J. W. Ledlie from Cedar; and Geo. Harris and T. J. Jackson, from Harvey.

On motion of P. W. Smith, delegates present were entitled to cast the full vote of their townships. The convention then proceeded to nominate a county ticket. Judge McDonald nominated A. J. Pyburn as a candidate for State Senator and moved that he be chosen by acclamation. The motion prevailed.

Judge McIntire nominated James Christian for County Attorney. He was chosen by acclamation.

Mr. Lynn nominated J. O. Houx for District Clerk. He was chosen by acclamation.

Mr. Lee nominated H. D. Gans for Probate Judge. After some little squabbling, as will be seen in another column, Judge Gans was chosen by acclamation.

For Superintendent of Public Instruction, W. E. Meredith, P. W. Smith, and Mrs. Ida Brown were placed in nomination. Judge McDonald moved that two tellers be appointed—carried. Result of 1st ballot, Meredith 11, Smith 27, Brown 21, no choice. Second ballot, Meredith 17, Smith 21, Brown 22. The candidates were then called out and required to explain their positions. Smith, among other things, said he was a Democrat but that he would vote for Hudson for Governor. Meredith said he was a Democrat, a straight out Democrat, a Tilden and Hendricks Democrat. Mr. Krow said that Mrs. Brown’s husband was a Democrat. The convention then proceeded to a third ballot, which resulted as follows:

Meredith 28, Brown 19, Smith 14. Mr. Smith withdrew in favor of Meredith. The fourth ballot resulted, Meredith 39, Brown 20. On motion Meredith’s nomination was made unanimous.

Judge McDonald moved that a county central committee be appointed consisting of one from each township and also a campaign committee consisting of five members who should be centrally located. The following gentlemen comprise the central committee: T. McIntire, W. D. Lester, N. J. Thompson, W. R. Bedell, J. P. Eckels, Wm. Moon, Adam Walk, Jos. Howard, C. C. Krow, J. B. Lynn, K. McClung, J. W. Ledlie, P. W. Smith, Wm. Morrow, Jno. Smiley, Geo. Harris, Jno. McAllister, Wm. Grow, Jno. Bobbitt, Dennis Harkins, and Wm. Anderson.

Campaign Committee: J. Wade McDonald, H. S. Silver, C. C. Black, Jas. Benedict and J. G. Young. On motion the convention adjourned.

---

A part of the delegates to the county convention then assembled in the west part of the courthouse and organized a convention for the 89th district. They elected Amos Walton chairman and Jas. Benedict secretary. The chairman nominated Ed Green, of Creswell Township for representative. On motion the nomination was made by acclamation. Mr. Green thanked them for the compliment. On motion adjourned.

---

The delegates from the 88th representative district organized by electing J. W. Curns chairman and C. C. Black secretary. Nominations for Representative being in order, Messrs. Wm. Martin, C. C. Krow, and J. G. Young were put in nomination. Mr. Young withdrew. A ballot was taken which resulted as follows: Krow 11, Martin 23. On motion of J. H. Land the nomination was made unanimous. A few remarks were made by Messrs. Pyburn and McDonald and the convention adjourned.

Excerpts from meeting...

Courthouse Advertising.

Winfield Courier, October 5, 1876.

City Council met in regular session at the Clerk’s office, Oct. 3rd, 1876.

A motion was made by Councilman Bliss that $30 be paid out of the city treasury to the Chicago Journal of Commerce for one cut of courthouse and for the advertising of the city of Winfield in said paper; vote being taken, stood as follows: Ayes, C. A. Bliss, M. G. Troup, and H. Brotherton. Nays, A. B. Lemmon and T. B. Myers. The motion being carried, the city clerk was instructed to credit the treasury with the same.

On motion council adjourned. B. F. BALDWIN, City Clerk.

Excerpt from meeting of County Commissioners...

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 11, 1876.

Ray & Randall, courthouse repairs, $26.00

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 12, 1876.

The “Grand Opening Ball of the Central Hotel” came off at the courthouse last night. It was well attended, the music excellent, and the supper, at Majors’, superb. Everyone enjoyed themselves to the fullest capacity. It was a decided success.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 26, 1876. Front Page.

JIM KING’S LETTER TO THE “COMMONWEALTH.”

A Topekan’s Opinion of Winfield.

WINFIELD, OCT. 15, 1876.

Capt. Ryan filled his regular appointment here yesterday, speaking to a large crowd of the Cowley County yeomanry, at the courthouse, in the afternoon. Mr. Ryan never disappoints the people, either in the time of his appointments or the character of his speeches.

His visit to the localities in the district distant from the railroad, has made him many friends, even among the Democrats, and you may expect to be surprised at the extent of the majority he will receive in these counties. The people here like to be noticed, and to have some attention shown them, even though they are not possessed of a railroad. They belong to the district “just the same,” and their votes will average twelve to the dozen all the way through.

Winfield is one of the best towns we have encountered on our route. The population is estimated at one thousand, and I think the estimate is small. Yesterday (Saturday) was a very busy day and the scores of teams on Main street, the gaily blanketed Indians, and the festive auctioneer on the corner, reminded me very much of our own Kansas avenue. The beauty of Winfield as a residence point cannot be excelled anywhere in the west, uniting, as it does, a fine elevation, a pure, bracing air, magnificent views, mountain wilderness, romantic streams, beautiful drives, and in short, all the charms of land and water combined. Wirt Walton is one of the institutions of Winfield. An impression is abroad in the land that Wirt is handsome. I think he must have acquired that reputation last winter in Topeka, while I was absent from the city. This is also the home of Prof. A. B. Lemmon, the Republican nominee for State Superintendent. In making the canvass of this county, we have been under many obligations to Mr. Lemmon for valuable assistance—for Lemmon aid, so to speak. I am going to take Lemmon in mine on the 7th of November. The indications are that Col. Manning will be successful in the race for State Senator. Webb will go to the House from this county, and the entire Republican ticket be triumphantly elected.

One of the grandest demonstrations of the year occurred here last night, in honor of the visit of Capt. Ryan and Col. Plumb, of Emporia. The courthouse was packed with ladies and gentlemen, and the enthusiasm was unbounded. An hour before the meeting the Hayes and Wheeler club paraded the principal streets of the city with torches and flags, headed by the Winfield brass band. About fifty blazing torches turned night into day, and lit up the handsome Continental uniforms of the men in fine style. All the anvils in the city were converted into cannon and kept up a ceaseless fire for hours. After a song by the glee club, Col. Plumb was introduced as the people’s choice for United States Senator, the announcement being received with mild applause, ranging from piping treble to alligator bass. After quiet had been restored, and the brazen instruments became silent as a synod of stars, Col. Plumb proceeded to make an address, which for thoughtfulness, sincerity, logic, and pertinence of illustration, would do Bob Ingersoll no discredit. He spoke for two hours, and would have been listened to patiently for two more.

Col. Plumb is doing good work for the party and lots of it. He came down to Wichita on Thursday night at 9 o’clock, drove ten miles in the country that night on business, returned to Wichita the same night, arose early in the morning and rode out several miles to see a friend, returning to Wichita again at noon; in the afternoon he made a trip to Wellington, thirty miles, speaking there Friday night. Saturday morning he journeyed from Wellington to Winfield, twenty miles, stopped here for dinner, then secured a fresh team and went to Arkansas City, fifteen miles, returning here last evening and speaking until 10 o’clock, starting immediately after the meeting for Wichita, in order to take the 4 o’clock train for Emporia, where he expected to start without delay for a point in the interior of Osage County, speaking there on Monday afternoon, returning to Emporia Sunday night, and starting immediately on horseback for Eldorado, seventy miles distant, to fill an appointment on Tuesday. This is what I call campaigning in earnest.

Capt. Ryan’s route ahead is to Cedar Vale on Monday and Sedan on Tuesday; then through Chautauqua, Elk, Greenwood, and Butler counties. We are much rejoiced over the result of Ohio, but we are still without tidings from Indiana.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 26, 1876.

Rev. Chaplain C. C. McCabe will deliver his popular lecture, “The bright side of Libby Prison,” in the courthouse, Winfield, on Monday evening, Oct. 30, 1876. Admission. 25 cents; reserved seats 50 cents. Doors open at 7 o’clock; lecture to commence at 7:30.

We have been informed that one of our citizens used to be an officer in charge of Libby Prison. If this be true, he ought to go and hear McCabe to see whether he pictures it truthfully or not.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 2, 1876.

LIARS, STAND UP!

Capt. Anthony said that “he had no sympathy with the demagogues who tried to array the debtor against the creditor class,” that’s what he said. He didn’t say that he had no sympathy with the debtor class, but that he had no sympathy with the demagogues and that’s what hurts them.

Capt. Geo. T. Anthony spoke at the courthouse, to a large audience, last night, notwithstanding the rain storm that had continued up till a late hour. . . .

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 9, 1876.

The Republicans of Winfield Township met pursuant to call, at the Courthouse Saturday, the 4th instant, and proceeded to nominate the following township ticket:” For trustee, J. S. Hunt; for Clerk, Ed. S. Bedilion; for treasurer, B. F. Baldwin; for justice of the peace, W. M. Boyer; for constables, Ed. R. Evans and Burt Covert. After which the following township central committee was chosen: Wirt W. Walton, C. C. Pierce, and S. E. Burger.

J. M. ALEXANDER, Chairman.

E. S. TORRANCE, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 16, 1876.

Don’t fail to attend the Presbyterian Aid Social at the courthouse, on the evening of the 21st. Something new will be presented for your entertainment.

Winfield Courier, November 16, 1876.

The ladies of the Presbyterian Aid Society will hold a festival at the Courthouse on Tuesday evening, Nov. 21st. All are invited to attend, as an opportunity will be presented to visit the Art Gallery, where many works of art and science will be exhibited.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 22, 1876.

THE EVENING STAR CLUB of Winfield will open a series of entertainments with a Thanksgiving ball, at the courthouse, Thursday, November 30th. Special invitations are issued.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 30, 1876.

Don’t fail to hear Rev. Rushbridge render “Enoch Arden” at the courthouse next Tuesday night. It is, in our opinion, with one exception, the finest thing ever written by the gifted Tennyson. That exception of course is “Locksley Hall.”

Winfield Courier, November 30, 1876.

Select Reading.

Rev. J. L. Rushbridge will read Tennyson’s poem, “Enoch Arden,” at the Courthouse in Winfield, on Tuesday evening, December 5th, 1876. Admission 25 cents. Doors open at 7 o’clock p.m. Reading to commence at 8 o’clock.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 30, 1876.

Every preparation has been made, that a careful committee could suggest, to make the ball given by the “Evening Star Club” at the courthouse, this evening, the most pleasant ever given in the city. Good music has been secured and a competent prompter engaged. Several devotees of Terpsichore will be in attendance from Oxford and Arkansas City, while the youth, beauty, and chivalry of Cowley’s capital will be there.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 7, 1876.

Burt held forth at the courthouse Monday night to an appreciative audience. The universal opinion is that the children did well. Eliza, Willie, and the “Mite” were well received. Prof. Ide is a violinist of more than ordinary ability. The entertainment last night was not so largely attended yet the performance was good.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 7, 1876.

Thanksgiving.

This day was quite generally observed by our citizens. There was union service at the Courthouse in the morning which was quite generally attended. In the evening, service was conducted by Rev. Platter at the courthouse and Rev. Rushbridge at the stone church. Several dinners were gotten up for the purpose of entertaining special friends, and we believe nearly everybody in town tasted turkey during the day. The tables of Messrs. Mansfield, Millington, Greenlee, Bedilion, Black, Manning, and many others were spread for many more than the total number, while excellent dinners were served at the hotels and restaurants for regular boarders and their invited guests. There was but little business done in town and our streets wore a Sunday-like appearance.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 7, 1876.

The long promised and anxiously awaited opening entertainment of the Eastern Star club culminated in a grand ball at the courthouse last Thursday evening, at which Winfield’s beauty, grace, and stars were in attendance. It was without doubt a very pleasant affair and its managers deserve much praise for its success.

Every convenience in the way of dressing-rooms, cloak rooms, “programmes,” and “engagements” were at the disposal of the invited. The committees performed their duties in a creditable manner. The music stand was decorated with the city’s and other flags, giving it a starry appearance. Members of committees were easily designated by ribbons with handsome gold printed stars. All in attendance enjoyed themselves and parted with the wish that the social relations inaugurated by this society would grow brighter and brighter in our little town, till personal animosities and local bitterness would be forgotten and our citizens meet together and shine with undiminished radiance like the lamps of a moonless night, the evening *** [Paper never completed sentence.]

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 13, 1876.

C. M. Scott. Please give notice that on the first Saturday there will be an election of officers of County Grange at the courthouse in Winfield. We desire that there may be a general attendance, as there is business of importance to transact. Come in full regalia. A rehearsal of the secret work will be given by the State delegate. J. O. VANORSDOL, Master.

FLORAL, December 11, 1876.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 14, 1876.

The Ladies of the M. E. Society will give a necktie social at the Courthouse Wednesday evening, December 20th, consisting of tableaux and supper, also a table of fancy articles for sale. No pains will be spared to make this entertainment a success.

MRS. BACHELOR, Secretary.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse Bell.

Winfield Courier, December 14, 1876.

Ordinance No. 61.

An Ordinance to organize and govern a Fire Department.

SECTION 14. It shall be the duty of all persons knowing of a fire in progress to cry the alarm “Fire,” and the numeral indicating the number of the district in which the fire is located. Also to immediately cause the bells to be rung, the alarm and the number indicating the district of the fire, in the order as follows, to-wit: Alarm, short pause, number, short pause; repeat, indefinitely. The bell alarm shall be six to eight rapid strokes, and the bell numbering of the district shall be one toll for district 1, two tolls for district 2, etc. It shall be the special duty of such persons as are regularly employed by any authority to ring the bell at the Courthouse, on hearing the alarm of fire, to repair at once to the Courthouse and ring the bell in accordance with the above directions, superseding any other person he or they may find ringing the bell.

SECTION 15. Any person who shall ring any bell in the manner described in section 14 at any time, except as in that section authorized, or specially authorized by the Mayor for practice, and any person who shall ring the Courthouse bell in any manner after 9 o’clock in the evening or before 5 o’clock in the morning, without special permit from the Mayor, or shall raise a false alarm of fire in any manner, shall pay to the city a fine not exceeding $25 and not less than $3.00, or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding ten days, or both such fine and imprisonment for each such offense.

Excerpts from same long article as noted above...

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 14, 1876.

Ordinance No. 61.

SECTION 11. Any person who shall disturb the operations of the department at a fire by making noise, or hindering or interfering with its work, or who shall disobey the lawful orders of its officers, shall be punished by fine not exceeding fifty dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

SECTION 15. Any person who shall ring any bell in the manner described in section 14 at any time, except as in that section authorized, or specially authorized by the Mayor for practice, and any person who shall ring the Courthouse bell in any manner after 9 o’clock in the evening or before 5 o’clock in the morning, without special permit from the Mayor, or shall raise a false alarm of fire in any manner, shall pay to the city a fine not exceeding $25 and not less than $3.00, or be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding ten days, or both such fine and imprisonment for each such offense.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 20, 1876.

Horneman, the man who stole the wheat and did the shooting, was bound over in the sum of $2,000, to appear at the next term of the Sedgwick County court. Failing to secure bail, he was sent to jail.

Courthouse Picture. Mention of Brick Jail and Jailor’s Residence.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, December 21, 1876. Front Page.

[PICTURE.]

HOW’S THIS FOR A SIX YEAR OLD COUNTY?

The above represents a fair view of our Court House, looking from the southwest. This building was erected during the summer of 1873, at a cost of less than $11,000 in County warrants. The Jail, and jailor’s residence, a substantial two story brick, built at the same time by our city, stands immediately in rear of the Court House. It is used by both the city and county, and is the only brick jail in Southern Kansas. While we cannot say that we are proud of the latter, yet it is a matter of congratulation that even criminals are carefully cared for in Winfield and Cowley County. The lower story of the Court House is partitioned off into comfortable offices for the use of our public servants. The upper story is divided into three rooms, two jury and one court room. The latter, at present, is used for all manner of public entertainments, and we presume will be, until Winfield can boast of, what she now needs, a public hall.

Had we the “cuts,” it would be a pleasure to present a view of some our substantial brick blocks, churches, and private stone and brick residences along with this. As we haven’t them, the reader will have to draw on his imagination.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 21, 1876.

The Christmas Tree blooms at the Courthouse Saturday evening.

1877

Courthouse.

Excerpts from article...

Arkansas City Traveler, January 3, 1877.

From Winfield.

WINFIELD, KAN., Dec. 23, 1876.

Our Christmas tree on Saturday evening, the 23rd, was a success; the most remarkable feature was the very large number of books distributed from it.

At the last regular communication of Adelphi Lodge No. 110, A. F. and A. M., the following officers were chosen for the ensuing year: W. M., Wm. G. Graham; Sen. W., J. E. Saint; Jun. W., M. G. Troup; Sec., James Kelly; Treas., R. F. Baldwin; Sen. D., C. C. Black; Jun. D., J. C. Roberts; Sen. S., Jas. A. Simpson; Jun. S., N. C. McCulloch; Tyler, W. W. Walton.

They were installed at the Courthouse on the eve of the 27th, St. John’s Day, by Past High Priest, M. L. Read; at the close of the installation ceremonies, the retiring Master Hunt was directed to face the “East” when Bro. McDonald requested “permission to address Bro. J. S. Hunt,” which being granted, he advanced, while he held in his hand a beautiful casket, and proceeded to deliver a presentation address and invest Bro. Hunt with one of the most elegant and modest P. M. jewels that it has ever been our fortune to behold, and the speech and response was in such beautiful harmony with the present and the occasion, it was a surprise token of regard from the Lodge. After this all were called from “labor to refreshments,” and we turned to the tables where we found that the power and beauty of the culinary art had been exhausted to please the appetite and refresh the inner man.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 11, 1877.

The “party lash” hangs up in the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 11, 1877.

The office of County Superintendent will be open every Saturday, until further notice, in the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 11, 1877.

Reverends Rushbridge and Platter are holding a series of interesting religious meetings this week at the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 11, 1877.

The Cowley County District Grange had a good meeting last Saturday at the Courthouse, and elected the following officers for the ensuing year: Wm. White, Master; Ed. Green, Overseer; G. N. Fowler, Lecturer; C. C. Krow, Stewart; H. L. Barker, Asst. Stewart; S. N. Sparks, Chaplain; Jas. O. Vanorsdal, Treasurer; C. Coon, Secretary; F. Schwantes, Gate Keeper; Mrs. Vanorsdal, Ceres; Mrs. Barker, Pomona; Mrs. White, Flora; and Miss Birdzell, Lady Asst. Steward.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 25, 1877.

We understand that the party at the Courthouse this evening is exclusively a club dance, given for the benefit of the members of the Evening Star Club.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 8, 1877.

The Grouse Valley is pretty well represented at the Courthouse: Burden, Troup, McDermott, Bryan, Story, and Gans.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 8, 1877.

P. of K.

NOTICE. To all Patrons in good standing. There will be a special meeting of District Grange at the Courthouse, in Winfield, on Thursday, Feb. 22, 1877, at one o’clock. Also, the same day, at 7 p.m., the fifth degree will be conferred. Brother Stevens, the State Lecturer, will address the meeting at one o’clock. Come one, come all. Bring your regalia and your dinner baskets well filled and let us have a good time. WM. WHITE, Master.

C. COON, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.

Don’t forget the Winfield Township taxpayers’ meeting next Saturday at 2 p.m., at the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.

The dance to be given at the Courthouse next Thursday evening, the 22nd instant, by the W. E. S. C., will undoubtedly be the grandest party ever given in Cowley County.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.

Owing to the fact of a previous engagement of the Courthouse, the meeting of the Pomona Grange is postponed to the first Saturday in March. See notice elsewhere.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.

The first regular meeting of the Philomathic society of Winfield, will be held at the Courthouse on Tuesday evening, Feb. 20, 1877.

PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENING.

1. Miscellaneous Business. 2. Regular Business. 3. Music. 4. Essay—By D. A. Millington. 5. Music.

6. Discussion of the question: Resolved, That the right of suffrage should be restricted by property and educational qualifications.

Affirmative, Rev. J. L. Rushbridge. Negative, W. P. Hackney.

7. Music. 8. Scientific and Historical questions by the audience, to be answered by some persons appointed at the next meeting. 9. Report of Committee on programme.

Exercises to begin at 7 o’clock, p.m. All are invited to attend.

J. F. JENNINGS, Pres. O. M. SEWARD, Secy.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 15, 1877.

RAILROAD MEETING.

The taxpayers of Winfield Township are requested to meet at the Courthouse in Winfield on Saturday, February 17th, at 2 o’clock, p.m., to discuss and vote upon the following resolution.

Resolved, That the taxpayers of Winfield Township who are in the meeting assembled, request the members of the State Legislature from this county to use all honorable means to so amend Section 5, of Chapter 107, of the laws of 1876, that counties having no railroad indebtedness may avail themselves of the provisions of that act by a majority vote.

Also, to take such other action to promote the railroad interests of this county as the meeting shall deem advisable.

JAS. E. PLATTER, D. A. MILLINGTON, J. WADE McDONALD, J. B. LYNN.

Members of Railroad Committee.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1877. Editorial Page.

The object of the meeting of Winfield Township taxpayers, which assembled last Saturday at the Courthouse, was thwarted by the opponents of a railroad. A large number of men were present and voted to defeat the object of the meeting who were not taxpayers; a large number of men who did not belong in the township were present and did the same thing; the meeting was not allowed to vote upon the resolution offered; false statements were made to mislead men who wanted to adopt the resolution asking the legislature to change the law.

Since the action of the meeting held two weeks ago last Tuesday and prior to last Saturday’s meeting, at least one hundred taxpayers of Winfield Township had told us that they wanted the law changed and desired an opportunity to so express themselves. In response to this desire the railroad committee issued the call for a meeting. About two hundred people assembled to that call. As soon as the call was issued, certain individuals, referred to elsewhere in these columns, set themselves very busily to work to prevent the passage of the resolution to be offered. They could not do it by fair means, and so unfair ones were adopted.

In the first place, under the call, no one had any business there except taxpayers who were residents of Winfield Township. In the second place, no other question was in order except that of voting for or against the resolution for which the meeting was called to act upon. On the contrary, however, men voted who were not taxpayers and who were non-residents of the township. And to prevent action on the resolution, the following substitute was offered and bulldozed through the meeting:

[NOTE. We have not been able to obtain the resolution, but it practically nullified the other.]

We were not present at the meeting, but previous to its assembling, the sentiments of three out of every four persons who intended to be present was that the resolution should be adopted. But parliamentary tactics and misrepresentations thwarted their wishes.

The result of this meeting is to be regretted. The legislature will not adjourn until about ten days after the holding of that meeting. If the taxpayers of this township had expressed themselves decidedly in favor of that change, and then a delegation of three or four active citizens had presented that expression to the legislature, there is no doubt but the present two thirds restriction would have been removed, and thereby we would have been able to secure a railroad.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1877. Editorial Page.

COMMUNICATED.

EDITOR COURIER: Sojourning in your pretty little town for a few days, I was induced to attend a meeting of the taxpayers held at the Courthouse on Saturday last, looking to the modification of a recent law that had been passed evidently in the interest of some railroad corporations whose interest the law makers desired to protect, requiring a two-thirds majority in order to vote bonds to any railroad organization that sought to bring a railroad into a county. On organizing the meeting it soon became evident that there was a violent faction, arrayed principally on the east side of the room, whose object was to defeat the purpose for which the meeting was called.

Speaker No. 1, an elderly gentleman, commenced by stating the object that prompted the calling of the citizens together, the great need that existed for a railroad to Winfield, and how

every bushel of grain, every head of stock, and every acre of land would be enhanced in value and benefitted thereby. Proceeding in a very moderate and candid manner, he proceeded to show the probable cost, how comparatively little it would increase taxation, the increasing popularity of narrow gauge railroads, showed how a ruinous indebtedness was improbable, and duplicated on the part of a railroad impossible, by stating that the laws of Kansas made it unlawful for a county to vote more than four thousand dollars per mile, nor allowed a single dollar to be paid until the road was completed to its place of destination.

No. 2, a young lawyer, face as white as a sheet, style eminently demagogic, and of the annihilation order, came promptly to the front. He desired it to be distinctly understood that he was all railroad, that his interest was identical with that of every resident of the county, that he was as capable as any to decide what was best for the county, would suffer no one to abridge his rights as a citizen, had been a member of the legislature, and was as good as No. 1, the statements of No. 1 to the contrary notwithstanding. He then ventured some legerdemain, understood only by limbs of the law, about the unconstitutionality of the law, deprecated bonds, having to go to Amsterdam, in Germany, to have them cashed, and concluded by offering a substitute for the original motion and perpetrating a deliberate falsehood by telling the meeting that whatever their action might be, it would end in smoke, inasmuch as the legislature would adjourn before the result of their deliberations reach Topeka. We were informed that this young chap had lived in this and adjoining counties for the last five or six years, has a chronic longing for office, does not own an acre of land or a bushel of grain, and that the Sheriff of the county carries in his pocket a tax warrant of ten dollars against him for collection.

No. 3 now advanced to the front from the west side of the hall, a plain looking man, farmer, owning half section of land and paid for. He opened out in a vigorous style, claiming that the farmers were as much interested as others, and to a far greater extent than No. 2, who owned nothing; urged the farmers to think and act for themselves and not to be intimidated by legal twaddle invented for their confusion and defeat by those who were most likely paid for their small talk. The style of this speaker created a good deal of merry enthusiasm, his arguments were logical, forcible, and witty. He rattled away, insisting that prompt action was called for in order to invite railroad enterprise to Cowley County, where none needed the help of the Iron Horse more than the farmer.

No. 4 next elbowed his way to the front and peremptorily asked, “what all this improper talk was about?” The style of the speaker smacked of the supercilious, and the gist of his remarks was that he, like No. 2, was an irrepressible advocate for a railroad, but was satisfied with the law as it stood and would do his “level best” to prevent it from being changed, railroad or no railroad.

No. 5 stepped out with alacrity and with a self-satisfied air proceeded to enlighten the natives, for their special benefit, on railroad rascality. This speaker was a small man, with gold spectacles, a Methodist preacher, had some experience on the subject about which he proposed to talk, knew a county that had voted one hundred and sixty thousand dollars bonds to a wild-cat railroad company by the majority vote and got fooled, therefore, thought the two-thirds vote the safest. This interesting talker halted every now and then and gave a knowing smile which seemed to say, “Now, don’t you think I know something?” This little itinerant preacher, I was informed, had only been in the county a few months and was likely to leave it again in two weeks, yet he assumed to know as much about its needs and necessities as the “oldest inhabitant.”

No. 6 here put in an appearance, an aged, portly gentleman, with a powerful voice. He claimed to be the first man in the county, “you know I was,” said he. Had offered to give forty acres of his land for a railroad; told the farmers that two-thirds of their farms were mortgaged, and for aught he knew “a majority of the other third;” he was in favor of the majority vote, fought thirteen years in support of that privilege, but advised caution on the part of the farmers in view of their financial embarrassments. He did not seem to understand that there is a “time in the affairs of man when caution may do more harm than good by increasing embarrassments instead of relieving them.” Who is there so blind as not to be able to see that a railroad to Winfield would increase by at least one half the value of every farm in Cowley County? Who is there that cannot see that every farmer, every banker, every lawyer and debtor, every merchant, mechanic, and laborer would be benefitted the very moment the locomotive was heard rushing across the prairie of your beautiful country? If any caution is necessary in your case, it is against doing anything to abridge the prospects of railroad enterprise looking towards the valley of the Walnut and the Arkansas.

Short as my stay was in your town, I learned of the existence of two factions in your midst, whose inordinate folly, if persisted in, will kill it dead. One is a faction of money loaners who continue to grind out their three percent per month from the impoverished and helpless occupants of the land, many of whom will soon have to give up their feeble tenancy. This faction is aided by spoonies, who are governed entirely by party and political considerations, and who glory in the defeat of any and every action or proposition introduced or recommended by their neighbors. A STRANGER.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1877.

The Winfield Debating Society had a very pleasant time at the Courthouse last Tuesday evening. Those weekly gatherings can be made profitable and entertaining.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1877.

A man who does not pay taxes was paid at T. K. Johnson’s drug store in this city last Saturday to go over to the Courthouse and vote against the railroad resolutions. How are you corruption? Who is furnishing money to beat the taxpayers of Cowley County out of a railroad.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 22, 1877.

The next regular meeting of the Philomathic society of Winfield will be held at the Courthouse, on Friday evening, March 2nd, 1877.

PROGRAMME FOR THE EVENING.

1. Music by Miss Newman. 2. Select Reading; by Mrs. J. D. Pryor. 3. Weekly Paper, by Rev. J. L. Rushbridge. 4. Music, by Miss Gowen. 5. Answers to scientific questions. 6. Essay by F. S. Jennings.

7. Discussion. Resolved, “That the practice of the law elevates the profession.” Affirmative—Jas. McDermott, W. M. Allison. Negative—C. M. Wood, J. E. Allen.

8. Scientific questions by the audience. 9. Adjournment.

Exercises to begin at 7½ o’clock, p.m. All are invited to attend.

J. F. JENNINGS, President. O. M. SEWARD, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 28, 1877.

THE OFFICE OF COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT will be open, until further notice, on Saturday of every week, in the courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 1, 1877.

Rev. S. B. Fleming, of Arkansas City, preached very interesting sermons at the Courthouse last Sunday morning and evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 1, 1877.

The ball given at the Courthouse on last Thursday evening, by the Evening Star Club, was certainly the grandest affair of the kind ever given in Winfield. The hall presented a magnificent appearance, being decorated with evergreens and the stars and stripes. The ball opened with the Evening Star Club promenade, which was grand. Among the “Belles of the Ball,” some very elaborate costumes were represented, but as our reporter has never learned the distinction between black alpaca and gros grain at $5.00 per yard, he deems it best to omit the usual descriptions of the costumes.

Among the happy throng of dancers we noticed Mc. D. Stapleton and lady, George Lee and Miss Mary A. Wooden, and David A. Dale and Miss Flora Ramage, of Lazette. The music by the Winfield string band was the best furnished any party for some time. The party was well attended and everyone present seemed to enjoy themselves. The programme was finished at 1:30 a.m., and everybody is getting ready for the next one.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 1, 1877.

The office of county Superintendent will be open every Saturday, Room No. 6, in the Courthouse. R. C. STORY, Co. Supt.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 1, 1877.

For Sale. A No. 1 span of mares. Enquire of T. R. BRYAN, at the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 8, 1877.

TO HOME SEEKERS.

We are daily in receipt of letters making inquiry about this county. Most of these questions are answered on the outside of this paper. A few inquiries have come up in some letters that we have on hand and we answer them all herein and shall send the writers copies of this paper.

Winfield is the county seat of Cowley County. It has a city organization, population fully 1,000. It is a beautiful and healthy town. Excellent water is invariably found at a depth of twenty-two feet. This is the average depth of wells all over the county. The county is 33 miles square. There is a large tract of excellent land in the county yet unsettled which belongs to the government and can be bought after being settled upon and a residence of six months, in tracts not exceeding 160 acres, at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. No larger tract of land than this can be bought of the government. Land can be purchased from the present settlers at from three to ten dollars per acre. The very best tracts of land in the county containing running water, plenty of timber and bottom land, near to schools, and with a small amount of improvements thereon can be purchased for ten dollars per acre. Taxes are about four percent. Many schoolhouses, several bridges, and a courthouse have been built, and these must be paid for. Our taxes will diminish in percentum from this time forward.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 8, 1877. Editorial Page.

Democratic Correspondence.

EDITOR OF COURIER: Will you allow me, through the COURIER, to correct some errors that are prevalent among the Republicans. It appears that your party has an idea that the Democrats are opposed to everything in the shape of improvement, especially that we don’t want a railroad. All this arises from a want of information, and this want, by your permission I will supply.

To begin with, I want it understood that the Wah Hoss that you have been harping about through your columns is not a Democrat, never was one, and we are not responsible for anything that Bill Hackney says or does. We rode the mule last fall for electioneering purposes, but he did us more harm than good, and just because we patted and petted him to make a cat’s paw to worry the Republicans, many of them concluded he had changed his politics. Sir, if he were a Democrat, we would read him out of the party. Such men would kill any party that would patronize him. As soon as the election was over we turned him out to pasture, and we shall not take him up again unless we get another dirty job on hand that no Democrat will touch and then we may give him another call, as such work is adapted to his nature, and we can get him cheaper than anyone else.

I hope these explanations will satisfy your readers and that they will cease pointing the finger of scorn at every Democrat they pass and say, “There is a Hackney man, and he opposes railroads.” I do not know one Democrat that is opposed to a railroad coming to Cowley County, and further, I do not know of one but who will vote for bonds to build it. We are not talking politics now, we mean business.

We will drop Hackney for the present and take up another sprig not quite so large, the editor of the Telegram. Many of your readers are trying to palm him off on us, but you can’t come it. He is no more a Democrat than Hackney. But, say you, if he is not a Democrat, why do you patronize him? You take his paper. Not quite so fast, if you please. Hold on till I tell you how that is. There are a few men that pay Allison for doing their dirty work for them, and he sends the paper to any person the joint stock company orders, and that’s how we take his paper. We would not pay a cent for such a dirty sheet. The St. Louis department is all that is worth reading, and that is foreign to our interests. I hope this explanation will satisfy you that he is not one of us and that you will cease trying to palm off on us all the trundle-bed trash there is in the country.

We are just much as ashamed at the conduct of these men opposing our interests as any Republican can be. Such men are like grasshoppers, the more we have of them the worse we are off. They are splendid eaters for little fellows, but are death on supplies.

If we never had been disgusted with Bill Hackney before, his conduct at that railroad meeting on the 17th, ult., would be sufficient cause to stamp him with eternal infamy. He had no more business sticking in his gab there than your bread and butter preacher, and neither of them received any thanks for their false representations from the Democrats. They both got pay for their small talk but not from us. The Democrats enjoyed the drubbing Bill got from that old farmer as well as any Republican and were equally as proud of him for telling the usurper to his teeth that the meeting was not called for jackleg lawyers who pay no taxes but for producers, merchants, and mechanics; men that were a benefit to the county and not a curse, like the small men that sell their birthright for a mess of pottage. An old farmer and a Democrat from Pleasant Valley on leaving the Courthouse on that occasion remarked to his neighbor: “Hackney ought to have a rope around his neck and it tied to a good stout limb.”

A gentleman of Winfield (a Democrat) said to me, “I would not give this stump of a cigar for Bill Hackney,” and another gentleman remarked “that was the best thing ever happened to Bill, he is always sticking his nose where he has no business.” I must now turn my attention to the slang that is being published by Allison against that farmer for daring to assert his rights as a taxpayer against these gabby politicians that pay no taxes. The Democrats in his neighborhood say that farmer is a man that tends to his own business, that he is a good neighbor and law abiding citizen, a man of learning, and that he is putting forth more efforts to elevate the rising generation than any other, and that his efforts are appreciated by the community; and they denounce Allison as a calumniator, a braggart, and a liar, and like other intelligent Democrats, they deny that he belongs to the party.

In conclusion let me say to your readers that I will defend the Democratic party now as I did in the rebellion. The Republicans at that time threatened my life for defending the party, but I sill live to throw back your buzzard bait in your own teeth. We can’t swallow your Hackney; you must masticate him yourselves. As for Allison, a big toad could swallow him at one bite, but no Democrat will bite.

As soon as we can get a man of sense and a true Democrat to do our publishing, one that will be a credit instead of disgrace, we will turn Allison out to pasture with Hackney.

A DEMOCRAT.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 8, 1877.

MARRIED. David Crumford and Savannah Caviness were married at the Courthouse last Saturday night by Judge Gans.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 14, 1877. Front Page.

The various township assessors met at the Courthouse on Monday last, for the purpose of adopting a uniform personal property valuation list. Every township in the county was represented by its assessor except one. The meeting was organized by electing Capt. J. S. Hunt Chairman and S. S. Moore Secretary. On motion the following grades and appraisements were adopted for the present year.

HORSES. Stallions and fast horses, from $150 to $500; work horses, 1st grade, from $75 to $150; 2nd grade, from $35 to $75; ponies and colts, from $10 to $35.

NEAT CATTLE. 1st grade, bulls and four-year-old fat cattle, and over, from $30 to $45; 2nd grade, bulls and all fat steers less than 4 years old, $20 to $30; Cows—1st grade, from $20 to $30; 2nd grade, from $10 to $20. Steers—three-year-old, from $15 to $30; two-year-old, and heifers, from $8 to $15; yearlings, from $3 to $8. Twenty percent off for Texas cattle.

WORK CATTLE. 1st grade, from $70 to $100; 2nd grade, from $40 to $75.

MULES. 1st grade, per pair, from $200 to $250; 2nd grade, per pair, from $75 to $200; young mules, from $25 to $75; asses, from $20 to $250.

SHEEP. Fine wool bucks, from $7 to $13; common, from $1.50 to $5.

HOGS. From $2 to $25.

GOATS. From $1 to $3.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. First class headers, harvesters, and threshing machines; 50 percent off from first cost; reapers, mowers, and wagons, 30 percent off from first cost; all other farming implements left to the judgment of the assessor.

Motion made and carried that all grain be assessed at its cash value at the bin and crib.

Motion made and carried that the papers in Winfield and Arkansas City be requested to print this basis gratuitously. S. S. MOORE, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 15, 1877.

The Christians are holding their protracted meetings in the Courthouse this week.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 5, 1877.

The Railroad Meeting.

On Tuesday evening a red hot railroad meeting was held at the Courthouse. The house was full. S. C. Smith was chosen chairman and W. M. Allison, secretary. A report of what had been done to secure an east and west railroad was made, and the steps thus far taken cordially endorsed. Enthusiastic speeches were made by several gentlemen. Perfect unanimity prevailed. Canvassing and Finance committees were raised and the following resolutions were adopted.

Resolved, That we, as citizens of Winfield, hereby pledge our confidence, sympathy, and assistance to each of the committees appointed by this meeting for the prosecution of this canvass.

Resolved, That we, as citizens of Cowley County, will each put forth our utmost endeavors to carry out and complete the M., P. & E., W. B. railroad enterprise now before us.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 12, 1877.

The supper at the Courthouse, which was given by the ladies of the M. E. church, was a grand affair. The receipts amounted to about $30, and will be added to the church building fund.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 2, 1877.

BARBER CAUGHT.

Before leaving this place last Tuesday week, Sheriff Walker deputized A. W. Patterson, and offered him a bonus of fifteen dollars if he would capture John Barber, who had escaped from the authorities at Dexter two days before. Mr. Patterson secured the assistance of Constable Gray, and the two started in pursuit. Before going far, they learned he had gone up the Walnut, and immediately followed. After hunting the most of the night, they abandoned the pursuit until next morning.

In the morning Patterson and George Walker found the trail of the criminal and followed it until they came to the house of Robert White, where it stopped. Alighting from the buggy both went into the house and found the man lying in bed asleep, with a Colt’s improved revolver and Bowie knife hanging in their sheaths on the bed post near his head. These were taken possession of by the officers, and a gun and pistol aimed at his head while they took hold of his leg to awaken him. As soon as he opened his eyes, Patterson said to him, “You are my prisoner.” He realized his situation at once, and coolly remarked, “Where are you going to take me?” He was told that he would have to go to Winfield, and he readily assented to it, as his wound needed careful treatment. He told the officers he did not want to go back to Elk County for fear his father and brother would mob him.

In conversation afterwards he told the officers if he had not been wounded, they could not have taken him. In reply to a question of killing the soldiers in Texas, he stated he had heard of it and that it was a man by the same name as his own, but not him. He is now in jail at Winfield, awaiting trial. From all accounts, his father and brother are not as worthy people as they might be, as the father of the culprit, it is said, sent his son to shoot the half brother, saying he had $6,000 to clear him with.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 10, 1877.

OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK, Winfield, Kansas, May 9th, 1877.

Notice is hereby given that the Board of County Commissioners will meet at my office, in the Courthouse in Winfield, on Monday, June 4th, at 10 o’clock, a.m., of said day and proceed to equalize the assessment of property, as required by law. At which time and place all persons feeling aggrieved can appear and have all errors in the returns corrected.

M. G. TROUP, Co. Clerk.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 17, 1877. Editorial Page.

The railroad meeting at the Courthouse last Saturday was not so largely attended as it would have been had it not rained so as to prevent persons from remote townships being present.

The result of the meeting was practically the same—unanimity of feeling throughout, a general and determined line of policy agreed upon, a determination to put forth every honest effort to carry the bonds for the east and west proposition and to “nail down the hatchways” on the innumerable lies circulated by the enemies of the same.

A wordy little war between a Winfield and an Arkansas City divine, culminating in an unconditional surrender of the latter, helped to enliven the occasion.

The resolution, as published in the report of the proceedings, was offered by W. W. Limbocker, one of the sterling, thorough-going, hard-working farmers of which Winfield Township and Cowley County is justly proud. These are not only his sentiments, but those of a majority of the toiling, thinking men of this “province.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 17, 1877. Editorial Page.

SATURDAY’S RAILROAD MEETING.

WINFIELD, KANSAS, May 12, 1877.

At a railroad meeting of the citizens of Cowley County, held at the Courthouse, in Winfield, on motion Reuben Boothe was elected chairman and C. M. Wood secretary. By request E. C. Manning stated the objects of the meeting and then read a lengthy letter from the president of the Parsons railroad company, explaining his absence from the meeting and assuring the people of Cowley that the road would be built if the aid was voted. Mr. Manning further gave a full detail of the necessity, the probability, and the prospect of a railroad through the county from the east. Amos Walton, of Arkansas City, was called upon but failed to respond. Rev. Mr. Rusbridge then spoke in favor of the east and west proposition for railroad, and also exposed the attempted perpetration of frauds in opposition to the E. & M. R. R. Rev. Mr. Fleming of Arkansas City made a few remarks in explanation of his position on narrow gauge R. R. Mr. Mitchell, of Ark. City, was called upon and responded with remarks in favor of north and south railroad. Mr. Hackney, of Winfield, was called upon and spoke in favor of the east and west railroad. Mr. C. M. Wood, J. B. Evans, E. P. Young, and others, spoke on the subject.

The following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That we, the citizens of Cowley County, have full confidence in the Memphis, Parsons & Ellsworth R. R. Western Branch, project and that we will support it at the forthcoming election.

On motion the meeting adjourned. REUBEN BOOTH, Chairman.

C. M. WOOD, Secretary.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 23, 1877.

DISTRICT COURT in Cowley County adjourned last Thursday evening. Barber was sentenced to six months in the county jail for attempting to commit rape on his half sister.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 7, 1877.

Have you seen the new window blinds in the offices at the Courthouse?

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 7, 1877.

The ice cream festival given by the ladies of the M. E. Church Society, at the Courthouse on last Friday evening was the most enjoyable entertainment we have attended this season.

Receipts about $25.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 13, 1877.

On Tuesday the Sheriff of Sumner County arrested at Arkansas City, this county, on a requisition from the Governor of Iowa, one John O. Fieldkirchner, of State Center, Marshal County, Iowa, and lodged him in the Winfield jail to await further orders. The young man is charged with seduction, which under the laws of the State of Iowa is very severely punished. Telegram.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 14, 1877.

Tardy Justice.

EDITOR COURIER: On the evening of May 4th the Ladies’ Mutual Improvement Society, of Winfield, gave a public entertainment, but which, through some combination of circumstances the town papers have failed to notice. Of course the editors are too gallant to neglect, intentionally, such a treat as was on that evening given to the fine audience assembled in the Courthouse. Is it too late to do even tardy justice to this event? Really it was an event that deserves more than a passing notice, for it proved the existence of a society in our city whose aim is the cultivation of the social and intellectual faculties of its members. Can any society have a higher or a nobler purpose?

The salutatory, by Mrs. John D. Pryor, was pronounced admirable and sensible by all who have spoken of it. The quotation of poems from female poets was a brilliant selection of choice thoughts. The essay of Mrs. Tony Boyle, “Waiting,” was most excellent in style and brim full of fine ideas. The reading by Miss Wickersham, Misses Alice and Nellie Aldrich, were quite creditable in manner as well as matter. In the dialogue, “The Country Cousin,” Miss Kate Millington demonstrated her ability to “shine” in the kitchen not less than in the parlor. Mrs. Doctor Mansfield’s wax works formed a collection of beauty, grace, wit, worth, and genius rarely found in one assemblage, and to be justly appreciated, ought to be seen. The hen song was original, unique, mysterious. Only the most cultivated taste and the most refined ear could appreciate its beauties. The baby song, a quotation from Bitter Sweet, was lovely in conception and as lovely in execution. The exercises were interspersed with solos, duets, and quartettes, beautiful in thought and expression. The closing solo, by Miss Gowen, was one of the finest songs of the evening.

Truly may our citizens feel proud of this society, and may we all rejoice when again it will open its doors to a similar entertainment.

Courthouse Hall.

Winfield Courier, June 14, 1877.

The Closing Exercises

of the Winfield public schools came off Friday afternoon of last week under the direction of Geo. W. Robinson, principal. The four schools united in giving an entertainment in the Courthouse hall. These exercises consisted of songs, declamations, essays, dialogues, and a paper. Jay Bryan, in a well delivered declamation, told us why a dog’s nose is always cold, and Samuel Aldrich rendered the “Wedding of Whitinsville” quite well. Three little girls, Ada Rushbridge, Minnie Andrews, and Nellie Plank gave a dialogue teaching the true source of pleasure, and Minnie Quarles and Anna Hunt illustrated the difference between the “good old times” and the present degenerate age. Frank Robinson came to the rescue of the much-abused grandmothers, while George Black advised us to “smile” whenever we can. Berkey Bartlett gave a good rendition of “The Sculptor Boy,” and Johnny Howland told us how well we look “sitting around.”

The essays by Misses Robertson, Nauman, and Winslow, were well read, and showed that this important branch of education has not been neglected by our teachers.

Lady Clare, by Miss Lizzie Kinne; Maud Muller, by Miss Laura McMillen; and The Ballad Carnilhan, by Miss Eugene Holmes, were recitations of some length and much merit.

The opening song was a good selection, and was well rendered. The quartette, Beautiful Rain, sung by Misses Jennie Hane, Lutie Newman, Eugene Holmes, and Jennie Lowry, was finely executed and highly appreciated by the audience.

The exercises altogether were quite pleasant, and scholars and teachers deserve praise for the labors which ended in this afternoon entertainment.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 14, 1877.

On last Saturday night a horse was stolen from C. W. Wooden, living about two miles south of town. Mr. Will Johnson, who has been working in this city since last winter, is the supposed thief. On last Friday evening he visited Mr. Wooden and was looking at his horse, which was lariated some distance from the house. On leaving he told Mr. Wooden he was going to his former home in Texas. He was seen on Saturday afternoon lying on the prairie, with his own pony lariated, but on Sunday was not to be found and Mr. Wooden’s horse was missing. Geo. Walker, the deputy sheriff, was at once notified, who immediately started in pursuit. He hunted over the prairie to the Arkansas River, until he found the thief’s trail, which he followed to Wichita, arriving at that place about 5 o’clock in the evening on Monday. Within twenty minutes after his arrival, Mr. Johnson was under arrest. He was lodged in jail in this city yesterday afternoon.

Courthouse in El Dorado.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 4, 1877.

PROF. HOYT is organizing a class in gymnastic performances. The courthouse is the place where they exercise themselves. The professor is quite an expert at the various tricks on the horizontal bar, tumbling, etc., having been connected at various times with traveling exhibitions. He is as good as any of them. Eldorado Press.

You can bet your last nickel on our “Buffalo Joe.” He gave lessons to the circus performers here two years ago.

Excerpts from long article...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877.

County Commissioners’ Proceedings.

D. F. Long, jail repairs, $3.00

Courthouse Insurance.

Winfield Courier, August 9, 1877.

Two different companies, in which the Courthouse has been insured, have failed and the county has lost the insurance money. T. K. Johnston was the agent who wrote up the policies.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877. Editorial. E. C. Manning, Editor.

REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION.

The Republican voters of Cowley County are hereby notified that there will be a delegate convention of Republicans to be held at the Courthouse in the city of Winfield on Saturday, Sept. 22nd, 1877, at 11 o’clock A.M., for the purpose of nominating one Sheriff, one County Clerk, one Register of Deeds, one Treasurer, one County Surveyor, one Coroner.

Also one Commissioner each for districts No. 1, 2, and 3, to be nominated by the delegates from their respective districts.

The following is the representation each township is entitled to in the convention as fixed by the Central Committee, at their meeting Aug. 4th, 1877.

Beaver, Cedar, Harvey, Liberty, Maple, Ninnescah, Omnia, Otter, Pleasant Valley, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Spring Creek, Silverdale, Tisdale, two delegates.

Bolton, Dexter, Rock Creek, Richland, Vernon, Windsor, three delegates.

Creswell, four delegates.

Winfield, six delegates.

It is recommended by the committee that the primary meetings for the election of delegates be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 1877, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the usual place of voting in each township, except in townships where there are two voting precincts, in which case the place of meeting may be designated by the Chairman of the Township Committee, except further that in Winfield and Creswell townships said primaries will be held at 1 o’clock p.m.

CHAS. H. EAGIN, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 16, 1877.

Prof. L. B. Kellogg, of Emporia, will address the teachers and citizens Friday evening at the Courthouse on “Education for the People.” Free to all. Give him a house full.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877.

REPUBLICAN COUNTY CONVENTION.

The Republican voters of Cowley County are hereby notified that there will be a delegate convention of the Republican party to be held at the Courthouse, in the city of Winfield, on Saturday, September 22nd, 1877, at 11 o’clock, a.m., for the purpose of nominating the following officers:

One Sheriff, one County Clerk, one Register of Deeds, one Treasurer, one County Surveyor, one Coroner.

Also one Commissioner each for districts 1, 2, and 3, to be nominated by the delegates from their respective districts.

The following is the Representation each township is entitled to in the convention, as fixed by the Central Committee at their meeting Aug. 4th, 1877.

Beaver, Cedar, Harvey, Liberty, Maple, Ninnescah, Omnia, Otter, Pleasant Valley, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Spring Creek, Silverdale, Tisdale, two delegates each.

Bolton, Dexter, Rock Creek, Richland, Vernon, Windsor, three delegates each.

Creswell, four delegates.

Winfield, six delegates.

Total, 56.

It is ordered by the Committee that the primary meetings for the election of delegates be held on Saturday, Sept. 15th, 1877, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the usual places of voting, in each township, except in townships where there are two precincts, in which case the place of meeting shall be designated by the Chairman of the township committee, except further that in Winfield and Creswell townships, said primaries will be held at 1 o’clock p.m.

Let every Republican voter in the county be present at the primary meetings at the hours above designated, in order that a fair and impartial representation may be had in the convention.

By order of the Republican Central Committee. T. K. JOHNSTON, Chairman.

NOTE: IN THE PREVIOUS ISSUE, COURIER PRINTED ELECTION NOTICE BY CHAS. H. EAGIN, SECRETARY...IT WAS REPEATED IN THIS ISSUE...THE NOTICE GIVEN BY EAGIN AND JOHNSTON WERE MORE OR LESS IDENTICAL EXCEPT EAGIN SAID “It is recommended by the committee that the primary meetings for the election of delegates be held on Saturday, Sept. 15, 1877, etc.,” WHEREAS JOHNSTON SAID “It is ordered by the committee, etc.,” and added final paragraph: “Let every Republican voter in the county be present at the primary meetings at the hours above designated, in order that a fair and impartial representation may be had in the convention,” followed by the line “By order of the Republican Central Committee.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 23, 1877.

Mr. D. A. Millington will lecture before the teachers and citizens at the Courthouse on Friday evening next. Subject: Prairie and Forest Fires.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 29, 1877.

HORSE THIEF CAUGHT.

On Friday night of last week, W. L. Han, living on Grouse Creek, fourteen miles from the mouth, brought into this place one Thomas Conkhite, whom he had pursued and arrested for stealing a dark bay horse from his herd. The horse was taken by Conkhite while the owner was at dinner, and ridden to South Haven, where his father lives. As soon as Mr. Han found his horse missing, he followed the thief, and came upon him on the prairie near South Haven. When Conkhite saw Han, he started his horse on a run. Han rode the best horse, and soon came within shooting distance, and fired two shots. Conkhite then threw up his hands and cried: “I’ll surrender; for God’s sake, don’t shoot me!” He was then brought into town and tried before Judge Christian, who bound him over in the sum of $300 and gave him in charge of Wm. Gray, the city marshal. Mr. Gray handcuffed him and kept him until three o’clock in the morning, when he deputized Mr. Han to watch him until daylight. Mr. Han went to sleep, and the prisoner ran to the Arkansas River, got on the ferry boat, and took it across. Just as he landed, he met a man with a team, whom he asked to cut off the handcuffs. The man worked at them awhile, and then drove on to town and told of the occurrence. Several persons started in pursuit, but could not find him. Before long he went to John Linton’s house in Bolton Township, and told him he had escaped from the officer in town, where he had been arrested for being drunk. Mr. Linton told him if that was the case, he guessed he would take charge of him, and brought him back. Mr. Linton’s courage is commendable, especially so since he has to use a crutch, to get along. After the arrival of Conkhite, he was taken to Winfield, and confined in the county jail to await his trial.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 30, 1877.

Mrs. W. D. Russell’s troup of vocalists will give a concert at the Courthouse in Winfield on the evening of Sept. 8th.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 6, 1877.

RAILROAD MEETINGS.

Meetings will be held at the following places for the purpose of discussing the proposition to vote $120,000 in bonds to the Kansas City, Emporia & Southern Railway Co., as follows:

Thomasville schoolhouse in Beaver tp., Monday, Sept. 10th, at 7 p.m.

Brane’s schoolhouse, Pleasant Valley tp., Tuesday, 11th, at 7 p.m.

Park’s schoolhouse in Silverdale tp., Wednesday, 12th, at 7 p.m.

Dexter schoolhouse, Thursday, 13th, at 7 p.m.

Coburn’s schoolhouse, in Silverdale township, Friday 14th, at 7 p.m.

Maple City, Saturday, 15th, at 7 p.m.

Patton’s, in Cedar tp., Monday 17th, at 7 p.m.

Darien schoolhouse, Rock tp., Monday, Sept. 10 at 7 p.m.

Floral schoolhouse, Rock tp., Monday, Sept. 10, 7 p.m.

Lazette, Wednesday, Sept. 12th, at 7 p.m.

Tisdale, Thursday, Sept. 13th, at 7 p.m.

Worden schoolhouse, Vernon tp., Friday, Sept. 14, 7 p.m.

Schoolhouse near the line between Ninnescah and Maple townships, Saturday, Sept. 15, at 7 p.m.

Courthouse at Winfield, Monday, Sept. 18, at 7 p.m.

Everybody invited to be present. Don’t fail to attend to this, the most important of all matters relating to your welfare.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 6, 1877.

Concert at the Courthouse Saturday evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.

The Hon. E. P. Bancroft, of Emporia, and other speakers, will address the voters of Cowley County on the subject of railroads as follows: Thursday evening, Sept. 13th, at the Tisdale schoolhouse, Tisdale; Friday evening, Sept. 14th, at the Worden schoolhouse, Vernon; Saturday evening, Sept. 15th, at the schoolhouse near the line between Maple and Ninnescah townships, Monday evening, Sept. 17th, at the Courthouse in Winfield.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 19, 1877.

An attempt is now being made to pardon John W. Barber, who was sentenced to jail last May for assault with intent to rape. The punishment of criminals in many instances often proves a mere farce.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.

Notice of Application for Pardon.

Notice is hereby given that on the 27th day of September, 1877, the undersigned will apply to the Governor of the State of Kansas for the pardon of one John W. Barber, now confined in the jail of Cowley County, Kansas, having been convicted at the May term, 1877, of the district court of said county, of the offense of assault with intent to rape.

LELAND J. WEBB, Attorney for John W. Barber.

Winfield, Kansas, Sept. 6, 1877.

Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.

JOHN W. BARBER gives notice in another column that on the 27th inst. he will make application for a pardon. We are surprised at his doing this. He is the guest of the county and is as highly honored in Winfield as Gen. Grant is in Europe. Some months ago the mayor presented him with “the freedom of the city.”

Notice of Application for Pardon.

Notice is hereby given that on the 27th day of September, 1877, the undersigned will apply to the Governor of the State of Kansas for the pardon of one John W. Barber, now confined in the jail of Cowley County, Kansas, having been convicted at the May term, 1877, of the district court of said county, of the offense of assault with intent to rape.

LELAND J. WEBB, Attorney for John W. Barber.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.

Republican Convention.

The following persons are elected delegates to the Republican convention at the Courthouse next Saturday.

Beaver. M. Teter, A. B. Littell.

Bolton. Hawkins, Buzzi.

Cedar. Wiley, W. A. Metcalf.

Creswell. A. A. Chamberlain, R. A. Houghton, T. E. Mantor, Dr. Cormack, Mantor.

Dexter. J. F. Hardin, Wallace Creagor.

Harvey. Martin Barber, Robt. Strother.

Liberty. J. H. Mounts, Henry Collier.

Maple. H. H. Siverd, W. B. Norman.

Ninnescah. Dr. Keffer, Leonard Stout.

Omnia. W. H. Gilliard, E. Henthorn.

Otter. J. J. Smith, Hiram Utt.

Pleasant Valley. T. J. Harris, Chas. Seacat

Richland. Daniel Maher, Samuel Groom, John R. Thompson.

Rock. Chas. Eagin, W. J. Funk, Geo. H. Williams.

Silver Creek. Wm. May, Harvey Smith.

Silverdale. B. French, B. W. Herbert.

Sheridan. H. Treadway.

Spring Creek. Wiley.

Tisdale. J. S. Baker, O. P. West.

Vernon. F. W. Schwantes, P. M. Waite, C. S. Smith.

Windsor. M. Jackson, J. Reynolds, Geo. Lee.

Winfield. Jno. E. Allen, H. L. Barker, W. P. Hackney, N. M. Chaffee, L. J. Webb, and Sampson Johnson.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.

Rev. J. C. Hill, of Adrian, Michigan, will deliver a lecture, interspersed with reading, at the courthouse on tomorrow (Friday) evening. The proceeds to be applied for the benefit of the new Presbyterian church. Admittance 25 cents. Mr. Hill is highly recommended as an orator and humorist, and has made his name quite famous in Michigan.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.

THE CONVENTION.

WINFIELD, KANSAS, Sept. 22, 1877.

Pursuant to the call of the Republican County Central Committee, of Cowley County, the delegates assembled in convention at the courthouse, in the city of Winfield, on Saturday, Sept. 22, 1877, at 11 o’clock a.m.

The convention was called to order by T. K. Johnston, Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee.

On motion Albert Chamberlain of Creswell Township, was chosen temporary chairman, and Chas. H. Eagin, of Rock Township, temporary secretary.

On motion the following committees were appointed by the chairman: Committee on permanent organization, C. A. Metcalf, A. A. Wiley, Robt. Strother, C. S. Smith, and H. L. Barker.

Committee on credentials, W. P. Hackney, H. H. Siverd, James Utt, G. W. Herbert, and Daniel Maher.

On motion convention adjourned to meet at half past 1 o’clock.

A. CHAMBERLAIN, Temporary Chairman.

CHAS. EAGIN, Temporary Secretary.

AFTERNOON SESSION.

Convention called to order by the chairman.

The committee on credentials submitted the following report.

Mr. Chairman: Your committee on credentials beg leave to request that the following townships and delegates therefrom are entitled to representation and seats in this convention.

Maple: H. H. Siverd and W. B. Norman.

Winfield: J. E. Allen, H. L. Barker, W. P. Hackney, N. M. Chaffey, L. J. Webb, and S. Johnson.

Ninnescah: A. S. Capper, Len Stout.

Harvey: Robt. Strother, Martin Barber.

Spring Creek: A. A. Wiley, J. B. Callison.

Richland: Sam’l. Groom, J. R. Thompson, Daniel Maher.

Vernon: W. F. Schwantes, P. M. Waite, Chas. S. Smith.

Sheridan: C. Treadway, J. W. Dow.

Tisdale: O. P. West, J. S. Baker.

Silverdale: Benjamin French, G. W. Herbert.

Beaver: S. B. Littell, M. S. Teter.

Windsor: J. W. Jackson, Jos. Reynolds, Geo. Lee.

Bolton: L. Harkins, A. Buzzi, J. O. Herbert.

Omnia: J. L. Parsons, E. A. Henthorn.

Otter: J. J. Smith, Jas. Utt.

Liberty: Henry Colyer, J. H. Mounts.

Rock: Chas. H. Eagin, Frank Akers, Wm. J. Funk.

Creswell: A. Chamberlain, D. W. Cormack, Kendall Smith, Reuben Houghton.

Silver Creek: Harvey Smith, Mr. Peters.

Dexter: Jas. Harden, Fred Coker, John Wallace.

Cedar: W. A. Metcalf, Henry Thompson.

Pleasant Valley: Chas. Seacat, T. J. Harris.

Total: 56 delegates.

Respectfully submitted.

W. P. Hackney, Dan’l. Maher, H. H. Siverd, Jas. Utt, G. W. Herbert.

On motion the report was adopted.

The committee on permanent organization submitted the following report.

Mr. Chairman: Your committee on permanent organization and order of business beg leave to submit the following report.

For permanent chairman, J. B. Callison; for permanent secretary, Chas. H. Eagin; assistant secretary, R. A. Houghton. That the order of business be as follows.

1st. Selection of County Central Committee.

2nd. Nominations in the following order: Sheriff, Coroner, County Clerk, County Treasurer, Register of Deeds, County Surveyor, and County Commissioners.

3rd. That in balloting for each candidate the secretary shall call the roll and each delegate as his name is called will answer with the name of the person he desires to vote for.

W. H. Metcalf, A. A. Wiley, C. S. Smith, R. S. Strother, H. L. Barker.

On the question of the adoption of the report, a motion prevailed to adopt the order of business, excepting the selection of Central Committee and the manner of voting for candidates.

It was then moved and carried that the selection of County Central Committee be the last thing in the order of business, and that tellers be appointed to receive and count the votes for candidates in the regular way.

Nominations being next in order, a motion to take an informal ballot to bring out candidates for Sheriff was carried.

On the first ballot Leon Lippmann received 21 votes; A. T. Shenneman, 16; Geo. Walker, 15; S. W. Chase, 4.

The balloting continued until the 24th ballot was reached, when the convention adjourned for supper.

At 7 p.m. convention called to order and proceeded with the ballot for sheriff. At the 45th ballot S. W. Chase withdrew from the race. When the 53rd ballot was reached, A. T. Shenneman withdrew in favor of Lippmann, followed by Geo. Walker.

A motion carried to suspend the rules and call the roll of the house on the question of making Mr. Lippmann the nominee. The roll was called and resulted in favor of Lippmann, who was declared nominated.

Nominations for Coroner being next in order, Dr. J. Headrick and Dr. W. G. Graham were nominated. The ballot for Coroner resulted as follows: Dr. Graham, 38; Headrick, 13. Graham was declared nominated.

Nominations for County Clerk being next in order L. J. Webb announced that M. G. Troup had withdrawn in favor of J. S. Hunt and moved the nomination of Hunt by acclamation. The motion prevailed and Hunt was so nominated.

Nominations for County Treasurer being next in order, T. R. Bryan having no opposition was nominated by acclamation.

Next in order was Register of Deeds. Jacob Nixon received 5 votes, E. P. Kinne, 30, Chas. Irwin, 10, M. G. Roseberry, 4, I. S. Bonsall, 5. E. P. Kinne was declared nominated.

Next in order was County Surveyor. G. S. Manser and N. A. Haight were nominated. Manser received 5 votes, Haight, 44; result declared in favor of Haight.

On motion a county central committee consisting of one member from each township was chosen by the delegates from the respective townships. The following gentlemen were selected:

Maple, W. B. Norman; Winfield, L. J. Webb; Ninnescah, H. Martin; Harvey, L. L. Newton; Spring Creek, J. B. Callison; Richland, N. J. Larkin; Vernon, P. M. Waite; Sheridan, B. Longshore; Tisdale, S. W. Chase; Silverdale, John Tipton; Beaver, C. W. Roseberry; Windsor, S. M. Fall; Bolton, Reuben Bowers; Omnia, W. H. Gilliard; Otter, C. R. Miles; Liberty, Justus Fisher; Rock, Frank Akers; Creswell, C. R. Mitchell; Silver Creek, A. P. Brooks; Dexter, H. C. McDorman; Cedar, W. A. Metcalf; Pleasant Valley, T. J. Harris.

The following named gentlemen were nominated by the delegates from their respective districts as candidates for County Commissioners:

1st District: Geo. L. Gale. 2nd District: W. M. Sleeth. 3rd District: R. F. Burden.

On motion convention adjourned. J. B. CALLISON, Chairman.

CHAS. H. EAGIN, Secretary. R. A. HOUGHTON, Assistant Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 27, 1877.

The lecture on “Wit and Humor,” delivered by the Rev. J. C. Hill, at the Courthouse on Friday evening, was well attended and was a decided sensation. The lecturer is a young man of good looks, pleasing address, and a first class elocutionist. His renderings of various selections and readings to illustrate the subject of his lecture were exquisite, and his audience were frequently convulsed with laughter. The general expression we have heard from those who attended has been that the lecture was the best of the kind they had ever heard.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 4, 1877.

An important meeting was held at Doctor Mansfield’s drug store Tuesday morning, to take steps toward organizing a lecture and library association. Committees were appointed and directed to report on Friday morning next, at the courthouse, when a permanent organization will be effected. Let all interested parties attend.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 11, 1877.

The Republicans of Winfield Township will take notice that a convention of the Republican voters of said township will be held at the Courthouse in Winfield on Saturday, November 3, at 2 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of placing in nomination candidates for the various township offices. C. C. PIERCE, Chairman. S. E. BURGER, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 11, 1877.

Programme of the Philomatic Society to be held at the Courthouse in Winfield, Friday evening, October 12th, 1877.

1. Music. 2. Reading of the minutes of last meeting. 3. Election of officers. 4. Music.

5. Valedictory by out-going president. 6. Music. 7. Discussion of the question: Resolved, That our country owes its prosperity more to the civil law than to the Divine law.

Affirmative: W. P. Hackney and O. M. Seward.

Negative: J. L. Rushbridge and F. S. Jennings.

8. Miscellaneous business. 9. Music. 10. Report of committee on programme.

C. M. WOOD, President. EMMA SAINT, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 25, 1877.

J. C. Fuller has commenced the building of a new residence on his square southeast of the courthouse. It is supposed it will be something fine.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 28, 1877.

HORSE THIEF CAUGHT.

A colored man, of short, thick stature, who has been stopping with Mr. Banks on the south side of the Arkansas, was arrested at the ferry last Wednesday by Sheriff Walker, on the charge of stealing a horse from Henry Coryell on Monday night. The horse was stolen while Mr. Coryell was attending church at Parker’s schoolhouse, and taken to Dexter and traded to a son of Uncle Billy Moore, of Crab Creek, for another horse. Moore’s horse was then sold to Jim Allen, the butcher in Winfield, for a watch and $20. The thief gives his name as Charley Williams; says he is from Elk County to this place, but was born and raised in Missouri, having lived awhile in St. Joseph. He has been bound over to appear at the next term of court, and will be confined in jail until that time.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 5, 1877.

Court Proceedings.

WINFIELD, KANS., Dec. 3, 1877.

Friend Scott: I thought that a line from the capital would not be unacceptable to your suburban paper. Court is now in full blast, although there is but a light docket, only two criminal cases and 42 civil cases. One-fourth of them are in the hands of your town lawyers—C. R. Mitchell and James Christian. They are the only lawyers from a distance in attendance so far. The prospects are gloomy for a lively term, as it is now raining with little appearance of clearing off. Our streets are muddy, and travel to and from the courthouse is disagreeable. Very few persons in town from the country, so that altogether things look and feel gloomy. But your correspondent feels happy as all Christians should.

I send you a list of all the jurors for this term. Williams, the negro who stole Coryell’s horse, has been arraigned, and plead guilty; has not been sentenced yet. He seemed the best humored criminal I ever saw. When called up, he looked as smiling as if going to a frolic.

LIST OF JURORS. Wm. Butterfield, Chas. Roseberry, Add Smith, E. Baldwin, J. W. Ledlie, Lafayette Baldwin, G. W. Bennett, G. B. Green, P. C. Clark, N. E. Newell, R. R. Longshore, Thos. Hart.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 6, 1877.

On last Thursday evening as pleasant and select party as ever before assembled in Southern Kansas, assembled at the Courthouse in this city. The skies were cloudless and it was a most beautiful evening, though very cold—so cold and chilly that many who were invited could not attend. Notwithstanding, there were about thirty-five couples in attendance, all of whom expressed themselves as never enjoying themselves better and as being well pleased with the party in general. At 11;30 p.m., supper was called, which was served in good style at the Williams House. At 12 o’clock the party reassembled, the musicians resumed their positions, and tripping of the “light fantastic toe” was engaged in with rare vigor. The long-to-be-remembered party concluded at half past 2 o’clock with the “Scotch Real,” after which about seventy-five happy persons, two by two, reluctantly wended their way homeward, regretting that Thanksgiving parties are given but once a year. The music, furnished by the Roberts Bros. and Will Marshal, was splendid.

1878

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 3, 1878.

Public Installation.

Winfield Lodge, No. 479, Knights of Honor, will have a public installation of officers at the Courthouse on Friday evening, January 4th, 1878. After the installation ceremonies, Rev. J. L. Rushbridge will deliver an address upon the origin, growth, and objects of the order. The public are cordially invited. GEO. W. ROBINSON, Reporter.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 3, 1878.

Notice is hereby given that Winfield Lodge, No. 101, I. O. O. F., will hold a public installation on the first Saturday (5th) of January, 1878, at 7½ o’clock p.m. All Odd Fellows are invited to be present. At the Courthouse. E. S. BEDILION, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 10, 1878.

There was a public installation of officers of the Knights of Honor at the Courthouse last Friday evening. Rev. J. L. Rushbridge delivered an address. The officers of the organization for 1878 are as follows: Past Dictator, A. E. Baird; Dictator, E. P. Kinne; Vice Dictator, Geo. W. Robinson; Assistant Dictator, J. L. Rushbridge; Chaplain, S. H. Myton; Guide, John W. Curns; Reporter, H. D. Gans; Financial Reporter, A. Howland; Treasurer, W. C. Robinson; Guar., H. Brotherton; Sent’l., J. F. Snyder.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 17, 1878.

FROM LITTLE DUTCH.

LITTLE DUTCH, COWLEY CO., KAN., January 14, 1878.

EDITOR COURIER: Will you please insert this in your paper?

Cowley County District Grange will meet at the courthouse, in Winfield, on the first Saturday in February, at 10 o’clock a.m., for the purpose of installing officers, and at 7 p.m. to confer fifth degree on all that are entitled. Masters of all granges who are entitled to the annual word will receive it that day. Come one, come all. All fourth degree members are invited. Come with full baskets and have a good time. C. COON, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 23, 1878.

The Cowley County District Grange will meet at the Courthouse in Winfield on the first Saturday in February, at 10 o’clock a.m., for installing officers, and at 7 p.m. to confer the fifth degree on all that are entitled. Masters of all Granges who are entitled to the annual word [?] will receive it that day. Come one, come all. All fourth degree members are invited to come with full baskets, and have a good time. C. COON, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 31, 1878.

SWISS BELL RINGERS. The Andrews family of Swiss Bell Ringers that gave such a successful entertainment at this place about one year ago will favor us again tomorrow night, February 1st, at the Courthouse. Performances to begin at 7 o’clock, with admission of 25 and 35 cents. We have no hesitation in saying the entertainment given before was one of the best ever rendered in Southern Kansas, and one which our people were delighted with. The exercises will consist of bell ringing, singing, and instrumental music. It will be worth the admission fee alone to see them handle the bells when performing music. Do not miss it or you will regret it until you have a chance to see them.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 20, 1878.

THE TRIAL OF BILSON AND RIDENOUR was held at Pearson’s Hall last Wednesday afternoon and night. County Attorney McDermott prosecuted the case, with C. R. Mitchell defending Ridenour, and Amos Walton defending Bilson. Judge Christian and I. H. Bonsall were the judges. Bilson was bound over to appear at the next term of the District Court, in the sum of $600, and failing to obtain bail, was committed to jail. The evidence was not sufficient to convict Ridenour, and he was discharged. In searching Bilson’s property, in Mrs. Williams’ boarding house, some goods were found that had been taken from Charley Balcom’s house some time ago, also some articles that were taken from A. K. Melton’s trunk.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 27, 1878.

NICHOLAS HOSTETLER, an old man sixty years of age, living on the divide about four miles north of this place, was arrested last week on the complaint of his son for holding sexual intercourse with his two daughters, aged fifteen and nineteen years.

The testimony proved he had been practicing his hellish designs for more than two years, and he was bound over to appear at the next term of court for trial, and is now confined in the county jail.

His wife returned to Indiana, to the place of their former residence, several years ago, and he has been living with his family since then.

His preliminary trial took place at Winfield, before Justice Boyer, by whom he was bound over. The matter has caused considerable excitement, and his neighbors are wonderfully indignant at the prolonged outrage in their midst. What the trial will develop remains to be seen.

Winfield Courier, February 28, 1878.

A man named Nicholas Hostetler, living about four miles north of Arkansas City, had a preliminary examination before Justice Boyer charged with incest. The victims are two young daughters, fine looking and appearing modest, timid, and frightened. It is charged that the crime commenced against each when about twelve years of age, and has continued with the elder the last four, and with the younger the last two years under threats of death in case of complaint. The defense, supported by many circumstances, claim that it is a job put up by his children and others to get rid of the old man (who is near sixty years old) and get his property. He was held to bail in $3,000, in default of which he is confined in the county jail to await the May session of the district court. Public sentiment is very strong against him and there has been talk of lynching, but better counsels seem to prevail. We do not desire to prejudice the case in any way, and we avoid expressing an opinion as to the truth of the charge, but, if true, we have no words adequate to express our abhorrence.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 28, 1878.

Those who attended the performances of McEvoy’s Hibernians at the courthouse last Friday and Saturday evenings say that McGinnis, as a delineator of character, and Miss Arenza, as a vocalist, are “splendid,” and that nothing of the kind has ever transpired in Winfield so amusing and so generally good.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 21, 1878.

Finch, with his “boarders,” were scrubbing out the jail last Monday.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 13, 1878.

Bilson and the colored man who stole the horse escaped from the jail at Winfield, Monday night, and have not yet been found. As Finch, the jailer, went in, the darkey knocked him down, and the two ran out and locked the jailer in. It was half an hour before he could get out.

LATER. Bilson was caught yesterday morning under the U. P. Church, by William J. Gray. That is the nearest Bilson has come to attending church for a long time.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 14, 1878.

Escape of Prisoners.

Young Finch went into the jail about 11 o’clock on Monday evening; his father, the jailer being absent at Wichita, to get the light and lock up the cells. On entering a cell, he was immediately shut in by the prisoners and two of them; a colored man charged with horse stealing, and Bilson, the Arkansas City man charged with stealing jewelry, escaped. Hostetler remains. Says he did not want to leave. A good horse is missing from Dr. Davis’ place and a poker from the jail was left in place of the horse.

LATER. The white man has been retaken.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 20, 1878.

The darkey horse thief who escaped with Bilson by locking the jailor in the jail last week was caught on Skull creek, by John Barber, who was shot by his brother a few months ago for an attempt at rape. The darkey carried a wooden poker with him with his name cut on it that he had in his cell to the place where he stole a horse. The next morning the horse was gone, and the stick was found close by, which led to his capture. The sheriff and deputies were surprisingly active in the capture of the man and did some hard riding to effect it.

Excerpts from article...

“Old Log Store” Used as Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 20, 1878.

COMMUNICATION FROM “RAMBLER” RE WINFIELD.

Another attraction is added to this day’s proceedings for the sightseers: The removal of an “Old Land Mark” in Winfield’s history. The old log building belonging to Col. Manning, that has been used as a post office, printing office, courthouse, and I believe a hotel at one time, has been yanked out of its old place and carried up Main Street further.

Col. Manning’s shirt sleeves are engineering the job, and Col. Hudson is the contractor.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, March 21, 1878. Front Page.

Cowley County has her schoolhouses, her churches, her courthouse, and her bridges mostly built and paid for and the taxation for these purposes will hereafter be light. In the new counties along the railroads all these have yet to be built and paid for and the taxation must necessarily be heavy.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 21, 1878.

Next Monday evening, the 25th, at the courthouse will be rendered the drama of “Ten Nights in a Bar-Room.” This drama has been under rehearsal by the young people here under the tuition of Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis, who will, with nine others, be actors in the play. The public will be well entertained.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 21, 1878.

The black man who escaped from the county jail with Bilson, as noticed last week, was recaptured last week by Martin Barber on Skull Creek, and has also been returned to jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 27, 1878.

Stolen Horses Recovered.

Friday afternoon two well appearing young men rode into town horseback, and stopped for the night. In the morning they attempted to sell their horses very cheap, claiming they were from Sumner County and needed money. In the meantime a postal card was received stating that two horses, a sorrel horse with white face and a bay horse, had been stolen from Thayer, Kansas, about 100 miles distant. One of the horses had been purchased in the meantime by Mr. Riddle, the dry goods merchant, who traded a suit of clothes for it. The postal card was directed to the City Marshal, and was handed to Wm. Gray, who, with constable Morgan, examined the property, found the description almost exact, and arrested the two men in the saloon without resistance. They had a preliminary trial before Judge Christian and were bound over to appear at the next term of the District Court to be held in May. In default of bail, they were committed to jail. The countenances of the two were not of the best, and their demeanor before the Justice’s court was such as to make anyone believe they were guilty, as they declined to give their names or answer any questions. Before taking them to jail, Mr. Riddle recovered the clothes he had traded them, but is out the $4 in cash he gave as booty.

Excerpts from article...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 28, 1878.

FROM LAZETTE.

We have had a sensation here. Geo. Walker came out hunting the negro who broke jail. He passed on as far east as Greenfield, and before he got back, the thief was captured by Geo. Denton and Martin Barber, ten miles above town on Grouse.

The neighborhood was startled again on Thursday morning following by the report of Mr. McNeal’s horse being stolen. The neighbors turned out to hunt the horse and thief. About noon the horse came home but some of the men in pursuit had not returned on the following Saturday evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 11, 1878.

Dramatic Entertainment.

At the courthouse, Monday evening, April 15th.

First act of “Rip Van Winkle,” with Chas. McGinnis as Rip.

Violin duet by the Roberts Brothers.

To conclude with “The Persecuted Dutchman.”

Reserved seats 35 cents; for sale at McCommon & Harter’s.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 11, 1878.

Greenback Convention.

There will be a meeting of the presidents of greenback clubs in Cowley County at the courthouse in Winfield at one o’clock, p.m., on Saturday, the 27th of April, 1878, for the purpose of perfecting a county organization. It is hoped there will be a full attendance as the business to be transacted is of great importance to our cause. Each club is also requested to appoint two members as delegates to meet with the presidents at the time and place above mentioned for consultation.

A. S. WILLIAMS, President, Vernon Club.

S. B. HUNT, Pres., Odessa Club, Pleasant Valley Township.

J. B. CALLISON, Pres., Fairview Club, Dexter Township.

GEORGE BURDETT, President, Dexter Club.

N. B. Correspondence relating to the organization of clubs may be addressed to N. C. Coldwell, at Winfield, who will furnish all information desired upon the subject.

Excerpt from County Commission meeting...

Courthouse Insurance.

Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.

The board took $5,000 fire insurance policy on the courthouse in the American Central Insurance Co. for a period of 3 years, and paid therefor the sum of $100.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.

THEATER. The performances of Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis and Mr. Stivers at the courthouse last Monday evening were very fine indeed.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.

Cowley County Fair.

A public meeting will be held at the courthouse in Winfield on the 11th day of May, 1878, at 2 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of organizing an agricultural society, and to take into consideration the propriety of holding a Fair during the coming fall. All are invited to attend, and it is hoped that all interests appropriately connected with the enterprise will be represented.

J. E. Platter, B. B. Vandeventer, J. B. Lynn, T. B. Bryan, C. A. Bliss, E. P. Kinne, H. D. Gans, E. E. Bacon, Winfield; J. B. Holmes, W. White, W. J. Funk, Rock; S. M. Fall, R. F. Burden, Windsor; N. J. Larkin, A. Kelly, Richland; Charles A. McClung, J. S. Wooley, Vernon; Dr. Holland, G. Teeter, Beaver; W. B. Norman, Adam Walck, Maple; Dr. A. S. Capper, Ninnescah; Ira How, Liberty; Wm. J. Hodges, C. G. Handy, Tisdale; J. B. Callison, Spring Creek; D. W. Wiley, Cedar; E. Shriver, Sheridan; Jonas Messenger, Omnia; J. A. Bryan, Dexter; R. Stratton, Harvey; S. B. Adams, Creswell; J. M. Sample, D. P. Marshall, Bolton; G. W. Herbert, Silverdale; D. B. McCollum, S. Watt, Pleasant Valley.

Excerpt from County Commissioners’ meeting...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.

The following bill was allowed. W. R. Sears, jail steps.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 25, 1878.

The Winfield Orchestra Band will give an entertainment in the Courthouse on Friday evening, April 26th. The band will be assisted by some of the best vocalists in the city. The performance will close with the laughable Irish sketch, “Rascal Pat.,” under the supervision of Charles McGinnis.

The proceeds of the entertainment will go to provide instruments and music for the orchestra. Admission, 25 cents, Reserved seats 35 cents, for sale at McCommon and Harter’s.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.

There will be a dance at the Courthouse this evening.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 9, 1878.

The farewell entertainment of the Hibernians takes place at the courthouse on Wednesday evening of this week. Mr. and Mrs. McGinnis have afforded our people a fund of amusement and have made many warm friends in this place.

“Jailbirds.”

Arkansas City Traveler, May 15, 1878.

Our sheriff got some shackles for the “jail birds,” and locked them with some center spring, double back action padlocks—something that would hold them, you know, and this morning in escorting the colored prisoner to the courtroom they met with a difficulty in the way of the stairs, which the African gentleman was unable to climb on account of the shackles. He took in the situation at a glance and quietly remarked: “Mr. Hahta, will you please gub me the loan of your knife?” The knife was produced and was followed by the request: “Mr. Hahta, will you please hand me that little stick?” The stick was produced by the wondering sheriff; the dark colored gentleman gave it a few strokes with the knife, gently inserted it in the padlock, and in half a minute the shackles were off his limbs and handed to the sheriff with the remark: “Mr. Hahta, please take cah of des things. Much obliged fow de use eb you knife.” And now “Mr. Hahta” thinks of taking him to the blacksmith shop and having his shackles welded on. Daily Courier.

Excerpts of meeting that brought about formation of Cowley County Agricultural Society...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 16, 1878.

Pursuant to a call heretofore issued, a large assembly of representative men from different portions of Cowley County congregated at the courthouse in Winfield at 2 p.m., Saturday.

The committee having retired for duty, Capt. S. W. Greer, having been called upon, spoke warmly and interestingly in favor of the permanent organization of a Cowley County Agricultural Society.

Upon discussion it developed that the most satisfactory plan upon which to base the society was to incorporate it under the state law and issue shares of stock. On motion, after discussion, the shares will be 2,000 in number at five dollars each. The executive committee will meet at the courthouse next Thursday, at 1 p.m., to perfect the organization.

Probate Courtroom in Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 16, 1878.

Publication Notice.

STATE OF KANSAS, COWLEY COUNTY.

In the Probate Court of said Cowley County.

In the matter of the Estate of Zimri Stubbs, deceased.

To the creditors and all other persons interested in the said Estate above named:

You, and each of you, are hereby notified that the undersigned Administratrix of the said Estate of Zimri Stubbs, deceased, intends to make final settlement of the affairs of the said Estate, and of her accounts as administratrix thereof, in the Probate Court of the said County of Cowley, and State of Kansas, at the next term thereof, to be begun and held at the Probate Courtroom in the Courthouse, in the City of Winfield, in the County of Cowley aforesaid, on the first Monday in July next, the same being the July 1878 term of the said Probate Court. MERCY M. FUNK, Administratrix of the Estate of Zimri Stubbs, deceased.

HACKNEY & McDONALD, Attorneys.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 22, 1878.

We noticed a board floor and straw bed in a pig pen near the courthouse. It is said some of the county officers sleep there when they are unable to get home.

Excerpts from article...

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 5, 1878.

WINFIELD, KAS., June 3rd, 1878.

About a month ago the city council licensed three saloons for one year in this city. Jay Page at considerable cost had built a nice two story brick, and fitted up the lower room for a saloon, and furnished a suite of rooms above for gambling rooms. He opened four weeks ago last Saturday; and since then no two saloons in the county ever did such a rushing business. It was thronged from daylight to midnight, and frequently the gambling rooms were in full blast the entire night. It was the duty of the city council, when these facts were brought to their notice, to revoke the license; but they winked at it and allowed it to continue. Last Saturday about 4 p.m., Hon. L. J. Webb walked from the gambling room into the bar room where Page was standing, and shot him dead, and immediately gave himself into the hands of the Sheriff, James Hill. There is good evidence that Webb had been drugged and in a game of poker had been robbed of his money by Page. A coroner’s jury was empaneled and found in their verdict that Page came to his death by a pistol shot in the hands of lawyer Webb. The preliminary examination was set for trial today, before W. M. Boyer, but on account of the illness of Mr. Webb, it will be heard tomorrow, Tuesday, at 9 o’clock a.m.

There is a very strong feeling here in the matter, and there are some things in which all agree and that is that the city government should not have allowed such a hell hole to exist so long here, and that Jay Page was a notorious desperado and unsafe for any community, one who would not only gamble, but deliberately picked men’s pockets.

Page’s funeral was preached Sunday by Rev. Rushbridge, and he was buried immediately afterwards.

Hon. L. J. Webb is in jail waiting until the preliminary examination. SILAS.

Excerpt from article...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 6, 1878.

The funeral of Page took place from the M. E. Church Sunday, June 2nd.

Webb was held over in jail to Monday for his preliminary examination. On Monday he was very low and weak; too ill to be moved, and his examination was postponed until his condition will permit of it. Dr. Davis, who is attending him, expresses the opinion that his mind was in a shattered condition.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 6, 1878.

The following letter has been addressed to each township trustee in the county. We hope they will take action at once, and send a representative man to meet with the committee.

WINFIELD, KANSAS, May 30th, 1878.

DEAR SIR: Your attention is called to the fact that the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe R. R. company has made some advances toward building a railroad through this county.

A committee has been appointed by the citizens of this place to confer, and take such steps as may secure the construction of said road.

Your township is respectfully requested to send a delegate to meet with the committee at this place on Saturday, June 8th, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the Courthouse.

By order of committee. C. M. WOOD, Secretary.

The above letter is not as explicit as it might be. The committee think the time has arrived to strike for the extension of the Santa Fe road into this county, and desire to lay before committees from other townships such facts as they have, and consult with them as to what course is the best to pursue. We do not understand that a road is promised this year, but that the company require plenty of time for all emergencies, placing the time of completion at August 1, 1879, at farthest.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 12, 1878.

Railroad Matters.

WINFIELD, JUNE 8, 1878.

The necessity for a railroad has again pressed itself upon our people. Some time ago a few of our leading businessmen opened communication with the officials of the A., T. & S. F. railroad company at Topeka, with reference to their extending a branch of their road into Cowley County, and this afternoon a rather informal meeting was held at the courthouse for a more permanent organization and the appointment of a regular committee to further correspond with the A., T. & S. F. officials in reference to the matter. A resolution was carried unanimously that our county would vote $4,000 per mile in bonds (not to exceed $140,00 in all) for the construction and equipment of a road from the northern to the southern line of our county, either from El Dorado or Wichita. A new committee was selected, composed of Judge Coldwell of Winfield, Judge Christian of Arkansas City, John B. Holmes of Rock, and Messrs. Jackson, Lynn, and Wood of our city, whose duty it will be to bring matters to a focus, pro or con. Let us have the road by all means. FARMER.

Excerpts from article.

Courthouse.

The Page-Webb Tragedy.

Winfield Courier, June 13, 1878.

At the preliminary examination of Webb, the courtroom was well filled, largely with men from the country, and we consider it due to our readers to give them the exact facts as far as possible, and endeavored to do so last week.

THE PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION

took place last week, June 5th and 6th. Capt. McDermott, for the state, evidently endeavored to do his whole duty in an honorable way. Judge Coldwell, E. S. Torrance, N. C. Coldwell, and Judge Webb, the prisoner’s father, were present in the interest of Webb. The hearing was before Justice Boyer in the courthouse. Four witnesses were examined on the part of the state.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 13, 1878.

The Justice ordered that Webb be committed to jail to await his trial at the September term of the district court. An application that he be admitted to bail was refused and the prisoner was returned to jail.

Courthouse.

Railroad Meeting.

Winfield Courier, June 13, 1878.

The meeting last Saturday at the Courthouse was attended by Judge Coldwell, C. M. Wood, and A. A. Jackson, of the Winfield committee, and by gentlemen from several other townships in the county.

Judge Coldwell was chosen chairman, and C. M. Wood, secretary. The chairman explained the action of the Winfield committee, stating that the A. T. & S. F. railroad company had indicated a desire to build a railroad through this county, either from El Dorado or Wichita; and if they could get sufficient aid and encouragement, would agree to complete it as far as Winfield by August 1, 1879. The company desired a proposition from the citizens of this county in relation to the matter, which they would consider, and suggest such changes as they would require.

It was voted that the Winfield committee, consisting of Messrs. Coldwell, Wood, Jackson, M. L. Robinson, and J. B. Lynn, be members of a general county committee to which was added Judge James Christian, of Creswell, and John B. Holmes, of Rock Township.

Resolutions were adopted to propose to vote to the railroad company $4,000 per mile, limited to $140,000 in the aggregate, if the company would build within one year from August 1st next, through Cowley County via Winfield and Arkansas City. The committee were to confer with the company on this basis.

The meeting adjourned to meet at call of the chairman.

The committee have since sent their proposition to the company and expect a reply in a reasonable time, which they will communicate through the newspapers.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 20, 1878.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF W. V. F. ASSOCIATION.

WINFIELD, June 18, 1878.

A meeting of the Directors of the Walnut Valley Fair Association will be held at the Courthouse in Winfield on Saturday, June 22, 1878, at 1 o’clock p.m. Important business.

By order of the Board, EUGENE E. BACON, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 27, 1878.

There will be held at the Courthouse on Friday evening, June 28th, a festival for the benefit of the Baptist church. All are invited.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.

Lecture and Social.

Saturday evening, at the Courthouse, Rev. J. L. Rushbridge will address the teachers and citizens on “Mental Discipline.” After the lecture the teachers and friends will take part in a social. Professor Farringer will furnish music. All are invited.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.

PRE-JUDGING THE CASE.

The case of L. J. Webb, committed on the charge of murder in the first degree and denied bail by Justice Boyer, has been reviewed by the supreme court on a writ of habeas corpus, which was first presented July 3rd, and decided the same day, to the effect that the testimony for the state on the preliminary examination does not make a prima facie case which justifies the denial of bail to the defendant, and that the defendant be admitted to bail in the sum of $12,000. The bail was readily obtained and the defendant was on last Saturday released from jail.

Excerpt from article...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.

Mrs. Jay Page attempted to kill L. J. Webb on last Saturday evening. Webb had just been released from jail on bail, and in company with Sheriff Harter, H. E. Asp, and R. L. Walker, was walking from the jail west toward Main Street along the sidewalk, and when passing the house of B. M. Terrell, Mrs. Page ran out of the back door with a large revolver in her hand and passing along the west side of the house toward Webb, attempted to get a range on Webb to shoot him, at the same time using violent and threatening language. Sheriff Harter and R. L. Walker were between Mrs. Page and Webb, and under their cover Webb ran and escaped. R. L. Walker made some remark and Mrs. Page turned on and threatened him.

Jail.

Titus Seizes Blizzard.

Winfield Courier, July 11, 1878.

At about 10 or 11 o’clock last Saturday evening, J. G. Titus, who lives about two miles southeast of town, returned home from this city, and seeing several of his wheat stacks on fire, seized his double-barreled gun and with some of his men rode on horse back rapidly to the scene of the fire. Finding that nothing could be saved, they immediately commenced scouting around to find, if possible, the incendiary. Soon Mr. Titus came across John W. Blizzard and fired at him. Blizzard, terribly frightened, held up both hands and begged for his life; and under the fear and excitement of the moment confessed before Titus and some of his men that he (Blizzard) had set the stacks on fire. Blizzard was brought to town and lodged in jail. There has been a bitter controversy and lawsuit between Blizzard and Titus, in which Blizzard was not successful, and we are told he had threatened revenge. We do not know the merits of the controversy, nor do we think that the confession is conclusive against Blizzard, but we have this to say: that if Blizzard actually fired the stacks, he can have no excuse and should be punished to the very extent of the law. The man that is so degraded as to destroy property merely for revenge has no right to live outside the penitentiary. We understand the loss is about 900 bushels of wheat.

Blizzard had his preliminary examination on Monday before Justice Buckman and was bound over to court in $800. Failing to procure bonds, he was returned to jail.

[Note: Am skipping stories relating to Louis Tournier being in jail. His story appears in Volume I of Cowley County History. MAW]

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 17, 1878.

SATURDAY NIGHT SOCIALS are now “the thing” at Winfield. They are held at the Courthouse, and from the reports we hear, are highly entertaining and productive of much fun.

New Buildings Around Courthouse (?)

Winfield Courier, July 18, 1878.

The new buildings around the courthouse add much to the convenience if not to the beauty of the county property.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 18, 1878.

Elder John Annis, of the True Followers of Christ, will preach on the two kingdoms, 9th chapter of Matthew, 35th verse, next Sunday, at 4 o’clock p.m., at the Courthouse. Let everybody come. He will continue the meeting of evenings throughout the week if it is the will of the people.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 25, 1878.

Courting.

Justice Boyer held a court all last week at the courthouse to try the four Lindley brothers for alleged disturbance of the peace. Large numbers of persons from Rock Township were in as witnesses, interested parties, and spectators; and with a strong array of attorneys on both sides, the courthouse was pretty well filled. The defendants were to be tried separately by juries of twelve men each.

The first case occupied three days and was submitted to the jury Wednesday evening. The jury were locked in the courtroom all that night—where they made night hideous with their shouts, bell ringing, and other infernal noises. During the next day the jury were discharged, having failed to agree.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 1, 1878.

WINFIELD, July 30th, 1878.

ED. COURIER: Please allow me to make known through your paper that I am wronged.

Last Saturday as I was sitting in the National Saloon, I was thrown upon the floor by one of the proprietors and struck several times, until Mr. Felix and John Beard rescued me from him. I had interfered to prevent a friend of mine from spending his money foolishly.

The marshal was sent for, who came and took me to the calaboose. On Monday I had a hearing before Judge Boyer on the charge of being drunk and my fine and costs were fixed at $7.50. I objected to the payment and was taken back to the jail. I would be allowed 50 cents a day to work it out on the streets and that would take me fifteen days to work it out.

I faired well enough for my dinner and supper, but was locked in a cell for the night. I had for my breakfast only two cuts of bread and a pint of water. I was told by Mr. Finch that he was doing as he was ordered by the city and that they intended to give me hell.

I did not know that I had so many enemies in the city. If I have wronged or insulted anyone in this town, I ask his pardon. I appoint Archie Stewart, Sheriff Harter, and Mr. Jackson to see Mr. Felix and his partner, and John Beard, and find out if I am right or wrong. If I am wrong, I will pay my fine; but if I am right, I will rot in jail before I will pay one cent.

Respectfully, DENNIS LYNCH.

We give room for Mr. Lynch’s complaint because it is respectful in tone and we know it is possible that some error may have been committed and that he may have suffered wrong. Of course, the judgment of the court is prima facie against him. We think if he is wronged, the city authorities will, when convinced of the fact, cause his release. We should advise him and his friends to keep out of the saloons, and then there will be little danger of suffering such wrongs or getting into the calaboose to be fed on bread and water. He is probably in error about what Mr. Finch said.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 8, 1878.

Emancipation Celebration.

On last Thursday, August 1st, the colored citizens of Cowley and Sumner counties celebrated at Winfield the anniversary of the Emancipation proclamation. The number that joined in the festivities were 9 young ladies, 5 married ladies, 14 young men, 5 married men, and 16 children, 49 in all, ten of whom were from Sumner County. A basket picnic was held in the grove southeast from John Lowry’s, where all the good things of the season were served, including watermelons, peaches, apples, ice cold lemonade, etc. Judge Coldwell was the orator of the day and made a speech, which is highly eulogized by his colored audience. John Nichols, a natural orator, also addressed the assembled representatives of his race. They had three swings, a platform dance, and other amusements, and all enjoyed the occasion in true Southern style. The whole performance was of the most decorous character and highly creditable to all who participated. In the evening they held a ball at the courthouse and “tripped the light fantastic” until the “wee sma’ hours.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 8, 1878.

Primary Convention.

WINFIELD, August 3, 1878.

Convention met at the courthouse in pursuance to call of County Central Committee.

The meeting was called to order by W. Q. Mansfield, and D. A. Millington was elected as chairman and G. H. Buckman secretary.

On motion the chair appointed a committee of three to report names of delegates and alternates. S. M. Jarvis, E. P. Kinne, and W. M. Boyer appointed on such committee.

The committee reported the following named persons as delegates and alternates.

Delegates: R. L. Walker, W. P. Hackney, E. S. Torrance, F. S. Jennings, L. W. Spack, O. M. Seward, James Kelley, E. C. Manning, D. A. Millington.

Alternates: E. P. Kinne, W. M. Boyer, W. Q. Mansfield, G. H. Buckman, S. M. Jarvis, John Mentch, Sampson Johnson, Henry E. Asp, T. B. Myers.

On motion the report of the committee was adopted by the convention. Thereupon the convention adjourned. D. A. MILLINGTON, President. G. H. BUCKMAN, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 14, 1878.

A delegate Convention of the Republicans was held at the courthouse in Winfield on Saturday, Aug. 10th, at 10 o’clock a.m. The meeting was called to order by Hon. C. R. Mitchell, Chairman of the Republican Central Committee, who read the call and stated the object of the meeting.

On motion, Hon. E. C. Manning was elected temporary chairman, and C. M. Scott, Secretary, with Ed. G. Gray, Assistant Secretary.

On motion a committee of five was appointed by the chairman, to act as Committee on Credentials: W. A. Metcalf, Cedar Township; Ed. G. Gray, of Creswell Township; Mr. Strong, of Rock Township; James Kelly, of Winfield Township; and A. J. Pickering, of Windsor Township.

RECAP OF DELEGATES...

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATES: R. L. WALKER, NATHAN HUGHES, W. P. HACKNEY, E. A. HENTHORN, H. H. SIVERD, R. R. TURNER, S. P. STRONG.

CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATE ALTERNATES: L. W. SPACH, E. G. GRAY, J. H. GILLELAND, D. C. STEVENS, W. B. NORMAN, HARVEY SERVICE, G. L. GALE.

STATE DELEGATES: B. F. BALDWIN, E. C. MANNING, I. H. BONSALL, C. H. EAGIN, J. D. MAURER, CAPT. J. B. NIPP.

STATE DELEGATE ALTERNATES: J. B. EVANS, W. A. METCALF, C. M. SCOTT, E. P. KINNE, JAMES KELLY, T. R. BRYAN.

STATE DELEGATES...CHAIRMAN: D. A. MILLINGTON.

SECRETARY: C. H. EAGIN.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 28, 1878.

Only four convicts in jail at Winfield now.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.

The band, after a rest of several weeks, met again Friday night at the Courthouse. The boys say they’ll make that Leavenworth military band feel sick if it comes down to our fair.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.

Democratic Convention.

The delegates to the Democratic County Convention met according to call at the courthouse in Winfield on Saturday, August 24th, at 2 o’clock p.m., and the meeting was called to order by Hon. A. J. Pyburn.

The veteran, Judge T. B. Ross, was chosen permanent chairman, and J. S. Allen secretary. There were twenty-five delegates present and, on motion, the call of the delegates was dispensed with and the meeting resolved itself into a mass convention.

The following named gentlemen were chosen delegates and alternates to the state convention, which meets at Leavenworth on Wednesday, September 4th, 1878, viz:

Delegates: A. J. Pyburn, J. B. Lynn, T. B. Ross, A. Walton, W. D. Lester, J. B. Adams.

Alternates: C. C. Black, R. B. Pratt, J. F. Miller, Ed. Green, J. Christian, T. McIntire.

It was voted that the delegates chosen have power to fill vacancies.

Convention adjourned.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 19, 1878.

Frank Doster, the Greenback candidate for Congress for this district, will speak at the courthouse in Winfield, on the 20th, and at Arkansas City on the 21st inst. at 7 o’clock p.m.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 2, 1878.

The Odd Fellows of Winfield will, on Friday evening, October 4, at the courthouse in that city, give a concert for the benefit of the yellow fever sufferers in the South. In the afternoon the Order will parade the streets in full regalia.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 3, 1878.

Hon. Thos. Ryan.

Our member of congress, addressed a large audience at the courthouse in this city on the evening of the 25th ult. He stood squarely on the Topeka platform and delivered the most powerful political speech we have heard for a long time. He was in favor of greenbacks payable on demand, that they may always be at par with coin, and then he wanted a plenty of them to supply all the demands of trade. He was in favor of a repeal of the national bank law, the retiring and canceling of their notes, and the issue of greenbacks to fill the place, which greenbacks should be used by the government to take up and cancel an equivalent amount of the interest-bearing debt. On other subjects he explained his position fully. He is with the Republican party of the state and enthusiastic in promoting everything that can advance the material interests of his constituents.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 3, 1878.

Concert at the Courthouse.

A grand concert will be held at the courthouse on Friday evening next under the auspices of the I. O. O. F. The best musical talent of the city will perform on that occasion and the proceeds will be applied for the relief of

THE YELLOW FEVER SUFFERERS

of the South. Let everyone turn out and enjoy a rich treat and at the same time relieve suffering humanity. Admission 35 cents; reserved seats 50 cents, to be had at McCommon and Harter’s drug store.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 10, 1878.

Skipped long article re Republican County Convention actions taken at Courthouse on Saturday, October 5th.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 10, 1878.

Col. St. John is winning friends wherever he goes. His addresses are attended by the plaudits of the people. Crowds turn out to hear him and go away highly impressed with his ability and eloquence and the soundness of his views. He treats his subject in a manly, honest manner, that carries conviction and places his integrity of purpose beyond question. He will speak at the Courthouse, in Winfield, on Friday evening.

Courthouse: Purchasing Balance of Block.

Possible Deeding of County Jail Building.

Winfield Courier, October 10, 1878.

Council Proceedings.

City Council met in council chamber Monday evening, October 7, 1878. Present: J. B. Lynn, mayor, and Councilmen Gulley, Manning, Robinson, and Wood; N. C. Coldwell, city attorney; and J. P. Short, clerk.

A committee of three, consisting of Messrs. Wood, Robinson, and Manning, was appointed to confer with the Board of County Commissioners in relation to deeding the county jail building and the county purchasing balance of block on which the courthouse stands and improving the same.

The following bills were allowed:

Walck & Co., for laying cross-walks: $37.90

Harter & Speed, livery: $8.40

J. F. Short, city clerk: $5.00

Ed. Nicholson, special police: $5.00

John Weatherspoon, special police: $5.00

Maggie E. Page, office rent: $30.00

E. S. Bedilion, District Clerk’s fees: $3.00

On motion, Council adjourned. J. B. LYNN, Mayor.

Attest: J. P. SHORT, City Clerk.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 17, 1878.

Mr. R. B. Hunter, who has been teaching school in district No. 30, the Jarvis district, became deranged last week. His case was on examination at the courthouse on Tuesday.

Excerpts...

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 24, 1878.

STEALING THE TOWN SITE.

A SCRAP OF HISTORY.

No one then doubted the right of E. C. Manning to the remaining 120 acres of his claim, or of J. C. Fuller to his 160 acre claim bought of Jackson. In the meantime, through the efforts of Manning exclusively, the county seat had been located at Winfield, at which time Manning was the only occupant, and, deeming it necessary to move ahead in building up the town in order to retain the county seat and other advantages, and as there was not land enough belonging to the town company, the Winfield Town Association was formed by Manning, Fuller, and others, including ourself, to handle another 40 acres of Manning’s claim with the west 80 acres of Fuller’s claim, which, with the town company’s 40 acres, made a town site of 160 acres in square form. This was surveyed and platted, and the two companies proceeded to give away lots to persons who would improve and occupy them, to other persons who would work for the benefit of the town in any way, and for other purposes to benefit the town. More than one-third, and nearly one-half of the lots in value, have been given to occupants, to stage companies to induce stage service to Winfield, for services in and outside of Winfield, for churches, schools, courthouse and jail, and for other public purposes.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 31, 1878.

NOTICE. There will be a meeting of the Republicans of Winfield Township at the courthouse on Friday, Nov. 1st, at the hour of 2 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of nominating Township officers.

R. L. WALKER, Chairman, Township Central Committee.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 7, 1878. Editorial Page.

The petition to call an election to vote bonds to the A. T. & S. F. road is being circulated. A meeting has been called at the courthouse this evening to enthuse the people.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 14, 1878.

Prof. Pepard gave a free lecture at the courthouse Monday night.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 21, 1878.

The young folks are preparing for a grand ball on Thanksgiving evening at the courthouse.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 26, 1878.

Winfield has a handsome courthouse, costing $10,000, presided over by the following trusted and efficient officials: M. G. Troup, county clerk; T. R. Bryan, treasurer; H. D. Gans, probate judge; E. P. Kinne, register of deeds; R. C. Story, county superintendent; C. L. Harter, sheriff; E. S. Bedilion, clerk of the district court; James McDermott, county attorney; M. G. Graham, coroner. The enterprising mayor of the town is J. B. Lynn.

1879

Plans Made to Repair Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1879.

The county commissioners, at their meeting on last Monday, adopted the plans of our architect, John Hoenscheidt, for the repairing of the courthouse, and we think thereby they acted very wisely. The plan calls for a wing 20 x 20 feet, two stories high, on west and east side of old courthouse; also two sets of vaults for the safekeeping of all the records, documents, and funds of the district clerk, county clerk, register of deeds, probate judge and treasurer. It will also enlarge the present rooms for the last four mentioned county offices and the court hall. It further contains two jury rooms about 10 x 10 feet, a county attorney’s office, and consultation room, a county surveyor’s and superintendent’s office, and in fact it is planned so as to compete with the arrangements and accommodations of a first-class courthouse, and is equal to, if not better, than the Greenwood County courthouse, except in price, and when completed will be an ornament to our city and a credit to our county; and we are assured that the plan adopted will meet the indorsement of every citizen of this county. The vaults mentioned will be built independent from the balance of the structure and made fire-proof, and the treasury vault is to be made fire and burglar proof. These vaults alone were needed long ago and are worth to the county at least double the amount of the supposed cost of the whole repairs and addition, which is estimated at about $3,000, for it is a known fact that if fire ever would break out in the building the whole records would be unsafe, and if destroyed, would cost the county at least $10,000 to restore them. Not too much credit can be given to the architect and the wise action of the county commissioners for adopting said plans and taking such steps, and every citizen and tax-payer ought to be thankful that this great improvement can be made at such a reasonable low rate of expense. We are informed that sealed proposals for the labor and material for said repairs will be taken at the county clerk’s office as soon as the plans and specifications are completed, and will be opened on Monday, the 3d day of February, 1879.

Excerpts from meeting...

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 16, 1879.

Board of County Commissioners met in regular session [January 6, 1879]. Present: R. F. Burden, W. M. Sleeth, and G. L. Gale, commissioners, James McDermott, county attorney, and M. G. Troup, county clerk.

Among other proceedings had, bills against the county were presented and passed upon by the board as follows. One of these: D. Long, jail repairs.

Courthouse Block.

Winfield Courier, February 6, 1879.

Sidewalks.

WINFIELD, KANS., Feb. 3, 1879.

MR. EDITOR:—Is it not somewhat strange and something of a neglect, that with all the beautiful magnesia stone sidewalks we have laid to almost all parts of the city, we have none on the north side of courthouse block and block west of it, and south side of 9th avenue, this being one of the most traveled thoroughfares in the city, about two-thirds of the school children passing over it twice a day, and being thronged during court week and the main outlet to the east part of the city. When the spring rains set in, from the position of the ground, the old rickety makeshift we have now will be inundated over two feet in water for probably days. Is it not the wish that our city fathers have us a good, substantial, eight-foot sidewalk put down on north side of these two blocks above high water mark. W. A. LEE.

Against Courthouse Repairs.

Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.

Letters from Vigilance Committee Against Courthouse Repairs.

Some coward has had the meanness to write three short letters to Commissioner R. F. Burden signed V. C. (for vigilance committee) warning him not to put the county to expense by repairing the courthouse. One of the letters is dated at Lazette, another at Salem, and the third at Floral.

The writer attempted to write a different hand in each letter to make it appear that this vigilance committee was a large wide-spread institution and acting in concert, but an expert would readily swear that all were written by the same hand; besides, the writer had the stupidity to use three envelopes exactly alike and precisely the same kind of paper for the three letters and to mail them all at Winfield on the same day. Now any decent man who wished to influence the actions of the commissioner would talk to him plainly or write over his own signature, giving his views and his reasons for them in a manly manner instead of adopting the mean speaking plan for intimidation. Mr. B. says he knows the writer but declines to name him.

We were not aware of the existence of Vigilance committees at Floral, New Salem, and Lazette. What are our correspondents about that they have not kept us posted on so important a matter and given us the names of the officers, etc.

Mr. Burden and his colleagues are going to act in the future as they have in the past: look carefully to the interests of the county and to the preservation of the county property; and if they should conclude that it will be an economy to lay out some expense on the courthouse to preserve it and make it better adapted to the needs of the county, they will do it. No threats or intimidation will swerve them from their duty. It was not because of such that they declined to adopt the plan of the architect and build the addition proposed. They went just far enough to ascertain the probable cost and the merits of the plan and concluding, we think correctly, that the cost would be too much and the benefit to the county too little. They rejected it. Of course, there are some who will severely criticize the board for refusing to adopt this plan for repairing the courthouse, so that they are placed between two fires. We congratulate the county on the fact that it has a board of commissioners in whose hands the interest of the county are safe. In any event, men of sound judgment who can neither be cajoled, bribed, or “bulldozed.”

Courthouse: Shaky. Walls are Sinking.

Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.

If you can’t believe the courthouse is shaky, make an inspection of the sinking walls.

Courthouse Questions Posed.

Winfield Courier, February 13, 1879.

Should we have a new courthouse, an old one ready to fall down, or simply an addition to the present defective concern? The interests of the people demand that measures be taken for the preservation of records and property now in the courthouse. Vaults should be built at once, either in the proposed additions, in a new building, or near to the present structure. What do you say?

Refusal by Commissioners to Repair Courthouse Noted.

[STATE NEWS.]

Winfield Courier, February 20, 1879.

The county commissioners of Cowley County have refused to allow the much needed improvements to the courthouse at Winfield to be made.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 6, 1879.

Another Railroad!

The Most Favorable Proposition Ever Presented.

A First Class Railroad Through the County

From East to West or $10,000 Forfeit.

Only $68,000 in Bonds Required.

General Charles W. Blair, of Fort Scott, came to Winfield on Tuesday of this week in the interest of the new L. L. & G. railroad company. That company proposes to build a good standard gauge steel track railroad from Independence by way of Elk Falls to Winfield and on westward. They will commence immediately and push the work as fast as men and money can do it, and expect to reach this place by the first of November.

The new company is composed of leading capitalists of Boston, and others, with Gen. Nettleton as manager, Maj. Gunn as chief engineer, and a full corps of experienced railroad men as officers; they have the money all ready for the investment and much of the material contracted for. They have submitted propositions in every township between Independence and the east line of Cowley County, with not a doubt that all will be carried.

They now come to us and offer to build through our county for $68,000 in county 7 percent 30 year bonds, the estimated residue of the ability of this county under the law, after giving the Santa Fe the $144,000 already voted. They ask that $51,000 of these be delivered when they have built to Winfield, and $17,000 when they have reached the west line. They agree to deposit with the County Treasurer $10,000, which shall be forfeited to the county, and the bonds to be forfeited also, in case the road is not completed through the county from the east line to the west line by way of Winfield before the first day of next March.

They demand this time before a forfeit that they may save themselves in case that extraordinary circumstances should hinder them, but they expect to reach Winfield before November. They want their proposition voted on immediately that they may know at once what they can do.

They have 40 miles of road in the best coal fields of Kansas and Missouri, between Fort Scott and Springfield, Mo., on the A. & P. road, which road runs directly to St. Louis; and they propose to build at once the remaining 50 miles between those two cities and truck the grade between Fort Scott and Humboldt, thus giving a through line from Winfield to St. Louis as well as a through line without change from Winfield to Kansas City.

A large but informal meeting of leading citizens of Winfield met with Gen. Blair on Tuesday evening at which the points above named were settled upon, a committee appointed to sit with the General and draw up a proposition to be submitted to as many of the people of the county as can be collected together on Wednesday evening at the courthouse.

As we go to press on Wednesday morning, of course, we can report no farther in this issue, but we can hardly doubt that a proposition so remarkable in its liberality and in the profound safety of its provisions will be accepted, petitioned for by the requisite number, and carried almost unanimously.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 6, 1879.

Cowley County Horticultural Society met in Judge Gans’s office at the Courthouse. Rev. J. Cairns called to chair.

After adopting constitution and by-laws, the following gentlemen were elected to fill the various offices for the ensuing year.

President: Rev. J. Cairns. Vice President N. J. Larkin. Secretary: J. P. Short. Assistant Secretary: H. D. Gans. Treasurer: G. W. Robertson. Librarian: C. J. Brane.

On motion, Rev. J. E. Platter was invited to deliver an address on Horticulture at the next meeting.

After a motion requesting the county papers to publish the proceedings, the meeting adjourned to Saturday, March 15, 1879. J. CAIRNS, Pres. J. P. SHORT, Sec.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 6, 1879.

FRANCIS SMALL MURDERS J. E. STARBUCK.

The Starbuck Homicide.

Last Thursday the preliminary examination of Francis Small for the murder of J. E. Starbuck, and of A. J. Thomas, A. L. Thomas, John Perry, and Wm. Morrow; charged as abettors and accessories to the murder, was commenced and continued the rest of the week.

The most important witness was a boy, Reuben Starbuck, son of the murdered man. His testimony was simple, straightforward, and bore the impress of truth.

He said substantially that on the morning of February 20th, Starbuck was in the corn field loading into his wagon corn that had been husked by Small, Perry, and Morrow; that these latter were in the field husking; that Small came up to Starbuck and pushed him; that Starbuck pushed back, and drawing a revolver, told Small to walk. Small said he would walk, and threatened arrest. Small, Perry, and Morrow then went away.

The pistol Starbuck had was a revolver, which he got at his nephew’s west of Winfield the Saturday before.

In about two hours Small, Perry, Morrow, A. J. Thomas, and A. L. Thomas came into the field, riding in a wagon. When they got near where Starbuck then was, husking corn and throwing it into his wagon, they stopped. A. L. Thomas jumped out first, Small got out next with a double-barreled shotgun; Morrow got out and went to husking corn; and Perry tied up the lines and got out. Starbuck’s mules started and Starbuck went and stopped them, then continued husking corn. Small told him to stop, but Starbuck kept on husking. Small drew up and shot him. Starbuck, when shot, had an ear of corn husked just ready to break off. He fell forward on his left side and did not speak. A. L. Thomas then went to Starbuck’s wagon and took a revolver out of Starbuck’s coat pocket, which was in the wagon. The Thomases, Morrow, and Perry then went to shucking corn while the dead body of Starbuck remained on the ground. Small went away toward Morrow’s house. The witness went to the house and returned with his mother. The men were still shucking corn and the corpse still lay there.

Oliver Whitted confirmed this account of the first interview of that morning.

The widow of the deceased testified, but nothing new of importance was elicited.

A. J. Crum testified that Small had previously talked of mobbing Starbuck, and that Small, Perry, Morrow, and Al. Thomas are brothers-in-law, and that Ab. Thomas is a brother of Al.

Charles Thomas testified that Small came to A. J. Thomas’ on that morning and got the double-barreled shotgun, came riding a pony on the run. Ab. said Starbuck had drawn a revolver on Small, but they would not need any revolvers. Thomas said “if he got in them loads, he would need no revolver, for he had loaded them for Jake’s boys. They were good ones—powder, greased wads, and a handful of shot.” Al. said Small was going to shoot Starbuck; said he would shoot any man that cocked a revolver in his face. Small left on the pony with the gun, and Ab. and Al. Thomas followed him in about half an hour.

Dr. Rising testified that death was caused by 79 shot or more, which, within a circle of three and a half inches, entered Starbuck’s left breast, and he thought the direction of the shot was a little downward.

Dr. Wright’s testimony was similar.

THE DEFENSE offered their own testimony.

Wm. Morrow testified to the effect that he had endeavored to preserve the peace, and went to the field on the promise that there should be no fuss. When they drove into the field, Starbuck rushed to his wagon for his revolver, and was reaching in when Small shot him; did not see a revolver, and said that Small had been rather insane three times before.

John Perry testified like Morrow, only he saw a revolver lying on a coat in a bucket in the wagon; saw Starbuck get it in his hand, and was raising it when Small shot him. He did not testify of Small’s former wildness.

Ab. Thomas denied the conversation Charles testified of, but gave other conversation damaging to Small. He, too, said he saw the revolver in the bucket on the coat, and that Small shot just as Starbuck got the revolver in his hand.

A. J. Thomas testified the same way.

In rebuttal the State offered the following.

Dr. Graham testified that a person when shot through the heart would grasp, not lose, anything then held in the hand.

Justice Buckman then recognized the witness to appear and testify at the next term of court, and the case was argued by E. S. Torrance, county attorney, for the prosecution and J. Wade McDonald for the defense.

The court considered the evidence insufficient to hold the defendants, Al. and Ab. Thomas, Perry, and Morrow as accomplices, but bound Small over in $5,000 for his appearance at the next term of court. He was remanded to jail, to remain until the bail is furnished.

Winfield: Courthouse & Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 19, 1879.

The lowest rate of tax in Cowley County is 13 mills on the dollar; the highest 45 mills; the average about 25 mills. The only localities where taxes are high, being Winfield and Arkansas City, where substantial improvements have been built, such as bridge, schoolhouses, etc. Winfield has two iron and one combination bridge across Dutch creek, as well as a good courthouse and jail, each brick structures, and a large stone school house. Arkansas City has a large combination bridge across the Arkansas River, erected at a cost of $13,000, and one across the Walnut River that cost $3,000; also a splendid brick schoolhouse which cost $10,000 and is the finest building in the county. The entire indebtedness of the county is but $31,500. According to the last assessment our taxable property amounted to $2,020,000.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 20, 1879.

NOTICE: SPECIAL RAILROAD BOND ELECTION.

Whereas, the county commissioners of the county of Cowley, State of Kansas, at a special meeting, held March 10th, 1879, made an order of which the following is a copy.

“At a special meeting of the county commissioners of Cowley County, holden at the office of the county clerk in the courthouse in the City of Winfield in said county on the 10th day of March A. D. 1879, there were present: R. F. Burden, Chairman; W. M. Sleeth and Geo. L. Gale, Commissioners; with E. S. Torrance, County Attorney, and M. G. Troup, County Clerk; a petition was presented to the Board, signed by two-fifths of the resident taxpayers of said county which, with the signatures omitted is as follows: to wit:

“To the Honorable the Board of County Commissioners of the county of Cowley and State of Kansas:

“Inasmuch as the Southern Kansas and Western Railroad Company proposes to construct a line of railroad into and through the county of Cowley, in the State of Kansas, the undersigned, being more than two-fifths of the resident tax payers of said county, respectfully petition your Honorable Board to call a special election in said county at as early a day as is practicable, and legal, and at such special election to submit to the qualified electors of said county, a proposition to subscribe 68 thousand (68,000) dollars to the capital stock of said Southern Kansas and Western Railroad Company, a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Kansas, and to issue the bonds of said county in the like amount of sixty-eight thousand (68,000) dollars, in payment of said subscriptions, said bonds to be delivered to said railroad company for like amounts of the capital stock thereof as follows: Fifty-one thousand (51,000) dollars when said railroad is in operation to the point herein after named, near the city of Winfield in said county, and the remaining seventeen thousand (17,000) dollars when the said railroad is in operation to the western line of said county. . . .”

[Note: The March 20, 1879, issue of Winfield Courier had pictures or sketches of some of the buildings in Cowley County: Read’s Bank, Winfield; “Aunt Sally,” School Building at Arkansas City, Courthouse at Winfield, and the latest revised map of Cowley County on the front page. MAW]

Courthouse. Question Posed: Build a New Courthouse or Repair Old One.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1879.

REPORT FROM “ALEXANDER,” OMNIA TOWNSHIP.

OMNIA TP., March 16, 1879.

We now have a blacksmith shop in full blast at Baltimore. So much on the strength of an eastern railroad. The extreme modesty exhibited by the L. L. & G., company in only demanding $68,000 is causing some comment among the farmers in Omnia when they consider the fact that the limit fixed by law will not allow us to vote anymore. But, “howsomer,” the most of them will vote for the proposition.

We think it would be a good plan to elect a full board of county commissioners who live in Winfield when the time of the present board expires, and then they would either build a new courthouse or repair the old one so it would not fall down and kill some half a dozen of our county officials. We hope this matter will be promptly attended to when the proper time comes.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 27, 1879.

TOWNSHIP MEETING - WINFIELD NOW A CITY OF THE SECOND CLASS.

There will be a meeting of the citizens of Winfield Township at the courthouse on Saturday, the 29th day of March, at 2 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of selecting township officers to fill the vacancies caused by the city becoming a city of the second class.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 3, 1879.

Notice is hereby given that the annual meeting of the Walnut Valley Fair Association, will be held at the courthouse in Winfield on the second Monday in April, A. D. 1879, at 1 o’clock p.m., agreeable to sec. 2, chap. 9, session laws of 1873. All shareholders, and others interested, are expected to be present. An election of officers for the ensuing year will take place at that time. EUGENE E. BACON, Secretary.

Courthouse and Jail. Question Posed: Build Addition and Remodel.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1879.

THE COURT HOUSE.

Under this head the Semi-Weekly dishes up a column and a half editorial to prove that the county ought at once to go to a large expense in building additions to, and in remodeling the courthouse.

It says that “whoever is responsible for building the courthouse where it is, with a swamp between it and the business portion of the town, demonstrates his unfitness to be entrusted with public interests, and has a small soul;” that “Winfield has in days gone by been cursed by incapacity and cupidity;” that the courthouse, the school house, and the lost bridge “are the ear marks that indicate jobbery and rascality, the indubitable evidences of ‘gigantic fraud’ in those responsible for their construction.”

About three months ago the editors of the Semi-Weekly came to this place utter strangers to the people of this city and county and found the city so prosperous and promising, the result of the labor and exertions of its earlier citizens, that they concluded to establish themselves here and reap a part of the harvest these earlier citizens had sown. Finding that in their gleanings they did not at first accumulate sheaves very rapidly, they concluded that the fault must be in the rascality and incapacity of those whose labor sowed the seed, and hence, we have this wholesale attack upon our best and most valued citizens.

The persons who projected and carried out the building of the courthouse and jail were W. H. H. Maris, then Mayor; S. C. Smith, R. B. Saffold, C. A. Bliss, H. S. Silver, J. D. Cochran, S. Darrah, then councilmen; J. M. Alexander, city attorney; Frank Cox, of Richland, John D. Maurer of Dexter, and O. C. Smith, of Cresswell, county commissioners.

Fifty-eight leading men of Winfield were most active in this matter and guaranteed the title to the courthouse ground and many prominent men of the county approved the measure.

The persons who projected and carried out the building of the schoolhouse were John B. Fairbank, District Clerk, J. D. Cochran, Director, S. H. Myton, Treasurer, and some others.

J. P. Short was the trustee and O. F. Boyle the treasurer by whom the contract to build the bridge was let, and during most of its construction, and H. S. Silver, E. S. Bedilion, and B. F. Baldwin were the township officers who made the final settlement with the contractors.

Here we have an array of names honored in this community, names of men never before charged with rascality and incapacity, men in whom we older settlers believe and trust and yet the sages of Mt. Pulaski in three short months have seen through all these men and found them guilty of incapacity, unfitness, jobbery, rascality, and gigantic fraud.

It may be that these gushing freshmen meant to attach these pet words to other than those mentioned above, to the members of the “Old Town Company, or rather Town Association,” for instance. If that is the case, the records are open to inspection and we state distinctly that no member of the Winfield Town Association had any connection whatever with the building of the courthouse except to give a deed of the half block of land on which it stands to the county, and two lots on which the jail stands to the city, (all they ever agreed or were ever expected to give) in compliance with the bargain between the city council and county commissioners, that the county should build a courthouse and the city a jail in which the county should have a right to keep prisoners. One of them protested against the building of the courthouse.

One member of that Association, Fuller, was district treasurer when the contract for building the schoolhouse was let, but Myton succeeded him before the work commenced.

The original plan of the schoolhouse was made by John B. Fairbank, District Clerk, who requested Millington to help him in drafting and making specifications and estimates, which he did, but that plan was finally widely departed from in the construction, and therefore Millington is not entitled to a particle of the credit of that structure.

Millington only, of that Association, had anything to do with the letting of the contract and building of the bridge. He was temporarily the township clerk at that time and claims his share of the credit with his colleagues, Short and Boyle, and with other leading men of the town.

We challenge Mr. Conklin or anyone else to show that any member of the Town Association had any connection whatever with the building of either of these three structures except as above specified.

Now as relates to these three structures, built at that early day when there were no civil engineers or architects within reach and to procure such would cost such large sums, when everything was high and hard to get and when our citizens were beset by every kind of hardship and discouragement, we think these structures, though not beautiful nor even sufficiently substantial, were very creditable monuments to their enterprise and energy, the terrible denunciations of our neighbors notwithstanding.

Now, Mr. Semi-Weekly man, we expect you, we challenge you to state precisely what were the “gigantic frauds,” the jobberies and rascalities, which you charge in such sweeping and general terms, as to stigmatize the whole community at that time. Be specific and give the names of those who perpetrated them. If either of the gentlemen we have named, or any other citizen is guilty, give us the name and make specific charges against him that he may have a chance to defend himself. Then no longer make assassin and cowardly attacks in the dark, calculated to bring odium upon almost every man of note in the city without giving anyone an excuse for defending himself.

It is a very poor way to secure the desired additions to the courthouse to endeavor by misrepresentations and charges of fraud against the entire business population of Winfield and thereby making Winfield odious to the people of the county.

If you really desire the improvement you advocate, we would suggest that you examine the records of the past and give the facts.

Sidewalk Near Courthouse Damaged by Rain.

Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.

The recent rains have undermined the flagging put down on Ninth Avenue, near the courthouse. A firmer bed seems necessary to support the walk properly.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1879.

The court commenced its session on Monday. His Honor W. P. Campbell presiding. Present: E. S. Bedilion, clerk; C. L. Harter, sheriff; E. S. Torrance, prosecuting attorney, and a full corps of local attorneys.

The docket was called and several cases were disposed of as follows: State vs. Creek. The defendant plead guilty to three indictments for cow stealing. He was returned to the jail to await his sentence.

Courthouse. Question of Repairs. Has Debt Been Paid Off?

Arkansas City Traveler, May 21, 1879. Editorial Page.

The question whether we shall put up for repairs on the courthouse will soon be presented to the County Commissioners for their decision. Five years ago this same courthouse was constructed at a cost to the taxpayers of Cowley County of thirty one thousand dollars. Has this debt against the county yet been paid? We think not. And the question that will sooner or later address itself to the mind of every taxpayer at the rate we are plunging headlong into debt is simply whether we will possess the ability to pay. No doubt it is good policy to provide a vault, where the records can remain secure from theft or fire, and this can be done at no very great cost, but it appears to us that the correct policy for a wise people to pursue is to begin to pay off our debts before we saddle additional ones upon us. The clamor for public improvement is generally the first that is heard in a new country and when the necessities of the case demand it or the surroundings justify it, then it is a wise policy. But to stand ever ready to increase taxation simply because some other town or country has done the same before us is in our opinion, the direct road to ruin. We have counties in our young commonwealth with an experience in building and improving beyond ability to pay, that it will be wise for this county to avoid. We are now at the toll gate. Before we go further in that direction, suppose we commence to pay up.

Records Moved Back to Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 22, 1879.

Clerk Bedilion was full of business Monday moving his records, etc., from Manning’s Hall back to the Courthouse.

Courthouse. County Owes $10,6000.66 in Bonded Debt for Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.

We clip the following from the Traveler of last week.

“The question whether we shall put up for repairs on the courthouse will soon be presented to the County Commissioners for their decision. Five years ago this same courthouse was constructed at a cost to the taxpayers of thirty one thousand dollars. Has this debt against the county yet been payed? We think not.”

Now we shall charitably assume that the editor meant to tell the truth in the above, but was not posted up in the matter. We have been to the record in the office of the county clerk to examine, and find that the exact cost of the courthouse when built and completed about five years ago was $10,600.66. It has usually been stated at $10,000 as the approximate cost. It was paid for in county scrip at par, and that scrip has since been paid off and canceled. We will not say that the county owes nothing as the result of building the courthouse. About $30,000 of bonds were issued to fund the outstanding county scrip, a part of which was that issued for the courthouse. These bonds have not been paid and therefore it is fair to say that the county owes $10,600.66 of bonded debt incurred in consequence of building the courthouse. State the thing as it is, neighbor.

“Jail Birds”

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.

Marshal Stevens, with his corps of jail birds, is doing good service on the streets.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.

Deputy Sheriff Finch last week received a telegram from Morrisville, N. Y., to arrest one Lewis E. Kinney alias Alvia Brown, who was supposed to be stopping at the residence of his cousin, Mr. Charles Frith, near Dexter. Mr. Finch started immediately for Dexter, and in less than ten hours he had captured his man, lodged him in the county jail, and telegraphed to the sheriff of Madison County, New York, to come and get him. Saturday he received a telegram to hold the man until further notice, and that he had forged a note to the amount of $378.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 5, 1879.

A Mr. Tower, of Ninnescah township, was arrested for committing a rape on his 10 year old stepdaughter last week, and was committed for trial at the next term of the district court. This business is getting a little too frequent, and some means should be devised to put a stop to it. Only a few evenings ago a respectable young lady of this city was insulted on the street by some beast, and it is hardly safe for a lady to be out alone after sun down. The two brutes now confined in the county jail should receive the full penalty of the law if guilty.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 12, 1879.

In the case of the State vs. Hayne for petty larceny, tried before Judge Boyer on Tuesday, Hayne was found guilty and sentenced to pay a fine of $25 and 24 hours in the county jail.

Comments about Going Into Debt. Courthouse & Jail Discussed.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 2, 1879. Editorial Page.

The Semi-Weekly boils at the thought of ten thousand dollars for a public school building for the city of Winfield, and says that if you want to stop emigration, commence to vote bonds! You see, Brother Conklin, we are none of us selfish. It would hurt the city of Winfield to vote her into debt, but to create a debt to build another courthouse for the people of Cowley to pay is really a pretty thing. No, don’t give ten thousand dollars for that schoolhouse to enlighten and ennoble the minds of countless numbers who are soon to make our laws and fill public places, but put the money into the courthouse and make cells and chains to protect society.

Fireworks: Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1879.

Messrs. Kinne, Johnston, Manning, and others of our public spirited citizens deserve great credit for the prompt action in regard to the fireworks on last Friday. Rather than disappoint the people by having the display at an inaccessible place, they bought up all the fireworks in town, paying for them out of their own pockets, and touched them off on the courthouse square. At a late hour the fireworks provided for the occasion were brought out.

Procession From Courthouse to Millington Street.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1879.

Last Friday was undoubtedly the biggest day Winfield ever had. Considerable preparation had been made by our citizens; but as so many celebrations were to be held in the county, no one expected such a crowd as gathered at the metropolis to observe “the day we celebrate.” Over 8,000 people were present.

The streets and avenues were lined with wagons, crowding the streets and lining the roads for miles.

About half past ten a.m., Gen. Green, with a corps of assistants, began the work of organizing the procession and getting the different township delegations together. The procession was delayed somewhat by the Vernon delegation, which came in about eleven o’clock headed by the Winfield Cornet Band, and took their places at the head of the column. When all was ready, the band struck up “Hail Columbia” and the procession, reaching from the courthouse to Millington street, south on Millington street to 13th avenue, thence west to Main street, and north to the grounds, over two miles, started. It was supposed that over half of the teams had not formed in the procession, and the number of wagons was estimated at five hundred.

The speech of the occasion, which was delivered by Judge McDonald, was pronounced by all to be one of his most brilliant efforts, and was as creditable to himself as it was pleasing to the audience.

Everybody seemed to be a committee of one to provide dinner for a score of persons, and we wished a dozen times that we had the capacity for victuals of the “two-headed giant” of picture book fame.

After dinner, the presentation of the flag to the largest delegation, was awarded to Vernon township. Prof. R. C. Story presented the flag in one of the neatest speeches it has ever been our fortune to hear. Judge Ross, Squire Barrack of Rock, and Rev. Joel Mason of Pleasant Valley made some happy and appropriate remarks.

In the “glass ball shoot,” which took place at 4 o’clock, Jas. Vance carried off the first premium, breaking 14 balls out of a possible 15. The races, owing to the bad condition of the track, were postponed.

The fire-works were a success, although for awhile it looked as if the committee on “fizzle” would make a good job of it. Through the exertions of E. P. Kinne, T. K. Johnston, J. H. Finch, and others of our citizens, the little “misunderstanding” was righted and everything “went off” nicely.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 17, 1879.

Walnut Twp., Cowley Co., July 12, 1879.

Pursuant to call, the Republicans of Walnut twp. met at the courthouse in Winfield and organized by the election of J. H. Curfman, chairman, and T. A. Blanchard, secretary. The object of the meeting being the election of a Township Republican Committee. The following gentlemen were chosen: T. A. Blanchard, D. Robertson, and S. E. Burger.

J. H. CURFMAN, Chairman. T. A. BLANCHARD, Sec.

Walnut Twp., Cowley Co., July 12, 1879.

Pursuant to call, the citizens of Walnut twp. met at the courthouse in Winfield on the 12th day of July, 1879, and organized by the election of J. H. Curfman, chairman, and T. A. Blanchard, secretary. The object of the meeting being stated, the nomination of a township ticket to be voted upon at the coming township election on the 22nd day of July, inst.

Committee on nominations appointed as follows: Robert Weakly, John Mentch, and John Hoenscheidt, who, after due deliberation, made report, which was received and unanimously adopted as candidates at the approaching election: trustee, J. C. Roberts; treasurer, Joel Mack; clerk, T. A. Blanchard; Justice of the Peace, Jessey King and S. E. Burger; Constable, T. J. Johnson and Abe. Land. Messrs. Mentch and Hoenscheidt were appointed a committee to procure ballots.

Resolved, That Winfield papers be requested to publish.

J. H. CURFMAN, Chairman. T. A. BLANCHARD, Sec.

Courthouse Block. Bad Drainage Discussed.

Winfield Courier, July 24, 1879.

We wish to say again that the sanitary condition of our city needs more attention than is bestowed upon it at present. Especially is this the case in the alley on block 110, back of the Bahntge building. There is a pool of water standing in the rear of the Hitchcock building on that block, into which the slops, old shoes, and rags of the whole alley are thrown, and which emits a foul and disease breeding smell. Complaints are also made of the drainage of the courthouse block, the draws being obstructed, causing the water to stand in stagnant pools, which are anything but healthy. The marshal has several times notified parties having nuisances on their premises to clean up, and if the request is not heeded they should be made to feel the penalty. Persons who would, for the sake of saving a few paltry dollars, jeopardize the health of the whole community should be made to suffer for it. Some of the inmates of the cooler could be used to good advantage draining the above-mentioned nuisances. Let us look to this matter with due diligence while it is yet today.

Condition of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.

Conklin’s cock-and-bull story about the tumbling down of the courthouse has not been very generally swallowed by the people of the county or there would not be so many persons willing to serve the people within its walls.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1879.

Deputy Finch came near losing one of his boarders last Saturday evening. He had allowed Ike White, who is a member of the cooler gang on the charge of stealing Indian ponies, to go to the pump in the rear of the jail for a pail of water; and Ike, having great faith in his speed and powers of endurance, concluded it was a good opportunity to make a break for liberty, which he accordingly did, scooting across Tenth avenue and down Millington street, with Deputy Finch following like a race horse about 150 laps in the rear.

Seeing Finch gaining rapidly, White concluded to take to cover, which he did in a patch of corn in the rear of the house occupied by Mr. Crane. Finch soon came up at a two-forty gait and after looking around some time found his man, crouching among the corn stalks, and who, under the persuasive influence of a six-shooter, was induced to return and carry in the water as he was first instructed to do. The task of carrying water will hereafter devolve upon some more contented boarder.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 13, 1879.

Deputy Sheriff Finch was in town last Saturday, and shortly after his arrival he and W. J. Gray arrested two young fellows who had driven down from Winfield but a few minutes previous, ostensibly on the charge of horse stealing; but the real cause was a threat to break the county jail. The parties arrested were E. C. White and T. Huffman, the former of whom was suspicioned of trying to effect the deliverance of his brother, Ike White, from jail. Huffman was arrested, taken to one side, and made to believe that the jig was up, and that it would go better with him if he owned up to the object of their trip to our town.

Supposing they were shadowed for horse stealing, he informed the officials of White’s intention to procure some acid by which the jail locks could be destroyed, whereupon White was immediately arrested. All the proof against him in town was his asking for some aqua fortis at Eddy’s drug store, but both parties were securely tied to a wagon and taken to Winfield.

While believing Mr. Finch acted in good faith, we are disposed to regard the arrest as rather premature. Taking into consideration the time required for aqua fortis to corrode a lock, we cannot see that our jail was in any immediate danger, more especially as the officers were so thoroughly posted as to White’s intentions, and we question whether they had sufficient grounds for making an arrest unless they were satisfied that these boys were implicated with Ike White in horse stealing.

“Fore-warned is fore-armed,” and a little careful watching probably would have resulted in absolute conviction, when the luckless White could have been put where he would do the most good. White is lately from Texas, is a reckless, worthless fellow, and one for whom we have no sympathy. It is only our desire to see such social lepers brought to justice that prompts this criticism. There is such a thing as being overzealous in a cause, which, of course, is far preferable to the charge of negligence. Of negligence, however, our present officers are never guilty.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 14, 1879.

Deputy Finch returned from Arkansas City Saturday evening having in custody Zeke White and John Hoffman, who have been suspected for some time of trying to get Ike White out of jail. The boys seemed very much surprised when taken by Mr. Finch and one of them confessed that they had come to Arkansas City for the purpose of “getting stuff to get Ike out with.” Hoffman is supposed to have been with Ike White in the pony steal and will likely get a couple of years at Leavenworth. These are all young looking boys and have begun their career of crime at an early age.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1879.

Zeke White was released from jail last Saturday, no cause being found for retaining him longer. Hoffman plead guilty to the charge of horse stealing and will have his trial at the next term of court.

County Jail. Did Not Want to Study Walls.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 17, 1879.

The case of Hill vs. Lilly was tried before ‘Squire Bonsall Monday morning. It seems that Mrs. Hill was claiming the wages of her son from the proprietors of the brick yards at Harmon’s Ford, for whom young Hill had been working, last Saturday afternoon, and some difference arising as to the amount due young Hill, an elder brother called the attention of a Mr. Grant to something he had omitted in the account. A Mr. Lilly, an attache of the brick yard, standing near, deemed this sufficient cause for interference, and pulling off his coat, he made use of some big-meaning words and asked Hill if he wanted anything. Hill didn’t need anything in Lilly’s line at that time; but on Monday morning, he wanted Lilly to step up and answer to the charge of assault and battery. The ‘Squire fixed his fine at two dollars and costs, making nine dollars and twenty cents. Rather than pay it, Lilly concluded to go to Winfield and study the hieroglyphics on the inside of the county jail walls; but at the last minute, he thought better of it and paid his fine.

“Jail Birds.”

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1879.

Marshal Stevens was out Tuesday with his jail-birds, cleaning up the alleys. They number seven stalwart fellows, who are paying the penalty of a few hours of carousing.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 8, 1879.

John McMahon was brought before Judge Christian last Friday, charged with feloniously taking and converting to his own use a pocket book containing $1.50 and valuable papers, belonging to a hand at the brick yard. The examination resulted in committing him to jail.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.

Deputy Finch is terribly exercised over the knowledge that he is soon to lose his bread-and-butter position over the jail. No help for it, Mr. Finch, you’ll have to step down and out after January 1st.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 13, 1879.

An important meeting of the Winfield Rifles will be held at the Courthouse Friday evening. All the members should be present.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, November 20, 1879.

Last Sunday evening Mr. A. T. Shenneman brought in Frank Schock, who did the carving at Frank Davis’ recently, and he is now safely lodged in the county jail. Mr. Foster offered a reward of $50 for his capture, and as none of the officers seemed to take any interest in the matter, Mr. Shenneman offered to bring him in, and Sunday evening returned with his man. He captured him in Chautauqua County while making tracks for the Territory. Mr. Shenneman learned before starting that he had gone toward the east, and also that he had friends in Chautauqua County, and immediately started for that locality. Arriving there he played the land-agent dodge and learned in a roundabout way that Schock had been there and had left for the Territory a short time before. He started in pursuit and overtook his man before he got out of the State. Mr. Shenneman would receive nothing for his time while after the criminal, and only asked enough to cover his expenses, which was cheerfully given.

Good Sidewalk from Main Street to Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 25, 1879.

The eight foot stone sidewalk on 10th avenue, between the Presbyterian church and the Courthouse, has been completed. This gives a first class sidewalk from Main street to the Courthouse.

1880

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 1, 1880.

Mr. Rhonimus, proprietor of the “North end meat market,” and a hired man, Henry, were arrested last week for stealing cattle. It seems that these gentlemen, in order to make the meat business as profitable as possible, have for some time been systematically stealing the beeves that supplied their market. It has been known among the stock men of this and Elk counties for some time that thieves were operating among their herds, and the matter was placed in the hands of Sheriff-elect Shenneman, who shadowed the above-named gentlemen, and at last caught them killing one of the missing beeves near the fair ground and promptly arrested them. Mr. Jones, of Windsor, has lost fourteen head of cattle by these depredations, and parties on the line of Elk county have missed as many more. It seems that the gentlemen were not partial as to the kind of meat taken, and sometimes stepped aside from their regular line of business to gobble a hog or two, and sometimes three, from the large herds of W. J. Hodges, at the stock yards, near the depot.

A preliminary trial was held before Justice Buckman, last Friday, but the case was continued till this week, and the prisoners remanded to jail in default of bail.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 8, 1880.

For some time Deputy Finch has suspected that the prisoners in the jail were working to make their escape, and last Sunday evening he “laid for them” and discovered them drilling the bolts which hold the door. They had filed the cavities where they had been drilling with soap and blackened it with coal dust to look like the bolt head, and were only waiting for a favorable opportunity to make their escape.

Bad Crossings West of Courthouse Block.

Winfield Courier, January 8, 1880.

We do not propose to assume the role of chronic grumbler, nor do we intend to call our city government hard names because we think something is not done as it should be. We suppose that they are acting their own judgment of what is the best interests of the city.

We now wish to call their attention to the crossings of Loomis street on the south side of 9th and the north side of 10th avenues. These crossings we pronounce “man traps” of a very serious character. They are located in the low place known as “the slough” next west of the courthouse block. The owners of lots along the south side of 9th and north side of 10th avenues have at considerable expense, graded up two or three feet, and constructed stone flag sidewalks eight feet wide up to Loomis street on each side. The city has connected these walks with a stingy crossing, only four feet wide. At the ends of the eight foot walks next to Loomis street are deep ditches which the city has bridged with flag stones only four feet wide, so that a person coming along the eight foot walk must travel in the middle of it or run into the ditch on one side or the other of the four foot bridge.

There is constant danger, in the night, of plunging off the ends of these 8 feet walks into a muddy ditch three feet deep, and even in the day-time, a blind man, or one whose thoughts are busy with some other subject, is liable to go down.

Now we want to ask the city authorities of this enterprising city of Winfield to remedy this evil at once, by at least making the ditch bridges eight feet wide. They tell us that these bridges are as wide as those along Main street. Well, what has that to do with it? The only question to consider is: Are the crossings on Loomis street sufficient for the situation? If not, they should be made so. If the crossings along Main street are sufficient, all right; but if not, they should also be made sufficient.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 14, 1880.

The new County Board of Commissioners met at the courthouse on Monday. Commissioner Sleeth retired and Commissioner Harbaugh took his place. Indications are that Mr. Harbaugh will make a first-class commissioner. The county printing was let to the Semi-Weekly, at legal rates.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 15, 1880.

There is confined in the county jail an insane woman by the name of Mary Noalla, from near Arkansas City. She was refused admittance to the asylum because the authorities thought her case hopeless. Judge Gans made another application last week, stating the difficulties of keeping her here, and urging that they should receive her. It is to be hoped that the judge will be successful in his efforts to get her into the asylum, for her present gloomy quarters not only increase her malady but is ruining her health.

Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.

The authorities of the asylum have again refused admission to Mary Noalla. Something should be done to find her a suitable place, as she raves continually about having to stay in jail.

Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.

Last Sunday morning, Mary Noalla, the crazy woman confined to the jail, attempted to run away. She was pursued by Mrs. Finch, and when overtaken, threw her arms around a fence-post and begged piteously to be allowed to go home, where, as she said, “her husband had 80 acres of land and lots of wheat.” It was with difficulty that she was persuaded to go back to the jail.

Alexander Points Out Poor Condition of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 5, 1880.

ED. COURIER: I think no one will accuse me of indulging in extravagance in my own affairs, or of advising, or approving the same in others. But all good businessmen will bear me out in the assertion that there are times and places in the affairs of every business individual when a dollar, rightly invested, will make, or save, ten for the investor.

What would we think of a householder owning a house needing repairs, who, instead of repairing it, would vacate it, and rent a house of his neighbor to live in? We should naturally think the man needed a guardian. Well, in all the business relations of life, the same rules that govern the life of the businessman apply to the affairs of corporations, municipal, as well as private.

I have been led to these reflections by the foolish, I might say almost criminal, negligence of our Board of County Commissioners in the policy it pursues in reference to the condition of our Courthouse. Individuals, pursuing the same line of policy in their personal and private affairs, would be stigmatized as improvident and shiftless. And yet, our Commissioners are only improvident and shiftless in their public capacity. As individuals, working for their own private interests, they are all honest, thrifty, and responsible. They are also highly respectable, and first class as neighbors and citizens.

They were elected by their constituents because they were good men, and the people had a right to believe that the interests of the county would fare as well in their hands as their own private interests. That such has not been the case will be admitted by every sensible person, when the present condition of county matters are once understood.

Look at the condition of our courthouse. When its unsafe condition was first made public, I, with others, was incredulous, and thought that, perhaps, the report was invented in order to give someone a job, or to satisfy somebody’s personal convenience. But after our own citizen architect, Mr. Hoenscheidt, and a celebrated architect from abroad, Mr. Bartlett, had examined the courthouse and pronounced it unsafe in its present condition; and after learning from our District Court Clerk, Mr. Bedilion, that he had experimented with measures, and found that the walls were gradually spreading, I became convinced that something ought to be done immediately to make the building a safe one to occupy.

Judge Campbell will not hold the District Court in it, and the county is now paying Manning from $360 to $400 a year for his Opera House to hold the court in. Here is economy with a vengeance! But this is not the worst feature of it. The courthouse, unrepaired, is a death-trap in which the lives of our county officers are liable at any moment to be sacrificed. It is true, the structure might stand for years as it is. So might the Tay bridge, but it didn’t; and how long brick walls may stand, that are gradually and surely spreading, the Lord only knows. I know this: that, if the courthouse should fall and destroy a single human life, I should thank my God that I was not one of the respectable and responsible Board of County Commissioners.

To repair the courthouse, means to make it better than it ever has been, and to enlarge it to meet the progressive demands of the county. It means, also, to provide a receptacle for the records of the county. And it can be done at an expense, trifling to the county; at an increase of taxes that might cover to the individual the cost of a single plug of tobacco. Yet, the Honorable Board plod along undisturbed, as though the county was too poor to own a respectable building, and pay out every year for rent enough to pay the interest on a much larger sum than would be necessary to make the courthouse what it should be.

Only think of it. The great county of Cowley—the banner county of the state—un-surpassed in her increase of population, her agricultural and horticultural productions; her superior standard of schools, education, intelligence, and refinement; with two railroads and the prospect of more; with a courthouse that could be built today for the paltry sum of $3,000, and in a shabby, tumble-down condition, which ought to bring the blush of shame to every citizen of the county. If the County Board believe that the people of the county prefer the “Penny Wise and Pound Foolish” manner in which this courthouse policy is conducted, I, for one, hope the Board is mistaken. Respectfully, J. M. ALEXANDER.

Plea to Reconstruct Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 5, 1880. Editorial Page.

With Col. Alexander we think it time something was done about the courthouse. The county has records that have cost thousands of dollars, and their loss would entail upon the citizens of the county hundreds of thousands of dollars in almost endless litigation. Were the courthouse the safest building in the county so far as the danger of falling is concerned, it is not a safe place to store the records. We commend the manly course of our correspondent in writing over his own proper signature. Like him we were skeptical about the dangerous condition of the courthouse, but we were always ready to urge that vaults should be constructed to preserve the records. We think the time has come when the courthouse should be reconstructed under the supervision of a competent civil engineer in such manner as to save the present building and add to it what is needed, and we urge the matter upon the immediate attention of our county commissioners.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 5, 1880.

Capt. Siverd of Rock has been appointed jailer, in place of Mr. Finch. The keys of the jail have been turned over to him, but as yet Mr. Finch holds the fort in the second story.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 5, 1880.

Last Thursday a couple of fellows confined in the jail came near making their escape. They had obtained a saw and sawed off the wooden window frames of the cell and with the piece were knocking a hole through the brick work. They had almost accomplished their purpose when they were detected. One of the fellows is John McMahon, lately brought from Arkansas City, and the other is Dick Rhonimus, the cattle thief.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 11, 1880.

McMahon, one of the prisoners who broke jail in Winfield a few days since, passed through this place last Monday in charge of one of the vigilante committee of Grouse Creek, who was returning with him to Winfield. He was retaken at South Haven, Sumner County, having stolen a horse after making his escape from jail and had been closely followed by the party in charge until captured.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.

A man by the name of Snow, a painter, who worked here some time ago, was killed in Elk City by Jesse McFadden, a son of a lady who keeps a hotel at that place. As usual, there was “a woman in the case.” Young McFadden was a nephew and former partner of Rhonimus, the cattle thief who escaped from our jail last week.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.

Last week a lady named Sarah E. James, whose home is near Tannehill, was brought before the Probate Judge on a charge of insanity. She appears like one who has seen better days and is the mother of three sons and a daughter. The sons are all grown, the daughter being the youngest and 12 years of age. Mrs. James has been living with her children on a rented farm since last August. The sons are industrious, hard-working boys, and everything seems to have gone along pleasantly in the family until about two weeks ago, when her mind seemed to go all to pieces, since which time she has been a raving maniac.

The sons have watched over and clung to her in the hopes of her getting better; but she has been getting worse and worse until they reluctantly sought her admission to the asylum. Her ravings and curses in the courtroom were simply horrible, and the Judge was compelled to have her removed to the jail and locked in one of the grated cells during the trial.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.

Last Wednesday, Dick Rhonimus, young McMahon, and another prisoner effected their escape from the county jail in a very mysterious manner. The next morning two horses were missing from Rev. Henderson’s stable. Monday afternoon McMahon, one of the escaped prisoners, was brought in, together with one of the stolen horses, by Messrs. P. F. Haynes and J. B. Splawn, of Silverdale township. The particulars of his capture are as follows.

Thursday morning a man stopped at the house of Smith Winchel, in that township, and asked for his breakfast, stating that he was hunting a man with a horse on which he had a chattel mortgage. Mr. Winchel gave him something to eat, and went with him when he started to get his horse. He noticed that the horse had neither saddle nor bridle and was being ridden with a rope over his nose, which aroused his suspicions, and he called in several of the neighbors and stated the circumstances, when it was decided to go after the stranger and make him give an account of himself.

They came within sight of their man near the state line, and had their suspicions confirmed by his putting whip to his horse and making for Salt Fork. After following the thief for about a day, two of the party turned back, leaving Splawn and Haynes to continue the pursuit. They followed the trail until dark and on the following morning were again on the track, determined to take him in if it took all summer. They followed the trail all day Friday and Friday night and Saturday discovered the horse, which the thief had abandoned while trying to get back into the state. They kept the trail by learning from time to time where the thief had tried to get something to eat. Sunday morning they rode into South Haven and found their man in a livery stable.

A warrant was procured and they started for home with the prisoner. On the way up they came through Arkansas City, where McMahon’s mother resides, and the prisoner was allowed an interview with her. Mrs. McMahon is a respectable, hard-working woman, and her grief at seeing her boy under such circumstances was heartrending. She sold a cow, the only one she possessed, and purchased him a suit of clothes, the ones he had on being in tatters.

On the way home McMahon conversed freely with his captors, confessing the whole affair and stating that someone opened the jail door and let them out, but refused to tell who the party was. Monday afternoon the prisoner was turned over to Sheriff Shenneman by the captors, who received the $50 reward offered for his return. The smile that illuminated our Sheriff’s countenance, when told that one of his birds had come home to roost, was a sight to behold. The most remarkable fact about the matter is that McMahon’s time was almost out, and on the very day when he was returned to the jail as a horse thief, his time would have expired.

County Commissioners Meet. Cowley County Rents Jail at $10 a Month.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 18, 1880.

The County Commissioners met in session in Winfield last week. In addition to canvassing the vote of the various townships, as cast on the third inst., the jail was rented by the county, at the stipulated price of ten dollars per month. A change in the boundary line of Vernon and Ninnescah Townships was also made.

Clarification. Upper Part of Jail Rented from Winfield at $10 a Month for Jailer.

Addition to Jail to be Built for Sheriff’s Office.

More Binding Rods Ordered to Prop Up Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 19, 1880.

The Commissioners met last week and canvassed the vote for township officers. The result will be found in another column. Among other things they changed the boundary lines of Vernon and Ninnescah Townships, by cutting off 1 mile from the north part of Vernon, and attaching it to Ninnescah. They also made arrangements to build an addition to the jail to be used by the sheriff as an office, and rented the upper part of the jail from the city for $10 per month. It will be occupied as heretofore by the jailer. An order was made to have four more binding rods put in the courthouse.

Jail Breakers.

Winfield Courier, February 19, 1880.

Mr. Henderson has now secured possession of both the horses stolen from him by the jail breakers. The best one is nearly ruined and he is out $100 in cash. This, to a poor man, is about as bad as a fire.

Parade Formed on Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.

“Winfield Rifles and St. John’s Battery in Full Uniform.

Headed by Brigadier-General Green and

Colonel Noble, Adjutant-General of the State.

“Monday was a gala day for Winfield, and the people of the surrounding country understood the fact, and many of them turned out to see the fun. Some time ago the Guards decided to produce the military drama of the “Union Spy” at this place, and learning that members of the Governor’s staff would be present, it was decided to give a grand parade in their honor. At 2 o’clock the companies were formed on the courthouse square, and after receiving the general and staff, they moved out and paraded through the principal streets.

“Gen. Green and staff took a position in front of the Opera House and the companies counter-marched in review. The Rifles looked their best and St. John’s Battery shown resplendent in new uniforms with red top-knots. The general and staff were splendidly mounted and uniformed and looked every inch soldiers. This was by far the most imposing affair Winfield has yet seen.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 26, 1880.

Attention, Cavalrymen! There will be a meeting of all parties interested in forming a cavalry company at the courthouse, 2 o’clock p.m., Saturday next. All old soldiers are invited to attend. Those who have been under fire—the time-tried and battle-tested veterans—want to get up a company of “Ironsides.” In time of peace prepare for war. Turn out.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 4, 1880.

Last Saturday Mrs. McNeil brought suit against Charles H. Payson for obtaining a deed under false pretenses. The case was rather a mixed-up affair, and there is no knowing how it will terminate. Mr. Payson was bound over to the district court in the sum of $2,000, and in default of bail was committed to jail.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 11, 1880.

Jailor Siverd has quite a collection of boarders at present.

Repairs Being Made to Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 25, 1880.

The work of “bracing up” the courthouse is progressing finely. Mr. Tansey, who has the job in hand, is making a clean breast of it, and will leave it in first class condition. Four iron rods have been put in beneath the floor of the second story, and four more will be put in just below the upper ceiling. Six pillars, 8 x 8, have been put beneath the girders of the roof on the partition walls of the first story, which are built up solid to the second story. This allows the roof to rest upon the central partitions of the building and relieves the pressure from the walls. It is to be replastered and painted, and will be ready for the next term of court. The commissioners are to be commended for taking action in the matter before it was too late.

Jail and Courthouse Square. Activities by Sheriff Shenneman.

Winfield Courier, April 1, 1880.

Cap. Siverd is cleaning up the Courthouse square and jail yard.

The new office is about ready for Sheriff Shenneman’s occupancy.

Sheriff Shenneman is building a new barn on the Courthouse square.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 7, 1880.

Capt. Siverd, County Jailer, has reduced his business to a very systematic order, and there is no likelihood of any more jail deliveries. The Capt. is an attentive officer and is putting everything in apple pie order in and around the jail and courthouse square at Winfield.

Courthouse Repairs. Plea for Vaults.

Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.

Captain Tansey has done the boss job of repairing on the courthouse. His work is conceded by all who inspect it to be first-class. Now, Messrs. Commissioners, give us a set of vaults for the county money and county records, and the people will say, “well done!”

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 15, 1880.

John McMahon, who broke jail with Rhonimus, but was recaptured, attempted to burn out the sill which holds the bars over the jail window one day last week. The fire was discovered and put out before much damage was done. Johnnie now languishes in a grated cell on limited diet.

Hitching Posts to be Erected Near Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 22, 1880.

At last hitching posts are to be erected near the courthouse for the use of the public.

Courthouse Repairs.

Winfield Courier, April 22, 1880.

The repairs of the courthouse are being carried forward rapidly. It will be ready for the May term of court.

Courthouse. [Finally Used by Judge Campbell.]

Winfield Courier, May 6, 1880.

Court convened in the courthouse Monday at 2 o’clock. The court disposed of many cases which had been agreed upon by the litigants during the recess, and adjourned to meet Tuesday morning at 9 o’clock.

TUESDAY.

State vs. Jerry Martin; defendant discharged upon paying the costs.

J. E. Conklin vs. M. E. Conklin; judgment for plaintiff.

A. T. Spotswood vs. S. D. Burt; garnishee ordered to file answer.

J. D. Porter vs. J. D. Burt; garnishee ordered to file answer.

Harris vs. Day taken up and jury impaneled.

In the case of State vs. Payson, the Court decided to let the matter go to trial. It comes on immediately after the case of Harris vs. Day is disposed of.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 13, 1880.

The trial of Chas. H. Payson, for obtaining property under false pretenses, terminated last Monday by the jury bringing in a verdict of guilty. While this case was pending, we carefully avoided saying anything that would tend to prejudice the minds of our readers for or against the unfortunate victim; but now that the matter has been fully tried, a verdict rendered, and the case no longer before the jury and court, we shall attempt a review of the testimony and facts pertaining to the prosecution and conviction.

On or about the 26th of January, Mr. Payson filed for record a deed from Lena McNeil to himself, conveying certain real estate known as the “Curns property.” This deed he claimed to have obtained for services rendered in the trial of Dick Rhonimus (a brother of Mrs. McNeil who was then in jail charged with stealing cattle), and for legal services to be rendered during the year. Soon after obtaining the deed, he mortgaged the property to James Jordan for $480, and subsequently sold it to G. H. Buckman, subject to the mortgage, for $200. About this time Rhonimus escaped from jail, and soon after Payson was arrested for obtaining the deed under false pretenses, and after a preliminary examination, was remanded to jail until this term of the district court.

At this trial the examination was full and searching, every effort being put forward by the prosecution and the defense. Mrs. McNeil, and her daughter, Lena, testified that their intention was to convey the property to Mrs. McNeil, and that Payson produced and read to them a deed making such conveyance; but afterward, while going from Mrs. McNeil’s house to the notary public’s office, substituted another conveying the property to himself, which was signed and acknowledged by Lena upon his representation.

These are the facts as gleaned from the evidence; and in our opinion, the jury brought in a verdict in accordance, as they were sworn to do, “with the law and evidence in the case,” but from an outside standpoint, we regard the matter in a very different light, and are free to say that we believe Mrs. McNeil to be as deep in the mud as Payson is in the mire.

If the information in this case had been quashed, as the court at first intimated it would do, and a strict investigation had been made into the jail delivery business, more light would have been thrown upon a very complicated matter.

As it is, we are heartily sorry for Charles H. Payson. Had he pursued an honorable, upright course in his everyday life and conduct while practicing here, he would have won fame, honor, and wealth with scarcely an effort, and might have laughed at any prosecution brought against him. Even in this, his darkest hour, he has many friends who believe him innocent, and who will leave no stone unturned to secure his early release.

It is sad to see a young man, just in the prime of his life, and upon whom nature has lavished her most costly gifts, condemned to a fate which, to a person of spirit, is worse than death. Where he will live on from year to year with all the finer sensibilities and feelings of a man seared and contaminated by constant association with the vilest class of humanity, and to come forth at last with the brand of Cain upon his forehead and the curse of an ex-convict upon his life.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 13, 1880.

Grace (Episcopal) Church parish, having secured the services of a pastor, will, on and after Sunday, May 16th, hold regular service, morning and evening, at the regular hour. The service on the 16th, and until further notice, will be held in the courthouse. All are invited to come. REV. FREY, Pastor.

Courthouse. Moving Brings out “Courthouse Rats.”

Winfield Courier, June 3, 1880.

The season of spring cleaning and moving has struck the “courthouse rats,” and one and all of them have sought quarters on the second floor of the building. This was done in order to allow the plasterers, painters, moppers, and house cleaners to get at the true inwardness of things on the lower floor. The job of moving was hot, long, and dirty, and the boys set up the cigars more than once to the kind friends who came in to give them a lift on this box, or that table, or that desk. The officials are now distributed over the courtroom, an office in each corner, one in the south end, one in the middle, and one in each of the small rooms. Call and see them, and they will set up the cigars to all visitors.

Courthouse Square. Monument Placed Honoring Nation’s Dead.

Winfield Courier, June 3, 1880.

Last Sunday was set apart for the ceremonies of decorating the graves of soldiers of the late war. The Winfield Rifles and St. John’s Battery managed the affair in the most creditable manner. The crowd of people at the Methodist church in the morning was so great that considerable numbers could not get admission. Rev. J. Albert Hyden delivered a very interesting and instructive commemoration sermon at the church, and after other services there, a procession was formed, which marched through the streets around to the courthouse square, where Judge C. Coldwell delivered an eloquent oration in memorial of the nation’s dead. A monument there placed was then beautifully decorated with flowers, and bouquets were strewn around by a floral committee of ten young ladies and six little girls dressed in white. The Davis cornet band and a full choir gave sweet, plaintive music to the occasion.

Courthouse Repairs Almost Complete.

Winfield Courier, June 24, 1880.

The repairs on the courthouse are about finished. It looks inside like a new building.

Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, July 1, 1880.

Capt. Siverd keeps the courthouse square as clean as it well can be. Tuesday he had his boarders out in force mowing the grass and raking off the grounds.

Courthouse Square. Fourth of July Fireworks.

Winfield Courier, July 8, 1880.

The Fourth in Winfield was duly celebrated, although the weather in the early part of the day was very inauspicious. About nine o’clock the clouds cleared away, the sun came out bright and warm, and the people from the country began to pour in from all quarters. Owing to the streets and roads being muddy, the procession was not formed until two o’clock, when, headed by the Peabody band they marched to the grove. The oration by Judge Caldwell was delivered in the Judge’s faultless style, and was attentively listened to by a large audience. Prof. Story also made an address. About four o’clock the match game of baseball between the Wichita and Winfield clubs was called. This was the most exciting part of the program and was witnessed by an immense crowd of people. The players did their best, and the game proved a close one, the Winfield club beating the Wichitas by one, the score being 19 to 20. After the ball game the people repaired to the courthouse square, where there was an elegant display of fire-works, lasting until ten o’clock. After the fire-works came the grand military ball which was the affair of the day and lasted till the “wee sma’ hours.” Altogether the celebration was a success and fully sustained Winfield’s reputation of never doing things by halves.

Jail.

THE CALABOOSE CALAMITY: CAPT. SIVERD, JAILER.

Winfield Courier, July 8, 1880.

Early Saturday morning Capt. Siverd, the jailer, had a severe tussle with one of the prisoners, who was attempting to escape. He went into the jail to carry the prisoners their breakfast, and while stooping over, was struck from behind by Frank Wilson, one of the Hoenscheidt horse stealers, with a stove leg. The blow staggered the Captain, but he attempted to grapple with the prisoner, and received several more blows before so doing. Hearing the scuffle, Mrs. Siverd came to the rescue; but being unable to separate them, she called for help, and several men nearby took a hand in the affray and soon succeeded in landing Wilson in his cell, where he was decorated with a pair of cast-iron bracelets, and anklets with a ball and chain attached. Mr. Siverd is able to be about, but his head resembles a sore thumb all tied up. Had the prisoner been a little more accurate with his first blow, Sheriff Shenneman would now be receiving applications for the position of jailer. The Captain will hereafter keep his left eye open for these “quiet, unoffensive fellows.” Had he hesitated in the least about grappling Wilson, he would undoubtedly have been killed.

Winfield Courier, July 8, 1880.

Prisoners will hereafter be a little backward about attacking Jailer Siverd. He is never caught napping.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 14, 1880.

Burt Tabler and Brown Donnigan, of Maple City, were arrested last week for stealing horses from the Ponca Indians some time in April. They were taken to Winfield and lodged in jail, but Donnigan was afterward released on bail.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 28, 1880.

There will be a meeting of the Cowley County Horticultural Society on Monday, August 2, at the courthouse at 2 p.m. All the officers and members, together with all the friends of the cause, are earnestly invited to be present. J. CAIRNS, President.

Courthouse Vaults and Additions.

Winfield Courier, July 29, 1880.

The county commissioners met last Friday and adopted plans and specifications for the courthouse vaults and additions. Bids are called for on excavations, masonry, etc. The plans and specifications may be seen at the office of the County Clerk.

Courthouse.

EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION.

Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.

On the first day of August 1834 the slaves in all the British colonies were emancipated, and last Monday the colored people of the Arkansas Valley celebrated the event in Winfield.

There were about 300 colored people present, mainly from Winfield, Wichita, Wellington, and Arkansas City.

Williamson Thomas was the president of the day; L. C. Scott was grand marshal; Wm. Brown and Carter, assistant marshals, and John Turner, Carter, and Brown the committee on arrangements.

A procession, led by the colored band of martial music, was formed at the Santa Fe depot and marched to the ground, Frank Manny’s garden and park, where the Rev. Weir made an introductory address, and Rev. Daily made the opening prayer.

Judge Coldwell was the orator of the day and made an eloquent and appropriate address, which was listened to attentively and broadly applauded by his appreciative hearers. After the address a banquet was served, at which Judge Coldwell and the county commissioners were honored guests.

In the evening the religious part of the company held an entertainment at the courthouse and the others held a ball at Manning’s Opera House. Both parties were conducted pleasantly and were highly enjoyed.

There are about 125 colored people in Winfield of whom about 50 are exodusters. The latter have plenty of work, are doing well, and feel that they have escaped untold barbarities. The colored people here are generally good citizens and industrious.

Courthouse Vaults.

Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.

On Tuesday the county commissioners let the stonework of the vault wings of the courthouse to Archie Stewart for $545, and the iron work of the vaults to John Seaton, of Atchison, for $430. The work will commence at once. John Hoenscheidt, the architect, was on hand with the plans and specifications.

Telephone to Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 11, 1880.

Winfield now has a telephone from E. P. Kinne’s office to the courthouse. Several others are in contemplation.

Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.

Pryor & Kinne have a telephone from their office to the courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 19, 1880.

Pryor & Kinne have a telephone in good working order connecting their office with E. S. Bedilion’s office at the courthouse. It saves them a great many journeys to the courthouse to make inquiries about the public records. They are agents for the Telephone Company, and will soon be in a position to put up more telephones.

[Note: The following two articles deal with Hackney & Pyburn. MAW]

Democratic Convention: Adjourning to the Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 18, 1880.

HACKNEY AND PYBURN.

In the Monitor of July 31, giving an account of the Democratic convention, we find the following glowing tribute to Hon. A. J. Pyburn, the Democratic nominee for State Senator, uttered by one of the pure and undefiled. Says Brother Conklin:

A special Monitor reporter slipped around among the delegates for items. It was admitted on all hands that there was no possible hope of success unless through defection of Republicans, and it became a question of grave importance to them, as to the best means to employ in order to accomplish this end, and the probability of there being any serious defection. Some contending that there was not now, neither was there likely to be any serious defection this year; others insisted as the Republican party was largely in the majority in this county, it would this year, as it has always done in the past, develop animosities that could find vent only by bolting.

Others replied to this that last year for the first time in the history of Cowley County, the Republicans made a clean sweep. When this statement was made, a rural rooster jumped up and startled a group with “Yes, and it was the d d Monitor and Bill Hackney who did the work that brought this about.”

Whereupon a prominent Democrat of Winfield informed him that “it were well if he kept his mouth shut about what Hackney had done for the Republican party, that his enemies in his own party had for years been misrepresenting him relative to his politics; that he was one of the most effective workers in that party, and that it was all important that his services to the party should be kept in the background, in order that any injury done him by his enemies might be used against him in this campaign.”

This did not seem to mollify the rooster any and he demanded in impatient tones: “Well, Smarty, if you will be kind enough, please tell me who there is in the Democratic party that we can beat him with?” “Pyburn, of course,” replied Smarty. “To h l with Pyburn!” roared the rooster. What did he do as a Senator for us that we should vote for him? Why, he has been four years in the State Senate, and in all of that time he did not accomplish as much for the public as that infernal bulldozer, Bill Hackney, did in sixty days; don’t talk Pyburn to me! He voted for that infamous Republican, John James Ingalls, for the United States Senate—that man, who more than any other since the days of Jim Lane, vilifies us Democrats.”

To this Smarty replied, “that the party could not afford to find fault with Pyburn for that, because he pledged every Republican who voted for him four years ago, that if he was elected he would ignore politics and vote for the Hon. P. B. Plumb, of Emporia, for the United States Senate, and that his vote for Ingalls was only following out his pledges then made to the men in the Republican party who elected him, and in order to secure his election he would have to make the pledges again; that it was true that he had not accomplished anything as a Senator, except the introduction and securing the passage of a resolution memorializing Congress to pass the electoral bill.”

Here Rooster could wait no longer, and he broke out again at a white heat: “Yes, he pledged the Republicans to vote for Plumb, did he? I know he did, but did he do it? I know Plumb; he is an honest man, and Pyburn never voted for him or any other Republican that winter, but steadily voted for John Martin, who was the Democratic caucus nominee for United States Senator, and thus violated his pledges to the man who elected him. Oh yes! he wanted to keep faith with the Republicans who elected him, did he, when he voted for Ingalls? but he did not want to keep faith with them when he voted against Plumb. The Republicans claim that Ingalls bought his way into the Senate, and everybody admits that Plumb was honestly elected, and all admit that money was used in Ingalls’s election, and that none was used in Plumb’s. Your ideas as to the motive that made Pyburn go back on the Republicans who voted for him in one case, and caused him to keep faith in the other, is evidently very widely different from my idea!”

Closing his remark with a sneer, the Rooster said: “And Pyburn got up that resolution endorsing that caused the electoral bill, did he? That infamous bill that defrauded us out of our President, and you offer that as the only thing he did while a Senator? I know that is the only time I ever heard of him as a Senator, but d m me if I ever thought any Democrat would point to that as commendable in his career—even the worst enemy he has. No. You can nominate him if you like, but if you do I will not vote for him.” Whereupon Smarty and the rest of them proceeded to kick him out of the Democratic party.

After much wrangling similar to the above, the time came to meet, and they all adjourned to the courthouse, and the reporter quietly stole from behind the barrel of whiskey in Fahey’s saloon, where he had been hiding, and was soon swallowed up in the crowd as they wended their way to the convention.

When that body was duly organized, A. J. Pyburn was nominated by acclamation. Our reporter looked over the room for the “Rooster,” but he was not there. The next seen of him he was blind drunk with his arms around Amos Walton’s neck, ejaculating that he would not vote for Pyburn—no, not he, while Amos wildly beseeched him to vote the straight ticket.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 18, 1880.

THE $200 EXEMPTION.

Rock Township, Aug. 9th, 1880.

Ed. Monitor: Some days ago I noticed an editorial in the Telegram, in opposition to the passage of the proposed constitutional amendment, which destroys that provision of our present constitution exempting from taxation $200 worth of the property of every head of the family. And in this, the writer endorses the Telegram. Here is a poor man, a laborer, with a large family; he has not team or wagon, his family are dependant upon him for their daily bread. He has a couple of cows and other personal property and household goods, worth, all told, only one hundred dollars. It is as much as he can do to feed his family, much less pay taxes on this pittance of property (under our present constitution this property is exempt from taxation).

And the last legislature passed a joint resolution, submitting to the voters of this state, the proposition to take this exemption away, and thus force my neighbor, poor as he is, to pay taxes upon this property. This is not right. Let the rich man pay the taxes; take away the burden from the poor as much as we can, is the correct rule. And yet A. J. Pyburn, the Democratic nominee for State Senator, favored the taking of this poor man’s property, and voted to submit the amendment to the people in order to accomplish that end.

Not so with W. P. Hackney, when he was in the legislature; he voted and worked for the people—the poor men. Stand his successful effort to repeal the infamous attorney fee bill up along side of this act of A. J. Pyburn, and the poor man can readily see who is his friend. Bill Hackney will run like a scared wolf in this township, and don’t you forget it. We are all for him, regardless of the pleading of E. C. Manning and other disappointed tricksters in Winfield who hate him because they cannot control him. Yours respectfully, ECHO.

Monitor.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 19, 1880.

The A. M. E. Church people held a festival at the courthouse last week. The proceeds, $19.85, will be applied to incidental expenses of the church and the support of preaching.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 1, 1880.

The delinquent tax sale begins next Tuesday, September 7, at the courthouse in Winfield. Have you paid your taxes?

Courthouse Wing Woodwork.

Winfield Courier, September 2, 1880.

Swain and Watkins take the sub-contract for the wood-work of the courthouse wing.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 2, 1880.

Rev. C. H. Canfield, of Independence, occupied the Episcopal desk at the courthouse last Sunday.

Courthouse. Jail Occupants.

Winfield Courier, September 2, 1880.

The District Court convened in the courthouse in this city last Wednesday, Judge Campbell on the bench. The weather was hot and the attendance was not large. A large number of cases were continued by consent.

The several late occupants of the jail were arraigned in term and plead guilty, except that Frank Williams plead not guilty of the larceny of Hoenscheidt’s horse and wagon. The case was terminated by a nolle pros, he having plead guilty to charge of assault upon the jailer and attempt to escape, for which crimes he was sentenced to ten years in the penitentiary.

John Gray, for larceny of Hoenscheidt’s horse and wagon, was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

D. B. Waterman, for stealing C. J. Brane’s horse, was sentenced to three years imprisonment.

George Davis, colored, for horse stealing, received a sentence of two years.

George Edwards, colored employee in the Arkansas City Hotel, for carving the cook, sentenced for eighteen months.

Court adjourned to Saturday, Sept. 4th, at 9 o’clock a.m.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 29, 1880.

Do not forget the meeting of the county horticultural society in the courthouse in Winfield, next Monday at 2 p.m. An address by Rev. Hyden and a fine display of fruits, etc., will be special features.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 14, 1880.

Theodore Miller, the boy who took Mr. Osgood’s buggy last winter, was captured in Ohio and is now in jail here.

Cisterns Needed at Courthouse and Other Places.

Winfield Courier, October 28, 1880.

EDS. COURIER: My attention was directed soon after locating in Winfield to an ever increasing source of disease within the city limits, especially that part of the city east of Main Street.

I have many times called the attention of individuals to the subject, but being a newcomer (in common parlance), modesty constrained me to defer publicly discussing the subject, hoping that someone more competent and longer identified with the interests of the city would assume the duty, and discuss the subject with the fervency its importance demands.

I take it that in a well regulated city or commonwealth, where the different elements of society sustain a legitimate relation to each other and the proper balance of mutual influences is maintained, the medical man is, or ought to be in some sense the conservator of the public health. His whole duty to society is certainly not performed in his laudable efforts to restore the sick to health, if he can preserve the health after it is restored and prevent the spread of disease.

It is natural enough for society to defer to the superior knowledge of medical men in the science of hygiene and sanitary laws and await their notice and advice, if there be an obscure or concealed enemy preying upon the health of the community. So in the absence of a board of health (which should always have an existence in every city), I will take the liberty of calling the attention of our people to the evil alluded to above.

I believe it is a fact well established by our well-diggers that water is not supplied to our wells by small veins or streams that may have sources running in different directions and at different depths, but at a certain distance from the surface a bed of sand and gravel is reached, below this a solid sheet of rock. This bed of sand and gravel constitutes the reservoir from which our wells are supplied with water; and this reservoir is largely, if not entirely repleted from surface drainage. Debris and impurities of divers kinds accumulate in the streets, alleys, upon the commons, about stables, barn-yards, and especially in privies. Through months these impurities accumulate, and with each rain they sink into the common reservoir. We cannot expect the water to be purified by passing through the ground to the reservoir, for a filter that has done duty so long has itself become contaminated, and would infect pure water were it pumped through it. These impurities are the home of festering poisons, noxious gases, cryptogamic vegetations, and swarms of infusoria, all capable of entering the system and poisoning the blood and generating disease, the result of which is death in many instances. Notably low forms of fever and epidemics riot in such toxic elements.

A report made by the board of health in an eastern town recently contained many points of interest touching this subject. Wells of water, in many instances those least suspected, were found to be seriously contaminated. One specification will answer our purpose as an illustration.

The water from a well was examined; the well and its surroundings were unexceptionally neat and clean, yet the water was found to contain excrementious matter, which had found its way into the well from a privy situated one hundred and fifty feet away, the vault being six feet deep.

Those who have given this subject but little thought may be surprised to learn with what facility noxious elements find their way into wells, and probably not less surprised to learn the sad results to families who have been necessitated to use the water such wells afford.

These unhappy conditions are not peculiar to Winfield. They obtain in most of the cities and towns in the state. With few exceptions they are located in valleys, mostly along the streams, and are subject to some of the conditions that have been described as existing in this locality.

It is not my purpose to discuss this subject further than is necessary to invite our people to an appreciation of the necessity of sanitary precaution in constructing their residences. It will appear to everyone who will take the pains to investigate this matter, that it is not an imaginary evil, but is a fact, and one the proportions of which increase with the increase of population.

The remedy is obvious and complete. Do away with wells excepting for the purpose of watering stock and protecting against fire. Build cisterns with good filters instead of digging wells. It will cost but little if any more than our present system, and pure cistern water is infinitely preferable from every standpoint to water freighted so heavily with calcareous matter as the water of this place is, were it free from pernicious elements.

The city authorities would do a thing that would commend their wisdom and philanthropy to the intelligence and gratitude of the people would they have a large cistern constructed at each school building, that the children and people in the vicinity who are not owners of property might have the benefit of pure drinking water. Others for like purposes might be built at the courthouse, one or more of the churches, and at least two on Main street. Lynn’s new building and Spotswood’s store, would be available places for two large public reservoirs of pure drinking water, from which the stores, shops, offices, restaurants, and boarding houses might be supplied. W. T. W.

Courthouse Wings.

Winfield Courier, November 25, 1880.

Swain & Watkins have the contract for the wood-work of the courthouse wings.

Courthouse. “Stray List.”

Winfield Courier, November 25, 1880.

Many persons do not understand the stray laws of the state. If a stray is taken up, it must be advertised in the Kansas Farmer. Every county clerk is required to keep a file of the Farmer in his office for reference. If you have lost a horse, go to the clerk’s office, look over the Kansas Farmer, and if your horse has been taken up anywhere in the state, it will be advertised in the stray list. A gentleman from Sumner County called at the courthouse last week inquiring about a horse which had strayed from him and which he had been anxiously hunting for a week. County Clerk Hunt turned to his file of the Farmer and pointed out his horse in the first number. It had been taken up by a neighbor not more than a mile from the owner’s house. So it is in many cases, and if all who read this will bear it in mind, it may prove of value to them.

Courthouse Repairs Report.

Four Rooms Instead of Six Rooms in Lower Story of Building.

Winfield Courier, November 25, 1880.

The courthouse repairs are going on apace. The work on the new wings has been stopped on account of the recent “spell” of weather. The inside work is being done by P. W. Watkins. He has removed the partitions and has made four rooms instead of six in the lower story of the old building. With the present improvements, our courthouse is one of the most commodious in Southern Kansas.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 15, 1880.

One Fogg, a boy aged about sixteen, was hired by Dan Bunnell, of Grouse Creek, to herd cattle a short time since, and last week the young sinner ran off with one of his employer’s ponies. It is needless to say he was soon overhauled at the Kaw Agency, and an interview with Squire Butterfield resulted in his going to jail for six months.

Judge Gans’ Office Moved in Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

While rummaging around the courthouse last week, we accidentally stumbled into Judge Gans’ office. They have moved him upstairs into the west jury room.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

CHRISTMAS TREE. The children of Grace Church (Episcopal) will have a Christmas tree on Friday evening, in the Courthouse, at 7 o’clock. Music, addresses, and gifts for the children. Christmas Day there will be services in the same place at 11 a.m.

Description of New Courthouse Vaults.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

The new courthouse vaults are the finest in the State. They are large, roomy, and completely fireproof, built up from the ground, and arched over with solid masonry. The walls and ceilings are twenty-four inches thick, laid up with brick, and filled in with dry sand.

Jail.

ECHOES FROM THE JAIL! BY “OCCASIONAL.”

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

Criminal Calendar.

Parents look after your boys. Thieves keep out of Cowley County.

An Appeal for Conway.

When the curtain dropped last Saturday upon the last official act of Judge W. P. Campbell, so far as Cowley County is concerned, there was gladness in the hearts of some, and sorrow in those of others. It is not in my province to speak of the Judge as a jurist. I am incompetent, but to one not “learned in the law” he has been an honor to the Bench and the friend of the “Toilers” and the poor and from many of this class go with him their best wishes for the future, be his surroundings what they may. Perhaps the most painful causes in the court just closed were the large increase of divorce cases and crime. There seems to be something radically wrong somewhere. Men swear devotion to love’s most ardent desire and then send their wives into the divorce court to have a long list of domestic trouble and horrors laid before the public, while men look on and chuckle with devilish delight at the woes and sufferings of heart broken wives whose highest hopes have been strangled and their future clouded, perhaps forever; but to the criminals:

Thomas King, aged 20 years, well educated, temperate in his habits, arrested for stealing money from the Rev. Father Kelly, plead guilty and was sent up for one year.

Ernest Lewis, aged 16, robbed Mr. Kelly’s boot shop in Winfield, plead guilty. One year.

Clinton Grimes stole ten dollars from Mr. Venable of Richland Township by entering his house in the night time. One year.

Theodore Miller, aged twenty, charged with having stolen a buggy belonging to William Ausbrook of Winfield last February and brought back from Toledo, Ohio. Jury disagreed and in the very slightest manner he escaped a long term, probably, in the penitentiary.

Willie Fogg, aged fifteen, a smart, active, intelligent boy, for taking a horse from Mr. Bonnell, was sent to the county jail for six months. Is there not some good man who will interest himself in this boy’s welfare? He is from New Hampshire and probably tells the whole story when he says he has a stepfather and that he has not seen his mother for two years. He wants to go to school and learn a trade.

Alfred Conway Trial Awakened Strong Interest.

The trial that awakened the strongest interest was that of Alfred Conway of Bolton township, tried for assaulting Rialdo Blackman with a deadly weapon with intent to kill: prosecuted with the energy and skill for which Torrance and Asp are noted; defended by Houston and Mitchell with the same stubborn determination as the prosecutors. The jury returned a verdict of guilty. Guilty? Yes, horrid word! It fell like a funeral dirge on the ears of the Conway family and that of his young bride; to her it meant more than death; to her it meant the shutting out of the last ray of sunshine that makes this life worth living; to her it meant the snatching away by the iron arm of the law, the Idol of her soul; the sheet anchor of her hopes upon this side of eternity. To her vision, seen through her tears, may have arisen the towering walls of the state penitentiary that seemed more terrible than the grave. Possibly, for the first time Andrew Conway realized his true position and may have regretted the hot blood of anger that when aroused flowed through his veins. The court, moved, maybe, by pity and the extenuating circumstances that surround the case, sentenced Conway—for six months to the county jail and to pay the costs. He has resolved to enter upon a new life and henceforth will devote his attention to the care of his young wife who was so faithful to him, and thereby challenge the respect of his neighbors and by their aid build up what he has torn down. Will they help him? OCCASIONAL.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

Young Conway was sentenced to six months imprisonment in the county jail. A motion for new trial was overruled.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

Judge Campbell paid Jailer Siverd a high compliment in his remarks upon the sentence of Willie Fogg, a mere boy arrested for riding off his employer’s horse. The sentence was for six months in the county jail, and the judge consoled him with the thought that his confinement was in one of the best regulated jails in the state, and that he would be under the care of a man who, although firm and exacting in matters of discipline, was still kind and courteous to those under his charge. This is a deserved compliment, for in no county in the state can be found a better regulated and better disciplined jail than the one under Capt. Siverd’s care.

Courthouse. Grand Jury.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

The grand jury filed into the courtroom Saturday afternoon and presented the court a batch of fifty-one indictments. A person could have picked out every guilty man in the house when the number of fellows implicated was known. Our prediction of “a ratting around of dry bones” is likely to be more than fulfilled. It is rumored that most of our prominent citizens have been indicted for betting on the election. We hid our new hat until the danger was over. The orders of arrest have not been issued to the sheriff yet, so the public is rather anxious as to “who is who.” It will all come out before another week, and then the members of that grand jury will come to town escorted by two shot-guns and a bowie-knife.

Winfield Courier, December 23, 1880.

The grand jury put in a hard week’s work, and their work was effective. The jury was composed of men who believed that laws were made to be enforced and that crimes ought to be ferreted out and punished. A perfect unity of feeling on this subject prevailed, hence the large amount of work accomplished. If a grand jury composed of such men as the last one was held at each term of court, infringements of the law would be less frequent than at present.

1881

Cost of Changes to Courthouse.

THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1881.

MONITOR GIVES BREAKDOWN ON COURTHOUSE EXPENDITURES.

The expenditures were much greater than first anticipated or intended; but where such radical changes to the interior arrangements were made, the amount necessary to make them could not be calculated, and as is always the case, they were much greater than any person expected. The entire cost of the work on the courthouse was $4,220; divided as follows.

Archie Stewart, stone mason work, $545.00

Beaton & Connor, contractors, $1,987.00

Iron work and vaults, $1,018.00

Repairing offices and furniture, $670.00

The additions are alike in size and style, and are 21 x 31 feet. The east room will be used as the office of the probate judge and the west for the superintendent of public instruction. The vaults are located in these additions and so arranged that entrance is had to them from every office in the building, yet each is independent from the other. The vaults and the iron work were made by John Seaton, of Atchison, and in a manner that is entirely satisfactory to the commissioners. The vaults rest on three feet of solid masonry, and are in every respect fire and burglar proof. The grade floor of the main building is now divided into four large offices instead of six small ones. The east part is occupied by the county clerk and the treasurer, with a window allowing communications between the offices.

On the west side a like division is made, and they are occupied by the register of deeds and district clerk. The changes have necessitated some new furniture, but the officers have been very economical and ordered nothing but what was indispensable.

The greatest change in improvement has been made in the register’s office. The records are all now kept in the vault, and from the main room to the vault there is a truck on which runs a car, and in this car are placed all the books that are daily used. At night the car is run into the vault which secures absolute safety. The offices are all arranged with a view to the economy of space, time, and labor. Seaton & Connor were the contractors for this work, and they have done their work in a manner that reflects credit on them. They came here about a year ago and have worked on some of our best buildings. The commissioners speak of them in the highest terms, and say that while they, the contractors, were much delayed by weather and other things, yet not a word of complaint was made, nor was there any attempt on their part to avoid the contract or try to get an increased price. Swain & Watkins had a contract under Seaton & Connor to do the carpenter work, and P. W. Watkins was appointed by the commissioners to hire and superintend all the work in the old building. Their work was completed in a manner that gives entire satisfaction.

We cannot conclude this account without awarding the county commissioners their mead of praise. For years there has been a demand for the protection of our records, and as soon as they could do it by law they have answered the demand. They have carefully supervised the work, and not a dollar more has been spent than they could help. With a cost of less than five thousand dollars, we now have a courthouse that will do the county for many years to come. This is much more satisfactory than it would have been to have pulled down the old building and rebuilt, which would probably have cost twenty thousand dollars to have obtained the same amount of room. We say well done, good and faithful servants.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1881.

FARMERS’ CONVENTION. A number of the leading farmers of the county met pursuant to call at the courthouse last Saturday. The meeting organized by electing J. S. Baker chairman and S. E. Burger secretary. After a few preliminary remarks it was decided to issue a call for a mass convention, to meet two weeks from that date, to perfect the organization of a “Farmers’ Alliance Club.” Three delegates were elected to attend the convention, which meets at Topeka today (Wednesday). The delegates are: S. E. Burger, Capt. Stubblefield, and F. W. Schwantes.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 13, 1881.

A Mr. Al. Gibbons was arrested by Deputy U. S. Marshal Horn last week on a charge of selling tobacco without license. He was committed to jail in default of $300 bond.

Jail.

THE MONITOR’S LOCALS.

Winfield Courier, January 27, 1881.

Never did we see punishment follow the commission of crime more quickly than we did last Tuesday. Alexander May, from near South Haven, Sumner County, went into Huey’s bank at Arkansas City and offered for sale a note signed, J. W. Brown and Pickett, with the name endorsed, John Long, his mark. Mr. Huey asked May if that was his mark, and he said yes. The note was for sixty dollars and not due. The bank offered him fifty-six dollars, which he accepted. In a few minutes afterward, Pickett was in the bank, and Mr. Huey carelessly remarked he had a piece of paper, which he had just bought, with his name to it. “Guess not,” said Pickett, “let me see it.” As soon as he saw it, he pronounced it a forgery. The man was at once arrested for forgery, he having had the money but a few minutes. He acknowledged the crime, gave up the money, and offered his team to compromise the matter; and gave in extenuation that his family was suffering for the necessaries of life. No compromise could be made, he had a preliminary trial, was bound over, and in default of bail is now in jail. If the man’s statement is true in regard to his family, steps should at once be taken to relive them.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 9, 1881.

A special meeting of the Horticultural Society of this county will be held at the courthouse in Winfield next Saturday at 2 p.m. A good attendance is requested.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 10, 1881.

Last week the commissioners released Dunham, who was confined in the county jail in default of fine. He was immediately arrested on another charge, convicted, and sentenced to three months more, and until the costs were paid.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.

Willie A. Fogg, the fifteen-year-old boy sentenced to the county jail for six months by Judge Campbell, at the last term of court, for grand larceny, was yesterday pardoned by the governor. Father Kelly made the application, has taken a great interest in him, and believes that he can reclaim him.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, Thursday, February 24, 1881. Front Page.

TEMPERANCE BILL.

PASSED THE HOUSE ON WEDNESDAY AT 3:30 P.M. AND IS NOW A LAW.

AN ACT To Prohibit the Manufacture and Sale of Intoxicating Liquors, except the Medical, Scientific, and Mechanical Purposes, and to Regulate the Manufacture and Sale Thereof for such Excepted Purposes.

SECTION 7. Any person, without taking out and having a permit to sell intoxicating liquors as provided in this act, who shall directly or indirectly sell or barter any spiritous, malt, vinous, fermented, or other intoxicating liquor, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days; and for a second offense shall be fined in any sum not less than two hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not less than sixty days nor more than six months. And for a third, and very subsequent offense, shall be fined in a sum not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not less than three months nor more than one year, or shall suffer both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

SECTION 9. Every person having a permit to sell intoxicating liquors, or to manufacture and sell intoxicating liquors under the provisions of this act, who shall sell or barter such liquor in any other manner or for any other purpose than in this act, provided, or who shall violate any of the provisions of this act, shall, upon conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be fined in any sum not less than one hundred dollars nor more than three hundred dollars for the first offense, or be imprisoned in the county jail not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days, and in addition thereto shall forfeit his permit to sell under this act; for a second offense he shall be fined n a sum not less than three hundred dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days, and forfeit his permit, and for a period of five years his right to obtain a permit to sell intoxicating liquors under this act; and for a third and every subsequent offense he shall be fined in a sum not less than five hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars, or shall be imprisoned in the county jail not less than three months nor more than one year, and shall forfeit his permit and his right forever to obtain a permit to sell intoxicating liquors in this state under the provisions of this act. In all cases where forfeitures are provided in this act, the court, in rendering judgment in the action, shall declare such forfeiture in fixing the punishment.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.

Major F. Moss, the Greenwood County patent right man who sold a mortgaged team to Dr. Wilson and then “skipped” to Missouri, was brought back upon requisition of the governor and is now in jail.

Winfield Courier, February 24, 1881.

Major F. Moss was brought in by Sheriff Shenneman Monday evening on a charge of obtaining money under false pretenses. This is the same gentleman that was tried by the Burden boys and found guilty of “chewing tobacco.” He will catch it in earnest this time.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 3, 1881.

The Wool growers and Sheep breeders association meets at the Courthouse, Winfield, on Saturday, March 5th, at 10 o’clock a.m. Let all interested attend.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 17, 1881.

The Republicans of the First Ward of the city of Winfield will meet in convention at the Courthouse, on Saturday evening, March 19th, 1881, at 7 o’clock sharp, for the purpose of nominating a candidate for member of the School Board and of Councilman, and a Republican Committee of three for said ward and thirteen delegates to attend a City Convention on the 27th of March, 1881, to place a full Republican city ticket in the field.

W. J. WILSON, R. R. CONKLIN, For Committee.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 17, 1881.

By a petition presented me, I have been requested to call a meeting of the Republican voters of Second Ward, at the Opera House, on Saturday, March 19th, 1881, at 7:30 p.m., to put in nomination a candidate for member of the City Council, and member of the Board of Education for said ward, to be voted for at the coming city election. Also, to select a ward committee and elect twelve delegates to meet with the delegates of the First ward, at the Courthouse March 26th, 1881, at 7:30 p.m., to nominate candidates for the office of said city, common to both wards. O. M. SEWARD. March 15^th.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 24, 1881.

The Republicans of the First Ward of the city met at the courthouse on Saturday evening, the 19th. Called to order by W. J. Wilson of the Ward committee: D. A. Millington was chosen chairman and S. M. Jarvis secretary. J. E. Platter was nominated for member of the school board by acclamation. A ballot was taken for councilman, resulting in E. P. Hickok 34, C. A. Bliss 12. Mr. Hickok was declared the nominee. The chairman being authorized by a vote of the meeting to appoint a ward committee of three, appointed M. G. Troup, W. J. Wilson, and R. R. Conklin such committee.

The following 13 delegates were elected to represent the ward in the city convention to meet on the 26th: D. A. Millington, W. P. Hackney, E. S. Bedilion, T. M. Bryan, Jacob Nixon, James Bethel, J. W. Crane, S. M. Jarvis, J. E. Conklin, J. L. M. Hill, H. D. Gans, E. P. Greer, W. J. Wilson.

The Second Ward Meeting was held at the opera house. G. H. Buckman called the meeting to order. James Kelly was chosen chairman and J. P. Short secretary. J. L. Horning was nominated for member of the school board. M. L. Read was nominated for council. James Kelly, T. H. Soward, and S. H. Myton were chosen a ward committee.

The following 12 gentlemen were elected delegates to the city convention: G. H. Buckman, N. A. Haight, H. E. Asp, T. M. McGuire, T. H. Soward, W. Bitting, J. L. Horning, C. M. Wood, M. L. Robinson, Archie Stewart, H. Brotherton, I. W. Randall.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 6, 1881.

Twenty-five dollars reward is offered by our sheriff for the apprehension of Allison Toops, who broke jail at Winfield, March 31, 1881.

Winfield Courier, April 7, 1881.

Allison Toops, the prisoner who escaped from the jail last week, has been recaptured. He was found on the road near Maple City, and was completely worn out. It is thought the fellow was partially deranged when he left.

Courthouse Grounds.

Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.

Jailer Siverd has had his boarders at work cleaning up the courthouse grounds during the past week. It makes a wonderful improvement in the looks of the public grounds.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.

Willie Fogg, the boy whom friends recently got pardoned out of jail, was again incarcerated Sunday. Saturday morning he borrowed Mrs. Olds’ pony, got a saddle of Mr. Enright, and left, saying he would ride out in the country a short distance and return. Saturday evening they became uneasy about him, and reported the matter to the sheriff, who began investigating and found that he had told several different stories to get the pony and saddle. This convinced him that the boy had stolen the outfit and had no intention of returning, so he started in pursuit and succeeded in capturing the boy, pony, and saddle about twenty miles in the Territory. This boy seems to be a natural thief or a lunatic, without regard for friends or his own good. Father Kelly had interested himself in the boy’s welfare, and was doing all he could to make a man of him. The best thing that can be done for him is to give him the five years in the penitentiary at hard labor. He will come out a wiser if not a better boy.

Jail.

MAYOR TROUP’S INAUGURAL.

Winfield Courier, April 14, 1881.

To the Honorable Council of the City of Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas.

Gentlemen: To the end that we may mutually understand the condition of our City affairs at the time when they are turned over to our care and management by our predecessors in office and be mutually and understandingly advised as to the obstacles and difficulties that we shall necessarily encounter in our endeavor to faithfully administer said affairs so as not to make them an unnecessary burden upon the people, and at the same time to be able to turn them over to our successors in office unencumbered by debt, I deem it my duty to submit this paper to your consideration.

Now that we are elected and installed, we are no longer the partisan candidates of any “ring,” “clique,” or “act,” but as men, worthy of the honor conferred upon us, we are the servants of every man, woman, and child, resident in our little City, and as honest men, are bound to regard the rights of all, however humble or exalted their station among us. I hope that “equal and exact justice to all,” and “a due regard to the right of protection to person and property to every individual citizen,” may be the thought uppermost in the minds of us all, in the discharge of our several duties, at all times, during our relations as officers of this city.

The first and most serious obstacle that we shall encounter will be the question of a revenue with which to meet the necessary expenses incident to a faithful and prudent administration of the city government.

As you are all aware, the principal source of revenue of cities like ours, has been entirely and unalterably cut off by the adoption of the amendment, and the enactment of a law to enforce the same, so that we are now called upon to administer our affairs without that revenue, and are, as I look at it, bound to do so in the way and manner that will be least oppressive to the public.

Your clerk has kindly furnished me the following statement of the receipts, and expenditures for the year ending March 15th, 1881, with the amount on hand at the beginning of the year, namely on March 15th, 1880.

RECEIPTS.

Fines Police Court: $ 254.25

License drays and busses: $ 302.50

License concerts and shows: $ 64.50

License pedlars and street: $ 80.75

License shooting galleries: $ 21.00

License billiard tables: $ 57.50

License auctioneers: $ 38.35

License public scales: $ 29.60

License express and telegraph: $ 24.20

License saloons: $ 2,000.00

License druggists: $ 190.00

Rent from county: $ 26.65

Dog tax: $ 68.00

Old tax county treasurer: $ 157.01

Total receipts: $ 3,320.31

On hand March 15, 1880: $ 649.87

Total resources: $ 3,969.98

Total expenditures: $ 3,423.73

Balance: $ 545.25

EXPENDITURES

Officers salaries: $ 1,460.05

Street crossings and gutters: $ 771.90

Work on streets: $ 237.50

Extra police service: $ 28.50

City printing: $ 143.68

Books and stationery: $ 34.44

Office rents: $ 120.60

Boarding prisoners: $ 64.30

Judges and clerks election: $ 20.00

Rooms for election: $ 8.00

Express and postage charges: $ 17.30

Public wells: $ 122.95

Water works committee: $ 200.00

Merchandise and lumber: $ 62.08

Fuel: $ 27.20

Tool repairs: $ 12.95

Repairs on jail: $ 34.82

Rent engine house grounds: $ 30.00

Remitted license: $ 10.00

Removing nuisances: $ 18.00

Total expenditures: $ 3,423.73

The above balance was the cash resources of the city on hand March 15th, 1881. The clerk also informs me that warrants against said amount have been issued by our predecessors since the 15th of March last, to such an amount as to now leave on hand in cash the sum of $104.18. The city also holds unpaid orders on the county treasurer for rent to the amount of $90.00; so that it may be said that we receive our trust unencumbered by debt, and with $194.16 in the treasury. A casual glance at the sources of revenue will disclose to you that from three items, namely, the saloons, druggists, and county treasurer, the city received $2,347.01, the balance of the revenue amounting to $973.30 coming from sources still open to us under the ordinances as they now exist.

It is perhaps hardly fair to assume that the receipts from the sources left will be as great this year as last, because I find on examination that the fines for the first quarter of last year amount to five times as much as they do for the fourth quarter, and is accounted for by the fact that during the first part of last year the last of our railroad building was being done, and every person will doubtless remember that the railroad builders were very liberal contributors to this fund. I suppose that with the saloons will also go out some of the billiard table licenses. The clerk, who is perhaps best able to estimate the income from the present sources, places it at about $635.00. Now “the nut we are expected to crack” is now to run this city on $600 or $700, when it cost $3,423.73 to maintain the city during the year last past, and do this without imposing enormous taxes on an already tax-burdened people.

Certainly radical and practical economy and retrenchment will be required to enable us to accomplish this result. It will be observed from the foregoing statement that there was expended on the streets in cash the sum of $1,009.46. It does seem to me that with a faithful, efficient, and honest street commissioner, that the two days’ work (or in lieu thereof three dollars) which every able-bodied male citizen between the ages of twenty-one and forty-five is required to perform or pay, will be abundantly sufficient to keep up and maintain in proper condition all the streets and alleys in the city. This source of revenue to the city seems to have been sadly overlooked and neglected, as I find that no report or accounting has been made or had at the hands of the street commissioner during the past year. I trust that with your assistance we may be able to make this department sufficiently efficient to keep up the streets without any expenditure out of the city treasury, and if possible create a revenue besides. This will save an item of $1,009.46.

I have a proposition from a gentleman who is in every respect qualified for the position, that if he be appointed city clerk, he will furnish to the city free of rent a suitable room for the sittings of the council, during the year. I hope that you will agree with me in this appointment, to the end that we may thus save to the city an item of $120 rent, and $27.20 fuel.

The item of $200, to a water works committee, I take it can very well be dispensed with entirely during the coming year. It seems to me that the officers’ salaries ought to be brought within the sum of $1,000, especially while we are in our present condition, and graded and fixed at $500 for the marshal, $200 for the clerk, including registration services, $150 for the street commissioner, $100 for the city attorney, and $50 for the city engineer. If that could be done, it would save us on the item of official salaries the sum of $460.05 over last year. Thus on the five items of streets, rent, fuel, water works, and official salaries, we can, if we do our duty as we ought under all the circumstances, save the sum of $1,818.41, which would bring our expenses down to the sum of $1,613.63. I think that by exercising rigid and practical economy, we might reduce all the other items of expenses sufficiently to save $212.63 more, which would bring it down to $1,400.

We have seen above that we may expect from the ordinary sources under the ordinances as they now exist, about $700; rent from the county $120.00; and now we have on hand $194.18, making in all $1,014.16 as our present and future resources, leaving us only the sum of $385.84 to be raised in some way to be provided for by you.

If after mature deliberation and investigation, we find that we can raise that amount either by increasing the licenses already imposed by ordinance or by imposing other licenses on some transient or special business that will not militate against the reasonably accepted best business interests, growth and prosperity of our city, then I shall be in favor of so raising said sum in that way; otherwise, I am of the opinion that it ought to be raised by direct taxation.

In conclusion, gentlemen, I trust I shall have your cordial cooperation in reducing our city expenses to the lowest possible limit consistent with the efficient management of its affairs, and its material growth and development. I also trust that you will unanimously aid me in the organization of the executive force of the city in such manner as will insure the enforcement of all laws which are calculated to secure morality, sobriety, virtue, and protection to person and property in our midst during our term of office.

Let us not make use of our power in the reflection of the executive force “to reward our friends and punish our enemies, but let us have in view solely the enforcement of law, and good order and government.”

I recognize the fact that upon the mayor largely depends the enforcement of the laws providing punishment for crimes peculiar to all cities, such as gambling, bawdyism, and the sale of intoxicating liquors; and I say to you here and now, that if you will provide me with subordinates who will faithfully and fully aid and assist me in enforcing the laws, that I will undertake to see that all the laws prohibiting these things shall be duly enforced.

I say this not in a braggadocio spirit, nor for the purpose of cruelly or harshly persecuting any person, or class of persons; but on the contrary, I say it in all kindness but firmness, believing that it is now my sworn duty, during my term of office, to see that those peculiar vices are made to feel the full penalty of the law.

Believing that you, each and all, have in view only the government of our city in such manner as will secure to us an orderly, moral, temperate, and law abiding community, wherein we may have our homes without “fear and trembling” lest our sons and daughters may be led away by these pitfalls of ruin, I confidently and implicitly rely upon you to do all things within your power to aid me “in enforcing all laws and ordinances for the government of the city” in such a way as to secure to us that priceless blessing.

M. G. TROUP, Mayor.

Cowley County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 20, 1881.

Notice is hereby given that on the 3rd day of May at 11 o’clock a.m., 1881, an application will be made to his excellency, Gov. John P. St. John, at Topeka, Kansas, for the pardon of Alfred Conway, convicted at the December term (A. D. 1880) of the Cowley County District Court, of an assault and wounding, under such circumstances, that, it would have been manslaughter if death had ensued. See sec. 42 chap. 31 “of crimes and punishments” act., and sentenced to six months, confinement in the Cowley County jail. Said sentence expires June 16th, 1881. MITCHELL & HOUSTON.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 20, 1881.

That “nice new fence” of Ed. Greer’s was badly demoralized by last Friday’s blaze in Winfield, which destroyed Mr. Kirkwood’s residence opposite the courthouse.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 21, 1881.

Last week Capt. Siverd resigned his position as jailer, and will devote his entire attention to the business of the office to which he was elected. Mr. Siverd has run the jail in the most satisfactory manner, and leaves it with the good will of all concerned.

Jail. Commissary Department.

Winfield Courier, May 12, 1881.

Mr. J. C. Walters has returned and taken charge of the commissary department of the jail. Mr. Walters is Mr. Shenneman’s father-in-law. He has been living in Wellington for the past year.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 18, 1881.

Prof. E. Gale, President of the State Horticultural Society, is expected to be in Winfield, to meet with the Cowley County Horticultural Society, in a special meeting called for Tuesday, May 24th, at 2 p.m., at the Courthouse. All members are earnestly requested to be present, to assist in arranging for the meeting of the State Society, to be held at Winfield June 28th to 30^th. P. B. LEE, Secretary.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 18, 1881.

Sheriff Shenneman left, on Monday last, with May and Toops, for the penitentiary. This makes fifteen convicts sent to the penitentiary during Mr. Shenneman’s term of office, not to mention Fogg, who, on account of his youth, was sentenced to the county jail for horse-stealing, and Miller, who was granted a change of venue to Montgomery County. This shows seventeen criminals brought to justice in less than two years, against eleven in the six years previous to Mr. Shenneman’s election. This of itself is a guarantee that we have the right man in the right place, so far as our present sheriff is concerned.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 19, 1881.

MR. EDITOR: Please allow me through your paper to correct a little false report in regard to Sheriff Shenneman. It was circulated through town some two or three weeks ago that he had acted ungentlemanly in regard to allowing me to visit the prisoners at the jail. On the contrary, he has always acted a perfect gentleman with me, and I must say I think it would be a little difficult to find one who would act his part as well as he does.

REV. G. M. KELLY.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse.

COWLEY COUNTY: FROM THE LEAVENWORTH TIMES.

Winfield Courier, June 9, 1881 - Front Page

CHURCHES.

Winfield has five church buildings and six organizations. The Methodist Church is of stone, and cost seven thousand five hundred dollars. The Presbyterian is brick, and cost nine thousand. The Baptists are erecting a handsome edifice that is to cost eight thousand, and will be completed this summer. The Christian Church has a frame building erected several years ago. The society has outgrown it, and will soon erect another house of worship. The Catholic Church has a fine, substantial frame building, and parsonage adjoining. The Episcopalians have a parish at this point, and a resident clergyman, and use the courthouse for a place of worship.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 22, 1881.

A boy named McDade, working for Mr. Hon, of Pleasant Valley, decamped last week, after purloining a $20 bill, and came to town to squander the same. The theft was soon discovered, he was pursued, arrested, and at this time languishes in the Winfield jail. Seventeen dollars of the money stolen was recovered.

Winfield Courier, June 23, 1881.

A boy by the name of Jefferson McDade was arrested last week for theft. He had hired out to Mr. Hon, of Pleasant Valley township, to harvest; and the first night slept with Alvin Hon. Al. happened to have about $35.00 in his pocket, and young McDade took $20.00 of it and skipped out. He was followed and next day arrested in Arkansas City by Deputy Sheriff McIntire. $17.00 of the $20.00 was recovered, and the youth now languishes in jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 29, 1881.

The case of the City of Arkansas City vs. Milton and Daniel Fullerlove, Richard Oldham, and Fannie Fullerlove, charged with disturbing the peace of said city, by violent and obscene language, and by tumultuous conduct, was disposed of by Police Judge Bonsall, on last Friday. The case had been previously dismissed as to Milton and Daniel Fullerlove. The amorous Richard and the bewitching Fannie appeared in court, plead guilty to the charge and were fined, the former $30 and the latter $10 with cost. The defendants were no sooner released by the City officers, than Oldham was taken into custody under a State warrant sued out by Milton, aforesaid, to have him placed under bonds to keep the peace. At Oldham’s request, this case was continued until Thursday, of this week, and in default of the proper bond he was committed to jail to await his examination.

The gay “Don Juan” was followed to Winfield by his enchantress, Fannie, who vows vengeance on her Lord and Master; and now the gossip lovers are on the qui vive for developments, which Fannie promises shall be startling.

It is hoped that this will end the matter which has, for some weeks, been an offense in the nostrils of all decent people in this community.

Cowley County Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.

Our readers will remember that several weeks ago, Geo. Haywood, whose real name is Richard Lennox, was arrested in Chicago, on the strength of a photograph sent there by Sheriff Shenneman, who wanted him for passing forged paper on the Cowley County Bank, that Shenneman went to Chicago, and through many difficulties, got his prisoner, and started home with him; and that on the way, the prisoner jumped from the train in full headway and escaped. Shenneman had taken from his pockets a letter written in a female hand from Canton, Illinois, and signed “S.” By means of this letter, he found who “S” was and concluded that sooner or later Lennox would visit this “S”, who was his sister. So he employed the post master at Canton, the marshal of Canton, and the sheriff of that county to watch for him.

Last week he got a telegram from the sheriff informing him that the prisoner was caught. Shenneman answered at once to hold on to him until he got there, and started for that place. Habeas Corpus proceedings were instituted for procuring the prisoner’s discharge, and when Shenneman arrived, the Habeas Corpus was being heard before the County judge, who soon discharged the prisoner.

Shenneman grabbed him at once and there was a row, the judge leading the mob and threatening due vengeance on Shenneman. By rapid motions and strategic generalship, Shenneman got his prisoner slipped into a wagon behind the fastest team that could be procured, and putting the horses to their best speed, rushed through opposing crowds and escaped, followed by many pursuers. He beat them all in the race and got his prisoner to a station twenty miles distant, put him on board, and sped back to Winfield, where he has his bird safe within the walls of the Cowley County jail.

Mr. Shenneman is enthusiastic in his praises of Sheriff D. J. Waggoner and other officers of Fulton County, Illinois: Thos. Burleigh, City Marshal, and John Sutton, night watchman of Canton, Illinois. They assisted in securing the prisoner and helping Shenneman to get him away. He noted their unbending integrity, for he knows positively that they were offered five hundred dollars to allow Lennox to escape.

This Lennox proves to be one of the most wily and successful counterfeiters in America. He has victimized large numbers of businessmen in various parts of the United States and Canada, has many smart accomplices who have aided him to escape many times, and who still work to get him out of limbo. He has finally got a sheriff after him who never gives up and will keep his eye on him to prevent him from escaping again. The prisoner has plenty of money and his accomplices have plenty more, so that everything will yet be done that can be done to get him out.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.

The jail is about full of boarders since Sheriff Shenneman brought in his forger. There are now six of the boys in limbo with four months until court. Willie Fogg is in for horse stealing; Theodore Miller for larceny; James Jackson for horse stealing; Jefferson McDade for stealing money; Richard Oldham for threatening to assault and shoot one Fullerlove, at Arkansas City; and Richard Lennox, Alias Haywood and Alias St. Clair for forgery. The last is perhaps the most noted criminal ever brought in to the state, having served several terms in the Illinois penitentiary, and has operated all over the U. S. and Canada.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 7, 1881.

Thursday morning Sheriff Shenneman brought in from her parent’s home, near Cambridge, Miss Lizzie Milton, on a charge of insanity. Her trial was held before Judge Gans Thursday, and it was decided that she should be taken to the asylum. She had been ill with a fever and about two weeks ago showed symptoms of insanity. Our reporter visited her at the jail and found her very noisy, singing and talking incoherently. She is a bright, neat-appearing young lady, and it is to be hoped that medical treatment and the best of care will restore her to her right mind.

Courthouse Bell.

Winfield Courier, July 14, 1881.

We wonder why the bell ringers at the Presbyterian church and courthouse don’t do their duty. They don’t ring their bells half of the time. We have even known one of them to stop ringing in an hour and a half after commencing. But, to be serious about it, we don’t wonder the bell ringers look thin and worn with continued out work. It seems to be their rule to ring as long as they have strength enough left to pull the cord. We rather like a moderate amount of bell ringing. The fire bell never rings more than twelve strokes at a time and is real nice. We could stand twelve strokes at a time and even up to twenty-five from the other bells without grumbling; but when they both get to going at a time on a Sunday evening, and vie with each other to see which will hold out the longest, we feel so wicked that there is no use for us to go to church. But we have a plan by which we can fix one of them.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 14, 1881.

Board of county commissioners met in regular session. Present: G. L. Gale, H. Harbaugh, and L. B. Bullington, commissioners, and F. S. Jennings, County attorney, and J. S. Hunt, County clerk. . . . [I did not finish this. Not much information.]

Listed:

E. C. MANNING, LOT 12, BLOCK 100: $125.00

D. A. MILLINGTON, LOTS IN BLOCK 100: $450.00

Article about courthouse getting lands must pertain to these two items...there were no other items showing legal description like above. ARTICLE SAID MRS. MILLINGTON OWNED THE LOTS SOLD FOR $450.00...THIS SHOWS THAT MR. MILLINGTON OWNED THE LOTS.

Excerpt from meeting...

Courthouse Block Lots.

City of Winfield to Deed Lots and Jail to County.

Winfield Courier, July 14, 1881.

The Board of County Commissioners, at their last session, transacted business as follows.

The Board also succeeded in getting possession of the balance of the lots in the Court House block, purchasing five lots from Mrs. Millington for $450; four lots from Mr. Fuller for $300, and one lot from Mr. Manning for $135, the City of Winfield on certain conditions, donating its lots. The city is to deed the two lots and jail to the county, which completes the block.

The above lots, bought at $90 each, would sell readily at $150 each, to other parties.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 27, 1881.

A fish row was indulged in by Messrs. Sebastian and Brown the other day, resulting in the severe handling of the latter by the former, who broke an oar in the course of the performance. Sebastian was arrested, and, pleading guilty, was fined $5.00 and costs. In default of payment, he was consigned to the county jail.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881..

A young man created a matinee in the south part of town Sunday afternoon. He got hold of a quart of whiskey somewhere and thereupon proceeded to fill his hide full. The whiskey seemed to be of a quality known as “fightin’ liquor,” and no one else being present took it upon himself to lick his wife. In order to escape she fled to a neighbor and the festive citizen followed. She beat him in the race, and the neighbor objecting to any further proceedings on his part, he returned to the house and began carrying out the furniture and jugging off the children. Another neighbor came to the rescue, took the children away and knocked him down three or four times.

He then came off uptown where Sheriff Shenneman arrested him and lodged him in the jail. Monday morning he was brought before justice Tansey and fined $25. This is one of the most brutal and contemptible affairs we have yet been called upon to chronicle. A week or more ago about the same kind of a melee was engaged in, and as this is the second offense, we think it about time, in the interest of the defenseless woman whom he abuses, that thing should be stopped.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.

A very funny incident happened at the jail Tuesday. Sheriff Shenneman wanted Lennox, the forger, to allow his picture to be taken. This Lennox refused to do, so the sheriff went for a blacksmith to have his irons taken off, intending to take him to the gallery and have the photo taken anyway. When the blacksmith arrived, he and the sheriff entered the cell, when lo, and behold, they found Lennox minus his flowing burnsides and clean shaven. Upon investigation it was found that he had broken the lamp chimney and had shaved himself with the pieces of glass. Shenneman took his picture anyway and got a fair likeness. The boys in the jail say that it made him grunt when grinding off his whiskers with the lamp chimney.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.

That man, Jackson, who is confined to the county jail, is a tough one. It appears that he is the most industrious man the county ever had for a boarder. He breaks door hinges and handcuffs; gets a scrap of iron and picks away with it until he has cut off an iron bar, or worn off a hard timber bolt through a crack in the door; tears through a floor made of 2 x 6 set up edgeways and spiked together solid; and bucks at the solid foundations of the jail. If Shenneman manages to keep him until court time, it looks now as though the jail will be ground to splinters and all the shackles reduced to iron filings. He must have served a long apprenticeship in jail breaking. Last Friday he made a grand struggle for liberty but failed.

Winfield Jail Birds.

Winfield Courier, August 4, 1881.

Winfield jail birds are most industrious fellows. They are at work continually trying to get out, and don’t need many implements when they can shave themselves with lamp chimneys.

Temporary Fence Around Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, August 4, 1881.

The commissioners are making arrangements to fence the courthouse square. A stone wall is to be built along the west side and dirt to be filled in above it. The ground will be plowed up, the old unsightly stable sheds and water tank will be removed, a temporary fence will be built around the balance of the block, and next spring trees will be set out.

Excerpt from article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 18, 1881.

From Leavenworth Times.

An addition is being built to the courthouse, and a heavy fire and burglar proof safe will be put in. The grounds are being planted with trees and will be ornamented with drives, grottoes, etc.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 18, 1881.

Haley, the accomplice of Lennox, broke jail at Wichita Friday. He worked the bars of a window out of their sockets and crawled out. He laid in a patch of sunflowers most of the day, but was caught as he came out in the evening. He was tried on habeas corpus Saturday and released, but was promptly re-arrested by Mr. Shenneman, who brought him down Monday, and has him here awaiting extradition papers from another state where he has committed other crimes and is wanted by the officers.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 25, 1881.

Several days ago Peter Larson, a Norwegian living in Rock township, died suddenly in spasms. The funeral services were held and he was buried in that township. He was an elderly man in general good health and had no relatives in this country. He had a well cultivated and excellent farm, some fifty head of cattle, a large number of hogs, a great variety of farming implements, and was supposed to have large sums of money about his premises. He had two houses on his farm, in one of which he lived alone; and in the other lived one Harmon and his family, who was a tenant of his farm and had charge of his property to a considerable extent. After Larson’s death Harmon took charge of the property and soon it was suspected that he was running it off and selling it. It was discovered that he had carried eight fat hogs up to Augusta in the night and sold them there. He was arrested for grand larceny and now languishes in the county jail.

A variety of suspicious circumstances put the idea into his neighbors that he had poisoned Larson with strychnine. County Attorney Jennings was consulted and he found where, a few days before Larson’s death, Harmon had bought ten grains of strychnine in Douglass, and brought two persons from the drug store there to the jail in Winfield, who both identified Harmon as the person who made the purchase. The symptoms of Larson just before death were those of strychnine poison. On Tuesday Mr. Jennings had the body exhumed and called in Drs. Emerson, Graham, and others to make an analysis of the stomach, heart, and liver for poison. They have not reported as we go to press.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 1, 1881.

Sheriff A. T. Shenneman returned last Friday from Pennsylvania, where on the proper requisition, he delivered the boss forger Haley to the proper authorities to answer to two indictments of forgery. Haley was wanted in other places in the United States and Canada, where his skill in his profession had met with success. Many efforts had been made to capture him and eminent detectives had been after him. It was the mistake of his life when he came to Cowley, because it interested Shenneman in him and then his fate was sealed.

Franklin, Pa., August 20. Sheriff Shenneman of Winfield, Kansas, arrived here today having in charge George D. Haley, wanted in charge of having forged a draft on the Emlenton bank some months since. The bank offered a reward of one hundred dollars for the arrest. Haley and his partner, Lennox, shoved the forged papers on Mitchel’s bank, in Oil City, in 1876, and were arrested, but escaped from the jail. In 1877 they were arrested and convicted for the same offense in Fulton County, Illinois, and served their sentence. Lennox is now in jail at Winfield, Kansas. At the time they scooped the Emlenton bank, they also passed forged papers on the Clarion County bank at Edenburg for five hundred dollars, and are wanted in New York City, and a dozen other places for similar offenses. Haley will be railroaded to the penitentiary. Pittsburgh Leader.

We copy the following from the Oil City (Pennsylvania) Derrick.

This afternoon at two o’clock there arrived in this city A. T. Shenneman, sheriff of Cowley County, Kansas, having in charge, heavily ironed, the notorious forger, George Haley. He was at once turned over to Sheriff Mark and placed in the county bastille. Haley is quite a notorious character, with almost as brilliant a record as “Billy the Kid,” with the exception that he has never been known to stain his hands with human blood. He is a man of medium height, fair complexion, and genteel appearance, and during the war lost his left arm. He is reputed to be as mild a mannered man—as some of his operations will show.

He first made his appearance before the public in the oil regions in 1876 or 1877, when he was arrested for forging a draft on an eastern bank for a large amount, which was cashed by F. W. Mitchel and Co.’s bank at Rouseville. He shortly after made his escape from the county jail at Franklin and was subsequently arrested in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and brought back and again lodged in jail by Phil. W. Raymond, of this city, on a requisition from the governor. Soon, however, he succeeded in making his escape a second time; and eluding capture, dropped out of sight.

Sometime during the spring or summer of 1880, successful forgeries were perpetrated on the Emlenton and also on the Edenburg banks. Careful inquiries established the fact that the perpetrators were none other than George Haley and a man by the name of Lennox, also an old offender.

They escaped arrest, however, and left the country and went to the west. They were first heard of at Wichita, Kansas, at their old business. They commenced operations this way. Lennox passed himself off as a man of wealth and his companion as his brother, and gave out in a careless way that he was looking for a suitable location to establish his crippled brother in the stock business. Having plenty of money and spending it freely, they were not long in finding friends and making acquaintances, among whom were several drummers. They at first shoved several genuine drafts, which, being of course promptly paid, established them in the confidence of the public, the amount of course being small.

When sufficient time had elapsed for these drafts to be heard from, they at once commenced with larger amounts. One draft for $500 was cashed by Conn Bros. & Levi, and another for a similar amount by Woodman & Son. They did not wait this time to hear from the drafts, but skipped for parts unknown, after, however, getting another draft for $500 cashed at Arkansas City. This occurred in April, 1880.

Pictures of the parties wanted were sent to various points, one of which fell into the hands of George Lun, at Chicago, one of the drummers who had been entertained by the generous forgers in Cowley County, Kansas. Mr. Lun kept his eyes open, and in a short time found his man and knew him. He at once notified Sheriff Shenneman, who started to Chicago and arrested Lennox on March 27, 1881. The prisoner escaped by jumping from the car window when about one hundred miles from Kansas City, Missouri, with hand cuffs and shackles on, and made good his escape, although a large reward was offered and the country was scoured in every direction.

He was again arrested by Sheriff Shenneman, at Canton, Illinois, and this time safely landed at Winfield, Kansas. His partner, Haley, had in the meantime been arrested and is now in jail in Kansas. Haley procured counsel, and on some technicality was released, but was at once rearrested by Sheriff Shenneman on a requisition from Pennsylvania, furnished by the chief of police of Philadelphia, through the influence of Mr. Rowland, of the Emlenton bank, and others who had been watching for him, and at once started for Pennsylvania.

The sheriff traveled 1,350 miles bringing his prisoner from Wichita to this place. Sheriff Shenneman is a quiet, unassuming gentleman, and tells his story without any bravado.

These are only a few of the exploits of Haley and Lennox. Haley is reputed to be worth $50,000, and offered the sheriff $1,000 to let him off. Lennox is held for trial at Winfield. The sheriff certainly deserves a great deal of credit for the skill and zeal he displayed in working up the case. He is now stopping at the Exchange hotel, and leaves for his western home Monday morning.

There are some corrections which should be made in the above. It was some time after Shenneman captured Lennox the second time that he captured Haley in Wisconsin after having tracked him over a sinuous route in three states. He then delivered Haley up to the authorities at Wichita, where he escaped from the jail; but was recaptured and finally had his examination and was released and recaptured as stated.

Shenneman says it is incorrect to say that Haley offered him “$1,000 to let him off.” The offer made amounted to $1,000, but it was to pay the amount swindled out of the complainants on the case in which he was held, the expenses, and the reward coming to the captor. It is true, however, that many efforts were made to buy Sheriff Shenneman off or effect Haley’s release by a settlement, as witness the following telegrams, the latter having been received by Shenneman after he had left.

EMLENTON, PA, August 15, 1881.

To A. T. Shenneman:

If Haley will pay out claim in full about seven hundred and fifty dollars and all your expenses including one hundred due you we will settle with him, otherwise bring him here. We will give you one-fourth we get in addition as requested. See W. P. Campbell, he offers to settle. Answer. J. W. ROLAND, Cash.

---

EMLENTON, PA, August 17, 1881.

To A. T. Shenneman, Sheriff:

Haley’s attorney will see you today regarding settlement. Have asked J. C. Fuller, Cashier, to have a reliable attorney to assist you so it will be legal. Money must be deposited in the bank there and wire us. Advise us what you do. P. O. HEASLEY, Ass’t Cashier.

Shenneman refused to listen to any kind of compromise, but steadily pursued his determination to deliver him up to the proper authorities in Pennsylvania and receiving from them the $100 reward offered only. The statement which has been circulated in this county that Shenneman took him to Pennsylvania without a requisition is untrue. He had full authority from the governors of both states. We don’t think it would have been very damaging to our Sheriff, however, to have secured such a scoundrel, papers or no papers.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 1, 1881.

We noticed in last week’s issue the death of Peter Larson, supposed from poison administered by one Harmon, a tenant of Larson’s. Since that time County Attorney Jennings has been thoroughly investigating the matter and has succeeded in bringing to light evidence that is very strong against Harmon. The facts, as near as can be gathered, are as follows.

Larson was a Norwegian by birth, without friends or relatives in this country; but an honest, hardworking man, much given to saving his dimes, and had accumulated considerable property. He owned a splendid farm in Rock township, had cattle, hogs, horses, and no one knows how much ready money, and was worth in all seven or eight thousand dollars. He had on his place the man Harmon and family and lived in a house near them.

One day a neighbor happened to pass Harmon’s and saw Larson have a fit; and immediately went to his help, and had a physician brought. Larson soon recovered from it, and when the cause of his illness was questioned, Harmon suggested that perhaps it was hydrophobia, as the dog had died that morning. Larson stated that he hadn’t been bitten by any dog and he seemed all right, so the neighbor left.

During the night he was taken with other fits and died before a physician arrived. He was buried next day, at Douglass. On the second day following, George Williams, one of the best known and highly respected citizens of Rock township, was appointed administrator by Judge Gans and instructed to immediately take possession of the property of the deceased.

George Williams soon discovered that some of the hogs were missing and found that during the previous night, Harmon had taken a load to Augusta and sold them. He immediately had Harmon arrested, stopped payment on the check, and recovered the hogs.

Harmon now lies in jail at this place. After the action on Harmon’s part led to suspicions of foul play, Mr. Williams and Attorney Jennings began a careful investigation of the circumstances of Larson’s death. The symptoms of the fits were found to be those of strychnine poisoning. It was ascertained that during the morning meal Larson had fed his dog from the food he was eating and that the dog ran to a pool of water, drank, and then stiffened dead. Mr. Jennings then went to Douglass, interviewed the druggists, and found that several days before one of them had sold a man a bottle of strychnine. The druggist described the man and his description answered to that of Harmon to a dot. He was then brought to Winfield, taken to the jail, and asked to point out from among the prisoners, if possible, the man to whom he had sold the poison. He immediately pointed out Harmon as the one.

The next day, Monday, the Probate Judge, County Attorney, and Drs. Emerson and Graham, went to Douglass, exhumed the body of Larson, took from it the stomach, heart, and liver, and returned with them to Winfield. The Doctors then made a comparative analysis of these organs and discovered strychnine, and thus the matter stands at the present writing. The liver is so strongly poisoned that if a fly lights upon it, it tumbles off dead as a mackerel.

The impression seems to be that there was a scheme on foot to get the old man out of the way quietly and then get away with the property before anyone knew it. The preliminary trial will be held soon, the result of which will appear in next week’s paper.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 7, 1881.

Sheriff Shenneman got after the boy who broke jail last Monday, and of course took him in, near Oxford.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 22, 1881.

At last the Cronk-Constant difficulty, which has so long disturbed the peace and quiet of the Posey Creek neighborhood, has been brought to a quietus by the conviction of Fogg and Cronk for assault and battery on the Constant boys; and Messrs. Fogg and young Cronk now languish in the County jail. This has been a most distressing affair from the beginning—a regular neighborhood row—and a neighborhood row is the worst row in the world. This is the third or fourth time the matter has been dragged into the courts, and we sincerely hope that it will be the last. If the thing goes on, someone will pass the remainder of their days in the penitentiary. Fogg and Cronk were fined $25 each and the costs, amounting in all to nearly $150. County Attorney Jennings did all he could to allay the feelings he foresaw would grow out of these bickerings; but finding it of no use, he determined to prosecute vigorously and to the fullest extent of the law every disturbance of the peace: and when our County Attorney clears the decks for action, someone is bound to get hurt.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 19, 1881.

Murder of James Riely by Thomas J. Armstrong.

On last Monday evening about half past 8 o’clock our city was the scene of one of the most outrageous and cold blooded murders ever perpetrated, a deed of blood of the most damnable stripe, and costing the life of James Riely, one of our merchants, at the hands of Thomas J. Armstrong, a well, but not favorably known, loafer in these parts for the past ten years.

The circumstances leading to the committal of the tragedy, as near as can be ascertained, are as follows.

James Riely was the owner of a race horse, and the stakes had been put up for a race to take place, somewhere south of this city, on Monday last, which came off and resulted in Riely’s horse losing the race. Considerable excitement prevailed among the parties attending, and was in no wise abated by the liberal supplies of whiskey which was evidently at the command of the crowd. A dispute occurred between Armstrong and Riely during the day, and it is reported that the murderer threatened to shoot his victim before sunset. However that may be, no serious disturbance occurred, and a number of persons, more or less under the influence of liquor, were gathered in the deceased’s drug store during the evening, discussing the events of the day. Words ran high but no violence resulted until James Riely announced his desire to close the store, to which some of those present, it appears, objected and Riely pushed one or two from the store on the sidewalk, then a sort of a free scuffle took place, in which Armstrong figured prominently, and in the melee drew his six shooter and fired at Riely, who with the ejaculation, “Boys, he has killed me,” sank to the ground and almost instantly expired. The body was carried by several of the witnesses of the tragedy into the store, where an inquest was held and a verdict of murder against Armstrong rendered.

Immediately after firing the fatal shot, Armstrong darted into the darkness, and although large numbers of our citizens turned out in search of him, he has succeeded, at this writing, in eluding his pursuers. We understand that Mr. Riely is a married man, but has been living apart from his wife for several years. The murderer, Armstrong, has lived in this vicinity for years and is known as a quarrelsome fellow, especially when under the influence of liquor, but no one gave him credit for being the ruffian he has shown himself.

A. T. Shenneman came down from Winfield yesterday morning and issued the following notice which has been widely distributed.

ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD

will be paid for the arrest of Thomas J. Armstrong, who killed James Riely, at Arkansas City, Kansas, on October 17th, 1881. Armstrong’s age is 30 to 35; height 5 feet 10 or 11 inches; weight 170 pounds; light or florid complected; bald on top of head; first finger of right hand off at first joint and finger curled under; prominent upper teeth; has a snaggle tooth mouth; slight scar on right cheek. Had on, when he left, a heavy blue overcoat, broad rim white hat with black band, light pants, and a dark under coat.

I will guarantee one hundred dollars and endeavor to get the Governor to offer a State reward of $500. A. T. Shenneman, Sheriff, Cowley County, Kansas.

LATEST. A telegram from Hugh Riely, of Brimfield, Illinois, desires that the body be held till he arrives, which cannot be until Thursday next upon which day the funeral will probably be held.

Just before going to press, A. T. Shenneman and posse arrived in town, bringing with them Armstrong, whom they captured on Grouse, on the place of T. Robinson. When he saw himself surrounded, the murderer gave himself up to the officers, who at once brought him to the city where, after having taken a look at the victim, he was placed in a buggy and by this time we presume is safe in the Winfield jail.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 10, 1881.

The United Brethren have established a church in Winfield under the pastorate of H. W. B. Lacey, and will hereafter hold meetings every other Sunday in each month in the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 17, 1881.

The United Brethren in Christ organized a church in the city last Sabbath. Rev. J. H. Snyder, the pastor, preaches at the Courthouse each Sabbath at 3 p.m. A most cordial invitation is extended to all interested in Christian services to attend.

Winfield Courier, November 17, 1881.

Rev. J. H. Snyder is in charge of the Winfield congregation of the United Brethren church instead of Rev. Lacey, as stated last week. Mr. Snyder is a very intelligent gentleman and we are glad to number him among the workers in the Cowley Vineyard. Services are held in the Courthouse the first and third Sundays in each month.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 24, 1881.

The agony is over. The Armstrong trial is finished. Twelve good men have carefully weighed the evidence and decided that Tom Armstrong, while in the heat of passion, deprived James Riley [Riely] of his life. The array of witnesses have returned to their homes, and curious lookers-on no longer haunt the courthouse halls to speculate as to the verdict and refix the penalty as each succeeding witness leaves the stand. In a few days the prisoner will receive his sentence and be consigned to a living death behind gloomy prison walls, walls his victim sleeps the sleep that knows no awakening.

Stone Wall on West Side of Courthouse Block.

Cowley County Courant, December 15, 1881.

Messrs. Beaton and Connor commenced work on the stone wall, to be built across the west side of the courthouse block, this morning.

County Jail.

Cowley County Courant, December 15, 1881.

Matt Smith, a United States prisoner, is now in confinement in the county jail. He was arrested yesterday at Arkansas City by George McIntire, for stealing a span of mules from William Butler, who lives west of Caldwell; and his trial will take place the 15th of this month.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 15, 1881.

The total indebtedness of the county is nearly a hundred and ninety-two thousand dollars. The assessed value of the county is nearly three and one-tenth millions of dollars. Therefore, if our creditors had the power and took a notion to foreclose on us, we could pay them off and have about ninety-three and one-fifth percent of our property left to start anew on. Not a very bad showing for a ten-year-old, is it? Besides, we have blocks of railroad stock, a good courthouse, and a lot in the cemetery in which to bury any man who says we are not good financiers.

County Expenditures. Includes Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 15, 1881.

The following is a statement of county expenditures for which your Honors have issued orders on the general county fund.

County Treasurer: $3,269.14

County Clerk: $2,114.77

County Attorney: $1,300.00

County Superintendent: $1,070.38

County Commissioners: $400.50

Sheriff’s fees: $2,080.70

District Clerk’s fees: $135.60

Justices of the Peace: $63.90 (Fees in criminal cases)

Constables fees: $72.40 (Fees in criminal cases)

Coroner: $25.00

Grand Jury $307.80

Petit Jury: $784.40

Witnesses, Grand Jury: $94.40

Stenographer: $60.10

Bailiffs: $141.00

Duplicate tax roll: $200.00

County printing: $998.13

County maps: $300.00

Foundation—Sheriff’s Office: $13.00

Architect, for vaults: $136.00

Books and stationery: $981.07

Fixtures for court house: $113.90

Survey & view, county roads: $348.40

Rent for jail: $60.00

Expenses of insane: $96.93

Express, freight, postage, etc. $138.03

Fuel: $513.98

Elections: $734.90

Completing vaults: $2,695.19

Repairing courthouse: $1,859.92

Drawing jury: $18.00

Drawing grand jury: $6.00

Examining county treasury: $22.00

Meals for jury: $41.90

Abstract of entries: $68.20

Journal index: $25.00

Bond Committee expenses: $243.73

Insurance: $150.00

Acknowledging tax deeds: $3.00

School examiners: $61.50

Road damages: $1,046.60

Assessors: $1,731.00

Repairs on jail: $63.60

Rewards: $50.00

Courthouse lots: $935.00

Lot in cemetery: $17.00

Dirt on courthouse lots: $222.80

Boarding, merchandise, and medical attendance of prisoners: $1,509.60

Pauper expenses: $2,659.83

Sheriff, Sumner County: $14.80

TOTAL: $29,859.10

The following is a report of the resources and financial condition of the county for the fiscal year beginning on the 12th day of October, 1880.

Amount of State tax levied: $15,394.43

Amount of County tax levied: $26,839.78

Amount of Bounty Bond tax levied: $3,078.64

Amount of Railroad tax levied: $13,185.49

Arkansas City sidewalk tax levied: $2,041.62

Winfield City sidewalk tax levied: $456.60

Bolton Township tax levied: $325.65

Bolton Township bond tax levied: $1,042.05

Bolton Township road tax levied: $80.86

Creswell Township tax levied: $1,325.72

Creswell Township bond tax levied: $3,314.32

Creswell Township road tax levied: $323.99

Dexter Township tax levied: $90.68

Old Winfield Township bond tax levied: $3,192.58

Liberty Township tax levied: $132.11

Liberty Township road tax levied: $75.50

Maple Township tax levied: $180.95

Otter Township tax levied: $100.98

Richland Township tax levied: $120.42

Rock Creek Township tax levied: $86.18

Vernon Township tax levied: $380.22

Walnut Township tax levied: $388.07

Walnut Township road tax levied: $272.57

Arkansas City tax levied: $314.36

Arkansas City bond tax levied: $1,571.80

Arkansas City interest fund tax levied: $471.53

Arkansas City sinking fund tax levied: $314.38

Winfield City tax levy: $1,409.54

School districts tax levied: $31,016.57

School districts bond tax levied: $11,445.19

TOTAL LEVY FOR ALL PURPOSES: $118,972.83

Rate percent, on each $100: $3.86.

The following is the indebtedness of the county.

Ten percent county bonds $31,500.00

Six percent C. S. & F. S. RR Bonds $128,000.00

Seven percent S., K. & W. RR Bonds $29,500.00

County warrants outstanding $2,262.40

TOTAL INDEBTEDNESS OF COWLEY COUNTY: $191.262.40

TOTAL AMOUNT OF TAXABLE PROPERTY IN COUNTY: $3,094.070.86

STATE OF KANSAS, )

COWLEY COUNTY. ) ss.

I hereby certify that the foregoing accounts and statements are correct.

Witness my hand and seal at Winfield this 12th day of December, A. D. 1881.

J. S. HUNT, County Clerk.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 15, 1881.

Felix Duncan, Guy Solomon, and Hennesson Duncan, colored boys, were arrested last week for stealing goods from Mr. Higgins’s second hand store. One was sentenced to jail for ten days and the others for thirty. These little colored boys have been blamed for a good deal of petty pilfering of late, and we hope this will be a lesson for them.

Courthouse Square Improvements.

Winfield Courier, December 22, 1881.

Commissioners Gale and Harbaugh were in town Friday looking after the improvements being made on the courthouse square.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, December 22, 1881.

Lou Zenor has been running the District Clerk end of the Courthouse during Mr. Bedilion’s absence.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.

COWLEY COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. This society will hold its annual meeting for the election of officers, on Saturday, January 7th, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the courthouse. Other important business is to be attended to; also hearing a report of the doings of the late State Horticultural Society from our delegate. JAS. F. MARTIN, President.

Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881.

An examination of teachers will be held in the Courthouse Saturday, December 31, 1881. Work will begin at 9 o’clock a.m. R. C. STORY, Co. Supt.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 29, 1881. Front Page.

About the 16th of May, 1881, E. J. Cooper, a young man doing a general merchandise business at Trinidad, Colorado, went to the wholesale Boot and Shoe House of J. A. Cooper & Co., of Kansas City, and purchased over two thousand dollars worth of goods on ten days time, stating that he had inherited some money from his mother’s estate and that he would then pay for the goods.

Some time afterward he wrote to the Kansas City House, saying he had met with some misfortune and would pay soon.

In September Cooper went before a Squire Walker in Trinidad, and there made a sale to his clerk, W. J. Bolin, had the transfer acknowledged, and Bolin paid the amount over the squire’s table, twenty-three hundred dollars in cash. In less than five hours Cooper took the cars and “shook the dust” of Colorado from his feet.

In the meantime someone telegraphed to the Kansas City House and they attached the goods, locked up the store, and the sheriff of Las Animas County put the key in his pocket. Bolin then came onto the scene, produced his bill of sale and proved the purchase; the only witness that could back the contract was Cooper: and he had gone where the “woodbine twineth.” Cooper & Co., began to hunt their faithless namesake.

As time wore away it was discovered that Cooper had an aunt living at Marshalltown, Iowa; there they intercepted one of his letters, dated Winfield, October 16, 1881. In November their agent on this route gave the case to Capt. Siverd with a description of the man.

Capt. Siverd watched and waited; time wore on, and at last a letter addressed to Cooper came here from Augusta, Kansas, and last Saturday a man called for that letter. Capt. Siverd soon discovered that he was the man he wanted, and sent a man to talk to him. Approaching him from behind, he said: “Hello, Cooper. I think I met you in Colorado.” “Why, yes, guess you did. I did some business there for three years and think I shall go back.”

The wires were called into use and last Monday night Cooper & Co.’s agent arrived; Hackney was called into service; a five thousand dollar bond was given from Kansas City through Read’s Bank, and by noon Thursday the agent, Jake Boyles, and Capt. Siverd were “lighting out” through Vernon Township for the residence of John McMahan, where Cooper was employed as a farm hand.

His arrest was at once accomplished; his team, wagon, trunk, and clothing were attached, and Cooper invited to take a ride behind Jim Vance’s best greys. The agent gave them a sumptuous supper at the Brettun, and then Cooper was invited to Mr. Hackney’s office, where he showed his first dread of the jail. He soon lost his defiant air and “squealed.” He told the whole story of the fraudulent transfer to Bolin, signed the proper paper, and that night slept in No. 5 at the Brettun, guarded by Boyles and Capt. Siverd.

The wires were again called into use between here and Trinidad. The clerk, Bolin, “threw up the sponge.” J. A. Cooper & Co. will get back their money. E. J. Cooper goes back to his counter; the case will be dismissed; and Siverd will wear a new coat.

The probabilities are that Cooper and his clerk intended to meet somewhere after Bolin could convert the stock into cash, but did not see the difficulties in the way. And after the Trinidad attachment, Cooper drifted aimlessly into Cowley County, a fugitive from Justice, and went to work among strangers to keep from starving. He went back to Trinidad, Colorado, Friday.

1882

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

Mr. Amos Becker, trustee of Pleasant Valley, was at the Township officers’ meeting at the courthouse Friday.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

The officers of the different townships interested in the old Winfield scrip business met at the Courthouse last Friday and apportioned the expenses of fighting the cases as follows: Vernon $15, Pleasant Valley $15, Walnut $30, Fairview $9, Winfield City $186. The valuation of the property of old Winfield Township is $437,854, and is divided as follows: Vernon $21,428; Fairview $12,914; Walnut $115,312; Pleasant Valley $21,613; Winfield City $266,559. [Figures do not match with total given of $437,854. MAW]

The cost of fighting the cases to be $300. Senator Sluss, of Sedgwick, looked the matter up thoroughly and gives a very strong opinion that the scrip was legally issued. Trustees, Becker, of Pleasant Valley; Weimer, of Fairview; Roberts, of Walnut; and clerk Beach, of Winfield, were present and assisted in making the apportionment.

Sidewalk from Courthouse to Ninth Street. Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

A nice four foot stone walk has been put down from the north door of the courthouse to Ninth Avenue. One has long been needed here as nine-tenths of the travel goes that way. The good judgment of our County Commissioners is shown in the thorough and substantial manner in which the Courthouse square is being improved. When the work is finished, it will stand there forever.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

Episcopal Church Services in the Courthouse on Sunday at 11 a.m., and 7 evening. Sunday school at 9:00 a.m. All are welcome.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

Episcopal Church. Next Sunday, being the first Sunday after the Epiphany of our Lord to the Gentile world, will be kept in honor of that event. Music appropriate to the day by the choir. Services in the Courthouse at 11 a.m., 7 evening. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. All are invited to worship with us.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

Cowley County Horticultural Society.

This society will hold its annual meeting for the election of officers, on Saturday, January 7th, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the courthouse. Other important business is to be attended to; also hearing a report of the doings of the late State Horticultural Society from our delegate; also the valuable reports of the same society will be distributed at the meeting.

JAS. F. MARTIN, President.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 5, 1882.

The erring girls, who were confined in the jail last week, were discharged Friday. One of them paid her fine and the other was sick and was discharged for mercy’s sake.

Courthouse And Jail in Unnamed Location.

Cowley County Courant, January 12, 1882.

We clip the following startling intelligence from the Courier of the 5th inst.: “ W. E. Graham was arrested today on the charge of murdering his uncle, Phil. Ogley, in this county on December 28. He confessed having committed the murder, and about 9 o’clock tonight a party of about 300 men gathered at the jail, overpowered the sheriff and his guards, took Graham from his cell, and hung him to a telegraph pole in front of the courthouse. Great excitement prevails. It is thought that Rose, the murderer of the Weirs, and his son, who is now in jail, will be hung before morning.”

This is terrible, if true, but it is quite new to us! The strangest thing, however, is the telegraph pole in front of the courthouse. We could stand the hanging and all that, but the telegraph pole, that gets away with us.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, January 12, 1882.

The annual business meeting of the Baptist Church was held at the Courthouse on Saturday evening, December 31, 1881. The report of the officers show the following facts.

Total membership: 192.

Additions during the year: 30.

Money collected and paid out during the year for general expenses, including pastor’s salary: $1,063.88.

For the new building over $3,000 has been collected and expended, and over $300 of this amount by the ladies’ society.

The Sunday School has 19 officers and teachers, and 214 scholars, and had an average attendance of 141.

There was collected and expended for the Sunday School about $78.

The following officers were elected for the next year:

Clerk, J. C. Rowland.

Treasurer, James McDermott.

Trustees, C. A. Bliss, A. P. Johnson, J. S. Mann. B. F. Wood, and A. B. Arment.

Organist, Miss Lola Silliman.

Chorister, Geo. Cairns.

The church and Sunday School starts the new year under favorable circumstances, and it is hoped that beginning with next Sunday, they will be able to occupy their new house of worship, now nearly completed.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 12, 1882.

Charles McLain, a fast young man from Arkansas City, was brought before Justice Buckman Thursday evening, charged with purloining a lot of goods from S. Matlack, for whom he had been clerking. His trunk was searched and many articles bearing the cost mark of Mr. Matlack were found. The thief had been on a three days spree here. He was bound over and is now in jail.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 19, 1882.

Episcopal Church in the Courthouse at 11 a.m. and 7 evening. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. All are welcome to our home.

Winfield Courier, January 26, 1882.

Episcopal church services in the Courthouse on Sunday, at 11 a.m. and 7 in the evening. Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. All who have no spiritual home are invited to worship with us.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 26, 1882.

One Isaac F. Moore, of Arkansas City, was arrested Tuesday by County Attorney Jennings on a charge of selling liquor. He plead guilty to two counts, and was fined $100 in the first and 90 days in the county jail in the second. He was put in the custody of Marshal Sinnott, but during the night got away, and is at present conspicuous for his absence, while Sinnott mourns and refuses to be comforted. Under the circumstances Moore will not be apt to return, which is perhaps as well as if he had remained, been an expense to the county, and returned to his lawlessness when his time was out.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 9, 1882.

Wm. Cottrell, and one Chas. Ausbrook and his father-in-law were arrested by the U. S. on a charge of perjury last week. It grows out of a fraudulent entry of a claim in Silverdale Township. Cottrell is in jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 15, 1882.

Geo. Rice, who was taken in the act of burglarizing O. F. Godfrey’s billiard hall last week, had a preliminary examination, and was bound over to the next term of Court, which he is now awaiting in the Winfield jail. He felt his disgraceful position very keenly, we should judge, for when last seen he was playing a mouth organ for the balance of the birds in the cage to dance to.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 16, 1882.

Episcopal Church services in the Courthouse on Sunday, at 11 a.m., and 7 in the evening. Sunday School at 9:30 A. M. All are invited to worship with us.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 22, 1882.

Dr. Wells now languishes in jail for writing prescriptions at variance with the prohibitory statute now in force.

County Jail.

Cowley County Courant, February 23, 1882.

For some time it has been suspicioned that certain boys in our city [Arkansas City] were pilfering for a living, but who they were, and where to place the hand of correction was not fully settled until about a week ago, when Wyckoff & Son’s store window was broken in and a number of small articles taken out, that could be easily reached through the hole in the glass, and followed in a night or two by the taking of a few dollars from Godfrey’s billiard hall, which stamped George Rice, a boy about seventeen years of age, as leader of the gang.

Constable McIntire and Marshal Sinnott were informed of these facts, and kept a strict watch of nights for nearly a week, and finally, last Tuesday night, captured the lad. They mistrusted by movements during the day that he intended making a raid on the billiard hall that night, and as soon as it was closed, concealed themselves in close proximity to the money drawer and awaited developments.

But they did not have long to wait, for in a few minutes they heard a pane of glass shatter and soon steps were heard approaching the place where they were concealed, and in another moment George Rice loomed up from behind the counter, but before he had time to gobble any of the coveted wealth, he was confronted by a dark lantern and “British bull dog,” and compelled to give in. Wednesday he was brought before the ‘Squire, who placed his bond at $500; but not being able to give the required bail, George Rice was committed to the county jail to await his trial at the next term of the District Court. We believe George was the leader, but that there are other boys in our city who are as deep in the mire as he, and will come to grief if they do not carry themselves straight in the future. Arkansas City Democrat.

COMMENTS BY COURANT EDITOR.

We are sorry to say it, but there are about a half dozen boys in this city [Winfield] whose natural guardians are educating them for the penitentiary in a remarkably rapid manner. These boys go to school only when they can’t think of any other place to go to, and spend their evenings into the middle of the night “bumming” around over the streets, cutting up all sorts of deviltry, starting “fires,” and conducting themselves as industrious candidates for the penitentiary do. These boys are from twelve to sixteen years of age and are classed with that American production called “hoodlums.” The older they grow the worse they become. Their parents have abandoned all government of them and left them to run at large like wild beasts. When these parents see their darling sons with steel bracelets on their wrists and in company with the sheriff, or see them the central figures in some public hanging exhibition with black caps on their heads and rope knots under their ears, they may wonder why providence allowed their sons to become so hardened. The names of these boys are known and they are watched. There is a strong suspicion that the fire last night was caused by these examples of a certain parental education, and in all kindness, we would advise these boys to lead respectable lives, be gentlemanly, brave, and manly, and if they have never learned at home what those qualities are, if they will call at the COURANT office we will, in all humility, try and explain to them what a beautiful thing a young “gentleman” is.

Winfield Courier, February 23, 1882.

Several of the demimonde of our city together with four young men found in their company, were arraigned before His Honor, Judge Tansey, last Thursday, and fined $10 each and costs. Two of the demis were out of funds and were remanded to the bastille until they repented $10 worth. This is the third time the residence of Mollie Burke on South Manning street has been invaded. A lady who resides on Ninth Avenue near the jail was also arrested. Marshal True is active in his endeavors to suppress this evil. As Judge Tansey has ruled against entering complaints “John Doe,” when the true name of the parties are known, it will be rough on the parties caught hereafter.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 1, 1882. Editorial Page.

Dr. H. L. Wells.

We received a postal card last week from Dr. Wells, of Winfield, who is accused of prescribing liquors contrary to law, in which he appears to be somewhat exercised about our saying he “languished in jail.”

We thought we had reasonable grounds for making this statement in the following extract from the Winfield Courant of the 20th ult.

“Dr. H. L. Wells’ bond which was placed at $800, was this morning reduced to $500, but being unable to give even this amount, he surrendered himself to the sheriff and was placed in jail.”

We have since learned he gave bond and was not placed in jail at all. His case will probably come up at the April term of court.

This man by his talk seemed to think it entirely out of our province to notice his case, but for the special benefit of himself and all like him, we will say that we uphold no one in defying or violating the laws, and the fact of his being a Republican and a county official makes the violation so much the worse in our sight. If half the alleged charges against this man be true, he should be punished like any other violator of the law.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, March 2, 1882.

The township assessors will meet at the Courthouse March 6th to agree on a basis of valuation of personal property required to be listed. This is the year in which real estate is listed and every assessor in the county should attend the meeting. The larger number of assessors were re-elected this year and the list of the township trustees of the county is one of the best, we think, the county has had since its formation.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 8, 1882.

The next regular meeting of the Board of County Commissioners, of Cowley County, will be held at the Courthouse, in Winfield, on the first Monday after the first Tuesday in April, at which time, among other things, we learn that an application will be made to divide the School District in Bolton Township known as “Stony Point.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 9, 1882.

Episcopal Church Lenten services on Wednesday and Friday evenings in the Courthouse at 7-1/2 o’clock. Services also on Sunday at 11 a.m., and 7-1/2 evening. Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. Subject in the morning, “The Order of the Church Ministry in the Apostolic Age.”

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 15, 1882.

A Mr. Sheddan, residing in this city, last Saturday commenced raising a disturbance, and was taken before Judge Bonsall, who, believing him to be insane, sent him to the Winfield jail for safe keeping. He has suffered in this way once before, but this present attack is attributed to undue religious excitement at the recent revivals.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 15, 1882.

Sheddan has been adjudged insane, and will be kept at the county jail, under medical treatment, for the present.

Jail at Topeka.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 15, 1882.

Our former citizen, Chas. H. Payson, whom it was hoped experience would teach a lesson, was recently arrested and lodged in jail at Topeka. His parents sent him $250, with which he paid back the money he was charged with embezzling, and he is again on the wing. We are afraid Payson is a lost community. Courant.

Jail at Topeka.

Winfield Courier, March 16, 1882.

PAYSON TOO SMART

For the Topeka Police and Jumps Jail, Jailor, and Creditors.

From our Topeka correspondent we receive the following.

C. H. Payson, late of your city, has been figuring quite conspicuously here of late. It appears that when he was pardoned he came here from Leavenworth, and while here a young lawyer named Spencer took pity on him, and to “help him out,” gave him an account of two hundred and twenty-five dollars to collect. The debtor was in Leavenworth County, and Payson was to go there and collect the claim and receive twenty-five dollars and his expenses. He went to Leavenworth, collected the money, and on his return here made no report to Spencer, but left for Winfield. Last week he was arrested in Burlington this state, and brought here. He telegraphed his brother in Washington to send him the money, and also sent a dispatch to his father in Illinois to send the following dispatch to his brother: “Please send Charlie the money he wants this once. FATHER.” This was on Tuesday the 7th. Charlie was locked up that day, but on the 8th a dispatch came from the brother in Washington that he had sent the money. So Payson was allowed to run about during the day, but confined at night. On Friday the money was received by Payson in the shape of a draft. As soon as he received the letter he took the draft to a bank and got it cashed and has not since been heard from. The constable is now on the lookout for him. When asked what he did with the money he said he had lost it, but declined to state how or in what manner. Governor St. John is reported to have said that he should always regret having pardoned Payson.

Jail at Topeka.

Winfield Courier, March 23, 1882.

“The criminal genius of Charles Payson, is something remarkable, and will lead him either to glory or the grave. His getting the money sent him by his father while he was in jail at Topeka and getting away with it in his possession was an act calculated to call forth admiration for a brilliant criminal exploit if such a thing could be done. This man slides around in society plundering wherever he goes, and escapes from the meshes of the law like an eel through a man’s hand. The fact that a man just out of the penitentiary should use his disgraceful punishment as the foundation for a lecture, and travel around as a high toned gentleman, is enough to take a man’s breath away to contemplate. Wherever he has gone he has played the dead beat, and at the same time made friends who would be ready to swear to the purity of the man’s character, and consider him an unfortunate and much abused gentleman. The man is inherently bad and can no more keep out of the penitentiary than a piece of wood can drift against the current of a river. In some particulars, this man strongly resembles Guiteau. He has an inordinate desire for notoriety or to attract public attention, and he also seems blessed with the idea that he is a highly respectable gentleman and worthy of the unlimited confidence and regard of his fellow men. He is a character worth observing and will never fail of attracting attention. He is a grand blood sucker to be turned loose upon society.”

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 23, 1882.

To Wool Growers.

Members of the Wool Growers Association and all the others interested are requested to meet at the Courthouse, on Saturday, April 1st, at 1 o’clock p.m., to elect officers and arrange for the annual public shearing. A. D. CROWELL, Secretary.

County Jail.

Cowley County Courant, March 23, 1882.

We are in receipt of a long communication from Thomas W. Sheddan, the man who was adjudged insane last Monday. The communication is a biography of his life, and is written in a very good manner and with no show of insanity. The letter is addressed to the public and closes as follows: “I am still in the county jail and so far as anyone can tell am just as sane as I was two or three months ago.”

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 23, 1882.

Another Whiskey Case.

The case of the State vs. Wm. Ogden came up for trial Tuesday afternoon before Justice Buckman. A great number of witnesses were summoned. MILO HART, of Beaver Township, a bright-looking young man, was the first witness called. He testified in a straight forward manner, with no attempt to conceal anything or screen himself. He testified that he had purchased liquor from the defendant, which he called “sea-foam,” but which was in reality beer, that the bottle was labeled beer, and that it made him tight. Thomas Poor and Harry Lester, of Beaver, both honest appearing boys, testified substantially to the same facts. The State rested its case on this testimony, and as we go to press the defense is putting on its witnesses. We will give the result next week.

LATER! The jury returned a verdict of guilty and Ogden was sentenced to sixty days in the county jail and to pay the costs. This is the most vigorous way of dealing with refractory beer-sellers yet inaugurated and will have a wholesome effect.

County Jail.

Cowley County Courant, March 30, 1882.

In the case tried before Judge Buckman last Wednesday of the State of Kansas against Mr. William Ogden, for violation of the prohibition law, the jury returned a verdict of guilty. The defendant was sentenced to sixty days in the county jail, and adjudged to pay the costs of the suit.

Courthouse Yard.

Cowley County Courant, March 30, 1882.

The Courthouse yard is being filled up, and will, when completed, present a finer appearance than any other block in the city.

Courthouse Block. Filled Up with Dirt. Circular Crossings to Side Offices.

Winfield Courier, March 30, 1882.

The Courthouse Block is being filled up rapidly with dirt. New circular crossings are being put down to the side offices, and other good improvements are being made.

Jail.

Cowley County Courant, April 6, 1882.

The residence of Henry Ogden, who was sent to jail the other day for violating the liquor law, by selling beer, is said to be occupied now by half a dozen swamp angels. We have heard the question asked several times, whether the charge is for the better or worse.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 6, 1882.

Fred Banks, a colored boy, and Mr. T. C. Warren had an altercation Tuesday in which the boy used some threatening and abusive language. He was taken before the police judge Wednesday, fined $5 and costs, and being unable to pay, was taken to jail.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, April 13, 1882.

A sufficient number of sheep men failing to be present at the courthouse Monday, no public shearing was called, nor even a meeting held. We do not know what the cause of the small attendance was.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 13, 1882.

A boy was arrested last week and brought before Justice Buckman, charged with stealing an axe and hatchet from a building on Main Street and selling them to a second-hand dealer. The Justice sentenced him to jail for three days. This is a good lesson for these petty thieves who have been annoying citizens by taking irons off of plows and committing other small offenses.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, April 20, 1882.

Pursuant to call, a number of gentlemen interested in the organization of a Cowley County Agricultural Society met at the Courthouse Saturday, April 15th, 1882, and was called to order by T. A. Blanchard. Thereupon, J. W. Millspaugh, of Vernon township, was elected Chairman and T. A. Blanchard, Secretary. F. H. Graham stated that the object of the meeting was to organize for the purpose of holding a county fair this fall. On motion of J. B. Jennings, the meeting unanimously resolved to hold a fair, and a committee of six gentlemen, consisting of J. C. Roberts, W. P. Hackney, W. J. Hodges, J. W. Millspaugh, J. H. Horning, and W. A. Tipton, was appointed to draft articles of incorporation and report at the next meeting. The meeting then adjourned to meet on Saturday, April 22nd, 1882, at 2 o’clock, at which time all feeling an interest in the fair are requested to attend. All Cowley County papers requested to copy.

Excerpts from meeting...

Courthouse Grounds. Construction of Tank and Windmill Considered.

Cowley County Courant, April 20, 1882.

COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS.

The special committee, appointed to confer with the County Commissioners relative to the construction of a tank and wind mill on the courthouse grounds, reported adversely to the city having any connection with the matter. On motion, the report was adopted and the committee was discharged.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 26, 1882.

It cost Cowley County $35.00 to get Mr. Thomas J. Sheddan ready for the Insane Asylum. $6 for six jurors, $2.90 each to Dr. Alexander, A. C. Gould, T. F. Huffman, and James Hill. $13.60 to Geo. McIntire for catching him, $3.25 to Sheriff Shenneman for keeping him, and $1.45 to the jailor.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, April 27, 1882.

The Fair Association held their second meeting at the courthouse Saturday afternoon, and the meeting was called to order by the president, J. W. Millspaugh. The committee appointed on permanent organization made their report, which embraced a carefully prepared constitution and by-laws, and the following officers were then elected: President. J. W. Tipton; Vice President, H. Harbaugh; Secretary, T. A. Blanchard; Treasurer, J. W. Millspaugh. The meeting adjourned to meet again, according to the minutes, “at two o’clock in two weeks,” which means of course, Saturday, May 6th, 1882, at two o’clock P.M.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, April 27, 1882.

ED. COURANT. I would like to talk (through your paper) to the old soldiers of Cowley County. There having been a failure in our getting together last fall, and having talked with a number from different parts of the county, I would suggest that we have an informal meeting at the courthouse in Winfield, April 29th, at 1 o’clock P.M. At that time we can talk over our township organizations and make arrangements for a county regiment, and talk about forming a regiment to go to Topeka this fall to the second reunion. Let all turn out.

OLD VET.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.

Mr. Whitney’s class, of the Episcopal Sunday School will take a picnic excursion next Saturday. They will meet at the Courthouse at nine o’clock in the morning, and proceed to Riverside Park, accompanied by their lunch baskets. We received a cordial invitation from one of the little misses to accompany them, but regret that we cannot go. We trust they will have a glorious old time and not fall in the river.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.

The Board of Directors of the Cowley Co. Agricultural, Horticultural and Mechanical Society are notified to meet at the Courthouse on Saturday, May 6th, 1882, at 2 o’clock p.m., for the purpose of organizing and transacting such other business as may properly come before them. T. A. BLANCHARD, Secretary.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 27, 1882.

The old Cronk-Constant feud in Pleasant Valley Township has broken out again. This has been altogether a most disgraceful neighborhood row, and it is about time for the State to step in and demand that her peace and dignity be respected. The affair began by one of Cronk’s hogs getting on Constant’s land. Constant shot the hog and was arrested by Cronk. Then Mrs. Constant slapped Cronk’s boy and there was another arrest and lawsuit. Then Fogg and Cronk’s boy, to use a vulgar term, “laid for” Constant’s boys and fought a fight with them, which was the cause of another arrest and lawsuit, and resulted in placing young Cronk and Fogg in the County jail, from whence they secured release at a heavy expense to Cronk. Then Fogg left, and it was hoped a permanent truce had been declared. But on Tuesday Cronk files complaint against Constant for breaking fence, or something of that sort, and the war will range once more as fierce as ever. We would advise these people not only for their own good, but for the welfare and good name of the community to let up on this business. It will ruin them all in the end and benefit no one but the devil. A man had better keep seven dogs than have a row with a neighbor.

Jail.

Cowley County Courant, May 4, 1882.

George McIntire, our deputy sheriff, caught a man at Hunnewell, by the name of Wright, who is charged with having bought a team of a man at Arkansas City, a few days ago, and paid for it in bogus Missouri scrip. Wright was bound over before a justice at Arkansas City, and is now in jail here awaiting his trial. He has a family living in Sumner County.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 25, 1882.

A number of ladies from the W. C. T. U., visit the jail every Sabbath afternoon and hold prayer meeting. These ladies seem to have started out to lend their assistance in every good cause, and they are doing much to keep the subject of temperance before the people. Our readers will find their column on the fourth page very interesting.

Courthouse Yard. Work Dragging.

Cowley County Courant, May 25, 1882.

Work on the courthouse yard seems to be dragging somewhat, and it looks very much now as though it would lay in the present unfinished condition until it is again too late to put out trees this fall. The entire block ought to be fixed up, sowed in blue grass, and filled with young trees this fall.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 25, 1882.

Episcopal Church in the Courthouse on Sunday next, no service in the morning, on account of the dedication of the Baptist Church. Service as usual in the evening at 7:30. Sunday school at 9:30 a.m. All are cordially invited to worship with us. Subject in the evening appropriate to Whit-Sunday.

Chimney Taken Off the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 15, 1882.

The Storm.

On Monday evening this vicinity was visited by the worst storm of the season. About four o’clock the clouds began to roll up in the southwest in a most threatening manner and soon the wind went up, driving great sheets of rain before it and dashing the dampness about in a most exasperating manner. The wind blew terrifically for half an hour and did considerable damage.

The tin roof on J. B. Lynn’s store was torn up for a distance of fifteen feet on the west end, and the water went through the upper ceiling, damaging the plaster. Two small stables in the west part of town were blown down, and a chimney taken off the Courthouse. This seemed to be a sort of “commemorative blow” as Monday was the anniversary of the Floral cyclone, which came on the same day and almost the same hour.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 22, 1882.

In last week’s COURIER in mentioning the churches of Winfield, we omitted the church of “The United Brethren in Christ,” of which Rev. J. H. Snyder is the pastor. They hold services every Sabbath afternoon at 4 o’clock, in the Courthouse. They have a membership of 35. The property originally accepted by the Baptist Church and then returned, has been purchased by them as a building site for a church, and measures are now being taken for the erection, as soon as possible, of a building for worship.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 22, 1882.

Scott Biggs was removed from the poor farm to the jail Tuesday on account of being dangerous.

Courthouse Square Prepared for Blue Grass.

Winfield Courier, June 29, 1882.

The Courthouse square has been plowed up preparatory to sowing it down in blue grass.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, June 29, 1882.

ATTENTION, CO. “A.”—1st Vets, you are hereby ordered to meet at the Courthouse Thursday June 29th 7:30 p.m. Business of importance to transact. Electing a new set of officers, etc. Every member is expected to be present. By order of Samuel Bard, Capt. Commanding.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, June 29, 1882.

SPECIAL ORDER. Headquarters 1st Regt. C. C. vets. Attention old soldiers. All old soldiers in the city that wish to go to Topeka to the Reunion in Sept., and have not already joined the 1st Regt., will have to report at the meeting at the Courthouse on the 29th inst., 1882. Company organizations will have to be completed and Rolls sent in to these Headquarters at Topeka, to procure tents and transportation.

By order of C. E. Steuven Col Comd. Regt. H. L. Wells, Adjutant.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, July 4, 1882.

The Old Soldiers met at the courthouse last night and reorganized the old Winfield company. They elected John A. McGuire, Captain; Jake Nixon, 1st Lieutenant; and H. L. Barker, 2nd Lieutenant. Here are three of the best old soldiers that could be had. John A. McGuire was a sergeant in Company H, 10th Illinois, infantry, and served with it in all the battles of the Tennessee and Cumberland during the war. Jake Nixon was a member of an Iowa regiment and the scar he carries in his mouth and jaw testify to Jake’s efficiency. Henry L. Barker served in a Kansas regiment as Captain of one of its companies, and was in command of the post of Mound City at one time, and time only will wear out Henry Barker’s loyalty and fidelity. The company is well officered.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, July 4, 1882.

Pursuant to the call issued, members of the Winfield company of old soldiers met at the Courthouse last evening, to fill vacancies. On motion, Jacob Nixon was elected chairman and James Kelly secretary. John A. McGuire was elected Captain, vice Bard transferred. Jacob Nixon was elected 1st Lieutenant, vice James Kelly, promoted. Henry L. Barker was elected 2nd Lieutenant, vice A. T. Shenneman, resigned. On motion the captain was requested to call a meeting of the company for Monday evening July 3rd, at the Opera House. The following appointments were made by Captain J. A. McGuire. Marquis Quarles to be Orderly Sergeant. On motion the meeting adjourned to meet at the call of the commanding officer. James Kelly secretary, Jacob Nixon chairman. In accordance with the foregoing the members of the Winfield Company of veteran soldiers will meet at the Opera House Monday evening July 3rd, for the transaction of business, preparatory to the soldiers’ reunion at Topeka in September, and any other business that may come before us. Any honorably discharged soldier of the late war, who has not done so, can meet at that time and sign the roll. It is imperative that we know at once how many will go to Topeka in order that transportation be secured. J. A. McGUIRE, Capt. Commanding.

Courthouse.

Cowley County Courant, July 4, 1882.

SPECIAL ORDER. Headquarters 1st Reg. C. C. vets. Attention old soldiers. All old soldiers in the city that wish to go to Topeka to the Reunion in September, and have not already joined the 1st Regt., will have to report at the meeting at the Courthouse on the 29th inst., 1882. Company organizations will have to be completed and Rolls sent in to these Headquarters by July 10th, 1882, to enable the Adjutant to make his report to Headquarters at Topeka, to secure tents and transportation. By order of C. E. Steuven, Col. Comd. Reg. H. L. Wells, Adjutant.

Excerpt from long article...

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 13, 1882.

(From Green’s Real Estate News.)

The Episcopal Church, Rev. C. H. Canfield, pastor, is a new effort in this town, being some 24 months old only. Not having a building of their own, they meet in the Courthouse. The membership of this church is not large, yet they hope to be able to build them a house of worship during the next two years. Its Sunday school, under charge of W. H. Smith, is prospering.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 27, 1882. Editorial.

[I skipped a long editorial by Courier attacking Sam Wood’s speech at the Courthouse.

The following article gives a glimpse into Mr. Wood. MAW]

Winfield Courier, July 27, 1882. Editorial.

THE TELEGRAM’S PLATFORM.

The Democratic platform on which our neighbor has mounted is: “First, a thorough revision and reform in our tariff system that robs the people of not less than five hundred millions annually.” “Second, a thorough reform in our civil service, or a complete rooting out of bossism and machine rule.” “Third, the improvement of the great natural, national highways of commerce, the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.”

This is the most sensible Democratic platform we have seen and two-thirds of it seems to have been invented by the Republicans of the present congress who, against the opposition of the Democrats, have organized a commission of tariff revision which will work at the matter during vacation, and have appropriated twelve millions for the improvement of the two rivers. Is not that enough for one year? And then how does the tariff rob the people of five hundred millions when only one-third of that amount is collected by it? The second plank means reforming Republicans out and Democrats in, which Republicans may not indorse quite so heartily. Then again, how are you going to root out bossism. John Martin and two or three others boss the Democrats of this state who do just as they say and how can you help it? Sam Wood bosses all the Greenbackers and the Telegram will not be able to prevent it.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 17, 1882.

RECAP SHERIFF’S SALE...M. L. READ, PLAINTIFF, VS. JOHN HOENSCHEIDT AND ROSE HOENSCHEIDT, DEFENDANTS. A. T. SHENNEMAN, SHERIFF COWLEY COUNTY, KANSAS, BY VIRTUE OF AN EXECUTION ISSUED OUT OF THE 2ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF THE STATE OF KANSAS, SITTING IN AND FOR ATCHISON COUNTY, WAS SELLING AT THE SOUTH DOOR OF THE COURTHOUSE SEPTEMBER 18, 1882, THE FOLLOWING PROPERTY...

LOT 13, BLOCK 135, WINFIELD, APPRAISED AT $25.

LOT 14, BLOCK 135, WINFIELD, APPRAISED AT $20.

LOT 15, BLOCK 135, WINFIELD, APPRAISED AT $20.

LOT 16, BLOCK 135, WINFIELD, APPRAISED AT $20.

LOT 17, BLOCK 135, WINFIELD, APPRAISED AT $20.

LOT 18, BLOCK 135, WINFIELD, APPRAISED AT $25. (MENOR’S ADDITION)

EACH TRACT SOLD SEPARATELY AT NOT LESS THAN TWO-THIRDS THE APPRAISED VALUE THEREOF.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 24, 1882.

Our jail at present contains four as hard characters as ever decorated its grates. Tom Quarles, the unknown gentleman who tried to make a target of Shenneman’s ear, and the two Territory negroes, one of whom is wanted for killing a United States Marshal over a year ago.

Courthouse Bell Squeaks.

Winfield Courier, August 24, 1882.

The Courthouse bell squeaks horribly for want of oil. Won’t somebody take pity on the suffering citizens who live near, and oil it?

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 7, 1882.

J. J. Johnson, of Tisdale Township, was named as the opposition candidate to Mr. McDermott for the legislature by a small meeting of citizens who gathered at the Courthouse last Saturday. As the meeting made no platform and passed no resolutions, we are unable to state on what issue Mr. Johnson proposes to make his canvass, unless, perchance, his mission is simply to oppose. We understand that he will continue on the track until November.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 7, 1882.

Attention Battery. All Members of St. Johns Battery are hereby ordered to report in person at the Courthouse in Winfield, Saturday, Sept. 9tth, at 1 o’clock p.m.

By order of N. A. HAIGHT, Captain.

Cowley County Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 7, 1882.

A Notorious Character.

Confined within the Cowley County jail at present is a negro whose career is as deeply stained with crime as human hands are often found to be, and whose deeds of murder and lawlessness compare favorably with those of the notorious Jesse James.

From Deputy U. S. Marshal Addison Beck we received a partial account of his doings that were enough to make the blood run cold. He has for the past five or six years made the Indian Territory his home and was married into the Creek tribe of Indians, and is named Glass. His hands have been reddened with the blood of perhaps a dozen men, killed on different horse-stealing excursions, and one crime even more horrible than this, is laid to his hands. Sometime last fall a lone woman and little child applied at a house in the Territory for something to eat. She said her husband had left her and she was trying to make her way back to Missouri with her child. She was given something to eat, and started on over the prairie afoot. Some time after, the negro was seen riding up the gulch in the direction the woman had taken, and a few days afterward the bodies of the woman and child were found with their throats cut from ear to ear. This was but one of the many terrible crimes laid at his door.

Once he and two others stole a herd of twenty-nine ponies. They were followed by fourteen well armed men, who overtook them in the night. They found the horses grazing on the prairie, and after driving them to a safe place, returned and surrounded the place where the three thieves were sleeping. In the morning they rose up out of the grass and began firing, and after an hour’s battle two of the thieves, Shenneman’s ward and another, escaped, leaving their companion and four of the pursuers dead on the ground.

In his own country Glass is a terror, but no open enemy is tolerated. His enemies died, one way and another, and all died early. He is as quick as lightning with a six-shooter, and handles two of them with as much ease as a lady would handle a knife and fork. Those who know him best in the Territory never provoke his wrath, as the crack of his pistol meant death, quick and certain.

In personal appearance Glass is tall, slim, and not overly dark, with a large scar on his face, and is covered all over with pistol wounds.

When Shenneman captured him, he was in a barber’s chair and had his revolvers wrapped in a paper and laid on a table. Before he knew what was up, our Sheriff had him under the muzzle of his big revolver.

Chief Bushyhead, of the Cherokee Nation, offers a reward of $500 for the delivery of Glass at Vinita, and, as soon as the necessary arrangements are made, he will be taken there. At present, he is strongly shackled and the jail is guarded.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 14, 1882.

Our city was thrown into a fever of excitement Friday by the report that W. H. Colgate had made a confession of burning Bliss & Wood’s Mill. The report proved to be true, and Colgate is now in jail in default of $5,000 bail. The arrest was made Saturday morning by Sheriff Shenneman on a warrant sworn out by J. J. Merrick.

W. H. Colgate is a young man, about thirty-two years of age, and the only son of J. B. Colgate, an eminent banker and capitalist of New York, whose wealth is placed at seven millions of dollars. Young Colgate was sent away from home to school at the age of ten and has never returned. He was furnished all the money he wanted, and naturally acquired fast habits and fast companions, and attracted the moths and butterflies of society which so readily flock to the glitter of gold, regardless of surrounding circumstances, and only eager to see who can first get their wings singed. These were ever with him and around him, applauding his follies and flattering his vanity until he became a ruined man, with ideas of life distorted and mind and body rendered totally unfit for a battle with the realities of every day existence.

Then came a rupture with the father, whose stern New England character could neither palliate nor defend the excess of his boy, and he was cast off to return no more to the parental roof, and placed on an allowance that while to many would have been princely to him was barely enough to keep the wolf from the door.

Then he drifted to Winfield and kind friends here who thought that, if given a chance, he might yet prove himself a man, secured him a position as bookkeeper in Bliss & Wood’s mill. All went along smoothly, he seemed to take hold with a will, and his employers placed one trust after another in his hands until he had the complete handling of all the funds of the mill. There the trouble appears to have commenced. He began to let his books fall behind, and when the firm demanded a statement of the business and an invoice of stock, he delayed it from time to time, offering as an excuse that he had more than he could do and was unable to catch up. Still the firm had no suspicions of any crookedness.

On Friday before the mill was burned, they put Mr. J. C. Curry in the office to assist Colgate with the books. This seemed to frustrate him somewhat, but things went along pleasantly until Saturday, when a check was found which did not correspond with the stub by $15. The explanation of this was not satisfactory and the firm began to suspect that everything was not right and resolved to investigate the books thoroughly.

Colgate seemed to be aware of this and it worried him. After supper Saturday evening, he went back to the mill alone and worked at the books until eleven o’clock, trying to fix them up in some shape. This he found he could not do, and, putting the books in the safe, he locked it, went out and locked the door and went home—but not to sleep.

The matter weighed on his mind, and as he thought of it from every standpoint and the fear of discovery preyed upon him, a sudden idea seized him and he said to himself, “I’ll burn the thing, and hide all traces of it.” He got up, went to the mill, unlocked the safe, took out the tell-tale books, tore them apart, piled them on the floor, went to the oil tank in the engine room, drew a lot of the oil, and returning with it, poured it over the books on the floor, lit a match, touched it to the pile, went out, locked the door and ran up the hill, the red glare of the burning books in the office lighting his way. Going up the hill, in his hurry and fright, he dropped a package of his own private papers that he had taken from the safe. A gold pen and large inkstand he carried on home with him. Soon the cry of “Fire!” was sounded and he ran down to the mill in his shirt sleeves, and for three long hours watched the demon that he had unchained lick up the property of his employers and benefactors, and the institution that afforded him the first day’s wages he had ever earned, go up in smoke, fired by his own hand.

What his thoughts must have been while he stood there and watched the flames as they crackled and hissed and in demoniac fury seemed to be reaching out toward him as if to point him out to the multitude, is more than we can imagine. The sight was appalling to the stoutest heart, and how much more terrible must it have been to him who had, by betraying a trust, swept away the results of years of toil and care to his employers, brought disgrace upon his family and friends, and dire calamity upon himself.

It is difficult, and indeed impossible, to assign a sensible reason for Colgate destroying the property. He says himself that he had overdrawn perhaps seventy-five dollars. Mr. Wood says this shortage could not have been more than $150. He received from the east $75 per month and earned a salary of $50. While here he did not drink or gamble, and lived within his income. What time he did not spend at the mill was spent at home with his family. The only logical conclusion is that he committed the deed in a fit of frenzy at the possibility of being discharged, and while smarting under an imaginary wrong. Again it is possible that he tried to fix up the small amount which he says he had taken from the firm’s money, and got the books in such bad shape that he had to destroy them to prevent the knowledge that they had been tampered with.

COLGATE’S STORY.

Sunday morning our reporter visited Mr. Colgate in his cell at the jail, and had a long talk with him about the matter. He admitted to the reporter the fact of having been the cause of the fire, but asserted that he had no intention of destroying the mill. He said he felt that Webber, the head miller, and Curry were his bitter enemies, and were doing everything they could to get him discharged; that as soon as the other man was put in with him, he felt that he would be discharged, and in a fit of rage and frenzy made up his mind that no other persons should ever handle those books, went to the mill, took them out, dragged in a large piece of sheet iron, piled them up on it, set fire to the pile, and went home.

During the recital of his story, Colgate seemed much affected, and asked several times what was the least and the greatest penalty that could be inflicted upon him. He said he did not care so much for himself, but it would be a terrible blow to his wife and family. His wife is a daughter of J. F. McMullen and a niece of Col. J. C. McMullen, and he has one child. Col. McMullen was doing all he could for him, and was the means of securing him the position with Messrs. Bliss & Wood. The Colonel’s faith in humanity is sorely shaken by this occurrence.

If J. B. Colgate is the benevolent gentleman he has credit for being, he will refund to Messrs. Bliss & Wood the money they have lost through his son’s depravity. He can do so without feeling it, and he spends more in benevolent and charitable enterprises every year than it would take to make Bliss & Wood whole.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 14, 1882.

Horticultural Meeting.

Special meeting of the Society held at the Courthouse in Winfield, on Saturday, Sept. 9th, 1882. Present: J. F. Martin, President; G. W. Robertson, Treasurer; the Secretary being absent, T. A. Blanchard was elected Secretary pro tem.

Mr. Blanchard, the committee appointed at last meeting to solicit subscriptions for the purpose of defraying expense in making collections of horticultural products for display at state and county fair, reported $17.00 collected and $3.00 subscribed and not yet paid, and upon motion of S. E. Berger, was directed to turn the same over to the Treasurer. The committee was then discharged.

Dr. Marsh made a partial report of the committee on fruit collection, and was requested to prepare a full report for publication, which he consented to do.

The committee appointed at last meeting to take charge of our fruit display at the State Fair, was directed to preserve and return the same for display at our county fair. Messrs. Berger, Brown, and Williams were appointed a committee to take charge of all fruit on the table not needed for the State fair, and preserve the same for exhibition at the county fair.

Mr. Hogue exhibited a seedling apple grown by J. W. Curfman, which is said to possess excellent keeping qualities, and is of fine flavor. There were displayed on the table three watermelons by Mr. N. T. Snyder, weighing respectfully 50, 52, and 53-1/2 pounds; also some mammoth onions, all of which were kindly donated for display at the State fair.

Society adjourned to meet at the COURIER office next Saturday.

T. A. BLANCHARD, Secretary Pro Tem.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 1, 1882.

Our city was thrown into a state of much excitement about 1 o’clock p.m. of last Thursday by the report that a shooting affray had taken place some two miles east of town in which one A. Noele, an old settler, had been fatally shot by a woman named Mary Freylinger. An officer was at once dispatched to the scene of the tragedy and found the report to be only too true.

The causes leading to the terrible act with the circumstances attending its perpetration are in substance as follows.

John and Mary Freylinger, husband and wife, had been living for some time past, as renters, upon A. Noele’s place, and a disagreement arose between them two months ago which culminated in an assault, since which time litigation and ill feeling between them has existed.

On the morning of the shooting Mr. Noele, accompanied by Mrs. Hanson, drove from Mr. Hanson’s place over to his, Noele’s place, in order to get some things he needed, and while at the place, Mr. Freylinger, being out in the field at work, Noele had some talk about some wheat he claimed, which Mrs. Freylinger refused to allow him to take. More words ensued, but Noele finally decided to let the grain stay, and started towards the log hut he had occupied to get some household goods he needed.

As his back was turned, Mrs. Freylinger reached for a shot gun, and taking aim, fired, when the unfortunate victim instantly fell wounded to death, the full charge of large shot having entered his body.

Mr. Jerry Tucker was nearby at the time, and although not an actual eye-witness to the shooting, came to town and reported the crime, when the proper officer went out and met the murderess on her way to town, as she said, “to pay her little fine and get back to her work.” She was taken in custody, but waived a preliminary examination and was taken to the jail at Winfield on Saturday night, where she now lies awaiting her trial for the heinous crime she has committed. The murdered man was buried on Friday, and although quite well off, is without friends in this vicinity, his wife being in the insane asylum, though we understand he has relations in St. Louis.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 15, 1882.

Courier Clips.

Old Mrs. Freylinger seems to take her confinement in jail in a sort of dumb way. Monday she asked the jailer to let her go uptown. He told her the Judge had ordered him to keep her in jail and not let her out. She said, “Ish dot so? Dot’s offal!”

Courthouse Grounds Improvements. New Iron Fence.

Winfield Courier, November 16, 1882.

A new iron fence is being put around the Courthouse, and the grounds are being filled in and graded. The grounds are to be laid out and planted to trees, and will no longer be the unsightly, barren plot it has been heretofore.

Courthouse Stoves and Chimneys. Untenable when Wind in Wrong Direction.

Winfield Courier, November 30, 1882.

A large number of ladies were present at the argument of the Colgate case. Many of them sat through the tedious proceedings during almost the whole case.

Our reporter has attended the Colgate case regularly, and next week (if the case is concluded) will give an extended resume of the testimony and his impressions thereof.

The charge delivered by Judge Torrance to the jury in the Colgate case is the finest legal document ever prepared in this or any other district court. It is a thorough, masterly document, and reflects great credit upon our Judge.

The stoves at the Courthouse smoked terribly Tuesday, so much so as to nearly suffocate the court. The chimneys are built between the combs of the roof in such a manner as to create a downward draft when the wind comes from northwest. Something should be done to make the room tenable when needed.

Jail. [Location not given.]

Winfield Courier, December 28, 1882.

Last Wednesday Mr. Smith, the agent of the K. C., L. & S. Railroad at this place, was arrested by the Company, charged with embezzling eight hundred and thirty-five dollars of the Company’s funds. He is now in jail in default of fifteen hundred dollars bail. Mr. Smith has heretofore borne an excellent reputation and has been a trusted employee of the Company for ten years. After coming here he got into the habit of gambling and had associated with him one Chambers, the telegraph operator, who evidently conspired to rob him in this way. Chambers has since jumped the town.

1883

County Jail.

[Note: Sheriff Shenneman and Cobb story told separately. MAW]

Arkansas City Traveler, January 10, 1883.

Johnny Rice, a boy aged sixteen, who committed burglary in this city about a year ago, and was sent to the reform school for five years, returned last Tuesday, in company with a boy about the same age. He said they were out on furlough and had come to visit his mother, but the next day Deputy Sheriff McIntire received a dispatch stating that they had run away, and he arrested them and took them to Winfield, and placed them in the county jail.

Democrat.

Excerpt from article...

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.

[From Green’s Real Estate News.]

Winfield’s Buildings and Business.

Winfield has thirty-five two-story and seventeen one-story brick or stone business buildings, while there are something over 70 one and two story frame business houses. This includes shops, livery stables, and some few offices; the most of the latter, however, are found in second stories of buildings. We have a $16,000 brick courthouse, with four fire-proof vaults, and a two-story brick jail, which cost $3,000.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 11, 1883.

The Musical Union will hold its regular sessions in the Courthouse on Thursday evenings of each week during January, commencing at 7:30 o’clock.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.

The adjourned annual meeting of the stockholders of the Winfield Building & Loan Association will be held at the Courthouse on Saturday evening, January 27, 1883, commencing at 7:30 p.m. Directors are to be then elected, and other important business done. All, whether stockholders or not, who would like to know the purposes of such an association, are invited to be present. J. F. McMULLEN, Secretary.

Corner Opposite the Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883.

Mr. Bobbitt has purchased the three lots on the corner opposite the jail for eleven hundred dollars and will remove his livery barn to that location.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 1, 1883.

Colgate was brought before Justice Buckman for trial Tuesday, but owing to the absence of several witnesses the case was continued to next Tuesday and Colgate was remanded to jail.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, March 7, 1883.

The New Temperance Bill.

The new temperance bill passed by the senate yesterday is amendatory to and supplemental of the law of 1881, and was formulated by the senate committee on temperance. The debate upon the measure in the senate has been extended and spirited, and the whole ground of the prohibitory question very thoughtfully gone over. There was a manifest disinclination at first to discuss the subject, but as the session wore on and the senators became more interested, the discussion became general.

The bill provides that a druggist’s permit may be obtained from the probate judge, good for one year, the application to be signed by twelve good citizens. Any physician regularly and lawfully engaged in the practice of his profession as a business, and who, in case of actual need, shall deem any liquors necessary to the health of his patient, may give such patient a written or printed prescription therefor, or may administer the same himself. But no such prescription shall be given or liquors administered except in case of actual need, and wherein his judgment the use of intoxicating liquors is necessary. Every physician who shall give such prescription or administer such liquors in violation of law, and every physician who shall give to or write for any person a prescription for intoxicating liquor for the purpose of enabling or assisting any person to evade the law, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty dollars nor more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than thirty days nor more than ninety days, or shall suffer both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court.

Every person committing perjury to obtain liquor from a druggist, or who shall use the liquor obtained upon a prescription from a druggist as a beverage for himself or another, shall, upon conviction, be fined not less than $50 nor more than $500, or imprisonment in the county jail for not less than thirty nor more than ninety days, or be both fined and imprisoned. Any person selling liquor without a license shall, upon conviction, suffer the penalty above mentioned, and for a subsequent offense shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $500, and imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than six months.

Probably the section of the bill that will attract most attention and comment than any other is the one wherein it is provided, “But nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the making of wine or cider from grapes or apples grown and raised by the person making the same.”

The paraphernalia of a saloon is made evidence that liquor is being sold contrary to law, and the possession of official stamps of the United States revenue collector shall also be taken as evidence of the same.

In all prosecutions the burden of proof is to rest virtually up to the defendant. The bill will be at once sent to the house, but whether it can be reached in time to be considered by a quorum may be a matter of more or less doubt. Topeka Capital.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 8, 1883.

Trustees’ Meeting.

Twenty-two of the trustees of the different townships, together with the County Commissioners, Clerk, and Attorney, met at the Courthouse Monday to decide upon the basis of assessment. The meeting was organized by electing Capt. J. B. Nipp Chairman and Gus. Lorry, Secretary. A lengthy and animated discussion was indulged in and comparisons with former assessment made. Every trustee seemed interested in getting a fair, impartial, and equal assessment, and a united effort will be made to that end. Many of the abuses of former years were discussed and means to remedy them decided upon.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 15, 1883.

DRUNKENNESS.

The new law, just passed, to suppress drunkenness, reads as follows:

SECTION 1. If any person shall be drunk in any highway or street, or in any public place or building, or if any person shall be drunk in his own house, or any private building or place, disturbing his family or others, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding twenty-five dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding thirty days.

SECTION 2. Prosecution under this act must be commenced within thirty days after the said misdemeanor is alleged to have been committed.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 28, 1883.

HORSE THIEVES.

Several of the Ringleaders of the Gang Now in Limbo.

For some time past a gang of horse thieves have been plying their vocation in the Territory, but up to within a few weeks past succeeded in eluding all efforts made to discover their mode of operation or whereabouts.

The circumstance which has led to the demoralization of the outfit was the purchase of a pony by Capt. Nipp of a cowboy named Jay Wilkinson some three weeks since, which pony Capt. Nipp afterwards discovered, had been stolen from the Territory. With this information Deputy McIntire and a Mr. Phipps started out in search of Wilkinson, whom they learned was in the vicinity of the Cimarron River. Hearing that Wilkinson and several of his companions had fled to a dug-out, and were fixing for a fight, Mr. McIntire deemed it advisable to return to Caldwell for reinforcements, and being joined by Deputy U. S. Marshal Hollister and another officer, the four returned, and after considerable reconnoitering and a lively chase, succeeded in missing their men, but captured one Hostetter, another member of the gang, with whom they started to the State, where Hostetter was committed to the Winfield jail to await the next term of U. S. Court at Wichita, not being able to give the $500 bail required. Wilkinson, who had been dodging around trying to swap for a fresh horse, was gathered in by the boys at Johnson Ranch, who carried him to Caldwell and turned him over to Deputy Hollister, who straightway telegraphed to Messrs. McIntire and Nipp the fact of his possession and declared the intention of leaving for this place, requesting these gentlemen to meet him, which they did, bringing Wilkinson to town where he had an examination, and was committed to jail with Hostetter. Another of the gang, known as Mulvane George, was also arrested, but gave $500 bail and is now at large.

Deputy McIntire informs us he expects shortly to have more of the gang in his clutches, in which we hope he may not be mistaken.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 29, 1883.

George McIntire, Deputy U. S. Marshal, captured several horse thieves at Arkansas City and in the edge of the Territory last week. They are now confined in jail here. George has been on the track of this gang for some time and has at last succeeded in breaking it up.

Winfield Courier, March 29, 1883.

The Horse Thief Particulars.

We clip the following account of the capture of two horse thieves by Deputy U. S. Marshal McIntire, mentioned in another column, from the Arkansas City Democrat.

About three weeks ago a young man by the name of Jay Wilkinson, a well known cowboy of the Indian Territory, sold a pony to Capt. J. B. Nipp of this city, and a few days afterward the Captain found out that the pony had been stolen from a ranchman in the Territory, and informed Deputy U. S. Marshal McIntire of the fact, who, in company with a gentleman by the name of Phipps, started out to capture Wilkinson, whom they learned was at Smithey’s ranch on the Cimarron River in the Indian Territory. Upon arriving at the ranch, they found out that Wilkinson had been informed by some of his confederates in this city in regard to the movements of Deputy McIntire, and with two of his companions had proceeded to an old dug-out some ten miles from the ranch, armed and equipped with provision and ammunition, with the intention of standing the officers off. George and Mr. Phipps made a careful survey of the situation, and found that the boys were too well fortified to attempt an attack by themselves, so they quietly pulled out for Caldwell, where they secured the services of Deputy U. S. Marshal Hollister and another gentleman and returned for their game. When they arrived at the dug-out, they found it deserted, but the indications were that the boys had made a hasty exit, as they left behind a shot-gun, revolver, and a number of other articles, and upon looking around they discovered Wilkinson and his two companions just disappearing over a hill some two miles distant. They immediately mounted their horses and started in pursuit, and had a lively chase for twenty miles, when they arrived at Johnson’s ranch, where they found Jack Martin sick in bed and the only one at the camp, who informed them that Wilkinson and one of his gang had been there about half an hour before them, and had left their ponies and taken two of the best horses at the ranche and struck out in a northerly direction.

Just as the officers and posse were getting ready to leave, a young man by the name of Frank Hostetter, whom they had spotted as one of the gang, rode up and they placed him under arrest, and left one man to guard him, while the remainder of the party struck out after Wilkinson, whom they followed for about forty miles in the direction of the State, but finally lost track of him, and returned to the ranch after Hostetter. Hostetter was brought up to the city and taken before Commissioner Bonsall for preliminary examination, and bound over in the sum of $500 to appear at the next term of the U. S. Court at Wichita; being unable to give the required bond, he was taken to Winfield and placed in the county jail to await trial.

Wednesday, the same day the officers arrived in this city with Hostetter, Wilkinson rode into Johnson’s ranch with the intention of again swapping horses, but as Smithey and Johnson happened to be at the camp at the time they persuaded him, with a couple of double-barreled shot-guns to give himself up, and the next day took him to Caldwell and turned him over to Deputy U. S. Marshal Hollister, who telegraphed to George McIntire that he had started for this place with the prisoner, and to meet him in the Territory so there would be no trouble; and George, in company with Marshal Sinnott, Patterson, Nipp, and Rarick, started out and met Hollister about twelve miles from the City and escorted him in. Wilkinson had his preliminary examination on Saturday and was sent up to the county jail to await his trial at the next term of the U. S. Court.

There are four or five others connected with the gang whom the officers are laying in wait for, and the indications are that they will bring them to tow before many days.

LATER. Since writing the above the officers arrested another young man known as Mulvane George, whom they have good reasons to believe is connected with the gang. His bond was fixed at $500 and his father, who resides at Mulvane, was telegraphed to and came down and fixed it up.

Winfield Jail.

Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, March 29, 1883.

More Thieves Captured.

Last Thursday J. B. Johnson came up from his ranch, bringing with him Jay Wilkinson, one of the gang of thieves for some time past engaged in stealing horses from stockmen on the Strip and farmers in this and Cowley County. Wilkinson gave himself up to U. S. Marshal Hollister, and was taken over to Arkansas City.

About the same time, G. H. McIntire, who has also been on the hunt after the thieves, caught Hatfield at Arkansas City, and when Hollister arrived at that place with his prisoner, he found the town considerably stirred up over the arrests. Loper was another of the thieves circulating around, evidently under the impression that he was not known as belonging to the party and unaware of his name being connected with illegitimate horse trading. Hollister slipped the handcuffs on him and took him to Winfield, where he was locked up in jail.

Wilkinson, it seems, had stolen a horse belonging to the Carnegie & Frazier outfit, and took it into the state and turned it over to Loper to sell, with the understanding that Loper was to give one-half the proceeds to Wilkinson’s wife, who lives in Arkansas City. Loper sold the horse at Mulvane, but refused to divide, and his course induced Wilkinson to inform on him. Mr. Hollister also informs us that Loper, previous to his arrest, had obtained an interview with him shortly after the latter’s arrival in charge of the deputy marshal, and took occasion to say to Wilkinson that if the latter informed on him, he (Loper) would shoot him at the first opportunity.

Loper’s father is a farmer living near Mulvane, and he is said to be the most dangerous man of the crowd. As there is ample evidence to convict him of the crime with which he is charged, it is more than likely that Loper will not have an opportunity for several years to carry out the threat he made to Wilkinson.

Besides the parties arrested so far, there are others living on the southern border of Cowley County who are suspected of being engaged in stock stealing, but as yet there is no direct evidence against them. They will have to leave the country, or it will be but a short time before Hollister and McIntire round them up.

Removal of Shenneman House from Jail to Corner North of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 5, 1883.

Senator Hackney has purchased two lots on the corner north of the Courthouse for $350 and has removed the Shenneman house from the jail to that location.

Courthouse Square Improvements Completed. Walks Finished.

Winfield Courier, April 5, 1883.

Chairman Smith has been having the improvements on the Courthouse square completed. It is now nicely leveled up and the walks are finished. The next thing in order will be tree planting, and in five years Cowley will have one of the finest public squares in the state.

Wichita Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 11, 1883.

Hostetter and Wilkinson, arrested for horse stealing, had a preliminary examination before Judge Bonsall last week; and in default of $1,000 bail each, were committed to jail in Wichita till the fall term of the U. S. Court.

Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 12, 1883.

Hostetter and Hatfield, the two horse thieves taken by Deputy Marshals Hollister and McIntire, had an examination at Wellington last week, and were committed to the Wichita jail for trial at the September term of the U. S. District Court. Loper, who appears to be the worst pill in the box, will not have his examination for a week or two. Three of the horses stolen from the Carnegie & Frazier ranch were recovered.

Trees Being Planted in Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, April 12, 1883.

Hogue & Mentch are doing the tree planting in the Courthouse square.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 12, 1883.

The annual meeting of the Cowley County Fair Association met at the Courthouse Tuesday afternoon. W. A. Tipton called the meeting to order, and announced the first business in order to be the election of nine directors for the ensuing year.

The following persons were elected directors: C. M. Scott, Creswell; R. W. Stevens, Richland; Jas. B. Scofield, Winfield; J. L. Stewart, Ninnescah; Henry Harbaugh, Pleasant Valley; R. B. Pratt, Fairview; Jas. F. Martin, Vernon; J. L. Hodges, Winfield; B. F. Wood, Winfield.

An election for officers resulted as follows: Henry Harbaugh, president; B. F. Wood, vice-president; Ed. P. Greer, secretary; J. W. Millspaugh, treasurer.

The time for holding the Fair this year was fixed on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, October 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th. Messrs. Wood, Hodges, and Greer were appointed a committee on purchase or lease of Fair Grounds. The directors were notified to meet at the COURIER editorial rooms on Saturday, April 28th, at 2 o’clock p.m.

Courthouse Insurance.

Winfield Courier, April 19, 1883.

Commissioners’ Proceedings.

Fifty dollars were appropriated to the County Normal, and an insurance of $3,000 on the Courthouse ordered.

Not in Jail.

Caldwell Commercial, Thursday, April 19, 1883.

The Caldwell COMMERCIAL was a little too fast last week in stating that George Loper, of Mulvane, had been arrested in our city for horse stealing and locked up in jail. The arresting part was all right, but George gave bail and is walking the streets as free as anyone. And further, the COMMERCIAL says, that “Mr. Loper’s father is a desperate man.” Now this is uncalled for, as we understand that Mr. Loper is a respected citizen of Mulvane, and has no blemish upon his name, and why the COMMERCIAL should abuse him, we cannot see. The son may have done wrong, and if he has, we hope he will be punished, but we see no reason why Mr. Loper should be abused for the actions of his son. Arkansas City Democrat.

We find the above in the Arkansas City Democrat of last week, and feel constrained to say that paper is off wrong. The COMMERCIAL did not say anything against George Loper’s father. It did say, however, that the aforesaid George was a hard case, and said so on information derived from reliable men. So far as Mr. Loper, senior, is concerned, we have good reason to believe that all the Democrat says in regard to him is strictly true, and we have no desire to abuse him because his son has gone off wrong.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 25, 1883.

Cowley County Agricultural and Horticultural Society.

Winfield, Kansas, April 12, 1883. At the Annual meeting of the members of the Association, held at the Courthouse in this place Tuesday, the following persons were elected Directors for the ensuing year: R. B. Pratt, Fairview; Jas. F. Martin, Vernon; J. L. Hodges, Winfield; B. F. Wood, Winfield; C. M. Scott, Creswell; R. W. Stevens, Richland; Jas. B. Seinfield, Winfield; J. L. Stewart, Ninnescah; Henry Harbaugh, Pleasant Valley. A quorum of the Board being present, the following officers were then elected: President, Henry Harbaugh; Vice President, B. F. Wood; Secretary, Ed. P. Greer; Treasurer, J. W. Millspaugh. A meeting of the Board of Directors was called for Saturday, April 28, at 2 o’clock p.m., at the Courier editorial rooms. It is important that every member of the new Board should be present and qualify. ED. P. GREER, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 26, 1883.

The Rev. Wm. Britain, Episcopalian, will hold services in the Courthouse Sunday next at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 3, 1883.

A fellow was arrested Monday for stealing carpenters tools from Irv. Randall and Dave Long. He was tried before Justice Soward and sentenced to jail for ninety days. The criminal calls himself Frank McDenna.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 3, 1883.

The Rev. Wm. Brittain will hold Episcopal services in the Courthouse on Sunday next at 11 a.m., and 7:00 p.m. All are invited.

Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.

The Rev. Wm. Brittain will hold Episcopal services in the Courthouse on Sunday next both morning and evening at the usual hours. All are invited.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 24, 1883.

A horse thief was brought over from near Grenola Monday and lodged in jail here. He had stolen horses from the north part of the state and was making for the Territory.

Part of Street in Front of Courthouse Square Plowed Up By Unknown Person.

Winfield Courier, June 7, 1883.

We noticed that on Tuesday before the rain somebody plowed up that part of 10th Avenue lying in the lowest ground in front of the courthouse square. What the object of doing it was, no sane man could find out. Evidently some crank is at large in our city. All that is needed in that place is filling up the street, about three feet, and rounding it off, making the proper gutters at the sides and much better culverts across it.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 21, 1883.

The Telegram does Mr. Ed. Nicholson an injustice in its account of his horse-thief capture last week. He was not “sent out” by Sheriff Gary. He was on his way home, and took in the thieves on his own account. Instead of being “sent out” by Mr. Gary, he “sent in” for the said Gary post haste, the messenger being Captain Stubblefield, with the information that he had two horse thieves surrounded and desired the Sheriff to come out and assist in the capture. The “sheriff” never put in an appearance until the thieves were safe at the jail doors —probably because he was too busy to go himself and had no one to “send.” Our Sheriff evidently prefers “sending someone out” to getting in the way of trouble himself. His administration reminds us of that of one of Cowley’s early sheriffs who, when fleeing from an irate citizen who was attempting to caress him with a club, looked back over his shoulder and wailed, “Don’t strike! Don’t strike!! If you strike, I’ll bring the majesty of the law to bear upon you!” The citizen struck, but only caught the tail of a coat as it whipped around the corner.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 28, 1883.

The Episcopal Sunday school will give an ice cream social at the Courthouse this Thursday evening. The social is given by the parents for the pupils and their friends.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.

One of the prisoners in the jail made a break for liberty Sunday afternoon. Deputy Taylor was taking him out to the pump for water, and while his attention was called away, the prisoner dropped the bucket and ran. Taylor chased him three blocks, made the best time, and caught his man. During the race several shots were fired from a small pistol. The prisoner’s name is Askens and he is in for stealing a watch from about Cambridge.

Street Work Being Done on Ninth Avenue Near Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.

The street commissioner is doing some long-needed work on Ninth Avenue, near the Courthouse. The street at that point is being filled up with dirt from the Torrance-Fuller building.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, July 5, 1883.

The parents and teachers of the Sunday school gave the pupils a social at the Courthouse Thursday evening. It was very live and very pleasant and such tearing around and “havin’ fun” among the little folks we haven’t seen for a long time. The writer dropped in for a minute and found an invoice of ice cream and cake waiting him.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 11, 1883.

To Wool Growers.

At a meeting of the Wool Growers’ Protective Union, or association, held at Winfield, on June 17th, I was requested, or rather instructed, to call the attention of the wool growers of Cowley County to the importance of united, universal, and prompt action to secure our just and much needed protection at the hands of our representatives in Congress. Horace Greeley remarked (when imprisoned for debt in the city of Paris) that he had always been opposed to imprisonment for debt, but never knew just why until now. Many of us have always been in favor of a tariff for protection against cheap labor and wool of other nations as well as for revenue, and like Horace Greeley we now know just why.

The change in the tariff made last winter, reducing the price of our wool from three to five cents per pound, brings the matter home to us. Selling wool at from 12 to 10 cents per pound is not agreeable, to say the least, and I may add unnecessary. There is no question but the wool growers of the United States have it in their power to secure just and discriminating protection at the hands of the next Congress and this can only be secured through a united and harmonious organization, having but the one object in view, and I would most respectfully urge upon every wool grower in Cowley County, and all interested in wool growing, to attend the meeting to be held at the Courthouse in Winfield on the 14th day of July, at which time a committee appointed at the meeting held June 17, will present a constitution and by-laws for the consideration of the wool men who may attend, and I trust none will be absent. EZRA MEECH.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 18, 1883.

A meeting of the wool growers of Cowley County was held in the courthouse in Winfield last Saturday, but just what business was transacted we could not learn.

Trees on the Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, August 2, 1883.

The trees on the Courthouse square are growing splendidly. All have lived but one and their growth has been rapid. This is a demonstration of the necessity of keeping the ground around trees thoroughly cultivated and free from weeds. When this is done they always live, grow, and thrive. It is easier to raise corn in the weeds than young trees.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 2, 1883.

Mr. David failed to give proper bond for appeal in his case, and on Monday was remanded to jail at this place in default of payment of fine, where he now lies.

Courthouse and Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 9, 1883.

COWLEY COUNTY: ESTIMATE OF EXPENDITURES

UPON WHICH THE TAX LEVY FOR 1883 IS BASED.

They showed for what purpose levy is made; levy in mills; valuation levied on; and amount to be raised. AM GIVING AMOUNT TO BE RAISED ONLY.

Expense of Courthouse and jail: $200.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 9, 1883.

The Board discharged Horace Whittaker from jail Monday. He was put in for stealing saws.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 16, 1883.

Publication Notice.

To all whom it may concern:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN That the undersigned, J. C. Fuller and D. A. Millington, will present a petition to the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, state of Kansas, at the next regular session of said Board, to be begun and held at the Courthouse in said county on the first Monday of October, 1883, praying the vacation of the alleys running through Blocks One Hundred and Eighty-nine (189) and two Hundred and Eighty-seven (287) in the city of Winfield, in said County and State. J. C. FULLER, D. A. MILLINGTON.

Courthouse Trees.

Winfield Courier, August 30, 1883.

Those Courthouse trees are a constant source of pleasure to all who look at them. Never have we seen trees thriftier or grow with greater rapidity. This is due to Capt. Smith’s careful attention, and the people will thank him for this work from the bottom of their hearts in less than four years.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 30, 1883.

Democratic Convention.

The Democratic Convention of Cowley County was held at the Courthouse last Saturday the 25th inst. Amos Walton was chairman and Jos. O’Hare secretary. The following nominations were made.

For Sheriff: S. G. Gary of Winfield.

For Treasurer: J. B. Lynn of Winfield.

For Coroner: W. I. Shotwell of Winfield.

For County Clerk: John Hanlen of Rock.

For Register of Deeds: Geo. Eaton of Silverdale.

For Surveyor: Alex Cairns of Tisdale.

[SKIPPED 7 PRINCIPLES ADOPTED EXCEPT 3, 4, 5, and 6.]

3. We are in favor of a tariff for revenue only, limited to the necessities of the government, economically administered.

4. We censure the republican congress for reducing the tariff on wool and at the same time increasing it on woolen goods already highly protected, thus discriminating against the agricultural interests of the country and in favor of monopoly.

5. We favor a more rigid economy in the administration of county affairs, and a reduction of the fees and salaries of county officers to a point not in excess of the ordinary profits of legitimate business.

6. We are opposed to the prohibitory amendment and the law enacted thereunder, and denounce the policy of prohibition as an utter and entire failure, injurious and detrimental to the best interests of the state and county and contrary to the sentiment of the people and the spirit of our institutions. It has not lessened the liquor traffic nor reduced drunkenness. It has produced ill feeling, malice, and hatred among the people and fostered secret drinking to an alarming extent, and we hereby demand the repeal of the present prohibitory liquor law, and the resubmission of the question of prohibition to another vote of the people in shape of a proposed constitutional amendment, and would recommend a judicious system of high license and local option in place thereof.

In No. 7 they carried on about distrust of railroad companies, wanting the state to control railroads instead of railroads controlling the state.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 30, 1883.

The Wool Growers of Cowley County will meet at the Courthouse Saturday at 2 o’clock p.m.

Trees on Courthouse Grounds.

Winfield Courier, September 6, 1883.

In last week’s COURIER we neglected to say the trees on the Courthouse grounds were grown, planted, and cared for by Hogue & Mentch, of the Winfield Nursery.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 12, 1883.

Mike Renick, who assaulted W. Waltman with a knife last week, seriously cutting and wounding him, was brought before Judge Bonsall last Monday for examination, but the case was postponed till the 20th inst., on account of Mr. Waltman being unable to be present, and the prisoner was returned to the Winfield jail yesterday.

Business Building Toward Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 13, 1883.

Business is gradually assuming permanency on East Ninth Avenue, and we expect before three more years to see it built up solidly clear to the Courthouse and be as busy as Main street. Dr. Mendenhall has moved his office off the lot next to the Marble Works and will commence the erection of a two story brick business house thereon. Mrs. Shenneman will also put in a brick next to Parmer & Co.’s grocery.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 20, 1883.

ANOTHER TICKET.

Some twenty or thirty greenbackers met at the Courthouse last Saturday and nominated a ticket as follows: For Sheriff, J. F. Teter; Treasurer, Adam Walck; Register, H. J. Sandfort; Clerk, C. C. Crow; Surveyor, Chas. McClung; Coroner, Jas. Land. The members of that party in the east commissioners district are to meet at Burden next Saturday, to put up a candidate for commissioner. Two speakers in the meeting denounced both the Republican and Democratic parties on an entirely new and accredited plan.

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Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 27, 1883.

DEXTER ITEMS.

A horse was stolen from the residence of Mr. Sol Osborne on Tuesday night during a party by two youthful “smarties” of Plum Creek. The horse was found at New Salem, and the boys at Arkansas City. The boys were taken to jail, but promptly bailed out by their parents. I hope they were in jail long enough to do some solid thinking over the error of such ways, and resolve on a better life in future. GRANGER.

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County Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.

Court has been in session for the two weeks past. Most of the time has been occupied with the criminal docket.

The following cases were disposed of.

State vs. Jacob Case, defendant plead guilty to assault and battery, and was sentenced to one week in county jail and to pay cost of prosecution.

State vs. Cooper and Carder, for horse stealing, trial by jury and both convicted. No sentence yet pronounced.

Grass Planted on Courthouse Square.

Winfield Courier, October 11, 1883.

The Board of County Commissioners have put several bushels of blue grass seed on the Courthouse square. They are putting it in an excellent shape. In a few years the Courthouse square will be one of the most attractive places in the city.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 18, 1883.

Will J. Wilson, deputy county treasurer, has just completed a chart setting forth all the tax collections and disbursements, including delinquent, in a space not over three feet square. It is one of the most complete things we have ever seen, and is the result of years of experience, correction, and improvement. He got it up to lay before the board at the annual settlement next month. Presented to them in this shape, the labor of wading through piles of musty records is largely done away with. Mr. Wilson is one of the most efficient officers in the courthouse and his services during the past eight years have been invaluable to the people of the county.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 1, 1883.

Today (Nov. 1st) is All Saints Day, an important festival in the Episcopal Church. A sermon in reference to it will be preached in the Courthouse next Tuesday morning by Rev. Wm. Brittain, Rector of Grace Church. All are invited.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, November 15, 1883.

The Board at the meeting last week released M. David, Rosa Turner, and Jacob Case from custody in the jail.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 22, 1883.

The Teachers’ Association (Central Division) met in the East Ward school building Saturday, November 17th, at 10:30 a.m. S. L. Herriott presented some very valuable suggestions on course of study for our common schools. General discussion followed. Messrs. Limerick, Lucas, and Gridley were participants. Amusements for teachers and pupils was the next topic introduced by H. G. Norton, whose remarks provoked a very lively discussion, engaged in by Messrs. Limerick, Brown, Lucas, Herriott, and Gridley. At the close of this discussion, the Association adjourned to meet at 1-1/2 o’clock p.m. At the afternoon session there was a large attendance. A spirited discussion engaged in by various members of the Association, on the following topics: “Libraries” and “Defects in our School System.” President Taylor of Emporia Normal School, being present, made an address to the teachers with much wholesome advice. An evening session was held at the Courthouse, with select reading by Miss Mary Hamill, declamation by W. P. Beaumont, and an excellent lecture by President Taylor of Emporia. It is to be regretted that more teachers and school officers did not hear the above lecture. The next meeting of the Association will be held December 21 and 22, to which all the teachers of the county are cordially invited.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 29, 1883.

The Rev. Wm. Brittain will hold Thanksgiving services in the Courthouse today at 11 o’clock. All are invited.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, November 29, 1883.

DIED. Chester Van Meter, the young fellow who shot at Sheriff Shenneman here once, was killed near Caldwell last week. He had got into an altercation with his wife, beating her, and when her father interposed, turned on him. The officers of Caldwell went out to arrest him. He resisted and was killed. He was one of the “blood-and-thunder” kind of young men, and while in jail here entertained the prisoners with the plaintive melody of “The Outlaw’s Bride,” and kindred compositions. All such men end the same way—beat their wives and die with their boots on.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 6, 1883.

The jail is without a tenant for the first time in many months.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.

Ed. Freeman was arrested Tuesday on complaint of J. B. Lynn for taking an overcoat from a rack in front of his store. He was sentenced by Justice Buckman to 30 days in the county jail and to pay costs of the prosecution.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.

Quaker Reunion.

Mrs. Amy Fulghum, who is an approved minister of the society of Friends, or Quakers, yearly meeting, and who has a certificate from her monthly and quarterly meetings to hold meetings and visit the scattered Friends in remote places in the State of Kansas, also those who were once Friends or Quakers, extends a cordial invitation to all the above named classes of Friends who are within reach of Winfield, Cowley County, Kansas, to meet her and other friends in the Courthouse, in Winfield, on Wednesday, December 19th, at 10 o’clock a.m., for the purpose of having a genuine old-fashioned greeting and reunion, and for cheering and encouraging each other in the work and service of God. Bring lunch, as it will last all day. By request of Mrs. Fulghum. S. S. HOLLOWAY.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 13, 1883.

United Brethren Church.

The Church of the United Brethren in Christ have an organization in this city of nearly fifty members, and are having at this time the pastoral labors of Rev. J. H. Snyder, who organized the society nearly two years ago. This organization held its services for a time in the Courthouse; afterwards it purchased the ground on Millington street originally possessed by the Baptist society. The building owned by the Christian society was purchased and located on the lots, and fitted up for temporary use. Services are held every Sabbath morning. The Sabbath school meets at 9½ a.m. The society is prospering, and extends a cordial invitation to our citizens to attend its services.

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Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 27, 1883.

Christmas.

The Episcopal Sunday school tree at the Courthouse was nicely trimmed and the exercises afforded much amusement. One of the features was the presentation of a “diamond” pin to the worthy Superintendent, W. H. Smith. The diamond was a glass stopper from a big bottle in a beautiful setting of old stove pipe tin, the whole making a decoration of which Mr. Smith should certainly feel proud.

1884

Courthouse Grounds.

Winfield Courier, January 17, 1884.

Commissioners Proceedings.

The chairman of the board was instructed to have six evergreens set out on the courthouse grounds.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, January 17, 1884.

Commissioner Irwin came over from Windsor, Saturday, and on Monday took his place on the Board. Mr. S. C. Smith was re-elected chairman of the Board. Mr. E. I. Johnson retires carrying with him the best wishes of his associates, and the public, whom he has served faithfully during his term as commissioner. A more honest, conscientious, faithful officer has never filled a chair in the Courthouse.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, January 17, 1884.

The Tom Youle horse, which was stolen a few weeks ago, has been recovered. The thief, a negro, is also in jail here. The fellow took the horse from Mr. Youle’s stable, rode up on Rock Creek, traded it for another, turned around and rode back to Winfield, where he got drunk and was taken in by the marshal. He was afterward suspicioned and traced up until he finally confessed.

Question of Confinement in Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 7, 1884.

A Heavy Dose.

Last Thursday morning Judge Torrance passed sentence upon Dr. Fleming. It consisted of a fine of five hundred dollars and costs, amounting in all to over seven hundred dollars. In delivering the judgment of the Court, Judge Torrance made some very strong and pointed remarks. He said that the prohibitory law should be enforced and while physicians should be allowed to use liquor in the practice of their profession when used as such, no physician could sell it as a grog shop keeper. The Court seemed to have considered strongly the question of adding a penalty of confinement in the jail, but owing to the Doctor’s infirm physical condition, did not do so. The Doctor’s experience is costly, and should be lasting.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, February 21, 1884.

The jail now contains nine prisoners. There is nothing “democratic” about Sheriff McIntire’s administration.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 21, 1884.

Publication Notice.

TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, Francis Barclay, C. E. Fuller, F., W. McClelland, and Willard J. Wilson, will present a petition to the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, State of Kansas, at the next regular meeting of said Board, to be begun and held at the Courthouse in said county, on the first Monday of April, 1884, praying the vacation of the alley running through block two hundred and fifty (250) in the city of Winfield, in said county and State, being in Fuller’s Addition.

FRANCIS BARCLAY, F. W. McCLELLAND, WILLARD J. WILSON, C. E. FULLER.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, February 21, 1884.

Lenten Lectures.

The Rev. Wm. Brittain will deliver a course of lectures in the Courthouse on the Sunday evenings during Lent. The subjects will be taken from Old Testament History. The introductory lecture will be delivered next Tuesday evening.

County Jail Being Renovated.

Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.

The county jail is receiving a thorough renovation. The cells are being replastered and repainted, and when finished will afford our jail birds much more cheerful quarters.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 6, 1884.

Railroad Meeting.

A large and enthusiastic railroad meeting was held at the Courthouse last Thursday evening. Speeches were made, the present status of the railroad proposition discussed, and the opinions of all the lawyers present called out as to the validity of the stipulations. They all said they were good and binding in law. The benefits of the road were set forth in glowing colors by Messrs. Jennings, Soward, McDermott, and others. After becoming satisfied on the question of the legality of the stipulations, the meeting resolved itself into a committee of the whole on the prospects for carrying the bonds. It was plain that if the value of the proposed road to the county could but be put fairly before every taxpayer, the bonds would be carried. Committees were then organized and over five hundred dollars subscribed for the purpose of printing and circulating information and holding meetings.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 13, 1884.

An examination of applicants for teachers’ certificates, will be held at the Courthouse beginning at 9 o’clock a.m., March 21, 1884, and continues two days. Applicants will please appear promptly at that time. A. H. LIMERICK, County Superintendent.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 13, 1884.

To the Board of County Commissioners, of the County of Cowley, state of Kansas:

To all whom it may concern:

NOTICE is hereby given, that the undersigned will present a petition to the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley Co., State of Kansas, at the next regular session of said Board to be held in the office of the County Clerk of said Cowley County in the Courthouse in the city of Winfield in said County, on the 7th day of April, A. D., 1884, at the opening of the session of said Board on said day, or as soon thereafter as the Petitioners herein can be heard, praying for the vacation of as much of the street known as Fifth Avenue in the said City of Winfield, as lies between Main Street and Manning Street in said city.

Dated Winfield, Kansas, March 5th, 1884.

H. G. BULLER, Petitioner.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, March 13, 1884.

Charlie Fisher, a young man residing in eastern Cowley, mortgaged a mule team in this city one day last week for a good sum and then took them to Arkansas City and sold them for a hundred and eighty dollars. Sheriff McIntire arrested him in a bawdy house down there, with only fifty cents of the money left and plenty of whiskey on board, and lodged him in the county jail. His relatives bailed him out Saturday night. The man who bought the mules gave them up with the earnest desire that the “culprit would go to the ‘pen.’”

Excerpt from article...

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 15, 1884.

Police Court Proceedings.

On Tuesday Andrew Johnson was fined $10 and costs for being drunk and disorderly on the streets, and Jim Drains (colored) was fined $10 and costs, and Grandsen Fields (colored) $5 and costs for interfering with officers while making an arrest. In default of payment of the fines, the three last named were sent to the county jail.

[Note: The City Jail in Arkansas City began to report holding individuals in its jail. Some of the following items cover both the jail at Arkansas City and the jail at Winfield. Whenever possible the “county jail” is noted. MAW]

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 15, 1884.

A man on Thursday night occupied the same bed, at the Farmers’ Hotel, as did a cowboy. In the morning the man disappeared and so did the cowboy’s revolver. Capt. Rarick undertook the capture of both man and weapon, and succeeded in taking them about half way between Arkansas City and Hunnewell. Esquire Schiffbauer fined the person $25 and costs and committed him to jail until both were paid.

Barn and Lots Purchased Opposite the Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 20, 1884.

Senator Hackney has bought the Hoblet barn and lots opposite the Courthouse, for three thousand dollars.

Property Purchased South of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, March 20, 1884.

Register Soward bought of Senator Hackney last week a quarter block and three houses, just south of the Courthouse, for three thousand dollars. Property is changing hands at a lively rate all over the city and county.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 22, 1884.

“Arkansas City is well represented in the county jail—three negroes and a white man, the former for drunkenness and the latter for stealing a revolver.” Winfield Courier.

Let us divide the “representation,” brother. We acknowledge that the physical portion of these persons may belong to us, but, after due research, our officials ascertained that the spiritual part belonged to you, and accordingly delivered the goods.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 29, 1884.

Police Court. Judge Bonsall reports business dull in the police court this week. There have been but two arrests and only one conviction. On last Saturday, Joseph Pearson was arrested by city marshal Gray, and was tried Monday on charge of disturbing the peace by being drunk and disorderly, discharging fire arms, and carrying a revolver, and was fined $10 and costs. He was sent to the county jail in default of payment of the fine. Thomas Cochigan was arrested and tried Wednesday on charge of discharging fire arms in the city, but on failure of sufficient proof to make out the case, he was discharged.

Excerpt from long article...

Stable Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 3, 1884.

We quote from the history of the Percheron Race:

“That cool, restrained, and ever fresh energy, that courageous patience, of which the Percheron, every day, gives an example, dragging, at a trot, heavy loads, the weight of which frightens the imagination; stopping short in both ascending and descending; starting off freely and always without balking; never refusing his food; fearing neither heat nor cold. He possesses superior strength, speed, docility, temper, and a complete absence of irritability. Hence it is that all our Provinces, envy us the possession of the race, and even foreign countries seek after it with an eagerness amounting to a passion.”

These horses crossed even with our Indian mares make a most valuable and salable animal. Bred to a mare of reasonable size, their offspring are the most valuable of any in the market. These Norman horses are for sale on one, two, and three years time—giving the purchaser an opportunity to earn more than the cost of the horse with his service before payment is required. These horses are in charge of Mr. S. Eslinger’s stable opposite Courthouse. We give written guarantees of the pedigrees of this stock and warrant all our representations in reference to them when sales are made.

J. C. McMULLEN, H. E. SILLIMAN.

Jail.

VISIT TO WINFIELD.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.

“Sam Gilbert, of Winfield, is the lightning counter of the civilized world. By some mysterious and subtle power he has gained an insight into the weary and far distant future that is hidden from the ordinary common mortal. During a visit to that retired burg last Saturday, he kindly informed us that two hundred buildings were in the course of erection within the corporate limits of the city. Of course, we were guileless and innocent enough to take it all in, and then start out to see how the place would look in its wild and reckless boom in the building line. How we were deceived will not appear in print, for it is not pleasant for even a local editor to show up just how big a chump he can make of himself. But gentle readers, we walked and we walked and we rested awhile, and we walked again, up one street and down another, our long hungry frame might have been seen, with staring eyes protruding, on the look out for new buildings, but they were not for us to see. It seems that the county seat of Cowley always hides her new buildings when a resident of Sumner’s capital goes there on a visit. Boys, it ain’t fair; if you have anything new, please show it up when we see you again. However, we admire success in any line and Sam Gilbert receives considerable of our admiration for he is perfect in his.” Local in the Wellingtonian.

The local of the Wellingtonian, the two first letters of whose name are Tom Richardson, was in Winfield a week ago last Saturday and saw Sam Gilbert. The only wonder about it was that he remembered the name of Sam Gilbert, for he forgot everything else he saw. The way he happened here was that he had been to Harper and Harper drinks had a bad effect on him. Probably he took away with him a liberal supply, for his side pocket had a very prominent look. He undertook to return to Wellington, but did not know when he got there and finally tumbled off at Winfield. All the walking and walking and walking again, which he did, was probably between the police judge’s office and the jail, which is not a very great distance, and he was tired, so it seemed to him a great deal of walking. Yet, near sighted as he was, he might have seen eight new buildings in that short distance. We suppose the marshal paid him too much attention, and he got disgusted with Winfield. Sam Gilbert did not tell him the whole truth. There are more than two hundred buildings in processes of erection in this city.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.

A number of the public spirited young ladies and gentlemen of Winfield met in the Courthouse Tuesday evening to take such steps as were necessary to establish a reading room. They have rented the rooms over Wallis & Wallis’ grocery store, and will meet next Monday evening to effect a permanent organization. As soon as all arrangements are in good working order, the rooms will be open to the public, and we hope the businessmen of the city will take pride in lending their assistance by way of contributing periodicals, books, and papers. The young people are very enthusiastic and, if properly encouraged, will no doubt make the enterprise a success that Winfield will be proud of, and one that will be of lasting benefit to our people.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.

Next Sunday will be Easter Sunday. Appropriate Episcopal services in the Courthouse morning and evening at the usual hours.

Excerpt from long article...

Law Offices on Ninth Avenue Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 10, 1884.

BRIEF MENTION OF WHAT OUR ENTERPRISING CITIZENS ARE DOING.

On Ninth Avenue opposite the Courthouse, Senator Hackney is putting up three suits of law offices, one of which will be occupied by himself as soon as completed.

Excerpt from article about county purchases...

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

All necessary clothing and bedding for prisoners in the county jail, all jail supplies, fixtures, and repairs, G. H. McIntire, Sheriff of Cowley County, is duly authorized to purchase or contract for same.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

The Republicans of the City of Winfield will meet at the Courthouse this Thursday evening at 7:30 o’clock for the purpose of choosing 13 delegates to the county convention which meets next Saturday.

D. A. MILLINGTON, Com., 1st Ward.

I. W. RANDALL, Com., 2nd Ward.

[Note: The following article is very important as it clearly points out that Winfield wanted the Kansas City and Southwestern Railroad Company to go west from Winfield. This brought about the fight by Arkansas City interests to build the road south to Arkansas City rather than west from Winfield. MAW]

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

THE PETITION.

We have already heard two objections to the petition for the election to vote aid to the Kansas City and Southwestern railroad company. These are: that the petition does not state definitely that the depot at Winfield shall be within the city limits, and there is no guarantee that it will not fall into the hands of the Santa Fe company.

There was an intention on the part of the company to make the petition cover every point that could be covered, to state clearly every concession made, and to make every concession that they could afford to make that would be demanded, and have the petition perfect if possible so that no stipulations of doubtful utility should be needed. It was to that end that the first meeting at the Brettun House was called and a committee appointed to consult with the company and agree on the terms of the petition, and to that end that the petition, as amended to suit the views of that committee, was submitted to a public meeting at the Courthouse for approval before the petition was printed. Now it was the intention of the company to build the depot within the city limits and to so express it in the petition. If it is not expressed clearly, it is because no one happened to notice it and call attention to it.

If there could have been anything suggested to be included in the petition that would serve as a guarantee that this road should always be a competing road with the Santa Fe, the company would have put it in cheerfully. But there is no way to make such guarantee in a petition of any use. Every interest now connected with it is best served by making it a competing line; the bonds we vote can be delivered to no other company, all the arrangements and negotiations of the company are with Gould and his roads and it seems to be morally certain that this road if built must fall into Gould’s hands if it ever falls into any other hands than the builders.

The petition provides that he road shall be built from Kansas City to the south line of Sumner County, in as direct a line as practicable by way of Winfield and in the shortest possible time. It provides that it must be a first class standard gauge road with suitable stations at proper intervals, and that if such road is not built within a year, or at least that part of it between Winfield and the “Frisco” railroad, northeast of here, which is now a Gould road, the bonds voted and the subscription to the stock authorized, shall be void.

We think we never saw a petition expressing more clearly the limitations and conditions of the case and all without one word of the usual stump speech contained in such petitions.

Catalpa Trees Set Out in Hackney’s Half Block Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

Senator Hackney has set rows of catalpa trees around the three sides of his half block opposite the Courthouse and has them well protected with boxing. Our people seem to be taking especial pains in setting shade trees this spring. Hundreds of them are being put out on almost every street.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

The Rt. Rev. Thos. H. Vail, Bishop of Kansas, will be in this place on the 25th inst., and hold confirmation service in the Courthouse on the evening of that day.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

ANOTHER RAILROAD!

WINFIELD WILL BE THE “FUTURE GREAT” OF SOUTHERN KANSAS.

A Third Competing Line to be Built At Once.

On Monday evening a large meeting was held in the Courthouse for the purpose of receiving and discussing the new railroad proposition. The meeting organized by placing Mayor Emerson in the chair with Geo. H. Buckman as secretary. Henry E. Asp then read the proposition as decided upon in a conference between the representatives of the railroad company and the railroad committee. After the reading of the proposition, Mr. James N. Young, of Chicago, representing the company, was introduced and stated that the company were now ready to build the road, and desired to do so with as little delay as possible. That their intention was to build from a connection with the St. Louis & San Francisco, north or northeast from Winfield, to the south line of Sumner County, during the coming summer, and that the company desired an expression from the citizens as to whether they wanted the road or not, and would aid it, at once, so that the final location of the line might be decided upon.

Senator Hackney was then called out and made a ringing speech in favor of the proposition and urged all to take hold with a will and secure it while they had the opportunity. Ex-Mayor Troup also spoke strongly in favor of securing the road at all hazards, as did Mr. Black, of the Telegram, and Judge T. H. Soward. A vote was then taken on the proposition, and almost every person in the house voted the affirmative. A committee of five, consisting of Geo. H. Rembaugh, Henry E. Asp, George. H. Buckman, Geo. H. Crippen, and Ed. P. Greer, was appointed to secure the necessary amount of names to the petitions. The meeting was one of the largest ever held in the city and enthusiastic and united on the railroad question.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 17, 1884.

The Rev. Wm. Brittain will preach next Sunday morning on “Confirmation.” In the evening his subject will be “The immortality of the soul.” Episcopal service in the courthouse, both morning and evening at usual hour.

Hotel Contemplated to be Built Near Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.

Mr. John Bobbitt contemplates the erection of a two-story brick hotel on Ninth Avenue, near the Courthouse, during the summer.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.

The Rt. Rev. Bishop Vail will administer the Apostolic Rite of Confirmation, in the Courthouse, next Friday evening. Services will commence at 7½ P. M. All are invited.

Courthouse.

BRIDGE MEETING.

Winfield Courier, April 24, 1884.

On last Saturday afternoon a large meeting was held in the Courthouse for the purpose of discussing the feasibility of the County purchasing the various bridges built over the Walnut and Arkansas Rivers and one over Timber Creek, all of which have been built by the Townships and by individual subscriptions; and also building some others much needed in different portions of the county. It being a fact that all the costly bridges built in the County up to the present time having been built exclusively by the townships and by individual subscriptions, the county itself never having invested a single dollar in any of them, cannot under our present laws expend a single dollar in repair on said bridges, and the burden of keeping them in repair by the townships has become a very onerous one and in consideration of the fact that several townships having control of said bridges, are desirous of selling said bridges to the county for a normal sum, say for one dollar ($1.00) apiece, and thus shift the responsibility of keeping them in repair onto the county. It was thought best by many of the leading citizens, both of the city of Winfield, and also of the several townships, to call a meeting of citizens and discuss the feasibility of the change. The meeting was organized by calling C. A. Bliss to the chair, with H. H. Martin as secretary. A motion being carried that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to draft resolutions expressive of the sense of the meeting, Col. McMullen, William Moore, and Jessie Isenagle were appointed as said committee, who after some deliberation reported the following.

WHEREAS, There are many valuable bridges already built in the county, and

WHEREAS, These bridges have been erected at great cost by the townships building the same, and

WHEREAS, These bridges are kept in repair at the expense of said townships, and the same have become burdensome to the people by whom they were built, and in justice to the taxpayers of said locations ought to be transferred to the county,

Therefore, Resolved, That the county ought to own all the bridges within its limits valued at $500 dollars and over, and further,

Resolved, That it is the sense of this meeting—1st: That the county purchase and own all bridges of the value of $500 and over, and—2nd: erect others when the same may be necessary in the county, having in view the greatest good to the greatest number of people.

The above report of the committee was received and unanimously adopted.

A motion was then made, and carried, that it is the sense of this meeting, that a special election be called to submit to the qualified electors of Cowley County, Kansas, the question of the county purchasing all the bridges of the various townships owning bridges of the value of $500 and over at a nominal sum of, say one dollar ($1.00) each, and of building some others, and if the same cannot be done at a special election, that it be submitted to a vote of the qualified electors of the county at the next general election if it is found upon further investigation that the county has the power under the law to purchase the same.

A motion being put and carried that a committee of three be appointed to confer with the county attorney in regard to the legality of calling a special election, or of submitting to the qualified electors of the county, the question of purchasing the bridges, and also to ascertain whether the county has the power under the law to purchase said bridges, and if so, to prepare through legal advice petitions to the county commissioners to call said election. L. F. Johnson, of Beaver, W. M. Sleeth, of Creswell, and H. H. Martin, of Vernon, were appointed as said committee, with instructions, if necessary, to call another meeting after such meeting adjourned sine die. C. A. BLISS, Chairman.

H. H. MARTIN, Secretary.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, April 26, 1884.

At a meeting last Saturday at the courthouse, in Winfield, held for the purpose of discussing the project of the county’s purchasing all the bridges built by the several townships, and costing $500 or over, for the nominal sum of $1.00, it was decided to be the sense of the persons assembled that such action be taken. A committee of three, consisting of L. F. Johnson, of Beaver; W. M. Sleeth, of Creswell; and H. H. Martin, of Vernon, were appointed to confer with the county attorney concerning the legality of calling a special election, or of submitting to the qualified electors of the county the question of purchasing the bridges and also to ascertain whether the county has the power under the law to purchase said bridges, and if so, to prepare through legal advice petitions to the county commissioners to call said election, and with instructions, if necessary, to call another meeting.

Hackney Office Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1884.

W. P. Hackney has moved into his new office opposite the Courthouse.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1884.

Sheriff McIntire found Charlie Fisher, who took leg bail from the jail some time ago, at Wichita last week, brought him back, and he again languishes in the bastille. He is in the toils for selling a mortgaged team and for contempt of court in not appearing as a witness in an Arkansas City whiskey prosecution.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 8, 1884.

Sheriff McIntire arrested a horse thief on suspicion yesterday, on the street, and in going to the jail the fellow started to gain freedom by hoofing it pretty rapidly. The Sheriff drew a revolver, supposing of course it was loaded, but the fellow immediately recognized the weapon as his own and its inefficiency, and began to run the harder. It was snapped at him once or twice, when McIntire whipped out his own and began firing at the fellow, who had, by that time, got out of range. As we go to press, the Sheriff is still in hot pursuit.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 10, 1884.

Officer John S. Lewis arrested a young man named L. H. Brown the first of this week, charged with bastardy, and took him to the county jail at Winfield.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 10, 1884.

J. C. Beason, the man who jumped his bond for stealing money sometime ago, was recaptured by Sheriff McIntire last week at Boonville, Missouri. He is now in the county jail awaiting trial.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 10, 1884.

Jas. Fisher, the man who had Carter & Hill arrested some months ago for violating the amendment, and who failed to appear at their prosecution, was captured at Wichita the first of the week by Frank Finch. Fisher was lodged in jail at Winfield to await trial for contempt of court.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 10, 1884.

Thos. J. Becket, who resides on Grouse Creek, had four horses stolen from his premises about two weeks ago by a couple of brothers named Allen, who left immediately with their booty for parts unknown. Their whereabouts was not ascertained until last week, when they were heard of near Carthage, Missouri. Accordingly Capt. Rarick, in company with Mr. Becket, left immediately for that place to capture the thieves and reclaim the stolen horses. They succeeded in overtaking the thieves and arresting them at a farm house several miles out from Carthage, and started on their return trip, arriving at Winfield last Saturday night. The thieves now languish in the county jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 17, 1884.

Constable J. J. Breene went to Winfield yesterday, to convey to this place Erie Miller, who was arrested and placed in jail on charge of stealing a revolver. He will probably be tried today before Justice Kreamer.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.

Some of the Courthouse inhabitants have a novel way of getting into the “inner court” when a wedding is to take place in the Probate Judge’s office. They have kept it from the public so far, but in an unguarded moment it caught the ear of our reporter. The COURIER is decidedly in favor of encouraging the matrimonial industry and is therefore ready to divulge anything detrimental to its interests. A bunch of papers is grabbed up and the holder rushes into the P. J.’s office: “Judge are you at leisure?” “In a few moments; have a chair,” says the Judge. The ceremony witnessed, those having urgent business in that office suddenly disappear. Thus are “Two souls with but a single thought, two hearts that beat as one” made to topple on Cupid’s apex in a struggle with rosy-cheeked embarrassment.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 22, 1884.

The Republican Judicial convention for the 13th Judicial District met at the Courthouse in Winfield Tuesday, May 20th, at 2 o’clock p.m. It was called to order by Adrian Reynolds of Elk County. Isaac G. Reed, of Sumner County, was elected chairman and Adrian Reynolds secretary.

The following committees were appointed.

On credentials: J. M. Thralls, M. G. Troup, S. W. Chase, Wm. P. Lynch, Richard Speed.

On order of Business: Jas. Lawrence, G. L. Gale, I. H. Bonsall, J. I. Crouse, A. P. G. Lewis.

The committee on credentials reported the following list of DELEGATES.

Sumner County: James Lawrence, Isaac G. Reed, I. M. Thralls, L. P. G. Lewis, Orie Fitzgerald.

Chautauqua County: J. I. Crouse, Wm. P. Lynch, Richard Speed.

Elk County: Adrian Reynolds.

Cowley County: M. S. Teter, S. W. Chase, G. L. Gale, J. W. Millspaugh, M. G. Troup, I. H. Bonsall. . . .

Convention carried on about re-election of Judge E. S. Torrance...he was called on for speech.

“Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the convention; I am not a person of many words and therefore you will not expect me to make much of a speech upon this occasion. I desire, however, to say something and I may say in the outset that no word of mine can adequately express the sense of appreciation which I feel for the favor and confidence which has been bestowed upon me this day by the renomination by this convention of myself as Judge of this Judicial District. I have had the honor of serving this District for about four years. I have in a humble way endeavored to discharge this trust which has been confided to my care and keeping faithfully and impartially. At times, I know the scales of Justice have been held with trembling hand. At times in approaching the decision of important cases, I have well nigh wished that the responsibility, the grave responsibility that rested upon my shoulders in deciding upon the rights and liberties of my fellow men, might be shifted to someone else.

“I have experienced my difficulties and some inconvenience in the discharge of the duties of this exalted position. But today, they are matters of the past. I have forgotten all the difficulties and inconveniences which have attended my course so far. I feel prouder today then I ever have before in my life. I can say one thing, there is nothing that so stays and upholds the hand of public officials as the appreciation of his services by his constituents. There is no other incentive so strong to urge one to the faithful and honest discharge of his duties as the appreciation of his services by those whom he represents. As to my future course, I merely have to say that my past record is an earnest of what my future record shall be.

“I shall endeavor to discharge the duties of my office faithfully and sincerely, and I hope the experience of the past will enable me in a greater degree to discharge them to the satisfaction of my constituents and probably with less wear and tear upon my constitution. I again desire to thank you, and through you the good people of this district for this second token of their esteem and confidence in me.”

The Judge’s remarks were received by the convention in the most enthusiastic manner.

The following persons were chosen as a JUDICIAL CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

Cowley County: M. G. Troup, Geo. L. Gale, I. H. Bonsall, T. H. Soward.

Chautauqua County: R. G. Ward, D. E. Shartell.

Elk County: Adrian Reynolds, C. W. Rambo.

Sumner County: J. M. Thralls, S. P. G. Lewis, Jas. Lawrence.

The convention then adjourned.

At a meeting of the Judicial Central Committee, it organized by electing M. G. Troup, chairman; and Adrian Reynolds, secretary.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1884.

Our Bands.

A COURIER reporter took in the band practices Monday evening. The Juvenile Band under the efficient leadership of Mr. Ed. Farringer has made wonderful progress. Considering the fact that this organization is composed entirely of young Americans between the age of eight to sixteen, their performances are most creditable. They have a neat band room built for the purpose, fronting on Twelfth Avenue west of Main Street.

The Courier Cornet Band holds its weekly meeting in the Courthouse, but on Monday evening transferred its labors to the Opera House. It has grown to be a very large and strong organization, and every member is a thorough musician. Their instruments are of the famous “Cohn” make, triple silver plated, and perhaps the finest set in Kansas. The band handles every grade of music and plays on sight the most difficult compositions. It is the equal of any organization of the kind in the state and is an honor and a credit to our city. In the way of Bands, Winfield beats them all.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1884.

A large meeting of citizens was held at the courthouse Monday evening to take action on the proposed change of trains on the Southern Kansas road. The fact that a very large part of the passenger business of this road originates west of Independence makes the people feel that they should have the benefit of the additional train. It should be run through to Harper and every town along the line west will do some tall “kicking” unless they get it.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, May 29, 1884.

The Manny Case.

The motion for a new trial in the Manny case was overruled by the court and he was sentenced to thirty days in the county jail and to pay a fine of five hundred dollars and the cost of suit, and to give a bond of one thousand dollars conditioned on his good behavior for two years. The case was appealed to the Supreme Court and the defendant released on bond until its final hearing.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 31, 1884.

Peter A. Coombs was fined $5 and costs Tuesday for assaulting one of his children. In default of payment of the fine, he was sent to jail.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 5, 1884.

A number of our citizens have united in a call for a meeting at the Courthouse next Friday evening to arrange for a big celebration on the Fourth of July. Let everybody turn out and assist in making our celebration this year one never before equaled.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 5, 1884.

Owing to a decided break in the abstract world, we herewith give notice to our farmer friends that we will make abstracts for ten cents a transfer, county property. At this price every farmer can afford to know just how his title stands, and no one owning property can afford to be without a correct abstract of title. We employ competent men and will guarantee accuracy. Call on or address Kellogg & Matlack, office with E. S. Bedilion, at the Courthouse, Winfield, Kansas.

Hackney’s Building Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 5, 1884.

Henry E. Asp and C. M. Leavitt now occupy office rooms in Senator Hackney’s building, opposite the Courthouse.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, June 12, 1884.

Kellogg & Matlack will furnish you abstracts of titles for 10 cents a transfer. Office with E. S. Bedilion at the Courthouse.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 18, 1884.

He Wanted to Make His Own Whiskey.

For several months Searing & Mead have been missing grain from their bins, but have been unable to detect the guilty parties. Last Sunday morning, however, William Burroughs, a drayman in the city, was seen coming from a Santa Fe car with a basket of corn. This car was about half loaded for shipment, Searing & Mead being the consignors. Burroughs was arrested Monday morning, and acknowledged the theft so readily that further search was made about his premises, resulting in finding a lot of carpenter’s tools, which had been taken from a Mr. Pond, his tool chests having been broken open a week ago last Friday. He was also charged with stealing a saddle, bridle, and whip. In Burroughs’ cellar were found about 100 whiskey bottles, which told too plainly the story of his downfall. He has been in the habit, we learn, of buying straight alcohol and diluting the same to satisfy an appetite that has drowned all instincts of manhood and literally ruined him. A few years ago he was a hard working, industrious man, and managed to buy a house and several lots, but of late he has given way to the desire for drink, which has brought him to his present condition. It will sweep away the earnings of years to get himself out of his scrape. Burroughs’ trial was held before F. P. Schiffbauer and he was found guilty, on three counts, each petit larceny. For stealing the corn, he was fined $5 and costs; for stealing the tools, $10 and costs; and he was sentenced to sixty days in the county jail for stealing the saddle, bridle, and whip.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.

Charley Fisher, who is serving out in the county jail a fine for contempt of court in non-appearance as witness in an Arkansas City whiskey case, has got deeper into the toils, from late developments. In an unguarded moment he let out the secret of his having stolen a hundred and fifty dollar horse near Sedgwick City, some three years ago, and also turned his unruly member loose enough to give Sheriff McIntire an inkling as to where the horse was. Fisher evidently thought his theft was so covered with the dust of the past as to be unfathomable; but not so. Sheriff McIntire went to Sedgwick County and interviewed A. K. Hargett, from whom the horse was stolen, and got a minute description of the animal. He then went to the farm in Sumner County where he surmised the horse was and found the identical one. The owner was telegraphed, came with persons to identify the animal, and took it home. The sheriff of Sedgwick County has made arrangements to take charge of Fisher as soon as we are through with him. Fisher acknowledges having stolen the horse, and says he has lately experienced a great change of heart and wants to become a Christian. Retribution is slow but sure.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, June 26, 1884.

A most youthful start on the road to robbery was brought to a halt in this city Monday. Last Sunday Mr. Yearger, of the agricultural firm of Caldwell & Yearger of Oxford, went away from home with his family and accidentally left his pants, containing over two hundred dollars, hanging in the closet. Harry Love and Geo. Richards in some way knew of this. They went around to the house and while one kept watch on the outside, the other went in and relieved the pocket of one hundred and thirty dollars of its contents. They then took the evening train and came to Winfield. Harry Love is a deaf and dumb boy, and the other is a son of the notorious Richards, of Oxford, who has been accused of numerous deviltries at that place. The boys, youth-like, were displaying their possessions here on Monday, buying jewelry and making an immense spread for twelve-year-olds. This was noticed by our officers and they at once surmised that something was wrong. The attempted to “take in” the boys, but the little fellows took leg bail at a rate to astonish the natives. The deaf and dumb boy didn’t appear to understand the necessity of rapid action and soon came under, but the other out-distanced Frank W. Finch, Tom Herrod, and others, and was soon sailing over the hill across the river. He was caught about seven miles from town and taken to Oxford by Tom Herrod. About a hundred dollars was found in possession of the deaf and dumb boy, who is now in jail here. These boys will doubtless be considered good subjects for the reform school at Topeka.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 3, 1884.

The Cowley County jail contains several horse thieves, raked in from different sections by the Sleuth-like tactics of Sheriff McIntire.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, July 10, 1884.

The County Commissioners released Charley Fisher, who had served out in the county jail a fine for contempt of court, Wednesday, and Sheriff McIntire took him to Wichita in the afternoon to stand trial for stealing a horse in Sedgwick County, some three years ago.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, July 19, 1884.

A Visit to the Normal.

Tuesday afternoon found us aboard the train, en route for the Normal. After a pressing delay caused by the rain, we met the genial county’s superintendent, Prof. A. H. Limerick, and received the cheering intelligence that the afternoon session was changed to seven o’clock in the evening. A newspaper man has not a surplus of time, and, as we had expected to return to our home in the evening, chill disappointment took possession of our breast. A cordial invitation to spend the night with the gentleman with whom we were conversing dispelled, to some extent, the gloom of mind enveloping us, and caused us thankfully to accept. Supper with our host over, we repaired in company with him to the courthouse, where we found the excellent instructor, Prof. B. T. Davis, and about one-half the students in attendance. After listening to an entertaining lecture by Prof. Davis, in answer to queries proposed, a general social season was enjoyed, and the exercises closed. Prof. Limerick entertained us, in his genial way, during the night, and morning found us in the chapel, amid an audience of nearly one hundred and fifty members. After devotional exercises, the roll was called to ascertain the political status of the Institute. The vote resulted in eighty-four for Blaine, eighteen for Cleveland, six for Ben Butler, and three for prohibition.

There are one hundred and forty-three teachers in attendance at the present time. Of these, a large majority are young men and women, while the minority show years of service. Enthusiasm and energy pervade the whole school, and without exception this is the best session ever held in Cowley County. Unstinted praise is due Professors Davis and Gridley for their untiring zeal, and upon Superintendent Limerick too much cannot be bestowed. If unwearied effort and constant toil will place our schools in the front rank of the array of progress, the position will be won. Our only regret is that business prevents our constant attendance.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 30, 1884.

Wilson Campbell’s trial before Judge Gans last week resulted in his being remanded to jail, to await the action of the district court. He is under the same bond—$3,000.

Courthouse.

[Reference to Flood Six Years Before Between Courthouse and Main Street.]

Winfield Courier, July 31, 1884.

Raising the Dam.

The District Court has been petitioned by Messrs. Bliss & Wood to have condemned the right to raise, and forever maintain, their dam two feet above the present height. Since the health of the city is at stake, would it not be well to discuss this question? First, at the time of the great flood of six years ago, the waters of the river passed through the center of the city, between the courthouse and Main Street. Since that date the dam has been raised some three feet, a high railway embankment has been built on either side of the river, thus preventing a flood from passing on through the bottom lands. A strong embankment has been built on the east side of the mill, preventing the water from passing around as it used to do. With the water thus confined and the dam raised two feet higher, making five feet above the original dam, a repetition of the great flood would greatly damage or destroy the eastern portion of our now beautiful city. Will the COURIER call a special meeting to discuss this important question? Your Reader.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 7, 1884.

Theo. Roosevelt was arrested at Silverdale Tuesday, for stealing a revolver from W. B. Huff. He is in jail here awaiting trial.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, August 9, 1884.

The young man, giving his name as Theodore Rosebell, came, yesterday evening one week, to the residence of Mr. Drury Warren, residing on Grouse Creek, and asked for employment and lodging. On Saturday, Mr. Warren hired him. That night Rosebell took his departure. On Sabbath morning his absence was discovered and investigation developed that a revolver, a razor, one of the boy’s coats, and articles too numerous to mention, were missing. An active search was made for the young man, and he was finally discovered hiding in the woods. He was promptly arrested, held over Sunday, and Monday was incarcerated in the county jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 13, 1884.

A man giving his name as W. H. Lane, and undoubtedly insane, was brought into town last Friday and delivered over to Deputy Sheriff Rarick. He says he is a bridge carpenter, and that his home is in Alamosa, Colorado, where his wife, Lizzie Lane, now lives. Capt. Rarick took the unfortunate man to Winfield Friday night and left him in jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 20, 1884.

Highway Robbery.

Early Monday morning Henry Coryell, night watch, and John Williams arrested Earnest Kimmel and Frank Hillman on the charge of highway robbery. Their preliminary trial was held before F. P. Schiffbauer, at which the following facts were elicited.

Between 8 and 9 o’clock Sunday evening a young man named Macomber, with Frank Hillman, a stranger in this city, came into the Arcade Restaurant and said they had been “held up” at the canal bridge west of town. Hillman didn’t appear very much frightened, but soon passed out of the building, and was seen by Williams and Coryell as late as 2 a.m. walking about the streets with Kimmel. Macomber says he and Hillman had walked down to the bridge, and as soon as they got there, Kimmel stepped out and ordered them to hold up their hands, keeping a revolver leveled at him all the time, but not attempting to cover Hillman. Hillman handed over his pocket-book and advised Macomber to do the same, which he did, giving up some $78. Then Kimmel started towards town, while the two victims ran across the bridge and proceeded some fifty yards before turning their steps back to the city. As the officers had seen Hillman and Kimmel together that afternoon and evening, and suspecting the former of being a hard character, suspicion naturally turned on them. Consequently, they watched the young men until after 2 o’clock, and saw them separate and go towards the depot by different routes. About 5 o’clock Coryell and Williams proceeded to the depot, where the two boys were found in a freight car. After a pretty hard chase, they were captured and brought uptown. The evidence pointed so strongly toward a scheme having been connected by these two to rob Macomber that Esquire Schiffbauer bound them over in the sum of $500 each to appear in the district court, failing to secure which they were taken to jail yesterday morning. Macomber swears positively that Kimmel was the one to whom he gave his money, which, taken with the fact that Kimmel and Hillman have but recently returned from a spreeing trip to Caldwell, Wellington, and elsewhere, makes an ugly case for the boys, and may result in teaching them a severe lesson.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1884.

Sheriff McIntire has a small army confined in the jail at present. There are fourteen all told inside and on Monday, the yard was full in addition. They are all in for small offenses.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 21, 1884.

Under Sheriff Rarick brought Earnest Kimmell and Frank Hillmore up from Arkansas City Monday for “holding up” one McComber, the evening before, near the bridge, and relieving him of eighty dollars. This addition to the occupants of the jail makes it about as full as sardines in a book. [?not sure of last word?]

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, August 23, 1884.

A Daring Robbery.

Last Monday morning our citizens were startled by the report that a bold robbery had been committed just south of the bridge crossing the canal near where Speers’ mill formerly stood. The trial which was held Monday afternoon, developed the following facts.

On Saturday, a young man from Caldwell, now known as the “confidence man,” and Ernest Kimmel, ascertained that a young man, called about town, “Posey,” had about $30 in money on his person. They courted him with fervor and endeavored to make him drunk. They were unable to have him drink beyond a small quantity of liquor, not sufficient to intoxicate him. On Sunday the same methods were employed, but were alike unsuccessful. On Sunday evening young Kimmel disappeared. The “confidence man” told Posey that there were parties beyond the canal that they could visit and have a “jolly time,” and asked the latter if he would accompany him. Posey readily assented, and the two started. They had crossed the bridge mentioned before, and had passed a short distance beyond, when a third party suddenly arose before them and commanded them to “hold up your hands.” The confidence man was seized with sudden fright and obeyed the command with alacrity. Posey followed the example of his illustrious companion. The robber searched both parties, taking a pocket-book from the former, and $78 in cash from Posey. The robber and the confidence man then left Posey to find his way back to town as best he might. Night Marshal Coryell and John Williams, from suspicious movements, kept the two parties under surveillance and tracked them to a box-car, which they were seen to enter. Soon after, Messrs. Coryell and Williams approached the car and ordered the persons within to come out. The persons so commanded left the car in haste from the other side and strove to escape. After a hard chase, they were captured. Kimmel endeavored to prove an alibi, but failed. The evidence was so strong that his Honor, Mayor Schiffbauer, bound the two parties over to the district court in the sum of $500 each. No one being found to stand good for their appearance, they were remanded to the county jail, there to await their trial for highway robbery.

We understand that the name of the confidence man is Hillman, and Posey’s name is Macomber.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 27, 1884.

Mention was made in last week’s issue of an amorous couple arrested in Cambridge. Their trial was had before J. E. Snow, of Winfield, last Thursday, and resulted in the man being fined $200 and costs and sentenced to six months in jail; the woman’s sentence was thirty days in jail and $25 fine.

Stable Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

JOHN BOBBITT, FEED AND SALE STABLE, Ninth avenue, opposite Courthouse. Horses and Ponies bought and sold on commission. Money advanced on stock left for sale. Particular attention given to the Territory and Texas trade.

Hackney Building Opposite Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

HENRY E. ASP, ATTORNEY AT LAW, Winfield, Kansas. Office in Hackney Building, opposite the Courthouse.

Residence Seven Blocks East of Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

A. S. CAPPER, M. D., PHYSIO-MEDICAL PHYSICIAN and Surgeon. Office in residence on 10th Avenue, seven blocks east of the courthouse, Winfield, Kansas. All bills due after thirty days.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

Memorial services on the death of Mr. Jos. D. Vermilye were held at the Courthouse last Sunday morning by Rev. Brittain, rector of Grace Church.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

The case of R. H. Black, the tree agent who absconded with another man’s wife, was tried Thursday before Justice Snow. It resulted in the man being fined $200 and sentenced to jail for six months and the woman was fined $25 and sentenced to jail for thirty days.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, August 28, 1884.

Young Roosevelt, who was arrested for stealing a watch, escaped from jail last Sunday. He had been very sick and was getting better, so the Sheriff let him out to get some fresh air. As soon as the officer’s back was turned, he made a break and ran over into Col. Loomis’ corn field. A large lot of men were out searching for him without avail. The last heard he was seen going over the hill south of town like an antelope. How he could run in his weak condition is a mystery for the officers. A reward of twenty dollars offered for capture.

LATER. He was captured Monday at Udall, where he had stopped to work at corn shelling.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 30, 1884.

Dick Roosevelt, alias Theodore Speer, made his escape from the jail last Sunday morning. He had been quite sick and was allowed the privilege of a bed in the front part of the building. The morning referred to he managed to get his clothes on unobserved and slip away. The sheriff and his deputy procured a team apiece and started in pursuit, having received a pointer from a woman who had given the fugitive his supper Sunday evening. The runaway was finally overhauled at Udall and brought back. He is what might be termed an exceedingly hard citizen. Winfield Telegram.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1884.

A bridge meeting will be held at the Courthouse in Winfield, at two o’clock next Saturday, for the purpose of considering the public bridge question as relating to the people of the county. Let all turn out. Order of Com.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1884.

People’s Convention.

A Mass Convention of the people of Cowley County without regard to past political affiliation who are opposed to monopoly rule in the government, and who favor a rule of the people and the election of Gen. Butler to the Presidency will be held at the Courthouse in Winfield on Saturday, September 20, 1884, at 10 o’clock a.m., for the purpose of placing in nomination a county ticket. By order of Committee. W. A. TIPTON, Chairman.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1884.

The Prohibition Mill.

Justice Buckman has had his hands full during the past few weeks in entertaining Arkansas City unlawful dealers in the ardent, introduced by Sheriff McIntire and his assistants. So warm has the atmosphere of the Terminus become for whiskey vendors that few of them have had time to look back as they made a hasty exit into the Territory—what few escaped much costlier justice. E. C. Mason, who appealed a case to the district court two weeks ago, was re-arrested again Monday. He deposited seventy-five dollars and the case was continued to give him a chance to raise the remaining fines and costs. W. N. Lewis lies in the county jail awaiting a trial next Friday, aside from a fifty dollar fine in Judge Kreamer’s court at Arkansas City. One Bluebaugh is also in the toils. This onslaught of justice cast consternation among the other violators and Barcaw, Griffith, and others of the Terminus skipped for the dark recesses of the Territory.

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Jail.

Winfield Courier, September 18, 1884.

DOINGS OF THE CITY FATHERS.

A. W. Makle, city prisoner serving out fine in county jail for assault and battery, was released.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, September 20, 1884.

At the trial Monday afternoon of Bluebaugh for selling liquor illegally, he was dismissed by the city; but the state placed him under arrest and he was taken to Winfield and placed in jail.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, September 25, 1884.

Meeting of Blaine and Logan Clubs and a Flambeau Club.

A meeting of the Blaine and Logan Club of Winfield was held at the Courthouse Monday evening. The meeting came to order by electing Mr. A. H. Limerick, Chairman, and W. A. McCartney, Secretary. The object of the meeting was stated by W. J. Wilson. Speeches were made by T. H. Soward and W. P. Hackney in favor of the complete organization and equipment of a Blaine and Logan club. It was decided to organize the club into three companies of torch-bearers and one Flambeau club. The following officers were elected: Colonel Whiting, Commander of battalion and D. L. Kretsinger, Adjutant; Spencer Miner, Captain “Co. A”; Frank Finch, 1st Lieutenant; M. B. Shields, 2nd Lieutenant; T. J. Harris, 3rd Lieutenant; Capt. J. B. Nipp, Captain of “Co. B”: W. P. Hackney 1st Lieutenant; John McGuire, 2nd Lieutenant; H. H. Siverd, 3rd Lieutenant; Cap Steuven, Captain of the Flambeau club; H. G. Norton, 1st Lieutenant; W. A. McCartney, 2nd Lieutenant; Frank H. Greer, 3rd Lieutenant. The election of officers for “Co. C” was deferred until Tuesday evening. A meeting of the officers of the different companies was called for Wednesday morning for the purpose of appointing various committees, and deciding on the kind and number of suits and torches to be ordered. After the completion of business of the meeting, Henry E. Asp was called on, and responded in one of his characteristic speeches, after which the meeting adjourned.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 2, 1884.

Attention. The Blaine and Logan Club will meet in the Courthouse next Monday evening, for uniforming and drill. All members are requested to be present.

SPENCE MINER, Captain.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, October 11, 1884.

Billy Gray arrested two negroes last week on the charge of horse stealing. It is alleged they stole a pony at Ponca Agency and two over by Caldwell. They were taken to Winfield and placed in jail.

County Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 16, 1884.

Flora Harrison, a young girl about fifteen years old, was arrested Tuesday and lodged in the county jail on charge of petty larceny. While Mrs. Holmes was watching the political procession Monday, the girl entered her house, found a porte-monnaie containing five dollars on the center table, and walked out with it. On its being missed she was traced through the identification of a neighbor, who saw her enter the house. The girl is comely and bright and seems to be surrounded with a strange degree of mystery, having roamed from Philadelphia to Colorado, remaining there a short time with an aunt, and turning up here under circumstances very hidden. She carries an air of innocence which makes her case very pitiable, putting in much time in convulsive sobs. She is homeless and friendless, and our public-spirited ladies are proffering assistance and encouragement.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 22, 1884.

Another Murder at Caldwell.

Last Saturday morning C. M. Hollister, deputy sheriff of Sumner County and assistant city marshal of Caldwell, was murdered while attempting to arrest a man by the name of Ben or Bob Cross, near Hunnewell. Cross was wanted for abducting a Mr. Hannum’s daughter, and a posse went over from Caldwell for the purpose of taking him. Hollister commanded him to surrender and the door of the house in which Cross was staying was kicked open, when Cross fired upon the party, killing Hollister instantly. He then made his escape with nothing on but his shirt. He was followed into the Territory by a crowd of men, but at last accounts had not yet been captured. Hollister had been deputy United States marshal, but resigned at the last term of court. He was a good officer and brave man. The city of Caldwell offered $200 reward for Cross, dead or alive.

LATER. Cross was captured last Sunday about five miles south and ten miles west of Hunnewell. He was taken to Wellington, but the sheriff, fearing a mob, sent him over to Winfield. Monday afternoon, as the colored soldiers which passed through this city were nearing Winfield, somebody telephoned Sheriff McIntire that a mob was coming to hang Cross. Our sheriff immediately hustled his prisoner into a buggy and drove to El Dorado, changing horses twice, where Cross was placed in jail, and where he now is. No one knows who did the telephoning.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 23, 1884.

The young girl whom we mentioned last week as being in the toils for petty larceny, in the presence of the noble ladies of our Woman’s Christian Temperance Union, told a very different story. Her name was Mable Gray and her parents live in Wellington, the father being a shoemaker. He mother took her to Wichita to remain with a lady of that place, and becoming dissatisfied, she drifted to this place. Jailor Finch telegraphed the parents, bought her a ticket, and sent her home, from where this rugged experience will keep her from again wandering. She was very penitent.

Jail.

Winfield Courier, October 23, 1884.

A Sumner County Murder!

C. M. Hollister, deputy Sheriff of Sumner County, was shot and instantly killed last Saturday morning near Hunnewell, by Ben Cross, a desperado he was trying to arrest. Cross was wanted for abduction and when the posse found him, he was with his wife at their farm home. He refused to surrender, the door was kicked open, and a trial made to take him by force. Cross opened fire with a Winchester, the wife ran out of the house, and the party were about to fire the house to force their man out, when Cross sent a ball through the heart of Hollister and by the aid of his wife escaped in the darkness, with nothing but his shirt and gun. He traveled on foot some twenty-five miles west, hotly pursued by a large posse, when they closed in on him. He was placed in the Wellington jail, but threats of lynching were so loud that he was brought to Winfield Sunday evening and placed in jail here. Sheriff McIntire and Tom Herrod took him from the jail and guarded him during Sunday and Monday nights, fearing a mob from Wellington. Cross has been in numerous deviltry in Sumner County and other places, one of his latest episodes being a shooting scrape in Wellington. It was only through the greatest precaution on the part of the officers that he escaped swift and sure retribution on a limb. Hollister was one of the bravest men on the border, and a terror to evil-doers.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, October 23, 1884.

The Courthouse has been thronged since Tuesday by the immense number of witnesses from all parts of the county subpoenaed to appear before the Grand Jury.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, October 25, 1884.

Wm. Barcaw, the “blind tiger” man, was taken to Winfield Saturday on refusal to pay his fine and costs assessed by Judge Kreamer, for selling liquor. His fine and costs amounted to over $300, and Mr. Barcaw by the time he lays it out in jail will have an excellent opportunity to ponder over the Prohibition question.

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County Jail.

Winfield Courier, November 6, 1884.

District Court the Past Week.

State vs. James Stansberry—petit larceny. Plead guilty and sentenced to one hour in county jail and to pay costs.

State vs. Edward F. Shindle, violation liquor law. Found guilty by jury on 3rd jaunt, sentenced to fifty days in county jail, permit forfeited, and costs to pay; he was placed under bond of $500 for good behavior for one year, to stand committed until same is given.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, November 8, 1884.

Court adjourned last Monday. The jail is full of prisoners. None but criminal cases were tried.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 12, 1884.

Grand Jury Indictments.

The Grand Jury found indictments against the following parties in our city upon whom warrants were duly served by Deputy Sheriff Rarick.

Dr. M. P. Roe, for writing illegal prescriptions. Bond was given in the sum of one thousand dollars for his appearance at the next term of court.

C. G. Thompson, for writing illegal prescriptions. 2 counts. Bond $1,000 in each case, which was given.

Kan Moore, for selling liquor contrary to law. Bond for $300 was given.

One Slade, a fruit tree man, was arrested for embezzlement and forgery. Bond $2,00, in default he was committed to jail.

Indictments were found against several other parties, but the place that knew them knows them no more. Hence they were not served.

County Jail Declared Unsafe and Irreparable.

Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.

At the request of Jailor Finch, the Grand Jury while in session inspected carefully the county jail and pronounced it unsafe and irreparable and recommended to the County Commissioners the building of a new and more commodious bastille. Cowley is assuming proportions worthy a respectable, safe, and roomy jail and the commissioners will no doubt see the feasibility of a ten thousand dollar investment in this way.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, November 13, 1884.

Meeting of the County Temperance Union.

The temperance workers of Cowley County are earnestly requested to meet with the officers of the County Temperance Union at the Courthouse in this city on Thursday, December 4th, at ten o’clock a.m., for the purpose of following up this triumphant State election with aggressive work for the cause of prohibition. Let every vice-president and every member of the Union, especially, be present and bring all your prohibition friends. We have an open field for labor; let us improve it. By order of C. T. U.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 19, 1884.

The temperance workers of Cowley County are earnestly requested to meet with the officers of the county temperance union at the courthouse in Winfield on Thursday, December 4, at ten o’clock a.m., for the purpose of following up this triumphant state election with aggressive work for the cause of prohibition.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.

One of the pleasantest features of Thanksgiving day in Winfield was the picnic dinner of the Juvenile Templars of the county, under supervision of Mrs. E. D. Garlick, chief of this work for the county and state. Several hundred little faces appeared early at the courthouse, those who could, having baskets full enough to provide for those less fortunate. Everything conceivable in the culinary line was there and many a little one who wouldn’t have had much at home shared a feast with those who were blessed with plenty. How could Thanksgiving be more appropriately celebrated? Interesting exercises were given for the entertainment of the little folks, and to them it was a most happy day. In interesting and instructing the little folks, Mrs. Garlick is most successful and is doing a world of good.

Shootist in Jail at Wellington.

Winfield Courier, December 4, 1884.

Shooting Scrape.

DIED. Last Saturday as Mr. David Hahn, of Vernon, was crossing the toll bridge at Oxford he got into an altercation with the gate-keeper, which resulted in the keeper shooting him through the breast, from the effects of which he died Monday. The shootist was arrested and is now confined in jail at Wellington. Mr. Hahn said that he had a row with the keeper about the toll and finally told him he would pay it, and while getting out his pocket book, the fellow shot him. The keeper says that Mr. Hahn came at him with a wagon rod and he told him to stand back; but he kept coming, so he shot. Mr. Hahn was one of the largest farmers on the Arkansas Valley and came here from Indiana some two or three years ago.

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Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, December 6, 1884.

Police Court.

State of Kansas vs. Texas Frank and Anna Wagstaff keeping house. Fined, Texas Frank, $25 and costs. He was committed to jail. Anna Wagstaff was turned over to her brother on account of age; she being yet under 16 years of age.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 11, 1884.

County Temperance Convention.

A good representation of the Temperance workers of the county assembled at the courthouse on last Thursday morning, according to a call of Rev. B. Kelly, president of the County Temperance Organization, for the planning of vigorous work throughout Cowley. The old organization was made auxiliary to the State Temperance Union and named “The Cowley County Temperance Union.” The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: President, A. H. Limerick; vice-president, S. H. Jennings; Secretary, Mrs. W. B. Caton; treasurer, Miss Fannie Stretch. Last year’s plan of districting the county was re-adopted, with the following district vice-presidents who have charge of the work in their townships, appointing their own assistants.

First District, embracing the townships of Maple, Ninnescah, Rock, Fairview, and Richland, Rev. C. P. Graham, New Salem.

Second District, Omnia, Silver Creek, Sheridan, Harvey, and Windsor, S. Wilkins, Cambridge.

Third District, Dexter and Otter, S. A. Smith, Dexter.

Fourth District, Cedar and Spring Creek, A. Gilkey, Maple City.

Fifth District, Silverdale, Creswell, and Bolton, Rev. S. B. Fleming, Arkansas City.

Sixth District, Vernon, Walnut, Tisdale, Beaver, Pleasant Valley, and Liberty, J. W. Millspaugh, Vernon.

Seventh District, City of Winfield, S. H. Jennings.

Pithy addresses were made, the best plans of work thoroughly discussed, and the meeting was very profitable.

In Jail at Wellington.

Arkansas City Republican, December 13, 1884.

DIED. David Hahn, living near Oxford, was fatally shot last Saturday morning by Simeon Baughn, the tollgate-keeper. Mr. Hahn was on his way to Oxford, and arriving at the toll-bridge spanning the Arkansas, found the gate locked, and attempted to burst the lock. About this time Baughn arrived and in the war of words which followed, Hahn was cruelly shot by Baughn. Baughn gave himself up and is now in jail at Wellington.

Courthouse.

Winfield Courier, December 18, 1884.

The Lutherans will hold services on Christmas in the Courthouse at 1 o’clock p.m. All friends are cordially invited to attend. Rev. Ehlers will preach.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, December 20, 1884.

Geo. Andrews, alias “Reddy,” was arrested last Saturday evening by Capt. Rarick, for stealing two horses from the Osage reservation. Capt. found him asleep at his boarding house and without disturbing his slumbers, slipped a beautiful pair of steel bracelets on his wrists. “Reddy” was considerably surprised when awakened. He was taken before Judge Bonsall and bound over in the sum of $1,000 to appear at the U. S. Court at Wichita. He failed to give bond and Capt. took him up to the county jail.

[Coverage by Winfield Paper Stopped with end of 1884. MAW]

1885

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 14, 1885.

Jugged.

Our officers ran in two young men last week, who had been selling jewelry here rather freely, and at ruinously low prices. The men’s actions looked rather suspicious and when the marshal saw them selling ladies’ gold watches for a mere song, they ran the young bloods in. They, however, had succeeded in disposing of four gold watches to different parties and an unknown amount of other jewelry. The officers could not prove that the jewelry was stolen, and so preferred the charge of carrying concealed weapons. They were convicted of this charge; and not being able to pay the fine, were sent to the county jail for thirty days. W. J. Gray escorted them to that elegant abode last Saturday afternoon.

The boys—for boys they were, being hardly past age—had been very close-mouthed, keeping all they knew to themselves. On the way to Winfield they talked a little, enough to give the officers a clue to work on. They intimated that the swag had been captured near Carthage, Missouri, and said that this was their first bad break, and if they got out of this, they would never do anything out of the way again. The marshal also learned that they hailed originally from Iowa, and had left on account of some “youthful indiscretions.”

The officers found in their satchel a quantity of jewelry, having two different cost and selling prices marked on them—indicating that they had been stolen from two stocks. We were unable to learn the marks. They had only one watch left, a silver hunting case. They said they started with twelve or fifteen. The amount found with them was about $100. As near as could be ascertained, one of the parties’ name was Stone.

The cause of the downfall of these boys, who appeared like nice, gentlemanly fellows, was evident upon their being searched. They had a number of obscene pictures, obscene stories, letters, etc., and this, no doubt, was the beginning of their downfall. This will certainly prove a warning to them. They are not out of the woods yet, however, as likely before their sentence of thirty days expires, the officers will find out from where the goods were stolen, and they will have to face that charge.

Excerpt from article...

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 14, 1885.

The cases disposed of before Police Judge Kreamer last week are as follows.

Richard Roe and John Doe, carrying concealed weapons, each $10 and costs. Not having the wherewithal, they were committed to the county jail for thirty days.

County Jail.

Article taken from Winfield Courier...

Arkansas City Republican, January 17, 1885.

County Bastille Notes.

E. Kimmel, who was discharged by the October term of the District Court from a charge of robbery, at Arkansas City, was rearrested Monday on another phase of the same charge, and now languishes in the bastille.

Lindsay Gillespie, an orphan ward of Sheriff McIntire, who left for parts unknown last fall, was found at Derby, Sedgwick County, this week, and is again a privileged boarder at the Hotel de Finch. He is ten or twelve years old, and was left at Maple City last year by his father, penniless and alone. Our officials made Sheriff McIntire his guardian.

Barrow Brothers, four in number, were arrested and put in jail last week, charged with stealing millet hay in this city. They gave bond Tuesday to appear before Justice Buckman for a preliminary hearing next Monday.

Sheriff McIntire found two young men at Arkansas City Saturday, with valises full of jewelry, and a good supply of fire arms on their persons. He took them in and they now await developments under county hospitality.

The jail now contains nineteen victims, criminals of all classes and conditions. No criminal escapes the keen scent of Sheriff McIntire.

Wichita Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, January 24, 1885.

Word reached Capt. Rarick yesterday morning there had been a jail delivery at Wichita and several U. S. prisoners had escaped. Among them was Smith, the soldier who shot Mrs. Elliott at Ft. Reno; Perry, who killed a man near Hunnewell, in cold blood; and two horse thieves. It is generally supposed that they received material from some outsiders by which their escape was made. The prisoners made keys of babbitt metal and unlocked the doors and got out into the passageway, and then dug a hole through the wall. As yet the fugitives have not been captured.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 28, 1885.

Sheriff McIntire and Capt. Rarick effected an important capture Tuesday morning, in the person of Bob Perry, who broke jail in Wichita last Wednesday. He was found across the Walnut River concealed. A reward of $50 was offered for his arrest. Capt. Rarick took him to Wichita on the afternoon train.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 28, 1885.

ARKANSAS CITY’S SHAME.

A House of God Desecrated Shamefully.

E. A. Barron observed early one morning last week a girl emerging from the Methodist Church. This circumstance raised his curiosity and he made an investigation and found that the church had been occupied that night, as a fire was burning and things were somewhat in confusion. He promptly notified the marshal, who identified the girl as Alida Vandermark, who was brought here from the East by S. Matlack to work for him, and was discharged on account of certain disgraceful actions. She was arrested and confessed that Ery Miller and herself had been in there all that night. Miller was soon hunted up and the justice before whom they were arraigned, fined them $50 and costs each, amounting to $109, and sentenced them to the county jail until such fine and costs were paid.

This is the most disgraceful proceeding that has come to light for a long time. The heinousness of the offense demanded all they got—not taking into consideration the fact that the church of God was defiled by their actions. No punishment can be too severe for them.

The startling intelligence was vouchsafed by the young reprobate, that he or some other—which, is not quite clear—had frequently done this. When our people are subject, not only to the disgrace of such proceedings but to the desecration of their place of worship, it is high time we move ourselves and get rid of such characters as Kansas City is now doing—expel them by force from our midst, with a warning never to return.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, January 28, 1885.

Police Court.

Things have been somewhat livelier in this line for the past week.

City of Ark. City vs. Ery Miller, complaint of E. A. Barron, president of the M. E. Church Board of Trustees, plead not guilty; fined $50 and costs, total $54.50, sentenced to the county jail until such fine and costs are paid.

Ditto vs. Alida Vandermark, same complaint, fine and sentence.

Ditto vs. D. F. Best, fast driving. $5 and costs, total $9.50.

Justice Court.

State vs. Alida Vandermark, unlawful cohabiting as married, $5 and costs, total $31.18, committed to county jail.

Iola Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 11, 1885.

A man named Frank Randles was lately arrested at Iola, charged with incest in marrying his cousin. There is a law in Kansas making the marrying of cousins a penitentiary offense, but like many other laws, it is practically a dead letter, and but few are ever arrested for the offense. If all who have done this were arrested, it would put a good many in the penitentiary. Randles was bound over to court, and in default of $1,000 bail was committed to jail. He escaped recently, and is now at large, and we doubt very much if any great effort will be made to recapture him. Colony Free Press.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 14, 1885.

Our Communication From the Poor Old Hub.

A public meeting was called at the courthouse in Winfield, Thursday evening, for the purpose of devising some means to try and give the Hub a boom the coming summer. T. H. Soward called the meeting to order and came very near making his old campaign speech. He wished the Hub had a Jim Hill to build them a canal from the Arkansas River to Winfield, or do something to add a little life to the capital of Cowley. Next speaker was Charlie Black; he said they were going to build the Narrow Gauge but that the company had decided to make it a Broad Gauge; they wanted the people of Winfield to give them $40,000, and the townships along the line of the road to pay as much as they could legally vote for railroad bonds. They would not ask for county bonds, as they were afraid the county would not vote them, they came so near defeating them before.

Next speaker was Bro. Kinney; he said he knew nothing about railroads or worldly matters, but would entertain the audience with the war song of the salvation army; he sang “A holy war is raging, tramp, tramp; the Irish are throwing dynamite into the British camp,” etc.

Pap Millington was called, but was not present; he was busy preparing to turn over the post office to George Rembaugh.

Next speaker was M. L. Robinson, who said they would build the Narrow Broad Gauge to Winfield, if they got sufficient bonds, but Winfield could not vote them $40,000 and also aid the north and south road, as the law would not allow them to vote sufficient bonds to build both roads; and he thought the people ought to aid the N. G. and let the other roads look somewhere else for aid.

Next speaker was J. C. Long, who said he had about come to the conclusion that he had settled in a community of drones, without life or energy, but he thought they were waking up, and would talk liberally, certainly talk was cheap.

Joe O’Hare said he was in favor of digging the canal, then they would have plenty of water and sand enough to make it possible to get through the Winfield mud.

The chair then appointed a committee of seven to draw up a constitution and by-laws for the society, and it was voted to call it “The Winfield Enterprise Association.”

Bro. Kinney then announced that tomorrow the salvation army would hold public meetings on the streets, at the churches, and at the office of the Enterprise Association.

Meeting adjourned to meet next Thursday evening. MORE ANON.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 14, 1885.

Thursday Capt. Rarick arrested Lewis C. Rice and Blanch Bigsby for co-habitation. He took the guilty pair to Winfield, where they now languish in the county jail.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, February 14, 1885.

Wash. Barcaw, the man who was in the county jail from here for violating the prohibition law, was released by the County Commissioners Wednesday. He now perambulates our streets.

Denies Being in County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, February 18, 1885.

Blackmail.

Mr. Rice called our attention to the following paragraph in the Republican of last week.

“Thursday Capt. Rarick arrested Lewis C. Rice and Blanch Bigsby for co-habiting. He took the guilty pair to Winfield, where they now languish in the county jail.”

He desired to make a statement of the facts in the case, and the following is MR. RICE’S STATEMENT.

I was arrested last Thursday, but was not in jail, as I gave bond immediately. Blanch Rigsby has not been in this city or county since September 28, 1884, and consequently was not arrested. I was charged with unlawfully co-habiting with her, but it is a clear case of MALICIOUS LIBEL, gotten up by my wife to injure my reputation, and help her in her endeavor to obtain a divorce from me and to obtain control of our child. The facts are, that Blanch Rigsby kept house for me for two months; but she was a lady and no improper relations whatever existed between us. My wife endeavored last meeting of the Grand Jury to have me indicted on this charge, but failed. My wife is a bad woman, who has run away from me once or twice with other men, and was caught in adultery with a Winfield lawyer. She informed me that if I did not let her have control of the child, she would have me arrested, and she did so last week. It is but justice that, since the matter has been aired, the truth should be told. As to Blanch Rigsby, I have neither seen nor heard from her since last September, nor do I know where she is. It is a trick to steal my child.

Wellington Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, February 18, 1885.

Remarks About our Neighbors.

The Supreme Court has refused a writ of habeas corpus in the case of the Caldwell saloon men. All they will have to do now is to pay up or stay in jail. Good. Wellington Press.

Wellington Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 21, 1885.

The Caldwell whiskeyites are having a little trouble. Four of them are in jail in Wellington to the tune of sixteen hundred dollars. Winfield Courier.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 28, 1885.

Attempt to Break Jail.

WINFIELD, KANSAS, Feb. 25. Chas. Lewis, who is held here on the charge of blowing open the safe in Smith & Zook’s store, attempted to break jail last evening, and came very near being successful. The other prisoners, who were not locked in their cells at the time, would also have escaped had the attempt been made a few minutes earlier. Lewis was the only one who succeeded in getting out, and he was recaptured by the deputy sheriff, Frank Finch, just outside of the jail yard. It is the custom to lock the prisoners at 9 o’clock, and then Lewis was missing. He had torn up the flooring in the west room, where the wood had become rotten, and then dug from under the foundation to the outside of the jail. The means used for digging out was a two-inch augur; which must have been supplied from the outside.

Jail. Location Unknown.

Arkansas City Republican, February 28, 1885.

The last of the Caldwell saloon men have been released from jail, complying with the compromise offered by the board of county commissioners, which was, upon the payment of $100 and costs each, they would be liberated.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 7, 1885.

Dr. Samuel Thompson of Maple City was arrested Tuesday and taken to Winfield to be tried for the charge of selling liquor illegally. Thompson plead guilty, but all the same it will take within the neighborhood of $150 to settle the matter. He lies in jail now.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 7, 1885.

A Watch Made Costly by Dishonesty.

On Feb. 5 H. M. Epler went to E. E. McDowell, the jeweler, and purchased a watch on the credit system, promising to pay on the following Saturday. He told Mr. McDowell he was an employee of the Star Livery Stable and as he was driving the stage between here and Geuda, he needed the time piece. Two hours later Epler left the town on the train. When the following Saturday rolled around, Epler failed to come to time. Accordingly officers were put on the track of Epler and his whereabout was discovered to be at Sedan. Sheriff McIntire went after him the last part of last week and brought him to Arkansas City last Saturday. He was tried before Mayor Schiffbauer, who fined him $5, the costs of the watch, and the costs of the case, and ordered that he be incarcerated in the county jail until it should be liquidated. He was taken to Winfield and put in jail, where he remained until Wednesday night, when his brother arrived and paid all charges, amounting to $77.25. The price of the watch was only $12.

Petitions Circulated for New County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 14, 1885.

Sheriffs McIntire and Finch are circulating petitions asking for an appropriation of $15,000 for the building of a new county jail. This is a move in the right direction.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 14, 1885.

Bob Douty, of Saline County, Ohio, was arrested Monday morning by Bill Gray, Sheriff McIntire, and Capt. Rarick. Douty was wanted back in Ohio for murdering a man in a saloon row about a month ago. He was so taken by surprise when our officers made the arrest that he offered no resistance. He was taken to Winfield and lodged in jail to await the coming of the Saline County officers. A handsome reward was out for Douty’s capture, of which our officers will take a goodly portion.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 18, 1885.

We have refrained from commenting on the outrageous scandal exciting the people of Winfield, simply because we had no way of getting at the facts of the case. The circumstances are as follows.

Lyda Vandermark, the young woman sentenced to the county jail from this city for desecrating the M. E. Church, was taken pity on by some of the elderly ladies of Winfield, who paid her fine and took her to one of their number to be taken care of for awhile. Here she was clothed and fed and had a doctor called to attend her. This was done in the most christian-like spirit, and was a most commendable act.

But the woman in whose charge she was placed, caring more for a rich morsel of scandal to roll under her tongue and talk over with other familiar scandal mongers than the salvation of the poor girl, endeavored to get the girl to give the names of those she had seen at the house of ill fame run by Mollie Burke. The girl did not know any names, and the old woman took her around town, up and down the streets, into the stores, offices, etc., and had her point out those she had seen at the house mentioned. Seeing the delight it gave her to thus point out certain ones, she, to please her, went at it wholesale and placed her dirty smirch on nearly every inhabitant of Winfield. Men whose private lives are as pure and unsullied as that of any man could be, who never were near the house, were accused in this wholesale defamation. Such an action was and is condemned by all. No person but one whose mind is specially adapted by long practice to lewd and lascivious thoughts and conversations would have undertaken it. It is worthy of remark that only one of the ladies who took her out of the jail had anything to do with it or any knowledge of it. And the names of pure and Christian women have been coupled with this act of vandalism as unjustly as were many men by the depraved and diseased woman of easy virtue. The young woman, thanks to the genuine kindness of a christian lady, a member of the Episcopal Church of Winfield, who paid her expenses and saw her safely consigned to the home for unfortunates at Leavenworth, was responsible for placing Miss Vandermark in the way of better things, if she is so minded.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, March 18, 1885.

Mr. Murray, Sumner County’s young county attorney, is making it exceedingly warm for violators of the prohibition law. Last week, among others, he arrested M. David, of Geuda Springs, who languished in Cowley’s jail for several months last year, and also was the guest of Sumner County for awhile, on like charges. This fellow has been constantly violating the law ever since it has been a law; even his children peddling the stuff while he was in jail. No punishment can be too severe for him, and a light sentence would be an injustice.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 21, 1885.

The neighborhood northeast of this city was all torn up last week. The facts as near as we could gather them, were about as follows. It seems that William Schafstall and Lewis Miller held a grudge against one Charles Bode, the cause for which deponent saith not. They met him out and gave him what Paddy gave the drum. Then they got guns and went hunting for John Gildhouse. The latter getting wind of the trouble, came to this city, swore out a warrant, which was placed in the hands of officers. The officers got after Miller, who took to the brush. The next morning Leffler and Graham were on the ground again and captured the gentlemen. They plead guilty to the charge and were fined and placed under bonds to keep the peace. In the meantime Bode had made complaint before Judge Buckman at Winfield, and soon as released from custody here, deputy sheriff Tom Herrod, took them in charge, and in Judge Buckman’s court a revenue of about thirty-five dollars each was assessed. Miller paid his, but Schafstall had to go to jail. Miller has always been considered a quiet, inoffensive man and is single. Schafstall is said to have a wife in Indiana, and by some is considered what is now termed a b-a-a-d man. Burden Eagle.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, March 25, 1885.

Kansas Quarantine.

Provision of the Law Passed March 7, and Approved by the Governor.

Below will be found the bill in full, as it passed the Legislature on the 7th inst., and which was on the same day approved by the Governor. By reference to the diagram inserted in the bill, it will be seen that the cattlemen in the Cherokee Strip and the Texas Panhandle have been favored, as well as those west of the Panhandle in the same latitude.

No person or persons shall, between the first day of March and the first day of December of any year, drive or cause to be driven into or through any county or part thereof in this State, or turn upon or caused to be turned, or kept upon any highway, range, common, or unenclosed pasture within this State, any cattle capable of communicating or liable to impart what is known as Texas, splenic, or Spanish fever. Any person violating any provision of this act shall upon conviction thereof be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall for each offense be fined not less than one hundred dollars and not more than two thousand dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail not less than thirty days and not more than one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 1, 1885.

We beg pardon of our readers for again endeavoring to set the Winfield Tribune aright. We have come to the conclusion that to undertake the tutorship of this youthful prodigy is a government contract, a mule contract at that. This time it is not an error of the head, ignorance in short, but a lack of ripeness, a pulled-too-soonness.

We have reference to a squib that appeared in last week’s paper, in reference to a tramp and his “touching” meeting with a relative in the county jail. The writer of the local, of course, knows a tramp when he sees him, smells him from afar, as it were. But the aforesaid manipulator of that which is mightier than the sword, like our mutual but somewhat distantly removed relative, Eve, is liable to err. He observed the rough exterior, the coarse clothing, and the unshaven features of the stranger, and he immediately proceeded to knock the dust from off his feet and apply his perfumed kerchief to his nose, crying “unclean, unclean.” From this it was but a step for the mighty brain of the aforementioned moulder of public opinion to evolve, with painful contortion of the mouth and many sharpenings of pencil, the word “tramp.” He wot not that in the deep recesses of the stranger’s nether garments, vulgarly called pants pockets, there then reposed sufficient filthy lucre to have purchased not only the entire worldly effects of the writer but also his brother’s whole office; and having paid off the mortgages, to have loaned him enough to start the best daily paper in Southern Kansas. Because the stranger, who had traveled from California, and is a railroad conductor, and, consequently, frequently rode on the engine and other places subject to the dust and cinders of a train, in order to spend a few minutes with old friends, and was somewhat dust begrimed and otherwise unfit to attend a parlor matinee, because the stranger was thus unfit to associate with the before alluded to dudelike youngster, he was called a “tramp.” As he is the son of one of our prominent citizens, a man of means, a gentleman and an old citizen returning after an absence of eight or nine years, we mention the above gentle hint to the Tribune quill shover, in order to convince him that sometimes “appearances are deceitful,” and that an ass occasionally brays when a canary would sound as sweet.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Wednesday, April 4, 1885.

The time when prairie fires becomes prevalent is approaching, and the following law in regard to setting out fires may be of interest. Section 282, chapter 31, of the compiled laws of Kansas, reads:

“Any person or persons who shall, between the first day of August and the fifteenth day of the following May, build or kindle, or engage in building or kindling any fire upon lands not his or their own, or upon land not occupied by him or them as a tenant or tenants, and leave the same unextingished, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and shall be punished by a fine not exceeding fifty dollars, nor less than two dollars, or be imprisoned in the county jail for a period not more than one month nor less than ten days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, April 11, 1885.

A colored teamster belonging to the U. S. Troops was arrested Thursday night late for drunkenness and housed over till morning in our $100,000 jail. In the morning he was taken before Judge Kreamer and fined $2 and costs. [See article April 15, 1885, below. MAW]

Excerpts from long article...

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, April 11, 1885.

District Court.

From the Daily Courier we glean the proceedings of the mill of justice.

Thursday was a big day. The case of the state vs. V. W. Akin, violation of the old prohibitory law, at Tannehill, was tried by the court, and the defendant acquitted. This is a very peculiar case, appealed from Justice Snow’s court. Last fall J. H. Watts and Akin started to Winfield. When they reached Tom Poor’s, Watts proposed to Akin that the latter go in and procure a pint of whiskey, and gave him a half dollar to pay for it. Somebody got wind of this and had Poor arrested for selling it. Of course, Watts and Akin were the principal witnesses, and the latter swore that Poor refused the money and merely loaned them the liquor. But Akin wasn’t quite cute enough to engineer his story through and left the kink of his having kept the fifty cents given him by Watts, thus getting himself into Poor’s shoes. Poor was then discharged and Akin arrested. Judge Torrance held that as both drank the liquor, there could be no delivery excepting on the part of Poor—the two being the receivers—and therefore no violation of the old law.

The bond of Alice Jeffries, charged with being an accomplice in the Smith & Zook safe burglary last January, was forfeited and her case continued to the next term. New bonds fixed at $9,000.

The case against Lewis for burglarizing this safe, will be dismissed, and he will plead guilty to jail-breaking. Having been caught emerging from the three-foot tunnel made under the wall of the jail, he couldn’t get out of that charge. The penalty is imprisonment in the “pen” not exceeding two years or more than six months in the county bastille.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, April 15, 1885.

On Thursday evening just as the performances had closed at Highland Hall, the retiring spectators were treated to a free exhibition on the sidewalk. Two or three of our city guardians had a refractory prisoner in charge, and as he refused to be taken to jail, they were carrying him thither by their united efforts. The voice of the prisoner attracted a crowd, and the Leland Hotel was emptied of its guests as the stormy procession passed by. The offender was a colored teamster in the service of the quartermaster, and the next morning he was fined $2 and costs for too free indulgence in the ardent.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, May 27, 1885.

Ordinance No. 7.

Relating to larceny and assault and battery.

Be it ordained by the mayor and councilmen of the city of Arkansas City, Kansas.

SECTION 1. That any person who shall take, steal, and carry away any money or personal property or effects of another, under the value of twenty dollars (not being the subject of grand larceny without regard to value), shall be deemed guilty of petty larceny, and on conviction shall be punished by confinement in the jail of the city, not exceeding three months, or by fine in any sum not to exceed one hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment at the discretion of the police judge.

SECTION 2. That any person who shall assault and beat or wound another under circumstances not to constitute any of the higher grade of offences against the laws of the state, shall be deemed guilty of assault and battery, and shall upon conviction be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the city jail not exceeding three months.

SECTION 3. That any person charged with the violation of any of the provisions of this ordinance, shall have a speedy trial before the police judge of the city, and shall be entitled to all the rights, privileges, and immunities of persons charged with like offences under the laws of the state, and the police judge shall in all such cases proceed in the manner required by law in the trial of like cases before justices of the peace.

SECTION 4. This ordinance will be in force and take effect on and after its publication once in the Arkansas City TRAVELER.

Approved May 18th, 1885.

F. P. SCHIFFBAUER, Mayor.

Attest, JAS. BENEDICT, Clerk.

Jail Bonds Defeated.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 10, 1885.

The vote on the jail bonds, last week, was 1767 against, to 455 for, a negative majority of 1,312.

Arkansas City Traveler, June 10, 1885.

The election last week on the proposition to issue $20,000 of county bonds to build a jail was not an eminent success. It did not come squarely before the people, and when they were required to express their will at the polls on the question of taxing themselves for the erection of public buildings, the larger portion of the voters stayed away, while the majority of those who voted cast their ballots against it. So large a sum of money to house a few evil doers was considered excessive, and the present accommodations will have to do awhile longer.

Jail-Breakers, etc.

Arkansas City Republican, June 27, 1885.

Poor Winfield! How near the bottom rung of the ladder that city is approaching in the criminal calendar! First was the roller skating regime, which lasted until last Saturday. Then for a time she was infested by a gang of safe-blowers. She had not broken loose from their grasp until a Jesse James gang of boot-blacks made their appearance and annoyed the good people of the Hub by committing all sorts of petty thefts. Next in order were the jail-breakers, followed by house-burners, murders, wife-beatings, and other events too numerous to chronicle. Now they are after a lunatic. He is worrying the natives considerably. But they are unable to catch him. He is only one of the “bright beautiful gazelles,” who has come to occupy his berth in the new imbecile asylum. Judging from the Courier, he is pleasant company, but rather choice in his selections of associates. The latest is the arrest of a young lady for the murder of her mother. Her name is Frank Morris. She is a newcomer. The Mutual Life Insurance Company, of New York, had the indictment made out against Miss Morris. Through Hackney and Asp, Miss Morris brought suit against the company to obtain $15,000 of life insurance money on her mother. What next will happen at the county seat to keep the criminal pot boiling, we can’t say. We prefer to live and die in the Terminus, where we are afflicted with the Asthma.

Murderer Taken to Dodge City Jail. Victim’s Remains Taken to Hackney.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 4, 1885.

DIED. Saturday’s Santa Fe train for the south contained the remains of Julius Muret, on his way to Hackney, six miles below this city, the former home of the deceased.

The facts and circumstances relating to Muret’s death were told by Mrs. Muret, who was on the train together with her daughter, mother, and two brothers. Her story is as follows.

“Mr. Julius Muret, wife, and child moved from Veray, Indiana, about two years ago, to a farm near this city. Nearly a year ago he took a claim near Ashland, in Clark County, and moved there. Afterward Mrs. Lindley, mother of Mrs. Muret, and her two sons came on to Clark County. Near Mr. Muret’s claim was a claim which had been taken up by a man by the name of Clouch. Clouch had not been near the claim for three months, and with the advice of neighbors and friends, the old lady, Mrs. Lindley, decided to take the claim. Old Clouch, living near, had been claiming that this claim was taken with a view of holding it till his daughter should be of age to take it. Thursday, as Muret and his brother-in-law, the Lindley’s, were going to improve the claim for their mother, Muret arrived on the ground before the others and was at work with a spade, when old man Clouch and a young Kentuckian, Bill Churchill, who had been stopping with Clouch, came up, and fired two shots at Muret, one taking effect near the heart, and the second in the shoulder. By this time young Mahlin Lindley arrived, just in time to catch Muret as he fell forward, when Churchill fired one shot at Lindley, hitting him in the arm, and then they went off. Churchill was arrested, taken to Dodge City, and lodged in jail. There was strong talk of lynching him before the sheriff should get him away.” Winfield Telegram.

Hunnewell Jail. Story Given by Joe Miller of “101" Ranch.

Arkansas City Republican, July 4, 1885.

Joe Miller informs us, faberizes the Daily Courier, that last week the cowboys made a raid on Hunnewell, and finding the city marshal drunk, rounded him up in jail, declaring they would have peace. The marshal begged to be let out, but they kept him in all night. There was no blood shed and everything was quiet after caging the marshal. It might be a good thing to jail the marshal every time if it has this effect.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 11, 1885.

Geo. McAfee and Mary Gasoway went to Winfield last week and put up at the hotel as man and wife. Winfield’s City Marshal arrested the guilty couple. At the trial indiscreet Mary was fined in the neighborhood of $25, but lacking the money to liquidate it, she was put in jail. McAfee got a continuance until today.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, July 18, 1885.

Robt. H. White, the man who was in jail at Winfield for the murder of his wife, was discharged from custody Thursday by Justice Snow. The preliminary examination failed to show up any convicting evidence. White is still in Winfield.

Boomer Crocker: In and Out of Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, July 18, 1885.

Col. Samuel Crocker, editor of the Oklahoma War-Chief and a boomer, was landed in the Winfield jail Thursday. He was arrested along with 20 other boomers and he was the only one who gave no bond for their appearance at Topeka.

Arkansas City Traveler, July 22, 1885.

A Blatherskite Boomer.

Samuel Crocker, the Iowa greenbacker and Oklahoma boomer, is happy in having greatness thrust upon him. When the organ of the boomers was removed to Caldwell, its editor, S. G. Zerger, was dropped as too tame and commonplace for the occasion, and the redoubtable Iowa agitator elevated to the tripod. That was a sad day for plutocrats, cattle kings, and despots of all kinds. The fledgling journalist made public proclamation of his intention to humble these classes in the dust. His war is against “tyrants,” “Monopolists,” and “oppressors,” and according to Mr. Wheeler’s classification, all men are included in these objectionable categories who are not in sympathy with his disturbing theories. The government, we are further told, is conducted by a nest of robbers, the fabric of society is infected with rottenness, and the country is going rapidly to “the damnation bow-wows.” This idle and incendiary talk has been kept up for several weeks, since Crocker has been placed in charge of the boomer organ, until it was considered dangerous, and ten days ago he was arrested by Deputy Marshal Rarick on a charge of “seditious conspiracy.” The privilege of furnishing bail was his recourse, but Crocker saw a chance to martyrize at slight cost, and declared his readiness to go to the dungeon. The officer left him not thinking it wise to gratify his prisoner by putting him in jail. In half a column of scare heads, this singular genius tells his own story as follows.

“Samuel Crocker, editor of the Oklahoma War-Chief, arrested by the United States marshal, all for seditious conspiracy and inciting insurrection and rebellion against United States government.

“Will go to jail and there await his trial under incarceration until Oct. 12th.

“The War-Chief to be edited from the cell of an American bastille for exercising the rights of free speech in a supposed free country administered by modern democracy.

“The prisoner will secure the council of Gen. Benjamin F. Butler if possible.”

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 15, 1885.

The Payne Oklahoma colony at Caldwell has broken camp in compliance with instructions from Capt. Couch. He says Attorney General Garland’s legal opinion that all leases made with Indians are illegal sustains the claims and arguments of the colonists in every particular. The president’s action ejecting all trespassers from the Cheyenne and Arapaho reservations doubtless is but the beginning of the end of justice, and the obliteration of discrimination.

Capt. Couch believes the administration is acting in good faith towards all, that though seemingly slow, the grand result of the opening of Oklahoma will soon be attained. With a desire to in no way be any embarrassment in the good work now being vigorously prosecuted by the administration, Capt. Couch has requested his colony to break. Some will do freighting from Caldwell to Reno. Others have taken hay contracts. An office has been opened up in Caldwell by Capt. Couch and Secretary Blackburne, by whom all correspondence will be answered. Samuel Crocker is again at Caldwell from the Cowley County jail, having given bond for his appearance at the September term of the United States District Court.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 15, 1885.

A Boomer on Our Officials.

Col. Sam Crocker turns away from his galling thoughts of martyrdom in Cowley’s bastille to tilt his faber in the Oklahoma War-Chief thusly.

“While it is humiliating to be incarcerated within the walls of an American prison for exercising the rights of free speech and free press—something to be abhorred, detested, and despised by any and every person with the least spark of pride and good breeding, who may have the sense of shame left as a heritage of manly or womanly birth; yet, for all this, there is one thing connected with our confinement and treatment that we feel thankful to acknowledge; and that is, no manlier, humane, or courteous set of officials, from the deputy

U. S. marshals down to the sheriff and jailor ever contributed more to the needed comfort of an innocently incarcerated prisoner (Deputy United States Marshals Reed and O. S. Rarick, Sheriff McIntire, and Frank W. Finch, jailor). It always affords us pleasure to speak of governmental officials great injustice to speak of them in any other light.” Winfield Courier

[Story of Henry (Hank) Mowry Committing Murder told under separate story. Look for “Mowry Family” logged in as “Mowry, F. A.” on web site. Mowry family consisted of Henry (Hank) and others: Allen, W. D., Will, and W. J. Mowry. MAW]

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 2, 1885.

Mr. W. H. Sawyer’s Cost.

The troubles between W. H. Sawyer and the city authorities have not yet ended. Last Saturday he was committed to the county jail for non-payment of fines, amounting to $125, for violation of city ordinance No. 12; but on arriving at Winfield, he begged so hard to be released until the court met on Tuesday (yesterday) that the pity of Deputy Sheriff Finch was moved, and he allowed him to return on his own cognizance. On Monday Mr. Sawyer visited our sanctum to rehearse his troubles. He says he bought his lot on Central Avenue and removed the old frame building on to it before the ordinance extending the fire limits was published. He started upon building an extension, and had purchased lumber for the purpose and set his carpenters to work, when he was informed that he was violating an ordinance. Having gone to considerable expense he laid his case before the city council at its next session, and received the assurance from that body that he would not be interfered with. Upon this he set his mechanics to work again and closed in his building.

But he has been harassed with arrests meanwhile, and fine after fine has been entered against him on the police magistrate’s book. He says he is heartily sick of the vexation, and would prefer to have the city set fire to his building or move it away out of his sight, rather than be made the victim of such ceaseless prosecution.

Mr. Sawyer did not return to Winfield on Tuesday, and we understand his case will be considered at the next meeting of the city council.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 9, 1885.

Mayor Schiffbauer and W. M. Sawyer went to Winfield yesterday to be present at the habeas corpus proceeding. Judge Dalton heard the case, and after a recess of two hours at noon, refused to grant the habeas corpus asked for, and committed the petitioner to the county jail until his fines are paid. The city ordinance under which the proceedings against Sawyer have been taken, his honor pronounced impregnable and iron clad.

Arkansas City Republican, September 12, 1885.

Sawyer Pays a $10 Fine.

M. W. Sawyer and Mayor Schiffbauer went to Winfield Tuesday to have their bout out. The case was argued before Judge Dalton, and the verdict returned was favorable to the city. Sawyer violated our city ordinance, was arrested several times, taken before Judge Bryant and fines were imposed upon him for each offense. Sawyer, after each trial, stated he intended to take an appeal. At last the time expired in which he had to file an appeal bond and Judge Bryant issued a writ of commitment. Sawyer was taken to Winfield a week ago last Tuesday to have his trial, but it was postponed until Tuesday. In the meantime, Sawyer was remanded to the custody of the sheriff, who allowed him the privilege of appearing on his own recognizance. After hearing the case, Judge Dalton decided that it was perfectly proper that Sawyer should go to the county jail until he paid his fine. One day satisfied Sawyer. He paid his fine and came home Wednesday night. The issue of commitment was made from his last arrest and fine. There still remains three other fines uncollected against him. The total sum of fines levied against him was about $125. Whether the case will be further prosecuted, the REPUBLICAN is not informed, but if it is, it is likely to place Brother Sawyer in a bad box.

Excerpt from meeting...

Arkansas City Traveler, September 9, 1885.

COUNCIL MEETING.

MR. SAWYER’S CASE.

W. M. Sawyer presented himself to ask lenity of the council. He had been harassed and persecuted till life was a burden. The next day he had to go to Winfield again on a habeas corpus proceeding, with the prospect of going to jail, if his application was denied. These proceedings were costly, they took him away from his business, and drove him almost crazy with anxiety. He was there to ask the council to remit the fines that had been imposed, and give him leave to live in his house undisturbed. He had been committed to the county jail for non-payment of fines, being unable to pay them. He did not believe any gentleman present wished to send him to jail.

The mayor said after the council had instructed him to enforce ordinance No. 12, he had cautioned Mr. Sawyer to do no more work on his building. In a day or two the city marshal notified him that work was being done, and he served a notice on Mr. Sawyer restraining him from proceeding with his building. He was again informed by the same officer that workmen were engaged, and seeing that good faith could not be kept with him, he (the mayor) ordered Mr. Sawyer’s arrest, and the police magistrate committed him. His honor described the subsequent proceedings in Winfield, which facts are known to most of our readers.

The debate on this matter lasted over an hour. All the members expressed sympathy for the applicant, at the bad position he had placed himself in, but they saw no way to help him. He had persisted in his violation of the city ordinance, making it his boast that he could defeat the council, and the people were watching the issue with considerable interest. If an exception was made in his case, others would insist on the same indulgence, and the city laws would be brought into contempt.

Mr. Dean said the applicant was a crippled soldier, advanced in years, and entitled to their leniency. He desired that his fines be remitted, and no further proceedings taken against him. Let the people know this was an exceptional case, that a like dispensation would be granted no other offender, and no reproach should be brought on the council, and no citizen would ask that Mr. Sawyer be further interfered with.

Judge Kreamer obtained leave to speak. He said the council could not undertake the enforcement of its laws. When passed by that body, they are in the hands of the city officers to execute. He stood ready to complain against Mr. Sawyer and the police judge was bound to issue a warrant for his arrest. There was no other way to relieve Mr. Sawyer than to revoke the ordinance defining the fire limits.

It was agreed that property holders would protest against that proceeding.

Mr. Dean moved that all the fines entered up against Mr. Sawyer be remitted and further proceeding dismissed.

The mayor said the council had the authority to remit fines, but so long as the ordinance stood unrevoked, he should enforce it. The house must be removed out of the fire limits or he should order its demolition.

Mr. Davis said two men stood ready to build within the fire limits if they found that Sawyer came out ahead.

Moving the offending house being the only feasible way of getting out of the trouble, the mayor said he would contribute $10 toward the expense.

Mr. Dunn moved that the fire limits be reduced to the alleys east and west of Summit Street. No second was offered to Dunn’s, or Dean’s motion.

Mr. Davis moved that the fire limits be changed on Sawyer’s block. He could side up, plaster his rooms, and then the former boundary could be restored.

This was scoffed at as whipping the devil around the stump. The matter dropped here.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, September 19, 1885.

ANOTHER MURDER.

Ollie Soule Shoots Geo. W. Handy Dead at the Latter’s Cattle Ranch

Last Thursday Evening.

The Crime Committed in Self-Defense—Soule Gives Himself into Custody.

Yesterday about noon Ollie Soule came in from the territory and placed himself into the custody of Capt. O. S. Rarick, telling him that he had murdered G. W. Handy, the man for whom he had been working. But a short time had expired until the dead body, with Mrs. Handy and daughter and the teamster, arrived. The following is the cause as near as we were able to ascertain up to the time of going to press.

Soule is a youth about 20 years of age. Since the first of July, he has been employed by Handy as a herder on his ranch on the Chilocco, near the mouth of Duck Creek. Thursday evening at about 8 o’clock, just as Soule had finished eating his supper, Handy came to the door of the tent and called him out, telling him he wanted to talk with him. The couple walked a short distance from the tent, when Soule remarked that he guessed that they had gone far enough. Handy persisted that he go out further on the prairie, which Soule refused to do, and demanded to know what was wanted of him. Handy replied that he wanted him to leave the country, for good, which Soule refused to do. In the quarrel which followed, Handy became extremely angry, and made at Soule with his open pocket knife; Soule began walking backward and warned his adversary to leave him alone. Handy kept following him until he got close enough to strike at him; and then stabbed at him. Soule dodged, pulled his revolver, and shot, the ball taking effect in the bowels. This did not stop Handy; he made another stab at Soule; this time the knife was stuck through the boy’s pistol scabbard, but not cutting the flesh. Soule fired again, and this time Handy fell dead. Soule did not attempt to get away, but came in and gave himself up. The reason that Handy wanted Soule to leave the country was because he was a witness against him for the theft of a saddle. Some time ago Handy was arrested for stealing a saddle. His trial was to have come off September 29, and he did not want Soule to appear against him. No inquest was held as the county attorney announced it was unnecessary. The prisoner was taken to Winfield to jail. His preliminary examination will be had on the 29th, before U. S. Commissioner Bonsall. The U. S. District Attorney will be here then, as he was to have been to prosecute Handy. Mrs. Handy and daughter witnessed the killing and heard nearly all of the quarrel and their statement corroborates the above, we are informed.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 23, 1885.

Fatal Shooting in the Territory.

Some excitement was produced in town on Friday afternoon by the arrival of a young man from the territory, who confessed to having shot and killed his employer, and by the production afterwards of the body of the dead man accompanied by his wife and daughter, the latter a girl about sixteen years. The shooting occurred on the Michigan Cattle Company’s ranch, where the deceased was herding a small bunch of cattle of his own, about 80 in number, and who was tenting with his wife and family. The locality was Duck Creek, within a short distance of the Nez Perce reservation.

The name of the slaughtered man was given as George W. Handy, aged 54 years, formerly of Chautauqua county, and that of his slayer, Oliver Soule. The difficulty grew out of a saddle said to have been stolen by the deceased, for which offense he was to be tried in the United States Commissioner’s court on Tuesday next. Ollie Soule had been subpoenaed as a witness, and to escape what damaging effect might be produced by his testimony, Handy had several times urged his employee to leave the country. On Thursday night, when the fatal encounter occurred, Mrs. Handy says her husband left the tent, saying Ollie had got to leave the country, or one of them must die. A short altercation ensued just outside the tent, then two shots were fired, and the death lot had been awarded the aggressor. Soule tells that on Handy’s demand that he get up and leave, he replied it took money to carry a man any distance, and he had no money to go away with. This infuriated his employer, who is known far and wide as a man of violent temper, and taking out a clasp knife, he made at the young man, aiming at him a murderous blow which was arrested by encountering his pistol scabbard. Soule drew his pistol and fired two shots, one taking effect in Handy’s right breast and passing out between the shoulder blades, the other entering his abdomen. The wounded man died instantly from the effect of the wounds.

The charge of stealing seems to have been a trumped up case, as no criminal intent is shown. It is told by those knowing to the facts that Handy had a saddle pony badly lacerated on a neighbor’s barbed fence, and his rude idea of reprisal was encouraged by two employees of the neighbor, who suggested to him to take a saddle, they promising to be absent at the time of the theft. It is now supposed this was done to entrap Handy, he being a dangerous and undesirable neighbor.

There was an inquest held on the body, and it was buried on Saturday. Capt. Rarick conveyed Soule to the county jail, and he will be examined on the 29th inst., by United States Commissioner Bonsall.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 10, 1885.

COWLEY DEMOCRACY.

The Democratic Convention Very Tame Indeed—No Competition Whatever.

The democrats of Cowley County met at the courthouse Saturday to go through the same old farce of nominating a county ticket to be easily defeated by the Republicans—a sequel inevitable in grand old Republican Cowley. About fifty delegates were present, with a small audience of visitors. J. T. Andrews, of Maple City, was chosen chairman and Ed Gage secretary. Everything was as tranquil as a May morning. The office went around hunting its man, as usual in Democratic conventions in Cowley. Nobody could smell meat, and didn’t care to sacrifice themselves on the party altar. The convention was exceedingly tame—no opposition whatever. The following nominations were unanimously made.

For Sheriff: Capt. C. G. Thompson, of Arkansas City.

Treasurer: Rudolph Hite, of Dexter.

Register of Deeds: John Ledlie, of Burden.

County Clerk: Fred C. Hunt, of Winfield.

Coroner: Dr. T. B. Tandy, of Winfield.

Surveyor: J. W. Weeks, of Udall.

The Democratic County Central Committee for the coming year stands as follows.

Arkansas City: Geo. R. Westfall, T. E. Braggins, Peter Wyckoff, and C. M. McIntire.

Winfield: Capt. Gary, H. S. Silvers, Geo. Crippen, and J. B. Lynn.

Creswell: W. J. Abbott.

East Bolton: Amos Walton.

Cedar: Martin Dale.

Dexter: W. J. Hardwick.

Richland: R. W. Stevens.

Harvey: J. A. Primrose.

Maple: A. J. Walck.

Omnia: E. Harned.

Windsor: G. W. Gardenhire.

Silverdale: O. S. Gibson.

Silver Creek: John Ledlie.

Tisdale: ______ Bacon.

Sheridan: W. M. Smith.

Spring Creek: J. L. Andrews.

Walnut: J. R. Smith.

Vernon: J. Scott Baker.

Ninnescah: E. M. Buffington.

Pleasant Valley: [LEFT BLANK].

Rock: Jeff Williams.

Fairview: H. C. Shock.

Beaver: Garnett Burke.

Liberty: M. Calkins.

Otter: Wm. Gammon.

The committee met, after the convention adjourned, and elected Capt. S. G. Gary, of this city, chairman, and C. M. McIntire, of Arkansas City, secretary.

The delegates of the 2nd commissioners district also met and unanimously selected Amos Walton for commissioner.

Walter Seaver, of the Winfield Telegram, was the only fellow who could write, and his chicken scratches would make Horace Greeley faint, could he see them.

Ye Gods! Compare the two tickets!! The kid against the staunch old soldier; corpulency against the big hearted, eloquent, and public spirited Tom Soward; a man almost unknown against the popular and enterprising Capt. Nipp, an old soldier and a patriot—and so on clear through.

It was as tame and timid as a little lamb, but when the election is over the candidates will think it too darned easy to be “lammed.” “I didn’t know he was a Democrat,” is the expression regarding several of the nominees. ‘Twas ever thus. When did a Democrat convention find timber enough in their own ranks.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, October 31, 1885.

Fraudulent Ballots.

Beware of fraudulent tickets, Republicans. The Democrats are up to their old tricks again. They are preparing fraudulent ballots to be used next Tuesday. They insert the name of one of their candidates on a ticket purporting to be the regular Republican ticket. In different localities other names are inserted. In this way do they hope to slip in one of their gang! Look well to your ballots and see that the names printed thereon read the same as those at the head of our editorial column.

The following is the law on the subject.

Sec. 218, page 357, of the compiled laws of Kansas: Any person who designedly gives a printed or written ticket to any qualified voter of this State containing the written or printed names of person for whom said voter does not design to vote, for the purpose of causing such a voter to poll his vote contrary to his own wishes, shall on conviction, be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor and punished by fine not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding three months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

No Jail in Arkansas City. [???]

Arkansas City Republican, November 7, 1885.

It has become patent among our citizens that Arkansas City is infested with a gang of second rate gamblers. It has been developed that Frank Bluebaugh has been keeping the rendezvous for this gang in a room over Godehard’s storeroom. Last Saturday afternoon Constable Frank Thompson, armed with warrants, made a raid on the poker room and arrested Bluebaugh. Having no jail in which to incarcerate the prisoner, the officers deputized one Chas. Ashley to guard the prisoner for the night. Sometime during the night Bluebaugh made his escape, whether from a lack of vigilance on the part of the guard or a bribe was used, we cannot say. At any rate, he has not been seen since the evening of his arrest. Bluebaugh’s arrest created quite a stir among the gang and all—15 in number—sat up all Sunday night in a room of one of the city hotels waiting for the early morning train to take them to Wichita. By Bluebaugh’s escape a stop was put to further proceedings. It is to be hoped our city officers will not allow the matter to drop at this stage. The REPUBLICAN would advise the hotel where these individuals are stopping to purge itself of such questionable characters if it does not desire to be mixed up in the matter. A word to the wise is sufficient.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, November 14, 1885.

A Lady Insulted On the Streets of Winfield.

One Jones, a young man of 21 or 22 years of age, allowed himself to forget his manhood, reputation, and the respect he should have for the sex of whom his mother is one, and deliberately and designedly stepped up to a highly respected lady in the city last Monday, and insulted her. Marshal McFadden, ever on the alert for just such animals, got wind of the affair and at once arrested the young gentleman (?) and placed him in jail. This morning he was brought before Judge Turner and plead guilty to the charge preferred against him and was fined $17.75, which he paid, and which was indeed a very light punishment for the offense. It should have been several days confinement with a stone pile to pound for recreation and reflection. Things are coming to a rather dangerous pass when the ladies of a place can’t go about the city or their homes without being subject to the base insults of just such groveling scoundrels as this Jones. Winfield Courier.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 2, 1885.

Cattle Thieves Arrested.

In our last issue we told about the shooting of Frank Pappan, a Kaw half-breed, by a crowd of cowboys for killing and stealing a beef belonging to Lewis Waite, of Elgin, Kansas. Two men associated with the half-breed in his lawless practices, Al Linscott and his brother, were taken to Osage Agency for safe keeping, and Agent Hoover telegraphed United States Marshal Rarick to come and take them. He proceeded to the agency on the summons, took the Linscott brothers in charge, and brought them to this city for examination on the charges of cattle stealing and selling liquor to the Indians. Complicity in the theft on Mr. Waite’s pasture was proved against the other Linscott before U. S. Commissioner Bonsall, but Al Linscott was not criminated by the evidence. Both were confined in the county jail, and tomorrow the last named will be examined on the charge of liquor selling. Both men are said to be hard cases, and cattle owners are severe sufferers by their operations.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 5, 1885.

A scheme to break jail the first of the week was failed by one Ollie Richardson giving it away. From the Courier we learn the facts.

Richardson is a boy who has been lately sentenced to go to the State Reform school, and Sheriff McIntire was taking him up last Friday when he gave up the scheme. There are two large slop buckets, with lids; one is taken out each evening and the other, after an all day airing, is brought in by two prisoners under guard. An outside pal was to put two loaded revolvers in this outside slop pail, the prisoners expecting, as usual, that the pail would be carried back without examination. They were to watch a time when Jailor Finch took a meal in without an official guard at the door. Two were to grab him, while others, with the revolvers, paralyzed the guard. Finch and the guard were then to be slapped into the cooler, the iron doors clamped, and the birds would fly. McIntire immediately wrote Jailor Finch to be on his guard, and the scheme was clipped in the bud. The bastille contains a dozen or more prisoners, some of them very tough cases.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, December 12, 1885.

Sheriff McIntire arrived in Winfield from Arizona Wednesday with his prisoner, Frank Graham, Alexander & Co.’s check-raising bookkeeper. Mac. found his prisoner in jail at Florence, Arizona, and when our Sheriff confronted Graham, he made no denial but confessed that he had gotten away with $168 instead of $160 as charged. In his confession he implicated Frank Freeland, the ex-Democrat printer. Freeland and Graham both wanted to go west, but neither had the money. Freeland suggested the idea of Graham tapping his employer’s till. (The REPUBLICAN wonders why Graham did not put Freeland up to tapping his employer’s till.) Graham drew the raised check, presented it at the bank, received the money, and turned it over to Freeland, so if the former was searched he would be found moneyless. They purchased tickets for Arizona and by the time they had got there, they were both without money. They both secured situations at a mining town by the name of Pinal in a printing office. As McIntire did not have a warrant for Freeland, he left him there; but it is quite likely he will be brought back and suffer the penalty of the law for what part he took in the crooked business. Graham has respectable parents residing at Eskridge, his father being a leading attorney there. The guilty boy requested that he be sent to the penitentiary without his parents’ knowledge.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, December 19, 1885.

Mr. McAllister, the man mentioned in another column as being sent to jail, has been released. The citizens of Winfield made up a purse with which all costs were paid and John McAllister was made a free man.

Arkansas City Republican, December 19, 1885.

An Outrage.

From the Daily Courier we learn of a most damnable outrage which occurred in the city school of Winfield a short time since and was perpetrated by Miss Maud Pearson, a teacher, and W. J. Vizey, the janitor, upon a pupil by the name of Frankie McAllister. Frankie was a good boy, but one day he grew refractory and Miss Pearson attempted to whip him with a piece of board 18 inches in length and seven-eighths of an inch thick. Frankie objected very obstinately to being licked with such a club and the teacher called in the janitor to assist. He refused to lend a helping hand, but went and told Prof. Gridley, the principal of the schools, of the condition of things. The Professor sent back word he was busy and instructed the janitor to stand by and see fair play. As he went back to the scene of war, he picked up a hard dry stick 20 inches in length and about the size of a large finger. This is the club with which the boy was licked, and he was licked most unmercifully too. On the boy’s body there were found twenty-seven big welts caused by as many licks from the club, and he was confined to his bed for over a week in consequence of the severe punishment. The father, John McAllister, had the teacher and janitor arrested for assault and battery and the trial came off last Friday and Saturday. All the above facts were clearly proven and yet in the face of them the teacher and janitor were acquitted by the jury and cost shoved on the prosecuting witness, John McAllister. Mr. McAllister is a poor man and in cases of this kind the law provides that costs must be paid, if in no other way, by imprisonment. Mr. McAllister is as poor as a church mouse and can no more pay the costs—over $100—than he can fly. Consequently, he has to go to jail.

The REPUBLICAN would like to ask is there no justice or redress in cases of the above nature? Do parents have to stand by with their hands folded and allow their children to be brutally beaten, or go to jail, when they ask the courts to lead what redress they can? By the rendition of a verdict against the teacher, the jury thought it would have a bad effect upon the schools. By the verdict rendered, the jury has licensed brutal punishment; placed the crime of assault and battery preferable to the usual mode of punishment. The teacher retains her position in the school and the father of the brutally beaten boy goes to jail because he asked for justice. As long as Miss Pearson is retained in the Winfield schools, justice will be a mockery. Her services should be dispensed with. The REPUBLICAN does not uphold the boy in his misdemeanor. He should have been punished, but not in the brutal manner he was.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 23, 1885.

The trial of Maud Pearson, one of the teachers in the city schools, on the charge of beating a scholar and inflicting serious bruises, resulted in the lady’s acquittal. The father of the boy who was beaten was the prosecutor, and being unable to pay the costs of the suit, was committed to jail until the costs, amounting to $78, were paid. He was committed to jail on Monday; and on Tuesday a subscription was raised amounting to about $80 to pay the costs. Among those who donated liberally were all the teachers in the public schools, including Miss Pearson, the lady who had been tried. Winfield Telegram.

1886

Cowley County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 23, 1886.

Bill Avery was arrested last Saturday for disposing of mortgaged property. He purchased a wagon last summer some time, giving a mortgage to secure the payment. A short time afterward he sold the wagon and skipped out down into the Territory. He couldn’t remain away from civilization. Last Saturday he came up to Hunnewell and there the marshal took him in. He was brought to this city Tuesday and taken before Judge Kreamer, where he pleaded guilty. He was placed under a bond of $250, and failing to give it, was committed to Cowley County jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, February 20, 1886.

Last Saturday Johnnie Breene went out to Grouse Creek and arrested one Chas. Swift, a young man 23 years of age, on the charge of forgery. Friday of last week Swift was in Winfield and bought some goods of J. B. Lynn, amounting to $2.50, and tendered a check of $15, purported to be given by T. J. Stinson, residing near Maple City, on the Winfield National Bank. As everything appeared alright, Lynn cashed the check and Swift departed. When Stinson was in Winfield, Lynn notified him of the check against him. Stinson denied issuing the check, and pronounced it a forgery. Sheriff McIntire was notified and Johnnie Breene went out and took the forger in and up to Winfield. He was identified by three of the clerks and now languishes in jail. Swift was once in the employ of Stinson.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, February 20, 1886.

The “occupation tax” seems to be a bone of contention in our city. Many have objected to paying it, but generally after a growl, came around and liquidated. But Wednesday there came a legal clash. It was between the draymen and the city. The city marshal requested the payment of the occupation tax. They refused. Warrants were issued by Judge Bryant, for the arrest of Frank Wallace, W. F. Huff, W. Ward, W. J. Gamel, J. M. Moore, W. H. Bryson, Scott Brandon, and L. Hartman, who were taken before him. All, excepting Bryson, pleaded “not guilty.” Bryson pleaded “guilty,” paid his tax and costs, and was dismissed. The remaining seven draymen were found guilty by “His Honor” upon trial, and was fined $2 and costs, each, and committed to jail until paid. An appeal to a higher court has been taken. Judge Sumner appeared in behalf of the draymen and C. T. Atkinson for the city. The reason the draymen refuse to pay the tax is, they claim, because no protection is afforded them nor are all teamsters compelled to pay. They allege that the coal dealers deliver coal to all parts of he city and receive pay therefor, yet they pay no tax for draying purposes. Again, there are parties contracting and hauling dirt from the cellars of store rooms which are being dug and pay no license. Those arrested claim they would be willing to pay up if all teamsters and draymen were served alike.

Cowley County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 13, 1886.

Captain O. S. Rarick came up from the Territory Monday with Wm. Martney, who he arrested for stealing a pair of horses from Michael Conroy, near the mouth of Sand Creek, south of Arkansas City, on the 17th of February. Captain Rarick has been on his track since that time, and finally caught him on the 3rd inst., at Fort Reno, Indian Territory. He brought him to Arkansas City, and he was arraigned before United States Commissioner Bonsall, and waived an examination. The bond was fixed at $1,000.00, and upon his failing to give it, he was committed to the Cowley County jail, to await the sitting of the United States District Court, which convenes next September at Wichita.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 20, 1886.

Chas. Chambers was arrested last Friday by Capt. Rarick for complicity in the horse-stealing affair down in the Territory on Sand Creek ranch, from M. Conroy. It will be remembered that the thief was arrested last week and is now in the Winfield jail, and he connects young Chambers with the affair. From what we can learn, young Chambers was down in the Territory hunting for work. On the night the horses were stolen, he was on his way home and stopped at Mike Roup’s house all night. We are informed the fellow in jail told Chambers he intended stealing the horses, but the latter supposed he was only joking and said nothing about it to anyone. Now, it is alleged that Chambers was to come to the state line and there meet the thief with the two horses and receive one. John Anderson was also arrested as an accomplice and both are now under bonds to appear in U. S. Court April 27.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, March 20, 1886.

The R. R. Struggle.

Elsewhere in the columns of the REPUBLICAN we publish calls for special elections in the townships of Cedar and Silverdale to vote aid to the Kansas State Line road. The calls for the townships of Spring Creek and Creswell are published in the Democrat and the Traveler respectively. The Board of County Commissioners met last Friday in Winfield. In the morning S. C. Smith and J. A. Irwin received the petitions of citizens of Walnut, Liberty, Spring Creek, Cedar, and Otto Townships for elections to vote on bond propositions to the Independence and Southwestern railroad. The petitions were granted and the elections were called for May 1st.

In the afternoon the three commissioners received petitions of Cedar, Spring Creek, Silverdale, and Creswell Townships for elections to vote on bond propositions to the Kansas State Line Railway Company. The petitions were granted and the elections were called for May 3rd.

The principle struggle was between Winfield and Arkansas City for priority in the elections, Winfield working for the former and Arkansas City for the latter of the above sets of petitions.

Messrs. Smith and Irwin gave the precedence to the former company. S. C. Smith resides in Winfield and is chairman of the board of county commissioners, and refused to call the elections for the same day and thereby give each company equal chances.

But we will go back to the beginning of this railroad struggle. Some two months ago Hon. Jas. Hill, the gentleman who built the Frisco road to Arkansas City and is now building it west along the State line, conceived the plan of building a line of road from Oswego to Arkansas City through the Border townships to connect with his western Frisco extension here and thereby have an air-line to St. Louis. He set about to execute his idea immediately. About a month ago the charter was filed for the Kansas State Line road. Own to a press of business matters on this western extension of the Frisco, the petitions were not in the township of which aid is asked as soon as Mr. Hill intended to have them, but they were there two days before those of the Independence & Southwestern and signed by good and legal tax-payers as well as voters.

Some busy body told Winfield of Arkansas City’s intentions and that she was going to file a charter for the Kansas State Line road. Immediately Bill Hackney jumps on the train, goes to Topeka, and tries to head off the Kansas State Line road, by obtaining the privilege of using the name of the Santa Fe road in building the Independence & Southwestern. He failed to get the necessary satisfaction at Topeka, so he determined to try higher authority. He went to Washington, and interviewed C. P. Huntington, of the Kansas and Arkansas Valley road projected from Ft. Smith to Arkansas City. That gentleman informed Mr. Hackney that he has his line mapped out and will not change it for the benefit of Winfield. Mr. Hackney saw Hon. H. W. Perkins and got him to introduce an amendment making the bill granting the right-of-way through the Territory read to some point between the Arkansas and Caney Rivers instead of Arkansas City. There the bill rests. It has never been passed as yet. The bill was permitted to be changed in order to unite the Kansas delegation in Congress.

The Kansas & Arkansas Valley road will come to Arkansas City. It is a Santa Fe project and they will never parallel their line from here to Winfield just to accommodate that city.

From Washington Mr. Hackney went to Boston and saw President Strong of the Santa Fe. Here he got permission by misrepresentation to use the Santa Fe’s name in connection with the Independence & Southwestern road to head off the Kansas State Line road and keep a competing line from entering the field. He returned home, filed a charter, and got his petitions into the townships of Spring Creek and Cedar two days later than the Kansas State Line road. On the same day the petitions were started from Winfield. Hon. E. P. Greer came down to Arkansas City to get Commissioner Guthrie to sign a call asking Chairman Smith to convene the board. Mr. Guthrie rightly refused because the petitions signed up by the proper number of voters of the townships had never been presented. Mr. Greer returned to Winfield and induced the chairman to sign the petitions himself.

The chairman of the Board of County Commissioners petitions himself to call a meeting! Whoever heard of the like before?

The petitions of the Kansas State Line road were in one day before all the petitions of the Independence & Southwestern were signed up. A petition signed by Commissioners Guthrie and Irwin asking Mr. Smith to call a meeting of the board to consider the Kansas State Line petitions was presented him, but that gentleman refused to countenance it until after he had disposed of the Independence & Southwestern, although their petitions were not in at the time.

When the hour for the meeting of the board arrived last Friday morning, Mr. Guthrie refused to sit with the board. Chairman Smith was marched to the courthouse between Bill Hackney and Henry Asp. Oh, we would hate to be the slave and have those men masters. During the session of the board, Mr. Hackney called the petitioners of the Kansas State Line road s__ns of b____hs and other vile names. After a great deal of talk, the chairman finally settled the matter as stated above.

We have consulted attorneys and they inform us that the call of the Independence & Southwestern is illegal; that it amounts to nothing, and shows to what desperate means Winfield has resorted to keep Arkansas City and the border townships from getting a road. Cedar, Silverdale, and Spring Creek are now paying taxes upon the bonds they voted to build the Southern Kansas, the Santa Fe, and the Frisco into Winfield. They voted bonds to the D. M. & A. Now, when all the border townships have a chance to secure a line, Winfield is trying to beat them out of it. Will our friends out east stand any such outrage?

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 27, 1886.

Dr. Chastain Murdered by A. B. Elliott.

Another murder has been committed in Cowley County, making the third in the last nine months. This time the crime was committed at Dexter. The murderer was A. B. Elliott and the man murdered was Dr. Chastain. The doctor is a married man, his wife living in Georgia. He began paying attention to the daughter of Elliott some time ago, the latter objecting. He sent his daughter to Arkansas and the doctor followed her there. Elliott telegraphed to have him arrested, but he avoided the officials and returned to Dexter Monday. Elliott loaded up his shot-gun, concealed himself under a bridge over which Chastain had to pass in going out of Dexter. When the doctor came along, Elliott stepped out and discharged both barrels of his shot gun, completely riddling him with buck-shot. The doctor fell and died in a few minutes. Elliott disappeared at once, but was arrested late in the evening by Sheriff McIntire. He was taken to Winfield and put in jail to await the preliminary examination. Elliott tells the following to the Courier representative concerning the deed.

“When Chastain was within twenty feet of the bridge, with my shot gun resting against the abutment, two feet from me, I stepped out and halted him.

“I asked him: ‘Is that so, what you said about me—that you were going to kill me?’

“Like a flash he reached into his side pocket, as he said, ‘You g d d n s n of a b ,’ and I saw his revolver.

“I grabbed my gun and fired. I didn’t have time to aim. I was within ten feet of him and he threw up his hands and fell backwards off his horse, without a word.

“One of Chastain’s feet caught in the stirrup and with a bound, the horse dragged him about forty feet. He stopped, and parties soon came. They found Chastain dead.”

Murders in Cowley County are getting to be entirely too frequent.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, March 27, 1886.

DIED. The troubles of Lincoln Addinsell, the crazy youth taken from here to Winfield some time ago, have ended. He drank a large portion of carbolic acid Saturday evening, from the effects of which he died. The Courier says: “The carbolic acid, in a quart bottle, was used in the jail to kill those little inflicters of the body and for a general disinfectant. It had been in trust of the prisoners for a long time, to use whenever needed. It happened to be sitting on the window sill of his cell, and with animal innocence, Addinsell tried it. No one familiar with his case thinks he had any suicidal intent.”

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, April 3, 1886.

S. C. Rogers was fined $2 and costs Wednesday for fighting. Not having the wherewithal to liquidate, he was committed to the jail.

Jail in Arkansas City.

Arkansas City Republican, April 24, 1886.

Two of the “boys in blue,” who have been stationed here for some time, drank and became drunken Saturday night last. They were arrested by Marshal Gray and placed in jail overnight. They were released the next morning by the order of Mayor Schiffbauer.

Voting of Bonds for New Jail at New County Seat.

Arkansas City Republican, May 8, 1886.

Now would be an opportune moment to mention the voting of bonds for a new jail at the new county seat, as well as other county buildings.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 8, 1886.

The Jail Delivery.

Last Monday night at about 9 o’clock, the first successful jail delivery was effected in Cowley County at Winfield. The prisoners, not usually locked in their cells till 9 or 9:30 o’clock, were at large in the jail corridor. Sheriff McIntire and Deputy Joe Church had just gone uptown, when the prisoners rapped on the iron door of the jail and called for water. Jailor Tom H. Herrod and Deputy Henry A. Champlain remained at the jail to attend the prisoners. They went to answer the summons, Champlain guarding with his revolver for any emergency, when Herrod opened the door. It was opened only about one foot when five of the prisoners made the break for liberty. Chas. Swift, the leader of the gang, convicted of forgery last week, grabbed Herrod and pulled him in while Bill Matney, a U. S. prisoner for horse stealing in the Territory, gave him a blow on the top of the head with a bed slat that stunned him and he fell back against the door sill. Before he fell, Champlain couldn’t shoot for fear of hitting Herrod, but as soon as he was knocked down, the guard opened fire with his revolver. Wm. P. Bennett, whose conviction for counterfeiting was scarcely four hours old, grabbed the door low down and was in the act of slamming it wide open when a ball from Champlain’s 45 took him in the groin, ranged upward, severed the main artery, and without uttering a word, he whirled around, sank down by a cell door, and in three minutes had bled to death. The shot was paralyzing. The smoke from the first shot blinded the guard, but he blazed away again; whether the shot took effect or not is unknown. Swift sprang forward, belted Champlain a blow on the head with a bed slat, momentarily stunning him. The final dash was made and before Champlain could gather himself, four of the prisoners were out. Three of them went between the jail and Finch’s house, and the deputy followed them with the remaining bullets in his revolver. Another went around the west side of the jail and jumped the fence southwest of the courthouse. Sheriff McIntire was on the scene in a few minutes, organized a posse, and made hot pursuit though the cloudy darkness gave the criminals every advantage. Marshal Gray and Capt. Rarick were telephoned and they also got out a squad of searchers. None of the fugitives were found until Wednesday when Chas. Swift and David Wiggins were captured in the vicinity of Dexter. Wednesday night Bill Matney was captured. He was caught at the Chilocco Indian Schools in the Territory by Sam Endicott. Marshal Gray took the prisoners to Winfield Thursday morning. Those who escaped were: Chas. Swift, convicted last week of forging the name of J. T. Stinson to a $15 check and passing it on J. B. Lynn. Bill Matney has been in jail for two months awaiting a trial before the U. S. Court, for horse stealing in the Territory. John David Wiggins was convicted last Friday of manufacturing and circulating counterfeit silver dollars. He was arrested at Atlanta two months ago, with his “kit” of tools with him in a “grip.” W. P. Bennett, who was killed, was an assistant of Wiggins in the counterfeiting business. James Whitehead was a horse thief. There were several other prisoners in the corridor, but they made no attempt to get out. The latter has not been captured.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 8, 1886.

Robbed and Chloroformed.

Wednesday morning a telephone message was received in this city that the residence of a widow, Mrs. Jones, at Geuda Springs, was burglarized. Mrs. Jones resides alone in a small cottage. Her bed stood just beneath the window and it is supposed that the window was raised and she was chloroformed. The burglars entered, bound her wrists and ankles very tightly with cord, and tied a large handkerchief over her mouth to prevent her calling for aid. The burglars secured $92 in money and left. Next morning neighbors upon going to the home of Mrs. Jones found her bound and gagged and her household effects scattered upon the floor promiscuously. She was released, but could give no account of the affair. She knew nothing of it until she came to. She was injured quite badly and has been compelled to remain in bed since her fearful experience with the burglars. No clue has been discovered that will lead to the capture of the burglars, but it is supposed by some to have been done by one or two of the prisoners who broke jail Monday night at Winfield.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 15, 1886.

Sheriff McIntire took up Ollie Soule, about 22 years old, who shot and killed G. W. Handy near the Nez Perce reservation, Indian Territory, last fall, and lodged him in the Winfield jail. The bondsmen got a little scared at a rumor that Soule was going to skip.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, May 29, 1886.

Harry Halsell, who passed through the city one day last week in pursuit of a man who had stolen a bunch of cattle and sold them to him and received $275 down upon them, captured the swindler at Oswego. He proved to be a man by the name of Avery, who lives near Hunnewell and who was recently released from our county jail. As soon as Avery was spotted by Mr. Halsell, he went to obtain the assistance of the marshal of Oswego, but that worthy official refused. Whereupon Mr. Halsell hunted up Avery and arrested him himself. As soon as Avery was arrested, the marshal demanded him as a prisoner; but Mr. Halsell refused to turn him over. Taking him to a hotel in the city, Mr. Halsell obtained $70 of his money, a gold watch and chain which the prisoner had just purchased, and a $50 saddle, and then turned him loose. Mr. Halsell passed through the city en route for his cow camp in the Territory Saturday last.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 5, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

The trial of Geo. Druitt came off before Judge Lindsay Tuesday morning. He entered a plea of guilty. Judge Lindsay imposed the lightest sentence fixed by law—$100 and costs and 30 days in jail. The imprisonment was suspended as long as Druitt’s behavior was good.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 12, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

The cutting scrape between Brinkley and Phillips last Thursday resulted in the arrest of the latter at the instigation of the former Monday afternoon. Phillips was taken before Judge Kreamer, and in the testimony adduced, it was proven that he only acted in self-defense. That case was dismissed at the costs of Brinkley. Philips was then rearrested for disturbing the peace and fined $5 and costs; total $24. He was committed to jail until both were paid.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 12, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.

Wednesday evening Mrs. Millie Campbell, residing in Bolton Township near the State line, came to town and appeared before Judge Lindsay and filed a complaint for the arrest of one Chas. Baldwin for assaulting her with intent to ravish her. The complaint alleges that Baldwin made indecent proposals to her and assaulted her with an iron rod, half an inch in diameter and four feet long, severely bruising her head, face, and body. Mrs. Campbell’s face and head showed the marks of the work done by the iron rod. Baldwin was arrested by our officers Thursday evening and taken before Judge Lindsay, who bound him over to appear for his preliminary trial Monday morning in the sum of $1,500. He failed to give it, and was taken to the county jail at Winfield and committed. Baldwin denies that he attempted to ravish Mrs. Campbell and claims that she drew a shooting iron on him, causing him to assault her. Baldwin is a cowboy.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 19, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Last evening the trial of Chas. Baldwin for assault with intent to ravish Mrs. Millie Campbell terminated before Judge Lindsay. From the evidence adduced, the judge thought it sufficient to bind the prisoner over in the sum of $1,000 to appear at the next term of district court. He failed to give the bond and was committed to imprisonment in the county jail. Mrs. Campbell has been employed by J. O. Murphy as a cook in his store upon the state line. Baldwin came there and demanded that she go buggy riding with him. She refused and he assaulted her and beat her with an iron bar. We hope Baldwin will get his just dues at his trial in court. A woman should be protected from such assaults as the above, no matter how unsavory a reputation she may bear.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 26, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

A. R. Phillips, who was arrested several days ago for selling whiskey and committed to jail, was brought down from Winfield and taken before Judge Kreamer for trial. He plead guilty and was fined $100 and cost and 30 days imprisonment.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, June 26, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Monday evening Capt. O. S. Rarick, “took in” John Carter, who runs a barber shop on South Summit street, upon the charge of violating the prohibitory law. He was taken before Judge Kreamer, who bound him over to appear for trial Monday next in the sum of $500. He failed to give it, and now languishes in jail at Winfield. Carter is a colored man.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 3, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

Last evening, after being out about one hour, the jury returned with a verdict finding John Carter guilty of selling liquor on three accounts. $100 fine and payment of costs and 30 days imprisonment in the county jail was the penalty attached for each account. The costs in this case amount to over $400. Carter will lay in jail 90 days besides laying out the fine and costs. If a few more of the jointists received the treatment that Carter did, they would soon become scarcer in Arkansas City. He was taken to Winfield this morning.

Jail to be on Ground Floor, Occupy First and Second Story of Contemplated

City Building in Arkansas City.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 17, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

The plans and specifications for the city building have just been completed by W. A. Ritchie & Co., architects. It is to be two stories high with basement and an 80 foot tower. The building will be constructed of pitched faced Ashlar work and trimmed in cut stone. On the ground floor will be the fire department rooms, the marshal’s office in front, and the jail in the rear. The jail will occupy 20 x 22 feet of the building, first and second story. It will contain four iron cages and two large corridors. The front upstairs portion of the building will be used for city offices. The building proper will be 30 x 80 feet and is a very fine structure. The contract for the work will be let the 26th of this month.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 24, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.

Ed. Lindsey and Willie Lewis (colored) were brought down from the Winfield jail yesterday by Sheriff McIntire for their preliminary examination before Judge Lindsay. Ed. Lindsey was arrested a few days ago for cutting open a grip in the Nickle Plate Restaurant and stealing $10. He pleaded “not guilty,” but the court thought from the evidence that he was guilty, and sentenced him to lay in jail and to pay the costs of the action. Willie Lewis was up for breaking into Wm. McDowell’s trunk in the Occidental Hotel and stealing a watch and revolver. The Judge bound him over in the sum of $500 to appear for trial in the district court. Both were returned to jail last evening.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, July 24, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.

This afternoon Tom Corline was arrested for assaulting Jas. Hedley and robbing him. The deed was perpetrated in the rear of the Occidental Hotel, shortly after dinner. Corline attacked Hedley and struck him with his fist, knocking him over a pile of wood and breaking his collar bone. He, then, it is said, removed what money Hedley had on his person. Marshal Gray arrested Corline and took him before Judge Bryant, where he answered three charges: disturbing the peace, drunkenness, and fighting. He was fined $5 and costs upon each charge. Not having the money to pay the fine, he was committed to jail. When he was arrested Marshal Gray found some $2.50 on him. Hedley is a stone cutter. Corline is a laborer and has been working on the various buildings going up in the city. He will be arrested upon state warrant for highway robbery.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 7, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Jim Cherrie was arrested yesterday by Capt. Rarick and taken to Winfield by Sheriff McIntire, and placed in jail. The charge was cattle stealing. Capt. went down in the Territory to make other arrests of other parties connected with the affair.

Excerpt from a very long article...

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 11, 1886.

SHERIFF’S PROCLAMATION.

For Railroad Bond Election in Liberty Township.

WHEREAS, on the 12th day of July, A. D. 1886, the following proceedings and order were had and made before and by the board of county commissioners of the county of Cowley and state of Kansas, and duly entered of record on the journal of the proceedings of said board of commissioners in the words and figures following, to-wit:

In the matter of the Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad:

Now on this 12th day of July, 1886, at a session of the board of county commissioners of the county of Cowley and state of Kansas, duly holden at the courthouse in the city of Winfield, in said county; present, S. C. Smith, chairman, and J. A. Irwin and J. D. Guthrie, members of said board, and S. J. Smock, county clerk, comes J. O. Easterday, a resident taxpayer of the municipal township of Liberty, and presents to said board the petition of himself and sixty-nine others, resident taxpayers of said township, praying that a special election be called for the purpose of submitting to the qualified voters of said township a proposition for said township to subscribe to the capital stock of The Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), and to use the bonds of said township in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000), in payment of said stock, upon the terms and conditions in said petition mentioned and provided for, said petition being in the words and figures following, to-wit:

To the Board of County Commissioners of Cowley County, Kansas:

We, the undersigned, being more than two-fifths (2/5) of the resident taxpayers of the municipal township of Liberty, in the county of Cowley and state of Kansas, petition the board of county commissioners of said county to submit at a special election, to the qualified voters of said municipal township, a proposition to subscribe to the capital stock of The Kansas City, and Pan Handle Railroad company, a railroad company duly organized and existing under the laws of the state of Kansas, which proposes to construct a railroad through and into said municipal township, said subscription to be for the sum of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000).

And in payment for said subscription to said capital stock of said company, bonds of said municipal township, with coupons attached, to the amount of said subscription, as above set forth, shall be duly issued and delivered, in sums of five hundred dollars ($500) each, payable in twenty (20) years from date of issue, each bearing seven percent interest, payable semi-annually; both principal and interest payable at the fiscal agency of the state of Kansas, in the city of New York; such bonds to be duly issued and delivered upon compliance with conditions hereinafter set out, and delivery of stock in said road as by law provided. The conditions upon which said subscription to the capital stock of said company is made are:

That said The Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company shall construct a railroad of standard gauge (including all necessary side tracks, stock yards, and switches) into said municipal township, and have cars running thereon, from some point entering as near as practicable to the northeast corner, and out as near as practicable to the southwest corner of said municipal township, and shall erect and maintain two suitable depots for the transaction of business, one on the east side of Silver Creek, and one on the west side of Silver Creek, in said municipal township, on or before eighteen months from the date of said special election. (Delays by orders of the court or judge thereof excepted.)

And we pray that said board of county commissioners, upon presentation of this petition, duly convene and make an order, which order shall embrace the terms and conditions of this petition, and such other conditions as said board may deem advisable, and also fixing the time for holding a special election, which we pray may be held; as by law provided, under chapter 107, Laws of Kansas, 1876, and amendments thereto, to determine whether such subscription shall be made.

And the form of the ballot to be used at such special election for and against said proposition so submitted shall be as follows:

Each qualified voter voting for said proposition shall have printed or written on his ballot: “For subscription to the capital stock of The Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company.”

Each qualified voter voting against said proposition shall have printed or written on his ballot: “Against subscription to the capital stock of The Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company.”

And said board of county commissioners, having duly heard, examined, and considered said petition, together with the evidence introduced in support thereof, doth find that said petition is in writing and signed by more than two-fifths (2/5) of the resident taxpayers of said municipal township, and is in all respects according to and sufficient in law.

It is therefore ordered by said board of county commissioners that a special election be held in the township of Liberty, of the county of Cowley and state of Kansas, on Saturday; the 14th day of August, A. D. 1886, and that thirty days’ notice of said election be given by the sheriff of said Cowley County by publication in the Arkansas City TRAVELER, a weekly newspaper published at the city of Arkansas City, in said county, and having general circulation in said municipal township, and that at said election the following proposition shall be voted upon and determined by the qualified electors of said township, to-wit:

Shall the board of county commissioners of Cowley County order the county clerk, for and in behalf of said township, to subscribe for thirty shares of five hundred dollars ($500) each of the capital stock of The Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company, in accordance with the laws of the state of Kansas and in payment therefor issue the bonds of said township, running twenty years, bearing seven percent interest, payable semi-annually; both principal and interest to be payable at the fiscal agency of the state of Kansas, in the city of New York. The conditions upon which said subscription is to be made are: That The Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company construct a railroad of standard gauge from a connection with the St. Louis, Fort Scott and Wichita railroad, at the city of Reece, in Greenwood County, Kansas, thence in a southwesterly direction into and through said municipal township, with two suitable depots and side tracks, sufficient to accommodate the business; located, one on the east side and one on the west side of Silver Creek, in said municipal township. The bonds of said township to the amount of fifteen thousand dollars ($15,000) shall be delivered to said railroad company upon delivery by said railroad company to the county treasurer of thirty shares of five hundred dollars ($500) each of the full paid capital stock of the said railroad company, issued for and in the name of said township. Unless said road shall be completed as aforesaid, on or before February 14, 1888, said railroad shall forfeit all right to said township bonds.

And it is further ordered that the form of ballot to be used at such election shall be as follows: “For subscription to the capital stock of the Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company,” and “Against subscription to the capital stock of the Kansas City and Pan Handle Railroad company.” S. C. SMITH, J. A. IRWIN, J. D. GUTHRIE,

Commissioners of Cowley Co., Kansas.

Attest: S. J. SMOCK, County Clerk.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, August 11, 1886.

UDALL RECORD. Over at Cambridge last Wednesday James Wolfe, a man about 67 years old, stabbed Will Farris in the left side with a large pocket knife, severing two ribs and an artery. His recovery is doubtful. Farris was drunk and made the old man mad. Wolfe is now in jail at Winfield and will be given a preliminary examination on the 12th of this month.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, August 18, 1886.

On Saturday Sheriff McIntire, with his deputy, Tom Herrod, aided by City Marshal Gray, raided a number of joints in this city, and captured several prisoners. The parties taken in were Frank Bluebaugh, J. W. Hall, W. D. Johnson, and Ed Leonard, alias W. B. Bartholomew. Bluebaugh was admitted to bail, the others were carried to Winfield and committed to jail, to await trial, which is set for today. Frank Miller and Van Skoid, owners of the billiard hall, in the Sherburne building, escaped arrest and have left the country. The charge against the accused is selling intoxicating liquors in violation of law, and the County Attorney is said to have proof to convict. There are seven counts against Johnson and four against Leonard.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 21, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

John Schultz, who is lying out a fine in the county jail, made a dash for liberty yesterday. He was sent out, attended by the guard to empty the slop bucket, and when he thought the attendant was not on the look-out, made the break for liberty. He was recaptured after several shots were fired and he had run about a block.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, August 27, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

P. F. Thomas, the man sent from here to Winfield by the mayor under the charge of insanity, was taken to Sedgwick City Tuesday afternoon; his brother coming down, paying the jail bill, and chaperoning him. The Courier says he didn’t appear to be luny as far as anybody could discover. He was merely a little cranky.

Arkansas City Jail. Old Wooden Structure.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 4, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.

Yesterday afternoon Arkansas City had a jail delivery. For several days past there have been incarcerated in the old wooden city jail five prisoners. They were laying out their fines for drunkenness. The windows of the jail consist of a wooden frame with iron rods running perpendicularly. It is supposed that an outsider handed the prisoners a saw, with which the frame was sawed into and then pried out. Three of the prisoners, Jas. Curry, Wm. Painter, and Simon Gorman, made their escape. The other two, Geo. Groves and Sam Keeler, would not go. The break was not discovered until supper time when the marshal went to feed them.

Jail at Wichita.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, September 18, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

At the preliminary trial of Ollie Soule, for the murder of J. W. Handy, at Wichita in the U. S. Court last week, the jury was only out above five minutes when it brought in a verdict for an indictment for murder against Soule and the women. The women are held as accessories to the crime. New evidence has been adduced since the parties were bound over in this city some months ago, and it will go hard with them. It seems that Mrs. Handy was too handy with her tongue for the safety of all. They are all in jail at Wichita now awaiting trial.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, September 29, 1886.

There was a wholesale jail delivery on Monday night from our city cooler, seven hard cases, locked up for drunkenness making their escape by sawing away the sill through which an iron bar was driven, and thus making their exeunt through the window. The eighth prisoner, who was suffering with chills, being too weak to make a run for liberty, was the sole occupant found by the city marshal in the morning. The names of three of the fugitives are Jas. Hamilton, Charles Walden, and Pierce Haysel. The other four had been arrested the day preceding and were not tried. Marshal Gray offers a reward of $10 for anyone who shall be arrested and returned to his custody.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 2, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Last night six prisoners in the old city calaboose broke jail and are now as free as the winds which blow over this beautiful Arkansas Valley. There were seven in confinement for drunkenness, etc.; the seventh was too sick to pick up his bed and walk.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 2, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

The trial of John Grogan, for cutting Jas. J. Burns, before Judge Kreamer yesterday resulted in a verdict of acquittal. The verdict was given this morning. The trial adduced sufficient evidence to have Jas. Hamilton, Chas. Welden, Pierce Doyle, and Jas. J. Burns arrested for assaulting Grogan with burglarious intentions. Their bonds were fixed at $500 apiece and they were remanded to jail, unless given, until their trial comes up in the district court. These four worthless appeared before Judge Bryant yesterday for drunkenness, and were fined.

Winfield Courthouse, Jail, and Other Buildings.

Arkansas City Traveler, Wednesday, October 13, 1886. Editorial.

BRAGGART WINFIELD.

How the Coming Greatness of that City Lingers by the Way.

This editor, in company with a number of Sandhillers, took a run to Winfield last week, to enlarge his ideas and study the manners of a people on the road to distinction and opulence. Our neighbor city enjoys the advantage of being the county seat, and is ambitious of attaining to the proportions of the metropolis of Southern Kansas. Several towns at present stand in the way of this preeminence. Wichita and Wellington and Harper having a larger population each and showing a more rapid growth; but the possibilities of this region of country have no limit, and the community that is bound to achieve greatness cannot be repressed. The ardent souls of Winfield are filled with the vision of entire blocks of wholesale houses of palatial proportions, and a commercial activity that will bring half the railroads of the continent running past their doors.

Judge Soward’s roseate picture of our neighbor city’s future greatness is thus found expressed:

“With our immense lines of trunk railway, with their long trains sweeping through, bearing every community of the world; with the dozens of long passenger trains rolling through here daily, carrying people from one side of the continent to the other; with our vast resources thoroughly developed, under the stimulating influences of the nucleus we now have, the imagination can’t begin to realize what the future will reveal.”

The party of Sandhillers aforesaid, with this writer in their company, disembarked at the Frisco depot, to subject themselves to the stimulating influences that are to achieve such marvels. Omnibuses were in waiting to carry them into the busy haunts of our neighbor town, and a street car stood solitary and alone on the track to pick up the overflow of the smaller conveyances. But the visitors ignored these modern conveniences, for they pushed forward along the plank walk, and after walking two or three blocks along the main street in company, scattered themselves through the mural nucleus.

The present embryo of a great commercial city does not strike the visitor with its business activity. The morning was half spent as the writer paced along its principal street. There was no rush of vehicles along its thoroughfare, no hurrying through of pedestrians.

Pride in their part, defiance in their eye,

I see the lords of human kind pass by

Intent on high delight.

The tradesmen and their clerks were idling at the doors enjoying the crisp air of an October morning, and waiting for the eager crowd of customers to come. Looking around for signs of growth and improvement, we saw a handsome bank building receiving its finishing touches, a business house in course of construction, and in the neighborhood of the rink a rough board building was going up, evidently designed for storage purposes. The stimulating influences that are to transform this city into the emporium of the northwest have not got fully to work yet.

Proceeding to the courthouse and passing the county jail, we were impressed with the shabbiness and inadequacy of the structure, and on visiting the offices found the arrangements meagre and the whole interior suggestive of first principles. Ascending to the courtroom we found judge and jury engaged trying some trivial breach of contract case.

Ward caucuses were being held, to choose delegates to the county convention. There was a noisy gathering of excited politicians, and crowds gathered at the various polling places, who were willing to cast aside all thought of coming greatness for awhile, in order to get the right delegates elected. There was a keen contest between opposing factions, and the excitement was kept up till late in the evening.

This seemed to be the main business of the day, for we noticed the stores poorly patronized through the business hours and traffic on the streets no way disturbing to the contemplation. Wandering out to the Frisco depot, we found our fellow townsman, Joseph W. Hutchison, in waiting. He had been subpoenaed as a witness in a railroad suit, and was waiting the arrival of a special train to take him out as an expert to appraise a strip of land condemned for railroad uses. The train did not come along, and the pair of Sandhillers sat down to talk. Not a soul was moving about the platform, not a dray came up to transfer any of the commodities gathered there from the varied industries of the world, not even a small boy was on hand to display his unfailing powers of annoying everybody within reach. Across the way were two vacant stores and the whole surrounding as quiet as a graveyard.

Some distance north a gang of men was at work extending the street car track toward a piece of timber. The purpose of this enterprise being to reach a proposed addition to the city where building lots will be available for the thousands of trainmen who will make their home in our neighbor city.

By-and-bye the street car came up bearing the passengers, but engaged in running its regular trips. The driver changed his sorry looking team from end to end; and eyed the pair of idlers wistfully, as though he wanted someone to go along to relieve his monotony. The two Sandhillers took seats in his car to wile away the hours till train time and to aid a laudable enterprise. From the driver we learned that this car formed the entire rolling stock of the road, and that, except when the trains came in, he carried but few passengers. The wages to be paid him had not been decided by the board of directors, but he thought the receipts of the day would suffice to pay him moderate wages. When Winfield shall have “become a great city, with its dozens of business streets, and princely wholesale and retail establishments,” as Mr. Eaton reads the future, a more extensive equipment will be required for this street car track, and the wages paid to the drivers will not be a matter of such surpassing moment. On the way back from the Santa Fe depot, a Winfield passenger took his seat in the car, his fare dropped into the box swelling the receipts of that round trip to twenty-five cents.

Promptly on time, at 6:08 p.m., the through passenger train came up, and the party of Arkansas City people, who had spent the day in that city of coming greatness, gladly took their seats aboard; and arriving at home, although well along in the evening, felt their senses relieved by the stir that met their gaze on the streets and the general indications of growth and prosperity.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 16, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

More trouble in Winfield. Two fair damsels recently sent to jail in the city of church spires, in default of the payment of fines, are giving many prominent citizens of the recently fated city away most beautifully, and declare they could pay their fines if they could collect what is their dues on running accounts. When misfortune once strikes a proud city like Winfield, it seems never to get enough. We hold our breath for the next sensation from the wonder of the Arkansas Valley. Oswego Republican.

Excerpt from meeting...

Contract for New Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, October 20, 1886.

Council Proceedings.

The contract between the city and the Van Dorn Iron Works, of Cleveland, Ohio, for a city jail, was read and approved. This provides for the construction of a jail with four cells and a corridor, one of them file and saw proof. The cost of the building is $1,235.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, October 23, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.

MARRIED. Chas. Baldwin, the man who was arrested down on the State Line for assaulting Millie Campbell with lustful intentions, was made a “crush,” figuratively speaking, upon the heart of Sheriff McIntire’s hired girl while he was incarcerated in jail. Baldwin is out now on $200 bail and we are informed that this evening the couple are to be married in this city. The girl’s name is Fannie Adair.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 6, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.

We had another jail delivery last night. Four prisoners made their escape; one remained. He was a negro up for drunkenness.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 13, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

J. N. Norman, who is accused of stealing a watch of Contractor Murray, was brought down from Winfield yesterday by Sheriff McIntire for trial. He was taken before Judge Kreamer, and the case was postponed for ten days. The prisoner was taken back to jail.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, November 24, 1886.

DIED. John Donnell, a U. S. Prisoner in the county jail for selling whiskey, bound over by Commissioner Bonsall three weeks ago, died Friday last of typhoid. His mother, who lives at Chautauqua Springs, has been notified by the sheriff.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 27, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

“Lottie St. Clair and Frank Carter, two frail women, were arrested Saturday afternoon, charged with being drunk and assaulting W. Ward. It appears the two women were in a restaurant near the old Occidental Hotel drinking malt, etc. When Ward happened in, one of the girls commanded him to ‘get out.’ He told them he guessed not. At that one rose up and struck him with a club. Marshal Gray put in his appearance and took the women under his charge. They were taken before Judge Bryant, who fined them $50 each and costs. The total was $100.50. The Judge also gave them the choice of paying their fine, leaving the town, or going to jail. They had until the 5 o’clock train in which to decide.”

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, November 27, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

The city police arrested five drunks last night. One is what is called a “spotter.” He was sent down from Winfield to spot the men selling whiskey. He got so drunk by the time he had visited three joints that he could scarcely walk. Instead of him reporting the jointists, they reported him to Marshal Gray, who took him in and sent him to Winfield this afternoon, after he was fined $10 and costs. He couldn’t pay, so he was sent to jail. His name was Cox.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 1, 1886.

The city cooler was made vociferous on Sunday night with the yelling of a festive cowboy, confined there for too liberal indulgence in the ardent. His call was for “Oscar” to come and take him out, but the person appealed to failed to come to his deliverance. Those living within three blocks of the penal abode were greatly annoyed with the inebriate’s untiring lungs.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 4, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.

Ed. Gray is said to be the only man in the courthouse who can quote scriptures correctly when he is in a good humor. Telegram.

The fact that Ed. is a printer sustains the above assertion. We have heard him quote some scripture in our lifetime, and there always followed an odor of sulphur.

Jail at Wichita.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 4, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

Mrs. J. W. Handy and daughter, who have been in jail for some months at Wichita, have been released on giving bail in the sum of $3,000 for their appearance at the next term of court. At first their bail was fixed at $5,000, but last week it was reduced to $3,000. Mrs. Handy and daughter are held as accomplices of Ollie Soule in the murder of J. W. Handy.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 11, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.

Sheriff McIntire came down from Winfield last evening and took charge of Mason, the man who shot Maggie James, and Tuders, who is held as an accomplice. He handcuffed the prisoners and took them to Winfield and put them in jail. Annie Tuders will remain here, under guard, to attend her wounded companion.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 18, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

Sheriff McIntire came down this morning from Winfield. He brought with him W. M. Mason, the woman-shooter, and W. M. Tuders. They were taken before Judge Kreamer this afternoon where they waived examination and were bound over to appear at the district court. Mason was put under $3,000 bond; Tuders $1,000. Annie Tuders was also put under $1,000 bond. The last two are held as witnesses. C. P. Jeffries appears for the defendants. Maggie James, the woman who was shot, is getting better and the chances are favorable to her recovery. Mason and Tuders were taken back to jail.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 18, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.

Deputy Sheriff Tom Herrod came down from Winfield this morning in pursuit of a horse thief who had stolen a horse up in Butler County and was making tracks for the Territory. He was captured near the State Line with the horse in his possession. He was brought to the city and taken before Judge Lindsay, where he waived examination and was bound over to the district court. Deputy Sheriff Herrod took him to Winfield and put him in jail. The prisoner refused to give his right name. He was a seedy looking individual.

Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 22, 1886.

A Jointist Properly Dealt With.

Justice S. C. Lindsay, on Monday, disposed of the state case against Frank Gant, by fining him $300 and costs and sending him to the county jail for 60 days. This very stylish young man has been keeping a joint over the old Occidental Hotel for the last four months, during which time he claims he has paid upwards of $400 to the city in the way of fines, or hush money. Capt. Thompson would visit him every month, and collect a contribution, for which no receipt was given, but it was understood that it protected him from arrest. His crooked business becoming known to County Attorney Swarts, this official, on the 14th inst., made complaint to ‘Squire Lindsay, and the following day he was arrested by the Sheriff. The trial came off on Saturday, a jury being summoned to try the case. By arrangement with the prosecuting officer, two of the four counts were withdrawn and the accused pleaded guilty to the other two. What made the case dead against him, was his dispensing his contraband beverages to Sheriff McIntire, he not knowing his customer. His confession of guilt rendered the services of the jury unnecessary, and the long string of witnesses subpoenaed by the prosecution were not called on to testify. And another annoying circumstance in the case, he had paid his monthly fine to Capt. Thompson the very morning he was taken in. Justice Lindsay dealt out to him the cold letter of the law. The young man seemed to be flush with money, and made light of the fine and the $70 costs; but going to jail for two months was repugnant to his delicate susceptibilities, and he protested vehemently against the severity of the court.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 25, 1886. From Saturday’s Daily.

This morning Frank Gant, the jointist, appeared before Judge Lindsay and plead guilty to violating the law on two counts. He was fined $200 and costs of suit, and committed to the county jail for two months.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 25, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.

A tramp who was jailed in Winfield the other day had three scars from bullets, two bruises from clubs, seven fresh dog bites, and a black eye, and yet he kicked vigorously about being put into a warm room where he would have plenty to eat and find perfect rest for the next sixty days.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 25, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Judge Kreamer issued a warrant last evening for the re-arrest of Thos. Place, who was up before him Saturday for assaulting L. F. Randall with intent to kill. The Judge fined Place $20 and costs and told him to leave Randall alone. He promised to do so and secured Wm. McCoy to stand good for the judgment until he could visit his brother-in-law over in Silverdale Township and procure money to pay his fine. Instead of doing what he agreed to, Place sought Randall out and gave him a terrible pommeling and then skipped out, leaving McCoy to pay his fine. He has not been heard of since but officer John Lewis and McCoy are looking after him. Should he be captured, he will most likely enjoy a term in jail.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, December 25, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.

John Comforth and Wm. Pearce were both drunk last night and were put in the calaboose until this morning. Each were fined $5 and costs. Pearce paid. Comforth was remanded to jail.

Unfinished Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 29, 1886.

The city prisoners have been removed from the old calaboose, where there was danger of their freezing to death of a cold night, and are now confined in the unfinished jail in the new city hall building. A good stove set up therein conduces to their comfort.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Traveler, December 29, 1886.

Police Docket for November.

[Note: Fines ranged from $1 to $50; costs from $4 to $7. In some cases only a fine was assessed. I did not list fines, costs, and dates. MAW]

The docket of Police Judge Bryant for November shows the following fines and costs paid.

George Miner, drunk; Thos. O’Conner, drunk; James Hedley, drunk; James O’Neal, drunk; John Doe, disturbing the peace; J. Smith, drunk, fined $5; left his overcoat in pledge, which was sold for $6.

James O’Connor, selling liquor; Ed Fenstrock, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $10. John Stevenson, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $50. John Doe, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $50. Frank Long, selling liquor, fine $50, paid $50.

Thos. Conway, drunk; J. J. Bacon, drunk and committing nuisance. John Doe, drunk; Barney McGinn, drunk; Cline, drunk. W. Waltz, disturbing the peace; John Moore, drunk and disorderly; Geo. Miner, drunk.

[Prostitutes were fined $10. Two individuals had to pay $4 costs.]

Prostitutes: Rhoda Wood; Mollie York; Mollie Brown; Emma Dodge; Mary Sherwood; May Shirtz; May Carter; May Smith; Nell Tartar; Ed Day; Mat Jones; Jennie Pruitt; Lou Raymond; Emma Jackson.

Total Fines: $415.00

Total Costs: $ 65,00

TOTAL: $480.00

Paid to the city as per treasurer’s receipt: $430.76

Paid to same by city marshal: $ 16.50

TOTAL: $447.26

In addition to the above, twenty arrests were made from which no pay was derived, of which seven were drunks and five disorderlies, who had no money and served out their time in jail.

1887

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 22, 1887. From Saturday’s Daily.

Miller McAfee, the man who kicked E. S. Lumpkins in the eye yesterday afternoon, was fined $10 and costs by Judge Bryant. He paid up, and was immediately arrested on a state warrant issued by Judge Kreamer. McAfee plead guilty, and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and fined $20 and costs. He was taken to Winfield, and now languishes in the county bastille. Lumpkin’s eye is getting better, and he is able to appear on the streets. The man with whom Lumpkins had the fight was fined $10 and costs.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 22, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.

James Murray was arrested this morning, on the charge of grand larceny. He was accused of stealing a valise of clothing from Jesse Bearse. Murray was bound over until Thursday afternoon, and sent to the Winfield jail until date of trial.

Escape from Unfinished Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 22, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Three men arrested for drunkenness yesterday were put in the new city bastille last evening, and this morning when the police went to get them they were gone. The new jail is incomplete. The cages are not yet in, and the prisoners had an easy time getting out through the wooden doors.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 22, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.

John Murray, the man who was arrested the first of the week for stealing a valise from W. J. Bearse, had his trial yesterday evening before Judge Kreamer. He was found guilty and sentenced to 30 days in jail and to pay costs of suit.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, January 29, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Henry Walker, the brute arrested at the poor farm, was taken before Justice Wood at Winfield yesterday, but waived examination, and in default of bond was committed to jail to await the action of the district court. His bond was fixed at $2,000.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 5, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.

Our north Summit Street druggist, Jerome Steele, is in the toils. He was arrested last evening by Sheriff McIntire, charged with violations of the prohibitory law, and taken before Judge Lindsay. His bond was fixed at $500, but he refused to give it, although several friends offered to go on it. He was taken to jail on the afternoon train to Winfield. The complaint against Mr. Steele is that he did not file a statement for all he sold; or in other words, a person could go there, buy several bottles of beer, file one statement, take one or more bottles of the beer at that time, and return at some future time and get the remainder. This, it is said, is a violation of the prohibitory law.

Winfield Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 12, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.

John Angle, accused of larceny, was taken to Winfield jail, being unable to give bond.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 12, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.

Mable Noe and Anna Van Hook were arrested over at Geuda yesterday by the city marshal. They were wanted here for a “big time” they had night before last in rooms in the Ex-Occidental hotel building. Mable and Anna and a youth by the name of Fred Hall went on a drunken spree and during the debauch the first named fought with another prostitute by the name of Jennie Miller. The gang thought they would play it sharp on Marshal Gray and the following morning skipped for Geuda. But they were headed off by the telephone. Marshal Gray ordered their arrest and they had scarcely touched the town until they were taken in. Before Judge Bryant the gay Mable was fined $10 and costs; Anna $5 and costs. Fred Hall had his trial this morning and was fined $5 and costs. Marshal Gray ordered Noe to leave the city on the first train or he would put her in jail.

County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 19, 1887. From Saturday’s Daily.

C. L. Harkins was brought in today by Sheriff McIntire. He is accused of stealing A. E. Kirkpatrick’s watch. He was taken before Judge Lindsay and bound over until next Thursday. He couldn’t give bond and he was committed to the county jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 26, 1887. From Saturday’s Daily.

C. L. Harkins had his trial in Judge Lindsay’s court yesterday. He was charged with stealing A. E. Kirkpatrick’s watch last summer. He was bound over in the sum of $500 to appear for trial in the district court and taken to the jail at Winfield in default of bail. The court deemed the evidence sufficiently strong to hold him for trial.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, February 26, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Council Proceedings.

The regular meeting of the council occurred last evening. Present, Mayor Schiffbauer, Councilmen Ingersoll, Prescott, Thompson, Davis, and Hill.

The proposition to put iron shutters on the jail by Danks Bros., was read and on motion laid over till next meeting for consideration.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 5, 1887. From Monday’s Daily.

Henry Shultz while intoxicated fell down the ex-Occidental stairway Saturday night, and severely hurt the back of his head and back. The police picked the unfortunate man up and put him in jail. His injuries were so severe he had to be taken out of jail and to the hotel.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 5, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.

A man by the name of Donnelly was arrested last night for being drunk. He was fined $5 and costs; as he was moneyless, he has to lay it out in the city jail. The fact of his having a cork leg saves him from working on the streets.

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 12, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.

Today the jail is empty.

Courthouse.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 12, 1887. From Monday’s Daily.

Ed. Gray, deputy county clerk, has resigned his position, his retirement to take effect on the 15th. He retires in order to go into business in Arkansas City. Ed. is one of the most accommodating gentlemen on the courthouse force, and is a very efficient clerk. We regret to see Ed. leave us, as one more accommodating will be hard to find, and his being a practical newspaper man himself has made him a favorite among the reporters of the daily press. A newspaper reporter appreciates that kind of man and all wish Ed. success.

Winfield Telegram.

Excerpt from meeting...

Arkansas City Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 12, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.

Council Proceedings.

The prisoner in the city jail was ordered released.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 19, 1887. From Thursday’s Daily.

Pat Donnelly, yesterday afternoon, between 5 and 6 o’clock, was in the English Kitchen, “blowing” about what a good shot he was. Suddenly he pulled his revolver and discharged it upward through the sky-light. He was arrested and fined $10 and costs. The miscreant got off with a very light penalty. He deserved three times as much and a month in jail.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, March 26, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.

Johnson, the colored man, up for selling intoxicants, was convicted this morning on two accounts in Judge Kreamer’s court. He was sentenced to 60 days in jail and fined $200. The following are the names of jurymen: E. W. Vaughn (colored), A. Dodd, P. B. Andrews (colored), A. G. Lowe, Geo. W. Spruill, Bradford Beal, Geo. Allen, G. W. Herbert, P. Thompson, J. C. Pickering, C. Atwood, and S. J. Rice. There was talk of appealing, but at time of going to press the necessary bond had not been filed.

Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, April 2, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.

Parties who were up to Winfield yesterday tell us of a highway robbery alleged to have been committed by Bert Greer and a cowboy by the name of Thomas, upon a drummer by the name of Sherman Clark. The three had been playing poker and drinking. Clark was induced to go from the room into the streets, where he claims he was thrown down and robbed of $57 by Greer and Thomas. He was then threatened with being thrown into the Walnut River to drown, but that was given up. Greer has been arrested and is now in jail. Thomas escaped. Oh yes, Winfield is a moral town. No poker rooms, no joints, no nothing.

Cowley County Jail.

Arkansas City Republican, Saturday, April 2, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.

Thos. Madden, who was arrested a short time ago, had his preliminary this morning before Judge Bonsall. He was up for selling whiskey in a railroad camp down on Cottonwood Creek. Sufficient evidence was adduced to hold him for trial and he was bound over in the sum of $500 to appear at Wichita at the next term of the U. S. Court. Failing to give it, he was remanded to the Cowley County jail.

[Microfilm for 1887 ceased at this point.]

COVERAGE OF COURTHOUSE AND JAIL ENDS HERE FOR NOW.