Newspaper Articles for Chase County, Kansas

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

Chase County, Kansas

KANSAS ELECTIONS

A WOMAN ELECTED AS MAYOR OF COTTONWOOD FALLS

Oskaloosa, Kan., April 3 - After a vigorous fight, the female candidates for the city offices won the day by sweeping majorities. At Cottonwood Falls, Kan., the ladies were also triumphant, Mrs. Minnie Morgan being elected Mayor with all the members of the council of her sex. (New Hempshire Patriot, April 11, 1889, page 3)

NO DANGER OFL YNCHING

To the Editor of the Kansas City Times

Cottonwood Falls, Kan., June 7 - In your issue of the 6th instant I see an exaggerated and sensational account of the unfortunate trouble with which A. S. Howard's son is connected. I was in the city at the time of the arrest, and did not then and have not since heard anything about lynching. It is a very sad affair, and Mr. Howard and his family have the sympathy of the best citizens of the county; also have the parents of the girl. There is not a more highly respected family in the county than Mr. Howard's, Respectfully yours, in justice to all. J. D. Murdock, Sheriff, W. P. Martin, cashier; J. M. Tuttle, merchant; J. M. Haskill, county coroner; C. M. Gregory, merchant, L. W. Hillert, merchant; M. M. Kuhl, merchant; E. Johnston, lawyer; W. J. McNee, merchant; W. H. Honsinger, merchant, G. W. Holsinger, Merchant F. E. Finkey, jeweler; W. E. Timmons, postmaster, and editor Courant; L. M. Swope, assistant cashier State Exchange; E. J. James, merchant; John Doering, barber; Matt McDonald, probate judge; S. C. Smith, grocer; L. M. Gilbert, hardware man; H. F. Gilbert, hardware man; T. F. Hungerford, farmer; W. W. Sanders, cashier Chase County National; J. B. Sanders, assistant cashier Chase County National; J. D. Mirrick, vice president Chase County National; S. A. Breese, land agent; T. M. Gruell, Mayor; F. P. Cochran, ex-county attorney. (Kansas City Times, June 8, 1895, page 4)

EXCITED OVER A LYCHING
Many Prominent Citizens of Cottonwood Falls, Kan., Will Be Arrested

Kansas City, July 16 - A special from Emporia, Kan,. Says: For several weeks detectives have been at work securing evidence against the men who lynched George Rose at Cottonwood Falls, in May 1894. There are 25 warrants in the hands of the sheriff for prominent people in Cottonwood Falls and Strong City and arrests will probably be made during the afternoon. The trouble grew out of the recent closing of Strong City joints, and it is said that the liquor crusaders are the men for whom the warrants are out, and that the friends of the jointists are behind the work of the detectives. Much excitement prevails in both towns, and the best people in Chase county fear serious trouble before the quarrel is settled. (Aberdeen Daily News, July 16, 1895, page 4)

KANSAS LYNCHING

MURDERER OF AN ASSISTANT POSTMASTER STRUNG UP AT COTTONWOOD FALLS

A Railroad Bridge Used for A Gallows - A Fall of Ten Feet

Body of the Victim Left Hanging for Ten Hours Before Being Cut Down

Strong City, Kan., May 14 - The great excitement which prevailed all of Saturday night and which nearly culminated in the lynching of George Rose, the murderer of Assistant Postmaster Karl Kuhl of Cottonwood Falls, but which was finally subdued by the cooler judgment of the best citizens of the vicinity, broke out afresh and about 11 p.m. a mob of 50 masked men marched to the jail and called Sheriff Murdock to the door. As soon as the sheriff opened the door he was overpowered by the men, who placed pistols to his head, and conducting him to the door of the cell occupied by Rose, he was commanded to unlock it. The sheriff entreated his captors to desist, but to no purpose and he was finally compelled to unlock the cell door, under threats that the mob would have the man they sought if they had to pull the jail down.

Every approach to the jail and courthouse was carefully guarded by armed members of the mob. Everything was done in a quiet manner, every man seeming to know what he was to do. After securing the prisoner the mob marched east to a railroad bridge. In the meantime word had reached the citizens of the town generally and a crowd of fully a thousand people gathered at the bridge to see the lynching. A rope was placed around the victim's neck, his hands and feet were tied and he was given a shove off the bridge, falling about 10 feet. His neck was broken and death was almost instantaneous. The lynchers then disappeared leaving his body dangling between the bridge and the waters of Cottonwood River, where it remained until 9 a.m. when the coroner held an inquest. The general verdict here is that lynching was justifiable, and it is understood that the men who did the work included some of the best citizens of Cottonwood Falls. (Grand Forks Herald, May 15, 1894, page 1)

BLEW THE SAFE OPEN

Bank Robbers at Chase Secure About $2,000

Citizens Aroused by the Explosion and Give Chase - The Outlaws Surrounded but Elude the Pursuers

Sterling, Kan., Oct. 2 - Robbers blew open the safe in the bank at Chase, Kan., last night. About $2,000 is missing. Some of the money, currency, was destroyed by the explosion.

Two men suppose to have been the robbers were surrounded near Allen by citizens of Chase, who were aroused by the explosion.
The robbers escaped, however, in the darkness. (Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, October 5, 1897)

GIRL STOPS A JAIL BREAK

Dislodged Stone Caught Attention of Kansas Sheriff's Daughter

Cottonwood Falls, Kas., July 19 - The quick eye of Marguerite the little daughter of W. F. Rockwood, sheriff, saved a wholesale delivery from the Chase County jail here last night. In crossing the courthouse yard Marguerite saw a big stone lying on the ground below the jail window and then discovered a hole in the jail wall above from which the stone had fallen. Miguel Miching and Jose Astriagh, two Mexican prisoners in the jail were almost ready to escape. They had dug through two feet of solid stone masonry working with a little piece of wire as their only tool. She reported the fact to her father, who surprised the prisoners. (Kansas City Star, July 20, 1914, page 4)