HARPER COUNTY, KANSAS
NEWSPAPER ARTICLES
BOY CONFESSES HORRIBLE CRIME
HARPER, Kan., June 26—John Kornstadt, a sixteen-year-old boy has confessed to
having murdered his cousin Nora, the ten-year-old daughter of Tony Kornstadt, a farmer. He first assaulted her
and then threw her into an abandoned well, where she was found last Wednesday , She was alive when found, but died
an hour later, without recovering consciousness. The youth was taken to Wichita to-night for fear of mob violence.
(Indiana State Journal, June 28, 1899, submitted by Barbara Ziegenmeyer)
THIS KANSAN MAY HAVE BEEN MURDERED
Wichita, Kas., May 24---A dispatch from Bluff City, Harper county, says J. J.
Morford, a baker, was found dead, hanging to a limb on Bluff Creek, early yesterday morning. It is not known whether
he was murdered. Morford left home at 5 o'clock for his bakeshop and was found dead an hour later.
(Kansas City Star ~ May 24, 1899)
OFFICIALS FOUND GUILTY
The Harper County Fight Brings Very Bad Results
HARPER, KAN., April 10---The trial of A. H. Adams, Robert T. McCulloch and H.
O. Purchell, judges of the contest court of Harper county, for conspiracy and malfeasance in office as charged
before Judge Fisher, came to a close this morning, the jury returning a verdict of guilty on four counts as charged
against Adams and McCulloch. Purcell was cleared. Adams is the probate judge of Harper county and steps will be
taken to oust him from office. Judge Fisher gave each a light sentence of $200 fine and costs and they were committed
to jail until fine and costs are paid.
The trial last four days and the court room was crowded every day with excited
people anxious to hear the evidence.
(Kansas City Time ~ April 20, 1888)
HARPER ALMOST TOTALLY WRECKED BY THE FIERCE WIND
Harper, Kas., May 29 - Reports from the country around, through which the tornado
of Friday n ight passed, show that the loss was greater than at first reported. The course of the storm as indicated
by its trail, represents an imperfect letter "S", and swept in that form a distance of at least fifteen
miles.
In Garden Plains Township two brothers were picked up and carried a distance of
200 yards and let down almost side by side. One of them was badly injured in the fall, while the other escaped
without a scratch.
The correct list of the dead so far as curtained up to 6 p.m. today is as follows:
W. L. Stranahan
Mrs. Thomas Gallagher
Mrs. Gallagher's 4 -year-old child
Louis Harrison
Mrs. Howard Tomlin's child
The supposed fatality wounded are as follows:
Mrs. Howard Tomlin
Mr. and Mrs. Felrath
Pete Girard
Mrs. A. Frey
Mrs. L. Harrison
Mr. and Miss Nane
Mrs. Satres
James Dickinson
S. Challis, wife and baby
Thomas Gallagher
The seriously wounded are:
S. E. Cole
Robert Liebecht
Peter Corey
James Dickinson
A. E. Mallory and wife
Mrs. Minor
Ezra Vance
Mrs. Baker
Winn Baker
Mrs. Matthews
W. G. Lind
Nothing escaped the storm's fury, and great damage is not only one to houses and
crops and trees, but stock to the value of thousands of dollars has been killed and injured. The nucleus of the
tornado began forming a few miles west of here about 6:30 o'clock, and for over an hour the clouds moved about
in great agitation, having a northwestern tendency.
The storm struck the cemetery and swept down fully two-thirds of the tombstones
and monuments, breaking many of them. There is scarcely a residence recognizable as such on Central avenue from
the Presbyterian Church north. About all the stores in the north half of the city are in ruins and their contents
greatly damaged. Many of the people are not only destitute of shelter, but of food and clothing as well. A relief
committee has been organized with the Hon. John Wat's as chairman and today a formal proclamation was issued by
the mayor reciting the distress of the people calling for aid. (Daily Inter Ocean, May 30, 1892)
MOORE, REV. THOMAS H.
DIES IN THE PULPIT
Rev. Thomas H. Moore of Harper Called Hence Suddenly
Harper, Kan., Jan. 11---Rev. Thomas H. Moore, Baptist minister, was preaching
at the Methodist Episcopal church Sunday evening, where union services were being held of Methodist, Presbyterian
and Baptist congregations, at 8:15, and in the midst of his sermon Mr. Moore paused, leaned against the pulpit
with his head bowed and placed one hand to his forehead. After a moment he said "God help me," then
took a step backward and fell to the floor. Rev. J. P. Fulson, a retired preacher, and Rev. A. H. Parker, the
Methodist Episcopal pastor, were seated in the pulpit. As he fell they caught him, and supposing he had only fainted,
the windows were opened and his clothing loosened. Rev. Moore's wife, son and daughter were present. There was
no excitement as the people hardly realized what had taken place. Rev. Moore groaned at short intervals for several
minutes, and at 8:25 the death rattle was plainly heard all over the church. At 8:30 he was placed on a cot and
taken to a residence across the street where he died at about 8:35. The body was removed to his home.
The church was crowded, much interest being taken in the meetings.
His wife and daughter arrived here last week from New York City, where they had
lived. A son arrived about two weeks ago.
He leaves a wife, four sons and a daughter. Two sons live in Brooklyn and one
son is editing a paper in Nebraska. Dr. Moore was an Englishman by birth, and had made many trips to England.
His death has caused universal sorrow in this city. Death was due to apoplexy.
This is the second death from apoplexy in the city in one week. There have been
a number of strokes in this section lately. The funeral has not been announced, but will probably be on Wednesday,
as the children have been notified to come at once.
Rev. Moore came to Harper last March.
(Wichita Daily Eagle ~ January 12, 1898 ~ Submitted by Lori DeWinkler)
|
