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POPS OUTDONE
- Stanley Has the Biggest Rally of the Campaign at Parsons
Parsons, Kan., Oct. 31 - The Republicans held the
largest and most enthusiastic meeting of the campaign in this city tonight, with W. E. Stanley and R. B. Welch
as speakers. No candidate for Governor of Kansas ever received a more royal welcome than that accorded to Stanley.
Special trains from Chetopa, Oswego and Mound valley, accompanied by brass bands, were run, and over a thousand
people came to see and hear the next Governor. Two hours before the arrival of the special trains the opera house
was packed to its utmost capacity, and when those from abroad reached the city they were unable to hear Stanley,
but on the principal street corners meetings were held and addressed by local speakers. Not excepting the memorable
campaign of two years ago has such an outpouring of people invaded Parsons on a political mission.
As compared with the free silver rally of Saturday
conservative men of all parties frankly admit that the rally of tonight eclipsed that of the Populists. Put Labette
county in the Stanley column. (The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, November 1, 1898, page 1)
EX-POSTMASTER
ARRESTED - F. W. Frye of Parsons Charged With Making False Returns
Fort Scott, Kan., April 26 - Frank W. Frye, ex-postmaster
of Parsons, Kan., under Cleveland and at present, editor of the Parsons Palladium, was arrested and brought here
yesterday on a federal warrant, charged with making fraudulent returns to the postal department. His case is a
novel one as it is alleged he reported the business done at his office in excess of what it really was in order
to keep his salary up to that of the preceding year. The arrest was kept secret, but leaked out this evening. His
trial will be held Thursday. (The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, April 29, 1898, page 3)
CHARGED WITH
ARSON - Parsons Man Said to Have Set Fire to His Own Home
Parsons, Kan., Dec. 13 - The home of J. H. P. Tarr,
on the corner of Fifteenth street and Partridge avenue, caught fire at 7 o'clock last evening during the absence
of the family. The fire was discovered by neighbors who turned in an alarm but before the fire company reached
the house the fire was extinguished. The damage was very slight.
After the arrival of the fire department an investigation was made to ascertain the cause of the fire and it was
found that the interior of the house smelt of coal oil. A further investigation led to the discovery that oil had
been sprinkled over the carpets and wood work of the house and that the doors and windows were locked and bolted.
Chief H. F. Hall of the fire department who personally
conducted the investigation, was so positive that an attempt had been made at arson that he swore out a state's
warrant against J. H. P. Tarr, charging him with an attempt to burn his own house. Tarr was arrested last last
night and is now an inmate of the calaboose.
Tarr is an old citizen, having resided in his present
quarters for many years and has always borne a good name among his neighbors and acquaintances, who will regret
to hear of the grave charge with which he stands accuse.
Tarr denies the charge and will fight in the court to clear his good name Chief Hall, in speaking of the mater,
said that he was positive that, he could sustain the charges against Tarr; that the whole interior of the house
showed that an attempt had been made to burn the property. The coal oil, he said, could not have been accidentally
spilled, for it was all over the room in which the fire organized.
Whether the house was heavily insured could not
be learned. (The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, December 14, 1897, page 7)
BIG VERDICT
FOR DAMAGES - Parsons Man Awarded $25,000 Against Railroads
Parsons, Kan., May 29 - Probably the largest verdict
ever rendered in the state of Kansas against a railroad company for personal injuries was that given to L. T. Merrill
in the court of common pleas at Kansas City, Kan., Friday against the Missouri, Kansas & Texas railroad companies
for $25,490. At a former trial the plaintiff was awarded $20,800, but the case was reversed by the higher court
upon an error. The jury Friday decided that Merrill was entitled to nearly $5,000 more than was first given him.
Merrill was employed as a switchman when he fell
between the cars while crossing the Chicago, Great Western over Jersey creek bridge and had his legs crushed off
at the knees. After being run over the man clung to the trestle-work of the bridge and saved himself from falling
into the river until the train had passed, when he drew himself up and waited for the other trainmen to come to
his assistance. Suit was brought against the two companies because, it was claimed, both of them were responsible
for the condition of the car that plaintiff was injured on. (The Kansas Semi-Weekly Capital, June 1, 1900, page
3)
EX-SHERIFF
OF LABETTE COUNTY DIES
"Fogg" Edwards passes away on Train Near
Joplin, Missouri
A. F. Edwards, known familiarly by nearly every
citizen of Parsons as "Fogg" Edwards, died on the trains near Joplin, Mo. Monday night. He was enroute
to Eureka Springs for his health. Ellis & Martin were called early yesterday and advised that the funeral party
would arrive on the Joplin train Tuesday evening at Seven-thirty. Since the death of Mrs. Edwards on Nov. 19th,
Mr. Edwards has been at Hot Springs, Arkansas but continued failing health caused him to undertake the trip to
Eureka Springs.
The funeral will be held from the First Baptist
Church, conducted by Rev. Grant Chambers, but definite time cannot be announced until the arrival of the funeral
party.
Mr. Edwards is survived by his children, Mrs. Margaret
Welch, Mrs. Chas. Bradfield, Mrs. O. S. Hunt, Mrs. Keller Keyes, and P. S. Keyes of Parsons, Mrs. Chas. Perry of
Canada, Mrs. Wirt Whitney and Mrs. Belle Gwinn of Pueblo, Colo., and Irwin, John and Lee Edwards all of Parsons.
Mr. Edwards was a very prominent railroad conductor
for many years and did a great deal of work for the M. K. & T. He also served for several terms as sheriff
of this county. His former home was five miles southeast of the city where he operated a large farm in connection
with his other interests. During his long and active life he came in touch with an unusally large number of people,
who ever afterwards counted him as their friend. (Unknown date, Probably Parsons Sun, submitted by Ann Baughman)
FORTY
YEARS AGO
A letter in this paper forty years ago, from Coffeyville,
Ks, says that the old feud between the Delawares and the Cherokees, has broken out again. Last Sunday three men
appeared at a place a few miles from Coffeyville, just over the line in the Indian Territory, where the Delawares
were holding a camp meeting and without warning, shot and killed John Sarcoxie, son of a Delaware chief. His friends
at once attacked the desperadoes and killed two of them and later captured the third and promptly hanged him. Much
excitement prevails and troops have been asked for. (Kansas City Times, unknown date, submitted by Ann Baughman)
A PIONEER
DEAD
Judge A. J. Miller, aged 82, who was a veteran
of the Civil War, and who was one of the early settlers in Kansas, having at one time owned the plot of ground
upon which Baldwin City and Baker University is now located, died at Arkansas City yesterday. He was formerly prominent
in state politics and he tried the first law suit ever tried in Butler county.
He leaves a wife and two sons. For a brief period
he published the Daily ------------ in Parsons. (Submitted by Ann Baughman)
CHARLES
KING MURDERED
Murder committed at Katy oil house
last evening
Body discovered at 10:50
Skull fractured, body dragged to
to the Basement and the Building Set on Fire.
The most fiendish murder ever committed in Parsons,
was commited last night, when Charles King, an Englishman, and foreman of the Katy oil house, his skull fractured,
and a rope put around his neck and the body dragged into the basement, all turned out on one of the tanks and the
building set on fire. The rope found around the dead man's neck was a bell cord cut from an engine standing in
the yards.
Just what time the murder occurred is not known,
but it is presumed that it happened about six o'clock. King worked from 7 o'clock in the evening, and one of the
Katy employees says he saw King at ten minutes to six, and another says he saw him the last time about two minutes
to 6.
Robbery was unquestionably the motive of the crime.
King failed to go home to supper, and a telephone message started some of the railroad emplyees to looking for
him. The fire was discovered about 8 o'clock but the fire department subdued the flames, and it was not until more
than two hours after that time that the body was discovered in the basement of the oil house.
King had twenty-five dollars and the amount of
his pay check in his possession at the time, and when the body was found one of the pockets had been turned inside
out and the money was missing, showing that robbery was the motive of the crime.
Coroner Hamlin was summoned from Oswego and today
a coroner's jury was impannelled and an inquest is being held at the office of Justice of the Peace D. A. Coate.
King came to Parsons when the Katy officers were
removed to Parsons from Sedalia. Later he conducted a restaurant in this city. For the past fifteen years, he has
been foreman of the oil house. He was a quiet, inoffensive citizen.
From the manner in which the murder was committed
it is thought that the deed was committed by more than one man, and it is hoped that the murderer or murderers
will be speedily brought to justice.
The coroner's jury adjourned to view the remains
of the murdered man at the undertaking establishment of the Gregory-Kersey company. (Submitted by Ann Baughman)
ELIJAH
BARCLOW WAS MURDERED
He was the well known porter at the Moose Club rooms
A life for seventy cents.
Slain by J. S. Evans, an employe on the Katy Rip Track, Apparently without provocation.
Elijah Barclow, the well known colored porter at Moose club rooms, was shot three times and killed on Saturday
night, and his death seems to have been a cold blooded murder. The slayer of Barclow was J. S. Evans, who for the
past two years has been working on the Katy rip track in the car department.
The tragedy occurred about 11:30 when almost everybody
had left the club rooms. The only ones who were there at the time were Evans, Barclow, Aelred Cannon and Fred Davis.
When the shooting occurred Fred Davis had reached the bottom of the stairs, Cannon was looking out of a window
to see if it was raining, Barclow had been in an adjoining room turning out the light preparatory to leaving the
building, and had just come into the parlor, when, saying something in an undertone Evans opened fire on the porter,
who at the time had an armful of provisions which he was taking home. The first shot went through the stomach,
the second through the upper portion of the right shoulder and the third through the right hand. Cannon ran from
the building and Barclow did also. The latter ran as far as the grocery store of H. Levi on Broadway where he fell
and was found a few moments later. Evans ran from the building and ran north on Eighteenth street. Barclow was
taken to the office of Dr. Brady, in the Edwards block, where he died in less than an hour.
The police at once made a search for the murderer.
Fred Davis told the police that he thought Evans roomed at the rooming house of Mrs. Parks at 217 Central ave..
They asked Mrs. Parks if Evans was there and she told them he was not. But the next day she saw him sneak out of
the house, the first time she knew he was in the house.
When the police went to the club rooms no one was
there. They followed a trail of blood from the hall around through the banquet hall and into the parlor. Before
dying Barclow, who could then speak in only a whisper, said to Davis, "Fred, he shot me and then took my money."
Davis then discovered that a hip pocket had been turned inside out. Barclow had about seven dollars in the pocket
book.
It appears that Evans claimed that Barclow owed
him seventy cents. He was overheard during the evening to say something about seventy cents, but no one in the
room paid any further attention to the matter or heard what was further said. it seems that Evans had been at the
rooms earlier in the evening. He left and returned about 9:30.
It was reported on the streets that Barclow had
been playing cards with Evans for money, but this is denied by those who were present. A few moments before Barclow
commenced to turn out the light several member of the order had been playing cards for past time, among whom were
one or two well known citizens but no one had been playing cards for any wagers.
Barclow had been a resident of the city for many
years and was regarded as an excellent porter at the club. He was uniformly polite and seemed to be well regarded
by all who knew him. (Submitted by Ann Baughman)
THE AMES CASE
This remarkable case involving an estate worth
$35,000 and wherein B. W. Perkins, Judge of the 11th Judicial District, F. A. Bettis and David Kelso, prominent
lawyers of Oswego, with others are charged with a conspiracy to defraud the rightful heirs, and pocket the entire
estate, came up for hearing before A. H. Ayres, Judge pro tem, during a recent term of the Circuit Court in, and
for Labette County. The evidence in the case as summed up by Judge Ayers, together with the findings of facts and
conclusions of law, as rendered by the court, are very voluminous and fill nearly two pages of the Oswego Independent.
The facts in this remarkable case are briefly as follows:
On or about the 4th day of May 1872, Nathan Ames,
a wealthy farmer of Labette County died intestate leaving no issue, whereupon his widow, Hannah E. Ames became
sole heir to the entire estate. Residing with the Ames' at this time was a boy, Martin Lynch, who afterwards figures
in the case as the adopted child and pretended heir. On the 19th day of August 1872, Hannah E. Ames died, intestate.
After her death, it was claimed by Bettis and Kelso, that the boy Martin Lynch was adopted by Mrs. Ames a short
time previous to her decease, and the entire estate was seized by them as attorney and guardian for the said Lynch.
In support of this obligation they were able to exhibit an order of adoption by the Probate Court, purporting to
have been made by B. W. Perkins, then Probate Judge, upon the petition of Hannah E. Ames, and the consent of the
boy, Lynch. Upon the trial of the case, however, it was shown that the order of adoption was falsely and fraudulently
entered after the death of Mrs. Ames, and that the boy Lynch never knew anything about it until informed by his
attorney Bettis Kelso was appointed guardian for Lynch and received $15,000 in money and bonds, while the boy took
possession of the real estate. The suit was brought by the heirs of Mrs. Ames for the recovery of the estate and
it was during the progress of the trial that the astounding disclosures above referred to were made. Judge Ayers
in summing up the facts in the case says:
"V. That the defendant, Martin Lynch, alias
Martin L. Ames, was never adopted by the said Hannah E. Ames, by the probate court of Labette county, as her child
and heir.
VI. That the alleged petition for the adoption
of the said Martin Lynch by the said Hannah E. Ames, a copy of which is attached to the petition in this action,
was presented to said court without the knowledge, consent or authority of the said Hannah E. Ames never offered
to adopt the said Martin Lynch as her child and heir.
VII. That the said Martin Lynch never appeared
before said court, and then and there gave consent to such adoption; and that the said probate court never acquired
any jurisdiction of the matter of the adoption of the said Martin Lynch by the said Hannah E. Ames.
VIII. That the said defendants, other than the defendant J. S. Waters, did conspire and confederate together to
procure the said petition and order of adoption to be made, with the knowledge consent or authority of the said
Hannah E. Ames, with the intent to cheat and defraud the rightful heirs of the said Hannah E. Ames deceased and
to appropriate the same to their own use and benefit; and that said pretended petition and order of adoption were
never entered of record by the probate judge of said county.
X. That on the 20th day of August, 1872, the said
defendant, David Kelso, was appointed by the Probate Court of Labette County, guardian of the said Martin Lynch
and did as such guardian an in pursuance of the conspiracy aforesaid, receive into his possession notes, bonds,
mortgages, choses in action and other personal property belonging to the estate of the said Hannah E. Ames, deceased,
and then and now the property of these plantiffs.
Judgment was rendered for the plaintiffs and a
receiver appointed. A prominent attorney of Oswego, who heard the evidence and was present during the entire trial
writes to the editor of the Girard Press that:
Judge Perkins is found guilty of a fraudulent conspiracy
and the manufacture of a false and fraudulent order of adoption in the Probate Court of this county while he was
the judge thereof, and by which fraudulent order Bettis, Perkins and others, attempted to steal an estate valued
at $35,000.
In an able editorial on this remarkable case, the
editor of the Independent says:
It is with the evidence the public have do do.
Common place, honest people have no taste for false records or cunning practices among those to whom are entrusted
before and after death all their earthly possessions. The chain of evidence seems to the court to clearly establish
the fact that the boy Martin was not adopted by Mrs. Ames, and that the record of adoption was made after her sudden
demise. The estate is estimated to be worth at least $35,000. Mr. H. S. Coley, since the decree of the court, has
been appointed receiver and a portion of the effects have been turned over to him. Thus ends one of the most remarkable
civil suits in the annals of court. (The Sumner County Press, Thursday, October 9, 1873)
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