Newspaper Items - Norton County Kansas Trails

Newspaper Items
John Moulton's death Geo. Moulton was called to Cawker City, Monday to attend the funeral of his uncle, John Moulton. [Source: Norton Courier (Norton, Kansas), Feb. 11, 1897.]
Tracing A Norton, Kan.; Cattleman Who Deserted His Wife And Children A letter was received by Presiding Judge John B. Stone yesterday from W. H. Cross, a deputy sheriff of Norton County, Kanas, requesting him to examine the records in his county to ascertain whether or not E. Broquet obtained a license to marry a woman in Kansas City. The letter stated that Broquet was a large cattle dealer, who lived in Norton, Kan. He became deeply involved in debt about one year ago, according to the letter, and deserted his wife and five children. Nothing was heard of him until July 1 of this year, when he wrote them from Chicago that he was going to start to New York city on the 4th to take ship for France. After receiving this letter it was learned that he married a woman in Kansas City, who had been the cause of his losing much of his money, but her name was unknown. The letter states he might have changed his name to E. Delcourt. [Source: Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), September 3, 1895, page 7.]
Fired An Two Bankers The Result of a Trial Arouses an Ex-Cashier of Norton Special to the Kansas City Times Newton, Kan., Sept. 25 - The result of a trial here today caused a shooting affray on the principal street of the town. It arose out of the failure of the Norton County bank several years ago. Morgan Heaton was cashier and his wife owned considerable stock. When the bank reorganized in 1894 Mrs. Heaton was asked to sign over this stock. At first she refused, but did so later to save her husband from prosecution on a charge of embezzlement. She also signed a deed to the homestead property. She later brought suit to recover the value of the stock, $9,000. and to set aside the deed to the homestead and other land, because they were signed under duress. The trial was held this week and the defendants, the Norton County State bank, raised the point that the notary could not now impeach his returns as made at that time. The court so head and rendered judgment for the defendants. At 9 o'clock this morning, Heaton shot four times at J. M. Craig, one of the defendants but none of the shots took effect. Heaton then ran into the Norton County State bank and attempted to shoot the cashier, W. T. Shoemaker, but missed him. Heaton was finally arrested. Craig lives at Plattsmouth, Neb., and is a banker there. [Source: Kansas City Times (Kansas City, Missouri), September 26, 1895, page 2.]
Ranch Feud Case Is Up Famous Kansas Trial Before the Court at Norton Millionaire is Arraigned It is Alleged Three Men Were Murdered in a War Between Cattleman and Settlers Norton, Kan., Feb. 2 - The trial of three Dewey ranchmen, charged with murdering three members of the Berry family on the border of Rawlins and Cheyenne counties, June 4, 1903, was called today in the County District Court. The case was brought here on a change of venue from St. Francis. The accused Chauncey Dewey, W. J. McBride and Clyde Wilson - were delivered by their bondsmen. Each has had his liberty under bond of $15,000 furnished by C. P. Dewy of Chicago. John R. Mulvane and Josh Mulvane of Topeka. The Deweys are millionaires McBride and Wilson are cowboys. The terrible Dewey Berry tragedy in which three men were shot down aroused Kanass more than anything of the kind that has happened in recent years. The men accused of the shooting are widely known, and Chanucey Dewey, alleged to be the principal in the affair, has long been a society favorite in the most exclusive homes of Chicago, Kansas City and other large cities. The tragedy was the result of the same wars which have been waged in every part of the West where settlers and big cattlemen live. It is the old stofy of the boundless prairies proving too small for both settlers and cattlemen. Chauncey Dewey is the son of C. P. Dewey, a Chicago millionaire who first became interested in Kansas lands during the boom times of about 15 years ago. At taht time the elder Dewey loaned large sums of money on land owned by the settlers. In nine cases out of ten those mortgages were never paid, and as a result C. P. Dewey found himself with thousands of acres of grazing land on his hands. The values were nowhere near what they had been when the boom was on. He tried to sell the land, but could not, and so decided to start a ranch. With this end in view his sons, Chauncey, a college graduate was sent out to Kansas to manage the property and the feud which ended in the slaying of three men, resulted. [Source: Sun, February 3, 1904, Page 9.]
Tried To Kill Whole Family That He Might Inherit The Estate Norton, Kansas, Nov. 10 - Norton county authorites today announced that Carl Johnson, 17 years old had confessed he was employed by Elmer Heiserman, 18, to kill members of the Heiserman family in their home near Almena, Kans. The Heiserman family was attacked several days ago while at dinner. Shots fired through a window struck a daughter and the grandmother of the family. Neither was seriously injured. Both Johnson and Heiserman are held on charges of assault with intent to kill. According to Johnson's statement, Elmer Heiserman told him he was in need of money and that if his family were dead he would inheirt the estate. Heiserman, Johnson said, promised him $200 if the attempt was successful. [Source: Grand Forks Herald (Grand Forks, North Dakota), November 11, 1920, page 1.]
Marriage At Logan Special to the Capital Logan, Kan., May 17 ? Mr. Frank C. Stenger and Miss Alice Ferris both of Edmond, Norton County, Kansas, were married at the Roman Catholic Church in Logan on Monday morning, May 16, Rev. Father J. C. Regan of Cawker City, Kan., officiating. [Source: Topeka Weekly Capital (Topeka, Kansas), May 20, 1898, page 3.]
Carrie Samina Porter and Francis E. Maxwell wedding announcement A very lovely home wedding was solemnized at the home of Mrs. Addie Porter* in Norton, on Wednesday evening, November 8 [believed to be 1918], when her daughter, Carrie Samina, was united in marriage to Francis E. Maxwell, of Dellvale. Only the near relatives and a few intimate friends of the contracting parties were present. Immediately after the ceremony a bountiful wedding supper was served, after which the young couple drove to their home at Dellvale, where they are cosily fixed for housekeeping, and where the groom is employed by the Rock Island as operator. Both of these young people have grown up in this community, and a great number of friends unite in wishing for them a most happy wedded life. Submitters notes: Nancy Adeline McMullen Porter. Jacob Garman Porter, deceased, was the bride's father. Mina and Francis were divorced after 1930 in Cheyenne, Laramie County, Wyoming, United States as Mina and Francis appear together as husband and wife on the 1930 Federal census. [Source: Norton Daily Telegraph* (Norton, Kansas), Nov. 8. Submitted by D. Lofgreen.]