Murder of Sheriff Lard
Further Particulars of the Shooting at Leonardsville
Manhattan, Kan., Oct. 21 - Feelings still
runs decidedly high concerning the murder of Sheriff Lard yesterday. Stores are numerous and somewhat conflicting.
The one most likely to be unexaggerated comes from an eye-witness, as follows.
Lard was standing in the middle of the street in front of the hotel Warner, coming up the east side of the street,
crossed over, and stopped directly in front of Lard. Suddenly drawing his hands from his pockets he flashed two
pistols in the sheriff's face, yelling "These are your deputy's pistols!"
Lard struck out with his left hand catching Warner's right hand pistol, but could not hold out against the latter's
strength. At this Warner commenced shooting, the first shot striking Mr. Lard in the bridge of the nose, the second
entered his heart and killed him instantly. Warren fired eight shots in all; Lard but two, which missed aim.
Warren was arrested but a few minutes later in a bock east where he had concealed himself. He was taken at once
to Garrison and was brought on here last night.
Though talk of lynching and hanging floated out on the evening zyphyrs from any and all quarters peace reigned
- but peace of a modified nature and many thinks that danger is not yet over. (Topeka Weekly Capital, October 22,
1897, page 5)
LYNCHING
May be the Fate of a Desperado Who Murders a Sheriff
Manhattan, Kan., Oct. 20 - A crowd of excited citizens
throng the streets here tonight in the vicinity of the county jail, threatening summary vengeance upon Ike Warren,
the murderer of Sheriff S. B. Lard, who was killed today at Leonardsville. Warren who had been arrested by the
sheriff, shot the latter, killing him and then attempted to escape. His flight was stopped by Banker Sparks, of
Leonardsville, who sent a bullet into the neck of the murderer. A summary lynching was prevented only by the hurried
removal of the prisoner to Manhattan.
News of the crime was telegraphed here, and when
the murderer in charge of six deputies arrived, a crowd gathered and made hostile demonstrations. The six deputies,
however, drew revolvers and succeeded in landing their man in jail. At 11 o'clock it is reported that several secret
meetings are being held with the intention of organizing for a lynching. (Morning Herald, October 21, 1897, page
5)
MOB AFTER A MURDER
Manhattan, Kas., Oct. 22 - A crowd of excited citizens
thronged the streets here Wednesday night in the vicinity of the county jail, threatening summary vengeance upon
Ike Warren, the murderer of Sheriff S. B. Lard, who was killed at Leonardsville, a village west of here. Warren,
who had been arrested by the sheriff, shot the latter, killing him, and attempted to escape. His flight was stopped
by Banker Sparks of Leonardsville, who sent a bullet into the neck of the murderer. A summary lynching there was
prevented only by the hurried removal of the prisoner to this place. (Fort Worth Morning Register, October 23,
1897, page 2)
Circumstances of Death:
Sheriff Lard, accompanied by a deputy and the county
attorney, was attempting to serve a warrant for disturbing the peace and violation of the prohibitory law on Ike
Warren and his wife in Leonardville. The officers took possession of Warren's café. Later, as Sheriff Lard
approached Warren on the street, words were exchanged and Warren shot and killed the sheriff. The offender was
pursued and captured by citizens of Leonardville.
Cholera At Fort Riley
FORT LEAVENWORTH, K T
August 6th, 1855.
The last railroad accident, steamboat explosion,
with sometimes very little damage, is duly reported to you; I consider it, therefore, my duty to give you an account
of the ravages caused by cholera at Fort Riley, Kansas Territory.
Some two week ago, Major Ogden, with four hundred
citizens, mechanics, stone-cutters, laborers, etc.., went out to Fort Riley, for the purpose of erecting buildings
and stables to be occupied during the coming winter by some dragoon companies. Until last Wednesday, the whole
command was very healthy, and got along well with their buildings,when the cholera made its appearance, and in
forty-eight hours—i. e.,
from Wednesday until Friday noon, it took forty-five to fifty persons to a better world. Major Ogden died last
Friday. The wife and two children of Major Woods, the wife of Major Armistead, Sixth Infantry, and forty-five or
forty-six citizens, died. All the troops had left, except the Band and
Staff of the Sixth Infantry, one of which the Quartermaster's Sargeant, died also.
Yours, C. M.
Alton Weekly Courier August 16, 1855 (submitted by Janice Rice)
