Stevens County Newspaper Articles

STEVENS COUNTY, KANSAS

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

THE KANSAS WAR

Herbert Tony Tells How the Cross Party Was Slaughtered

Liberal, Kan., July 28 - The bodies of four men killed by the Hugoton party were brought to Stevens county, night before last, and with the wounded boy Herbert tony, afterwards taken to Woodsdale. No further shooting is reported but squads of Hugoton and Woodsdale people seen by the travelers in different parts of the county may provoke another conflict.

Herbert Tony, the nineteen year old boy who was seriously wounded, made an ante-mortem statement Voorhees, July 28, sworn before H. V. Tucker, Notary, as follows:

On July 24, 1888, I went in company with John Cross, Sheriff of Stevens county to arrest Sam Robinson, then said to be in the neutral strip. We went down to the neutral strip, but failing to find Robinson. We proceeded to return on July 25th, and stopped to remain a while and rest our horses at Wild Horse Lake, in the strip. We lay down ourselves at a hay stack. In about a half an hour, I heard the Sheriff say:
"Boys, they have got us." I looked and saw they were all around us, their number consisting of about twenty men. Sam Robinson demanded of Sheriff Cross, that he give up his arms. Cross replied that he did not have any, whereupon Robinson said: "Sheriff Cross, you are my first man," raised his Winchester and fired; Cross fell. Robinson then killed Hubbard in the same manner. J. B. Chamberlain, one of the County Commissioners of Stevens county shot me in the shoulder, but I escaped by feigning death. I heard Robinson say he shot Eaton the fellow who had formerly pulled a gun on him. They also shot and killed Wilcox. They fired into the dead bodies of several men to make sure, but they left me for dead. The posse consisted of myself, Cyrus W. Eaton. B. Hubbard, Rolla Wilcox, and John Cross, Sheriff. After they had gone I saddled my pony and made the best of my way to Voorhees. (Wheeling Sunday Register, July 29, 1988, Page 1)

SURPRISED AND MASSACRED

Herbert Tony Tells How His Four Unarmed Comrades were Cruelly Murdered

Conflicting Stories of the Bloody War Growing Out of a County Seat Fight

Residents of Both Towns Armed and More Trouble Feared - And Asked of Governor Martin

THE STEVENS COUNTY MURDERS

Topeka, Kan., July 28 - Captain L. C. Price, Mayor of Woodsdale, Stevens County, arrived from the scene of the war late last night and appeared before Governor Martin this afternoon. He implored the Governor to take some action at once toward setting the trouble there. He filed a written statement in which he gives the following facts regarding the murder of Sheriff Cross and his posse:

"They were disarmed and stripped of everything valuable. They were then stood up and the command was given, "line up." Three men lined up and at least twenty shots were fired simultaneously. The men fell in their tracks. Two men refused to line up, but one was shot. The other started to run for the lake and reached it, but was riddled with bullets. The party then rode rapidly north. As soon as they were out of sight the hay campers crawled out of their tent and examined the bodies. Every man was dead and every body was simply riddled. A messenger was at once sent to Voorhees, the nearest town, eighteen miles to the north, in Stevens County, and here the people were informed of the occurrence. From Voorhees a messenger was dispatched to Woodsdale, and three wagons were sent south from the former place to secure the bodies. As soon as the news reached us, about 11 o'clock in the morning, it created great excitement. A meeting was immediately called in the Town Hall, and every citizen attended. J. D. Murray presided. Everybody was in favor of arming and proceeding at once to Hugoton to burn the town and kill as many men as possible in retaliation, but finally wiser counsels prevailed and that was abandoned. Arrangements were at once made to bury the men as soon as they arrived, which was Friday morning. It is hard to tell what the outcome of the affair will be. Every citizen in the county is armed and if the trouble comes to a head there will be more lives lost."

A dispatch received tonight by Governor Martin says that the total number killed is seven.

Another dispatch says that the whole county is armed, and that there is likely to be an outbreak at any moment. The citizens of both towns have organized into companies, all armed and ready to fight at a moment's notice. Barricades have been built at Woodsdale, and sentinels have been stationed for a distance of several miles around the town. Instructions have been given that if a Hugoton man attempts to pass he shall be fired upon. The feeling is so intense that a clash between the two towns can hardly be avoided, and if it should come there will be wholesale bloodshed. The Woodsdale people yesterday ordered 100 Winchester rifles and a large supply of ammunition. Advices from Hugoton state that the town is in arms, and no stranger is permitted to enter until he gives satisfactory proof that he is not a friend of Woodsdale. Even the boys and women have been furnished with firearms and attack by Woodsdale people being anticipated at any time. The whole trouble grows out of a bitter county seat fight between Hugoton and Woodsdale which has been in progress for the two years. Hugoton got the county seat originally by a small vote and a petition was subsequently filed in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court attacking the validity of the county organization. It has been a constant fight there ever since. No hearing has ever been had on the petition, which is still pending, the county seat meantime remaining at Hugoton.

Gov. Martin had received several telegrams during the day from Liberal, Meade Center, and other points in the vicinity of Stevens County, which proved the Stevens County massacre was worse than at first reported, as there being no telegraph line in Stevens County, it was impossible to get direct information. To ascertain the state of affairs Governor Martin dispatched Attorney General Bradford to the scene. He will be joined by Bridgadier, General Murray Myers of the State militia at Hutchinson and together they will repair to Stevens County to investigate and restore order if possible.

The strange feature of this case is the fact that even though murder has been committed as foul and blood-curdling as described, the guilty wretches are not amenable to any law, as No Man's Land, the scene of the crime, is not within the jurisdiction of any court of the land, as far as the law is concerned. Though murder should be proven, the men could go Scot fee. No Man's Land is a section of the country without law, and is ruled only by might. It is a rendezvous for murderers, horse thieves and blacklegs generally - in fact, a place of refuge. The Governor today telegraphed Congressman Peters as follows:

The Hon. S. P. Peters, House of Representatives, Washington: The Sheriff of Stevens County and four or five citizens of Kansas have been killed in No Man's Land just south of the State line. That country is new and has been for years the home or hiding place of outlaws and criminals. It is under no jurisdiction and has no laws. It ought to be attached at once to the district of Kansas so that the United States Marshal for this State could drive out or arrest the outlaws who infest it. To attach it to the judicial district of New Mexico would not improve matters. I hope Congress will speedily adopt some measure of relief. John A. Martin

ANOTHER ACCOUNT

Liberal Kan., July 28 The bodies of four men killed by the Hugoton party were brought to Voorhees, Steven County night before last, and with the wounded by Herbert Tony afterward taken to Woodsdale. No further shooting is reported but armed squads of Hugoton and Woodsdale people seen by the travelers in different parts of the county may provoke another conflict.

Herbert Tony, the 10 year old boy who was seriously wounded, made an ante-mortem statement at Voorhees, July 26, sworn before H. V. Tucker, notary, as follows:

"On July 24, I went in company with John Cross, Sheriff of Stevens County, to arrest Sam Robinson, then said to be in the Neutral Strip. We went down to the Neutral Strip, but failing to find Robinson, we proceeded to return on July 25 and stopped to remain awhile and rest our horses at Wild Horse Lake, in the strip. We lay down ourselves at a haystack. In about half an hour, I hear the sheriff say: "Boys they have got us."

I looked and saw they were all around us. There were about twenty men. Sam Robinson demanded of Sheriff Cross that he give up his arms. Cross replied that he did not have any whereupon Robinson said Sheriff Cross you are my first man, raised his Winchester and fired. Cross fell. Robinson then killed Hubbard in the same manner.

J. B. Chamberlain, one of the county commissioners of Stevens County, shot me in the shoulder, but I escaped by feigning death. I heard Robinson say he shot Eaton, the fellow who had formerly pulled a gun on him. They also shot and killed Wilcox. They fired into the dead bodies of several of the men to make sure but they left me for dead. The posse consisted of myself, Cyrus W. Eaton, Bob Hubbard, Rolla Wilcox, and John Cross, Sheriff. After they had gone I saddled my pony and made the best of my way to Voorhees.

The Liberal Leader received today the following statement from C. E. Cook, editor of the Hugoton Hearld:

Saturday, July 21, a party consisting of C. E. Cook, O. F. Cook, A. McDonald and Sam Robinson with their families went to the strip hunting and fishing and gathering wild plums. On the third day out at Goff's Creek they were surrounded by a party from Woodsdale, led by Ed Short and a demand made for their immediate surrender, which of course was promptly refused. The party then determined to try and divide their party, which consisted of eight men. It was decided to have Sam Robinson take one of the horses and flee, which he did with five men in hot pursuit on horseback and armed with Winchesters. The remaining Hugoton men hitched up their teams and let their wives take charge of them, while they marched out with their Winchesters and protected them in making their escape. They made a forced march to Hugoton and a force was immediately organized and started for the strip. They met Robinson on his way home, but eleven miles in the Territory, and as it was not midnight, they concluded to go into camp at some haystacks near by. When they reached the stacks they were fired upon by parties secreted in the stacks and general fusillade began. When it ended Sheriff Cross, Bob Hubbard, T. F. Easton and Wilcox were dead and a young man by the name of Tony was seriously if not fatally wounded. Sam Robinson of the Hugoton party was shot through the leg. (Daily Inter Ocean, July 29, 1888, page 3, part 1)

RINGLEADERS UNDER ARREST

Seven Hugoton Men Implicated in Sheriff Cross' Murder Taken to Topeka

Liberal, Kan., Aug. 7 - Sam Robinson, C. E. Cook, Orrin Cook, J. H. Chamberlain, M. Rigeley, A. McDonald, and J. W. Calvert were arrested by the United States Authorities at Hugoton, Stevens County, as implicated in the murder of Sheriff Cross and three deputies, and arrived here late this afternoon in charge of United States Marshal Jones, four members of the state militia, and W. F. Schnelt, D. Noble, J. J. Johnson, W. S. Steel and W. O'Conner of Hugoton, who had been sworn in as United States Deputies. They were placed on board the cars in the afternoon and will be taken to Topeka. Other charges against them are conspiracy and attempt to restrain others of their liberty. The troops will remain in Stevens County for about a week or ten days and will then be sent home, with the exception of two companies, which will be stationed respectively at Hugoton and Woodsdale, and will stay there for six weeks and longer if necessary. The State authorities seen determined to break down the disturbing element and prevent a recurrence of the horrible tragedy in the neutral strip. (Daily Inter Ocean, August 8, 1888, Part 1)

THE STEVENS COUNTY WAR

Evidence That Sheriff Cross Was Murdered in Cold Blood

Topeka, Kan., Aug. 2 - Attorney General Bradford returned last night from Stevens County, where he went to investigate the massacre of Sheriff Cross and his five deputies. He examined a large number of people in the different towns and all the eye-witnesses of the shooting affair. The testimony is unanimous to the effect that Cross and his deputies arrived at camp tired and worn out; that they asked permission of the haymakers to lie down and rest, and that they were sleeping and apprehending no danger when they were surrounded by Robinson and his men and shot down without having any chance to defend themselves.

All three of these witnesses say that not one shot was fired by Sheriff Cross or any one of his men. General Bradford has gathered a large amount of testimony, which he will submit to the Governor.

General Myers found that no troops were needed and so the mission of the two officials is ended for the present.

Business is reported to be at a standstill at Hugoton and Woodsdale. Everybody is armed and ready for an attack, but it is not likely either side will do anything until they find out what Governor Martin will do. Governor Martin has to appoint a new sheriff for Stevens County in the place of the one killed, and both towns have submitted a name from their respective places to General Bradford, but it is not likely that either one will be appointed.

Robinson who shot the five men is reported as taking things coolly. He was noticed Tuesday sharpening a sickle, whistling the while, and acting as pleasant and unconcerned as if the killing of five men was but an everyday affair. (The Washington Critic, August 2, 1888, page 1)