ARREST OF HORSE THIEVES
Two young men answering to the names of Charlie
King and Albert Haskins were brought to this place from Caldwell in irons this morning by Messrs. Jordan and Taylor.
They were arrested at Caldwell last Tuesday by Messrs. Jordan, McClelland, Terrell and Nicholson on a charge of
having stolen a team and wagon in Wintersett, Iowa, about four weeks ago. John S. Taylor had followed the thieves
from Winterset Iowa, and though they had two weeks advantage in time, he succeeded in striking their trail in Missouri;
tracked them into and through Nebraska, followed their devious wanderings through Northern Kansas, crossed the
K. P. road at Russell and thence to Great Bend on the Arkansas River, never once losing the trail. From Great Bend
the thieves followed pretty closely by. Mr. Taylor went to Medicine Lodge, from which place they started out on
a buffalo hunt. Having accertained that his men were in Southwestern Kansas, Mr. Taylor made arrangements to intercept
them at every point of egress, and was rewarded for his two weeks hard woke and 800 miles travel by securing his
game at Caldwell as above stated. The young men freely admit their guilt and are disposed to make a joke of it.
They left today for Iowa penitentiary via Wichita. (The Sumner County Press, Thursday, November 6, 1873)
Sumner County Press, December 22, 1881
THE BLOODY BORDER
The Glory Has Not Yet Departed From the Cow Boy’s Sceptre
The history of Caldwell dates back to the beginning of the cattle drive from Texas in the spring of 1871. Capt.
Henry Stone’s log store, the first building erected on the town site, became the resort of the few bold pioneers,
who ventured to settle upon a wild frontier. With the influx of Texas cattle came an army of reckless cow boys.
These wild, frolicsome “sons of the border” may not be more quarrelsome than the generality of mankind; but their
quarrels rarely end except in streaming blood and ebbing life. Situated, as it is, on the north line of the Indian
Territory, Caldwell has ever been a favorite resort for the cow boy whether upon his periodical excursion from
the cow-camp to the borders of civilization for supplies and a “hoorah,” or for a few days rest after the wearisome
drive from Texas through the Territory. During these sojourns in town, the cow boy usually resorts to cards, to
drinking and to exhibitions of his skill with his revolver, a brace of which every “thoroughbred” carries through
life and parts with in death only. While in his cups, the cow boy is quarrelsome; but all his difficulties are
adjusted at the revolver’s point. His victim is rarely a man from the “range” but usually a citizen or shark from
the “states.”
July 3, 1871, George Peay, a young man from Cherokee county, who had settled near Caldwell, met a party of cow
boys in Stone’s store. Being fond of the social glass, he joined them in a game of cards. Warmed by drink, he uttered
a thoughtless word, half in jest, which provoked an answering taunt. His keen retort was cut short by the pistol’s
flash and George Peay was laid away from mortal sight, as the first victim in Sumner county of the cow boy’s wrath.
Caldwell the Scene of Another Frontier Battle
Mike Meagher and George Spear Slain
Succeeding murders along the border have followed each other so rapidly since then, that many of them have never
been chronicled. Years ago, when there was no law, the murderer did not consider it necessary to flee, but simply
kept a sharp outlook for the “avenger of blood.” Of late years, however, there has been some effort made to enforce
the laws, and these desperados have been more wary in their lawlessness. Yet the immediate causes of their depredations
has never been removed. The large majority of brawls that have been terminated in murder, began in dance and bawdy
houses. In every instance the murder’s brain has been fired by strong drink, very frequently sold in violation
of law.
It is a notorious fact that the people and city government of Caldwell have permitted the existence of the vilest
of vile dance houses and body houses in their midst. Moreover, those who have violated the state laws day by day,
in the selling of intoxicants, have been screened and defended by the people of the town. Four or five saloons
have been in full blast there for months. It has been argued that these institutions, even though they be unlawful,
are essential to the prosperity of the town; that Caldwell’s prosperity depends upon stockmen and cow boys of the
range; that they will not patronize a town where these “luxuries” cannot be obtained. The fallacy of these arguments
is shown more forcibly by the events of last Saturday than by any reasoning that man can make. The growth and prosperity
of any town is injured more by such occurrences as Caldwell witnessed last Saturday than “wine and women” could
benefit them in a century.
For some time past, a party of roughs consisting of Jim Talbott, Tom Love, Bill Mankin, Bob Munson, Dick Eddleman,
Jim Martin, Doug Hill, Bob Bigtree and Tom Delaney have been loafing around Caldwell. They had been, at one time
or another, cow boys, but were resting for the time being.
Talbott, whose real name is Sherman, is a native of Buchanan county, Missouri and a cowardly desperado by instinct.
It seams that he is a cousin to one Powell, whom Mike Meagher killed in 1876 while marshal of Wichita. Munson was
one of Powell’s “pards” also. Besides, the whole crowd bore Meagher a grudge, because he endeavored to have Davis,
who murdered George Woods on the 18th of last August, arrested.
Therefore, during their sprees they sought occasion to quarrel with Meagher and repeatedly threatened his life.
For a week previous to the affray last Saturday, this party had been preparing to leave for the Territory. Consequently,
they had been unusually boisterous and had been committing various depredations. The police authorities knew that
an affray would be started on the least pretext and exercised unusual vigilance, hoping they would leave without
any actual bloodshed.
Last Friday evening this crowd went to hear Uncle Tom’s Cabin, attended by their prostitutes. Their conversation
was so loud and obscene as to disturb the whole house. Mr. Tell W. Walton, editor of the Caldwell Post, requested
their leader, Jim Talbott, to desist from his obscenity. In return, Talbott cursed him and publicly declared that
he would “fix him the next day.”
When the theater closed, the crowd gathered on the street and agreed to “fill up with whiskey and fix Meagher and
that editor.” They spent the night carousing about the saloons. Meagher’s friends attempted to persuade him to
go home, but he refused and spent the night about town. Several times during the night, he came into conflict with
the cow boys, who threatened to kill him.
At daybreak, Meagher went to the residence of John Wilson, the city marshal, waked him up and informed him of the
situation. By this time the desperados had commenced to shoot off their revolvers in the street, George Spear leading
off in this performance. (George Spear was the former proprietor of the Red Light dance house and an elder brother
of Dave Spear, the supposed murderer of Frank Hunt.)
When Wilson came downtown, he found Tom Love, Bill Mankin, alias Comanche Bill, Bob Munson and Dick Eddleman armed
with Winchester rifles; Jim Martin with a revolver, and Jim Talbott with a needle gun. Love shot off his revolver
in Moore’s saloon. Wilson disarmed and arrested him; but when he started to the caliboose (sic) with him, his comrades
rushed to the rescue. Wilson called on Meagher to assist him, when the ruffians turned upon Meagher, knocked him
down and threatened again to kill him. Wilson induced Meagher to take refuge up the opera house stairway, while
he guarded the entrance. In the meantime Love had escaped. The crowd then scattered and things seemed to quiet
down, although the authorities of the city were so apprehensive of a riotous trouble that they telegraphed for
sheriff J. M. Thralls, who left on the noon train with a posse of twenty men. About one o’clock p.m., Jim Martin,
who was armed with a revolver, was arrested for resisting an officer, taken before the Police Judge and fined.
He offered to pay the fine if the Marshal would accompany him to York’s store. While crossing the street in charge
of the assistant marshal, Talbott, Love, Munson and Eddleman rushed up to rescue the prisoner. The marshal came
up, drew his revolver and ordered them to disperse. The crowd scattered and Martin escaped, but as Talbott retreated
south, he fired three shots up the street and called on the others to get their guns.
Talbott, Bigtree, Munson and Hill ran to Talbott’s house, which was east of Main street, got their guns and started
uptown. By this time, the marshal, Meagher and one or two others had followed them, passing between and through
buildings to the rear of the lots on the east side of Main street. The officers and citizens sheltered themselves
as well as they could and shot at the desperados, who hid between buildings and outhouses. Every building in that
vicinity is riddled full of bullet holes. While his comrades were keeping the attention of the town to the east,
Talbott slipped to the north and west and came in to the north of the rear end of the buildings so as to get a
cross fire on their assailants. While in this position, Meagher stepped from behind the end of a building and a
moment afterward a load from Talbott’s gun had passed through his chest. Meagher died in a few moments.
Having accomplished the primary object of the affray in the death of Meagher, the desperados, eight in number,
went to Kalbfleisch’s livery barn in the north end of town, and compelled the attendants to saddle four horses
for them. Mounting these, they rode south, beyond the “Red Light.” While there shooting west at the citizens, George
Spear started from the dance house with his saddle to toward a lariated horse. Just as he raised the saddle to
place it on the horse, he was shot through the heart by some one of the citizens.
Jim Martin, Bob Munson, Doug Hill and Bob Bigtree were mounted on the four impressed horses. Dick Eddleman, when
he found there was no horse for him, put down his gun in the stable and asked the boys not to give him away. When
the firing was commenced with renewed vigor by the citizens after the death of Spear, Talbott jumped on behind
one of the others and the party started east. Two of their horses had been wounded, and after they got beyond the
railroad track, one horse was killed and his rider wounded. But this dismounted man climbed up behind a companion,
and the five started out on three horses. The battle had been carried on in a hurry-skurry sort of a way for about
forty-five minutes. The cow boys were armed with rifles while the officers and citizens had nothing but revolvers.
Just over the hill east of Caldwell, the fugitives met Moses H. Swaggart with a team leading a horse, which they
took from him. Heading toward the Territory, they passed W. E. Campbell’s ranche, at the junction of Bluff and
Fall creeks; one of their horses was so badly wounded that they could not get it out of the creek. Deserting this
one, they impressed two others at Campbell’s ranche and struck out for the Territory well-mounted.
In the meantime, a posse, of citizens had organized and started in pursuit, and so closely did they press the refugees
that about four p.m. they were forced to leave their horses and take shelter in a rocky and almost impregnable
canyon on Deer creek near Dutcher’s ranch, ten miles from Caldwell. Here they fortified themselves and gave battle
for at least an hour and a half without any results on either side. Just at dark, however, W. E. Campbell was crawling
up to a particular point where he could get a cross-fire on the foe, when he was shot by one of their number, who
seemed to be stationed some distance from the fort as a sort of lookout. The ball grazed Mr. Campbell’s groin and
passed between the bones of his right wrist. About the same time young John Hall, who lives a few miles west of
Caldwell, had a bullet sent through his hat. This convinced the citizens that they were laboring under great disadvantages,
because they were on elevated ground and too often in view of the desperados in the dark defile.
Despairing of taking their fort by night, a guard was thrown out and maintained during the night; but when the
morning came the cowboys had gone, leaving their overcoats and two hats. It is impossible to determine at what
time the escape was made. Sheriff Thralls and his posse did not arrive until about nine o’clock, so that the guard
was less perfect up to that time. But the night was so very dark and everything strange, that it was impossible
for many of the guards to keep the direction of their beats. So, it is the general opinion that the prisoners crawled
out after three o’clock in the morning.
Sunday morning, Tom Love, Dick Eddleman, Tom Delaney and Comanche Bill were arrested. Comanche Bill was released
Tuesday morning, however, as it appeared that he had endeavored to quell all disturbances. It is believed that
Love, Delaney and Eddleman are the three unsuccessful applicants for horses on Saturday.
Sunday night J. K. Harmon, his son Ed. and another freighter were camped on Pole Cat creek, not more than eight
miles from the scene of Saturday’s battle when these desperados approached them. Two were bareheaded, one shot
through the hand and another in the foot. They first helped themselves to all available eatables, next called for
tobacco, then ammunition and firearms. Finally they appropriated Mr. Harmon’s four fine horses and one of his companions
took their quilts, blankets and started south.
On Monday, Sheriff J. M. Thralls, accompanied by two or three picked men, left for the Territory. Tuesday a message
was received stating that he had struck the trail of his men and asking for twenty armed and mounted men. So it
seems probable that these lawbreakers will be captured yet, although it cannot be expected that they will be taken
alive. They are desperate characters and left Caldwell with 2,000 cartridges. (Submitted by Della M. Shafer)
LAFAYETTE REED CONVICTED
OF ROBBING THE MAILS
The following account of the trial and conviction
of Lafayette Reed on the charge of robbing the mails in this city during the time he was acting as assistant postmaster
we take from the Topeka Commonwealth of the 29th, ult.
Owing to the late arrival of the train from Atchison
conveying Judge Foster on Monday, the trial of cases was not resumed at the time ordered. Yesterday morning the
court proceeded with the trial of Lafayette Reed, late assistant postmaster at Wellington, Sumner County, indicted
at the present term of cour for stealing and embezzling letters containing money and drafts.
The evidence proved that Reed opened and appropriated
the contents of a letter containing a draft for $125, drawn by Streater bank, of Streater, Ill., upon the Third
National bank of Chicago, Ill. The draft was in favor of W. Hunt who lived near Wellington and was sent by mail
from Streater.
Reed forged the endorsement of Hunt's name on the
draft and sent it to the Third National Bank with a letter directing them to return the currency to him signing
himself George Hale. The request was complied with.
The evidence also showed that en embezzled a second
letter containing a draft for $500 drawn by First National Bank of Mount Vernon, Ohio on the Importers and Traders'
national bank of New York. This draft was in favor of Abraham Horn who lived near Mount Vernon who endorsed it
to the order of his son-in-law, Reason Lovett of Wellington, and sent it by mail to Lovett. Reed intercepted the
letter, forged Lovett's name and sent the letter back by mistake to the bank that drew it instead of the bank that
it was drawn upon requesting payment and signing himself Walter W. Stone. This draft the bank returned to him.
Proof also showed that he embezzled two letters containing currency and addressed to W. J. Jenkins receiver in
the land office at Wichita, containing $2.00 and another addressed to the editor of the St. Louis Democrat containing
$2.50.
The testimony of a large number of experts, showed
conclusively that the letters purporting to come from Geo. Hale and Walter W. Stone and the endorsements on the
drafts were in the hands of Reed. The draft which led to his apprehension was one for $395, drawn by C. M. Johnson
on the First National bank of Baltimore and made payable to Dr. A. D. F. Ewell of Chikaskia, Sumner County, Kansas.
The draft was returned from Wichita with Ewell's name indorsed, and a letter (proven to be in Reed's handwriting)
requesting that currency be returned. The drawer of the draft being called in, he advised against sending the money
and the draft was very negligently returned. The only clue left then was the letter when being forwarded to the
post office department and thence sent to Special Agent Crowell, who after a month's persistent effort, traced
it to Reed and arrested him. This led to the discovery of the loss of the other drafts which we have described
above. The jury was only out fifteen minutes and came in with a verdict of guilty on all the counts. The minimum
time is ten years.
This same Lafayette Reed whose arrest was partly
brought about by Dr. S. Mann, postmaster of this city, instigated by malice and the devil and in order to weaken
the testimony which should go far to convict him, sought to implicate the doctor in the crimes with which he stood
charged. This he did by swearing that Mann was a partner in the interception of the Hunt draft and the forgery
of the subsequent endorsements. On this information he (Mann) was arrested by Major Crowell, taken before a U.S.
Commissioner at Leavenworth and held under bonds to answer to the grand jury of the U.S. District Court at the
late term. That the doctor was fully and completely exonerated, does not surprise any of his numerous friends in
this city and country as no one believed him guilty and we take pleasure in publishing the following vindication
of his character as an honest though much abused public official and private citizen.
Topeka, Ks., April 27, 1874
To whom it may concern: - I take pleasure in certifying
that after a full examination of the charges against Dr. S. Mann, Postmaster at Wellington, Kansas, I am entirely
satisfied that said charges are false, malicious and unfounded. They leave no stain upon his character.
Geo. R. Peck, U. S. Dist. Att'y
The facts above stated are substantially correct.
E. W. Ayers
Foreman Grand Jury, U. S. dist. Court,
April 28, 1874
(The Sumner County Press, Thursday, May 7, 1874)
