WILLIAM J. [UNCLE BILLY]
GRAY, CITY MARSHAL.
ARKANSAS
CITY, KANSAS.
Note: There
were a number of “Gray” families. There were also a number called William. As a
result, I could have some data that relates to another W. J. Gray. I believe
most of the following listings refer to City Marshal William J. Gray.
Kansas 1875
Census, Creswell Township, Cowley County, March 1, 1875.
Name age sex
color Place/birth Where from
W. J. Gray 25 m w Kentucky Illinois
Mary E. Gray 20 f w Illinois Illinois
Luella Gray 1 f w Kansas
Arkansas City
1893.
W. J. Gray, 41.
Spouse, Hattie, 28.
Note: I do not
think the following was City Marshal W. J. Gray.
Arkansas City
Traveler, July
28, 1880.
MARRIED. At the
residence of Mr. Harvey Dwyer, in Beaver Township, on Sunday, July 25, at 2
p.m., by Rev. L. F. Laverty, Mr. Wm. J. Gray to Miss Kate L. Myers. No cards,
but just lots of cake, etc.
NEWSPAPER
ITEMS.
Winfield
Courier, June
26, 1874.
We are indebted
to Curns & Manser, real estate agents and proprietors of Abstracts of
Titles to all lands in Cowley County, for the following transfers of real
estate.
Wm. J. Gray and
wife to Cyrus M. Hinshaw n e ¼ sec 34 tp 34 s of r 4 east; 160 acres $1,500.
[COUNCIL
PROCEEDINGS.]
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
15, 1876.
ARKANSAS
CITY, March 13, 1876
Adjourned
regular meeting.
Present, S. P.
Channell, Mayor; J. H. Sherburne, H. Godehard, and I. H. Bonsall, Councilmen.
Report of
Finance Committee, on report of Treasurer, received and accepted, and
Treasurer’s report found correct, was, on motion, accepted. Moved and seconded
that an ordinance be passed to pay for printing 2,500 circulars ordered by
previous meeting; also to appropriate money to pay E. B. Kager for services as
city attorney in adjusting back taxes on lots deeded to the city by the Town
Company; also an ordinance for general purposes. Carried by unanimous vote. S.
P. Channell, Mayor, recommended W. J. Gray for City Marshal. Moved by J. H.
Sherburne, seconded by H. Godehard, that he be confirmed on condition that he
serve as Marshal without salary further than the fees of the office; carried by
unanimous vote. Moved and seconded to adjourn, carried.
S.
P. CHANNELL, Mayor.
I. H. BONSALL,
City Clerk, attest.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
15, 1876.
BILLY GRAY is
City Marshal. Keep up your hogs and cows, or they will be “pounded.”
Arkansas City
Traveler, July
26, 1876.
As is generally
known by this time, a harvest dance will be given in Channell & Haywood’s
new building next Friday evening, July 28. All persons who take pleasure in
tripping the light fantastic toe should avail themselves of this opportunity to
enjoy the good social time guaranteed. Numbers can be purchased of Billy Gray
for only seventy-five cents each.
Arkansas City
Traveler, September
20, 1876.
The following
persons were appointed last Saturday as delegates and alternates to the
Democratic Convention, to be held at Winfield on Saturday, the 23rd.
Delegates: J.
Benedict, A. Walton, T. McIntire, P. F. Endicott, A. J. Burrell, M. E. Welch.
Alternates: W.
M. Berkey, Wm. Green, Jno. Harmon, S. Johnson, W. Dolby, Wm. Gray.
Arkansas City
Traveler, November
8, 1876.
The following
officers were nominated in the different townships, and most of them are
probably elected.
Creswell
Township. Trustee, Timothy McIntire; Treasurer, Wyatt Gooch; Clerk, L. W.
Currier; Constables, Geo. McIntire, W. J. Gray.
Arkansas City
Traveler, November
8, 1876.
The following
is the vote on township officers in Creswell Township.
Constables:
Geo. McIntire 260; W. J. Gray 252.
Trustee: T.
McIntire 145; A. Chamberlain, 125.
Treasurer:
Wyard Gooch 286.
Clerk: L. W. Currier 126; Will Mowry 142.
The vote on
township officers was not a party vote.
Winfield
Courier, November
16, 1876. Editorial Page.
Township
Officers.
Creswell
Township:
T. McIntyre,
Trustee; W. M. Mowry, Clerk; W. Gooch, Treasurer; NO J. P.; G. H. McIntire and
W. J. Gray, Constables.
[COMMITTEE FOR
THE CHRISTMAS TREE AND FESTIVAL.]
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
13, 1876.
COMMITTEE
ON CHRISTMAS TREE.
Mrs. C. R.
Sipes, Mrs. Dr. Shepard, Mrs. J. Breene, Mrs. R. A. Houghton, Mrs. T. Mantor,
Miss M. Thompson, Mrs. L. McLaughlin, Mrs. Kennedy, Mrs. T. R. Houghton, Miss
F. Skinner, Mrs. S. P. Channell, W. H. Gray, Mrs. T. H. McLaughlin, Al Mowry,
Mrs. James Benedict, L. C. Norton, I. H. Bonsall.
[CENTENNIAL
FESTIVAL: AT NEWMAN’S NEW BUILDING.]
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
20, 1876.
Festival to be
held at Newman’s new building, on Christmas night, Monday, December 25, 1876.
Everybody and his wife are expected, and cordially invited to come. Besides the
Christmas tree, there will be a charade acted by the ladies and gentlemen of
Arkansas City; a Yankee kitchen in “ye olden style” with pumpkin pies and baked
beans one hundred years old, fresh and nice, and a supper of modern times, with
all the luxuries of the season. Fresh fish from the fish pond, caught on the
spot, to order, and oysters from the Walnut. Now, young ladies, remember leap
year is drawing to a close, and only a few days are left, and you should not lose
the last chance you may have for four years to come. Who knows what fate may
have in store for you, or what the fish pond may produce? And everybody should
remember that but few of us will be on hand to attend the next Centennial
festival, and make the most of this opportunity.
Come,
everybody, and have a good time. The Christmas tree will be decorated in the
afternoon, and persons wishing to have gifts put on the tree will please hand
them to someone of the committee before 4 p.m., as there will be too much to
attend to in decorating the hall to receive packages after that hour.
The committee
appointed to decorate the tree is as follows:
Ladies—Mrs.
Sipes, Mrs. Breene, Mrs. T. Mantor, Mrs. T. H. McLaughlin, Mrs. T. R. Houghton,
Mrs. Dr. Hughes, Mrs. Dr. Shepard, Mrs. R. A. Houghton, Miss Mattie Thompson,
Miss Kennedy, Miss F. Skinner.
Gentlemen—S. P.
Channell, W. H. Gray, James Benedict, I. H. Bonsall, L. McLaughlin, Al. Mowry,
L. C. Norton.
Anything left
at Bonsall’s photograph gallery before the 25th will be taken care of and put
on the tree by the committee.
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
20, 1876.
New
Years Festival of the M. E. Church.
Programme
of Committees.
RECEIVING
COMMITTEE.
Wm. Gray, Katy
Myers, Harvey Grimes, Ida Grimes, Rachael Carder, H. Carder, Nelly Wood, Frank
Wood.
TABLE
COMMITTEE.
Mr. & Mrs.
Porter, Mrs. Alexander, Mrs. Fitch, Charles Swarts, Harvey Grimes, Mrs.
McMullen, Mrs. Wood, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Hoffmaster, Mrs. Endicott, Mrs. Collins,
Mrs. Lizzie Mitchell, Wm. Gray, Mr. & Mrs. Ward, Mr. & Mrs. Godehard,
Mr. & Mrs. Purdy, Mr. & Mrs. T. Mantor, Mrs. Morgan.
TICKET
AGENT: W. J. Gray.
Arkansas City
Traveler, April
3, 1877.
The employees
on the Arkansas City and Independence State road are John Myrtle, surveyor; J.
C. Evans and Marshal Evans, chainmen; P. Lorry, flagman; W. J. Gray, marksman;
Chas. Balcom, cook; Jas. Jordan and a man from Cedar Vale, teamsters, and the
three Commissioners, I. H. Bonsall, J. S. Cotton, of Montgomery County, and A.
Lemert of Chautauqua County.
Arkansas City
Traveler, May
2, 1877.
BARBER
CAUGHT.
Before leaving
this place last Tuesday week, Sheriff Walker deputized A. W. Patterson, and
offered him a bonus of fifteen dollars if he would capture John Barber, who had
escaped from the authorities at Dexter two days before. Mr. Patterson secured
the assistance of Con-stable Gray, and the two started in pursuit. Before going
far, they learned he had gone up the Walnut, and immediately followed. After
hunting the most of the night, they abandoned the pursuit until next morning.
In the morning
Patterson and George Walker found the trail of the criminal and followed it
until they came to the house of Robert White, where it stopped. Alighting from
the buggy both went into the house and found the man lying in bed asleep, with
a Colt’s improved revolver and Bowie knife hanging in their sheaths on the bed
post near his head. These were taken possession of by the officers, and a gun
and pistol aimed at his head while they took hold of his leg to awaken him. As
soon as he opened his eyes, Patterson said to him, “You are my prisoner.” He
realized his situation at once, and coolly remarked, “Where are you going to
take me?” He was told that he would have to go to Winfield, and he readily
assented to it, as his wound needed careful treatment. He told the officers he
did not want to go back to Elk County for fear his father and brother would mob
him.
In conversation
afterwards he told the officers if he had not been wounded, they could not have
taken him. In reply to a question of killing the soldiers in Texas, he stated
he had heard of it and that it was a man by the same name as his own, but not
him. He is now in jail at Winfield, awaiting trial. From all accounts, his
father and brother are not as worthy people as they might be, as the father of
the culprit, it is said, sent his son to shoot the half brother, saying he had
$6,000 to clear him with.
Arkansas City
Traveler, June
6, 1877.
COMPLAINTS are
made of cattle running at large, and injuring shade trees and gardens. Notice
is hereby given that all cattle found loose after this date will be taken up
and held for
damages. Cattle
must not be turned loose until the herders come for them.
W.
J. GRAY, City Marshal.
Arkansas City
Traveler, June
27, 1877.
ESCAPED.
Last week A. W.
Patterson and Wm. Gray arrested a man in Sumner County known under the assumed
name of John Scott, by order of a Sheriff of Iowa. The arrested party was
accused of horse stealing in Iowa, and broke jail from that State before his
trial. The real name of the man was John Marahue. He was taken from this place
to Wichita and was confined in a hotel during the night. Thinking him asleep,
one of the officers left him locked in his room for a few minutes while he went
downstairs after a pair of handcuffs.
As soon as
Marahue discovered he was alone, he jumped out of bed, took his clothes under
his arm, broke the lock of his door, and one on the hall door, and made his way
out. He was then tracked in the mud under an elevator, but before a light could
be procured, escaped from them again and is now at large. The Sheriff came down
on the train Saturday night, but failed to find his man. Marahue was arrested
at this place before he moved to Sumner County for stealing, but afterwards
turned loose.
Arkansas City Traveler,
July
25, 1877.
WM. GRAY
received a severe blow just below the eye from the lever of the wheel of the
ferry boat last week, while he was helping to tighten the ropes.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
22, 1877.
W. S. PACKARD
and WILL. GRAY supply the Winfield and Arkansas City markets with grapes.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
29, 1877.
HORSE
THIEF CAUGHT.
On Friday night
of last week, W. L. Han, living on Grouse Creek, fourteen miles from the mouth,
brought into this place one Thomas Conkhite, whom he had pursued and arrested
for stealing a dark bay horse from his herd. The horse was taken by Conkhite
while the owner was at dinner, and ridden to South Haven, where his father
lives. As soon as Mr. Han found his horse missing, he followed the thief, and
came upon him on the prairie near South Haven. When Conkhite saw Han, he
started his horse on a run. Han rode the best horse, and soon came within
shooting distance, and fired two shots. Conkhite then threw up his hands and
cried: “I’ll surrender; for God’s sake, don’t shoot me!” He was then brought
into town and tried before Judge Christian, who bound him over in the sum of
$300 and gave him in charge of Wm. Gray, the city marshal. Mr. Gray handcuffed
him and kept him until three o’clock in the morning, when he deputized Mr. Han
to watch him until daylight. Mr. Han went to sleep, and the prisoner ran to the
Arkansas River, got on the ferry boat, and took it across. Just as he landed,
he met a man with a team, whom he asked to cut off the handcuffs. The man
worked at them awhile, and then drove on to town and told of the occurrence.
Several persons started in pursuit, but could not find him. Before long he went
to John Linton’s house in Bolton Township, and told him he had escaped from the
officer in town, where he had been arrested for being drunk. Mr. Linton told
him if that was the case, he guessed he would take charge of him, and brought
him back. Mr. Linton’s courage is commendable, especially so since he has to
use a crutch, to get along. After the arrival of Conkhite, he was taken to
Winfield, and confined in the county jail to await his trial.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
10, 1877.
MR. A. O. HOYT
found a new buckskin glove Sunday evening. Monday morning he brought it to us
to advertise. A few hours after we had written the notice, George Deputy was
inquiring of Wm. Gray, the City Marshal, if he had heard of anyone finding a
glove. Mr. Gray advised him to advertise it. He came to the office for that
purpose, and the glove was returned to him.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
17, 1877.
No call has yet
been made for the nomination of township officers in this township yet. The
officers to be elected are Trustee, Treasurer, Clerk, two Justices of the
Peace, two Constables, and Road overseers for each Road District. The present
officers are: I. H. Bonsall and James Christian, Justices of the Peace; Timothy
McIntire, Trustee; Wyard Good, Treasurer; William D. Mowry, Clerk; Wm. J. Gray
and George McIntire, Constables.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
31, 1877.
TAKEN UP BY
CITY MARSHAL six head of yearlings from the town herd. The owners can have the
same by paying charges. The town herd is not herded by anyone now. Parties that
had stock in the herd will do well to look after them. W. J. GRAY, City
Marshal.
Arkansas City
Traveler, November
7, 1877.
The election at
this place yesterday passed off very quietly and pleasantly. The votes polled
lacked about seventy of being the entire vote of the township. Some little
strife was made for the offices of constables and justices of the peace. The
following is the vote on township officers.
Trustee. M. R.
Leonard, 203.
Treasurer. L.
Finley, 119.
Clerk. W. D.
Mowry, 197.
Justices: I. H.
Bonsall, 166; James Christian, 120; T. McIntire, 107.
Constables:
Geo. McIntire, 185; James Morgan, 133; W. J. Gray, 82.
Road Overseers:
J. W. Hutchinson ; Capt.
Bird, 7.
There were two
justices and two constables to elect.
Arkansas City
Traveler, January
23, 1878.
New addition to
Billy Gray’s house on Summit street.
Winfield Courier,
January
24, 1878.
COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS. Claims allowed Jan. 10.
Constable
fees: W. J. Gray, $6.60, $1.25.
Winfield
Courier, February
28, 1878.
Real
Estate Transfers.
W. J. Gray to J. C.
McMullen, lot 11, block 66, Arkansas City.
Arkansas City Traveler,
January
30, 1878.
BILLY GRAY
scrapes the faces of all having a surplus of hair. His place of business is
just over Pierce & Welsh’s store. Go up stairs and turn to the left.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
13, 1878.
NEW
BARBER.
MR. JOHN
NEWMAN, a young man only eleven months from Germany, has purchased the
tonsorial tools of Wm. Gray, and began work at the same place in the room over
Pierce & Welsh’s store. Mr. Newman is the best barber we have ever had, and
one of the most proficient men in his profession that we have ever met with in
the West. Give him a trial, and you will be convinced of it.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
13, 1878.
BILSON
ESCAPED.
Bilson and the
colored man who stole the horse escaped from the jail at Winfield, Monday
night, and have not yet been found. As Fitch, the jailer, went in, the darkey
knocked him down, and the two ran out and locked the jailer in. It was half an
hour before he could get out.
LATER. Bilson
was caught yesterday morning under the U. P. Church, by William J. Gray. That
is the nearest Bilson has come to attending church for a long time.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
27, 1878.
Stolen
Horses Recovered.
Friday
afternoon two well appearing young men rode into town horseback, and stopped
for the night. In the morning they attempted to sell their horses very cheap,
claiming they were from Sumner County and needed money. In the meantime a
postal card was received stating that two horses, a sorrel horse with white
face and a bay horse, had been stolen from Thayer, Kansas, about 100 miles
distant. One of the horses had been purchased in the meantime by Mr. Riddle,
the dry goods merchant, who traded a suit of clothes for it. The postal card
was directed to the City Marshal, and was handed to Wm. Gray, who, with constable
Morgan, examined the property, found the description almost exact, and arrested
the two men in the saloon without resistance. They had a preliminary trial
before Judge Christian and were bound over to appear at the next term of the
District Court to be held in May. In default of bail, they were committed to
jail. The countenances of the two were not of the best, and their demeanor
before the Justice’s court was such as to make anyone believe they were guilty,
as they declined to give their names or answer any questions. Before taking
them to jail, Mr. Riddle recovered the clothes he had traded them, but is out
the $4 in cash he gave as booty.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
27, 1878.
On complaint of
Wm. Gray, city marshal, L. H. Gardner was arraigned before Judge Christian on
Monday last for selling intoxicating liquors without a license. Amos Walton
acted as attorney for the city, and C. R. Mitchell for the defendant. After
hearing the testimony, the evidence failed to sustain the charge, and Mr.
Gardner was discharged. The cost will have to be paid by the city. It is the
opinion of the Police Judge that no one can sell liquor without a
license under the city ordinance, for medical purposes or otherwise. This will
compel all drug stores to take out a license, unless the ordinance is amended.
Arkansas City
Traveler, April
3, 1878.
The Sheriff of
Neosho County, with one of the owners of the horses stolen from Thayer, Kansas,
were here last Friday after the property that had been taken to Winfield. The
thieves, Isaac Ingalls and Martin B. Dailey, alias Al. Wilson, had been
working in a coal mine before they took the horses. Both had been in the
mountains, and were known as bad characters. W. J. Gray received $25 reward for
their capture.
Winfield
Courier, April
18, 1878.
Commissioners’
Proceedings.
W.
J. Gray, road marker.
Arkansas City
Traveler, May
22, 1878.
CHARLES
GALLART, BILLY GRAY, and FRANK WALDO have departed for Oregon and Washington
Territory in a wagon. They expect to be two or three months on the trip, and
promise to write occasionally. Charley and Billy have lived in this vicinity
for many years, and the boys could not help regretting to part with many old
acquaintances. “You can look for them back before the grass is green in another
year,” is predicted by many.
Arkansas City
Traveler, June
19, 1878.
FOURTH
OF JULY!
A Grand
Union Sunday School Picnic.
A general
invitation is extended to the Sunday schools in this vicinity and surrounding
country to unite in holding a basket picnic in Sleeth’s woods, on July 4th. The
committee on general arrangements appointed the following committees, who are
requested to enter at once upon their respective duties.
Committee on
preparing and arranging grounds.
J. M. Maxwell,
Mr. Hunter, Frank Hutchinson, L. C. Norton, H. Carder, C. M. Swarts, Sam
Endicott, Will Gray, Jerry Adams, and C. Hollaway.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
13, 1879.
Deputy Sheriff
Finch was in town last Saturday, and shortly after his arrival he and W. J.
Gray arrested two young fellows who had driven down from Winfield but a few
minutes previous, ostensibly on the charge of horse stealing; but the real
cause was a threat to break the county jail. The parties arrested were E. C.
White and T. Huffman, the former of whom was suspicioned of trying to effect
the deliverance of his brother, Ike White, from jail. Huffman was arrested,
taken to one side, and made to believe that the jig was up, and that it would
go better with him if he owned up to the object of their trip to our town.
Supposing they
were shadowed for horse stealing, he informed the officials of White’s
intention to procure some acid by which the jail locks could be destroyed,
whereupon White was immediately arrested. All the proof against him in town
was his asking for some aqua fortis at Eddy’s drug store, but both
parties were securely tied to a wagon and taken to Winfield.
While believing
Mr. Finch acted in good faith, we are disposed to regard the arrest as rather
premature. Taking into consideration the time required for aqua fortis
to corrode a lock, we cannot see that our jail was in any immediate danger,
more especially as the officers were so thoroughly posted as to White’s
intentions, and we question whether they had sufficient grounds for making an
arrest unless they were satisfied that these boys were implicated with Ike
White in horse stealing.
“Fore-warned is
fore-armed,” and a little careful watching probably would have resulted in
absolute conviction, when the luckless White could have been put where he would
do the most good. White is lately from Texas, is a reckless, worthless fellow,
and one for whom we have no sympathy. It is only our desire to see such social
lepers brought to justice that prompts this criticism. There is such a thing as
being overzealous in a cause, which, of course, is far preferable to the charge
of negligence. Of negligence, however, our present officers are never guilty.
Arkansas City
Traveler, February
11, 1880.
Marshal Gray
collected for the benefit of James Christian and paid over to him, taking his
receipt therefor, the sum of one hundred and sixty-five dollars and twenty-five
cents.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
17, 1880
Dept. Marshal
Gray is hooping up the city finances. The receipts at the Treasury for last
week from fines, etc., amounted to $113.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
24, 1880.
June 3, 1878: W.
J. Gray, fees as City Marshal: $8.50
April 14, 1880: W. J. Gray,
services as judge of city election: $2.00
July 9, 1880: W. J. Gray,
special City Marshal, 4th of July: $1.50
Arkansas City
Traveler, May
5, 1880.
The City
Council met last Monday night, and during the course of the evening the
question of appointing a City Marshal came up. The Mayor stated that he held
two petitions for this appointment, one from D. B. Hartsock and one from Billy
Gray, and asked for an informal vote from the council, in order to gain an
expression of their sentiment. This resulted in three votes for Mr. Gray and
two for Mr. Hartsock; but in view of the fact that there was claimed to be some
irregularity with reference to the collection of money, the favorite candidate
of the council was not appointed. This discrepancy of accounts was a complete
surprise to us, as doubtless it was to the members of the council, and
necessitates an investigation into the status of affairs, pending which no
nomination will be made. It would probably be advisable to make an entire
change in the marshalship, but if these two gentlemen are the only candidates,
we believe Mr. Hartsock would give better satisfaction. He has been instructed
to act in the capacity of marshal until an appointment is made.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
4, 1880.
A
NICE TIME.
There was a
dance at the house of Mr. Kreps on the Kimmel place, some five miles west of
town, on Tuesday night of last week, which resulted in rather a serious fight.
It seems that a young man by the name of Blackman was floor manager, and he
objected to one of the Conaway boys dancing, he having come on the floor when
his number was not called. Conaway, however, insisted on dancing, probably
relying upon his ability to “bluff it through,” inasmuch as Blackman was a
considerably smaller man. But the little man had no idea of being run over in
any such style, and in his endeavors to impress upon the mind of Mr. Conaway
the fact that he must conduct himself properly and take his chances the same as
any other man in the room, they became involved in a personal struggle for the
mastery.
They tumbled
around until they got out of doors, where Blackman, though much the smaller
man, succeeded in pounding his opponent pretty severely about the face and
eyes, and generally getting away with him, realizing which young Conaway drew a
large pocket knife and commenced cutting at Blackman. The point to the
principal blade in this knife had been sharpened after the fashion of a dagger,
and the wounds, some ten in number, were some of them quite severe. By this
time the crowd interfered, and separated the combatants, Blackman bleeding
profusely from the wounds inflicted by the knife. It is stated that after they
were separated, and Blackman was being held by several of the crowd, Conaway
drew a revolver and struck Blackman over the forehead and eyes with the butt of
the revolver; which, if true, was a most cowardly trick.
Dr. Alexander
was called out to attend Mr. Blackman early Wednesday morning, and though
suffering considerably at that time, he now reports the wounded man as
progressing finely.
The trial was
held before one of the justices of Bolton Township Monday, with what result we
have not yet learned.
The sympathies
of the community, so far as we can gather, are with Blackman, who, as floor
manager, had the right to rule Conaway from the floor, when he was attempting
to dance out of his number. Conaway has a desire to be regarded as a local
terror, whose presence shall inspire such fear that his actions shall go
unquestioned. Like all bullies, he stumbled over a man who was too much for
him, and who, if left alone, would have given him a rather severe lesson.
LATER. Just
before going to press we learn that Esquire Linton bound Conaway over to court
in the sum of $1,200. An effort was made to give bond, but proved futile, upon
which Billy Gray took him in charge with the intention of escorting him to
Winfield. As Billy was getting a drink at the well, Conaway made an excuse to
go around the house, and as soon as he was out of sight, he jumped on a horse
and struck out for the Territory at full speed. Several parties started in
pursuit, but he kept the lead for ten or twelve miles, and bid fair to elude
his pursuers. About this time, however, he was sighted by Col. Whiting, who was
coming up from Ponca Agency, and who seeing him skulking through the ravines,
and suspicioning all was not right, rode up, and bringing a Sharp’s rifle to
bear upon him, requested him to stop. He stopped. In a few minutes his pursuers
came up, hand-cuffed him, and brought him back to the State. He was taken to
Winfield yesterday, where he will have time to cool off.
Arkansas City
Traveler, May
18, 1881.
Deputy U. S.
Marshal, Wm. Gray, returned to the State from Sac & Fox Agency, last
Saturday. He intends to return there shortly, and will be accompanied by his
wife.
Arkansas City
Traveler,
July 20, 1881.
Will Gray is
running a feed stable in connection with the Geuda Springs bath-house.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
24, 1881.
Al. Daniels has
sold out his ice-cream saloon to Will Gray, who will run the same hereafter.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Wednesday,
February 13, 1884.
Township
Election.
The following
shows the result of the election held on the 5th inst. There were eight tickets
in the field, and the total vote polled was 444.
TRUSTEE: M. N.
Sinnott, 288; Uriah Spray, 152.
CLERK: W. D.
Mowry, 348; M. B. Vawter, 88.
TREASURER: J.
L. Huey, 184; H. P. Farrar, 125; W. M. Sleeth, 122.
JUSTICES: Frank
Schiffbauer, 264; W. D. Kreamer, 208; P. F. Endicott, 133; J. B. Tucker, 130;
I. H. Bonsall, 107.
CONSTABLES: J.
J. Breene, 257; J. S. Lewis, 202; J. E. Beck, 178; J. N. Huston, 118; W. J.
Gray, 113.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
15, 1884.
A
City Work House.
Since our new
marshal, Mr. William Gray, has entered upon his duties, many arrests for
drunkenness and disorderly conduct have been made. Our streets have been kept
quiet, and our citizens are well pleased with the efficient manner in which Mr.
Gray is discharging the duties of his office. On last Wednesday morning, the
day after the election on which memorable occasion some visitors from above—not
heaven—with pockets filled with bottles containing forty-rod whiskey,
industriously supplied some of our incorruptible voters with the contents of
the said bottles, the consequence of which fraternal affection caused the
official hotel of the city to contain five inmates. Sometime during the day,
the marshal escorted the city’s guests to the office of his Honor, Judge
Bonsall, who inhumanly decreed that our hilarious brethren must give a
pecuniary return to the state for their pleasant enjoyment. Two immediately
liquidated the financial obligation and went in peace. Three, however, being in
an impecunious condition, pleaded the mercy of the court, whereupon his Honor
decided to have the hospitalities of the county placed at their disposal.
Delicacy of feeling prompted them to decline, but his Honor would receive no
denial, and escorted by that obliging gentleman, Capt. O. S. Rarick, they
departed, almost regretting our munificent entertainment. Doubtless they will
enjoy themselves hugely, as the county supported by her taxpayers, provides
sumptuous viands for her guests. It would certainly be more in keeping with the
spirit of true hospitality if these gentlemen were given the direction of city
affairs, say the supervision of the public streets, and politely requested to
keep the said highways in excellent repair. This course we think is an
imperative duty on the part of our city officials, in order that our jovial
friends may make an ample return for the magnificent treatment which they
always receive at the hands of our courteous and obliging city officers.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
22, 1884.
George White,
our night policeman, was tried yesterday afternoon before Justice Kreamer,
assault, with a deadly weapon, upon the person of Chas. Jenkins. The evidence
in the case, went to show that city marshal Gray and White had a man under arrest,
and that Jenkins in some way interfered, and White struck him with his staff.
White was acquitted.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
22, 1884.
“Arkansas City
is well represented in the county jail—three negroes and a white man, the
former for drunkenness and the latter for stealing a revolver.” Winfield
Courier.
Let us divide
the “representation,” brother. We acknowledge that the physical portion
of these persons may belong to us, but, after due research, our
officials ascertained that the spiritual part belonged to you, and
accordingly delivered the goods.
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
26, 1884.
Our new city
marshal, Billy Gray, is doing yeoman service. Bill is starting out on the right
plan. If a man is drunk, and disorderly, or in any way violating the law,
arrest him instanter. If you can’t get him that day, nab the first time you can
get him if it is six months later. This is the kind of enforcement we want for
our laws, and then we will soon have less rowdyism in our midst.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
March 29, 1884.
Police Court.
Judge Bonsall reports business dull in the police court this week. There have
been but two arrests and only one conviction. On last Saturday, Joseph Pearson
was arrested by city marshal Gray, and was tried Monday on charge of disturbing
the peace by being drunk and disorderly, discharging fire arms, and carrying a
revolver, and was fined $10 and costs. He was sent to the county jail in
default of payment of the fine. Thomas Cochigan was arrested and tried
Wednesday on charge of discharging fire arms in the city, but on failure of
sufficient proof to make out the case, he was discharged.
Arkansas City
Traveler, April
16, 1884.
The new city
council have appointed the following gentlemen to official positions for the
ensuing year. City treasurer, C. R. Sipes; city clerk, James Benedict; street
commissioner, E. C. Stroup; marshal, Wm. Gray; water works commissioner, Ed.
Malone.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
19, 1884.
City
Council Proceedings.
Council met in
adjourned session at 7:30 p.m., April 14, 1884. Present: F. P. Schiffbauer,
mayor; O. S. Rarick, C. G. Thompson, Theo. Fairclo, F. C. Leach, and A. A.
Davis, Councilmen.
On motion F. C.
Leach was chosen president of the council.
The following
appointments were made and confirmed: W. J. Gray, city marshal; Ed. Malone,
commissioner of water works; E. C. Stroup, street commissioner, and James
Benedict, city clerk.
City marshal
was instructed to see that all ordinances are enforced.
Motion made to
secure the room over Atwood’s store for council chamber and police court at $10
per month. W. D. Kreamer to pay $5 per month of above rent, and be allowed to
use said police courtroom for justice room. Carried.
Motion made to
continue G. W. White as night police without expense to the city. Carried.
Motion made to
pay the city marshal $10 per month. Carried.
Arkansas City
Republican, May
3, 1884.
City Marshal
Gray received a telegram Wednesday afternoon from Harper, stating that Medicine
Lodge bank had been robbed that morning, and that cashier, Bill Payne, was
badly wounded. The robbers rode two gray horses, one sorrel and one bay.
Arkansas City
Republican, May
24, 1884.
Our marshal, W.
J. Gray, posted bills Monday, that today will be the ultimatum for compliance
with the mayor’s proclamation concerning dogs. Distinguish the canines, if you
do not wish a funeral.
Arkansas City
Republican, June
28, 1884.
A mad-dog
occasioned considerable excitement Tuesday. He was promptly dispatched by
Marshal Gray, but not until he had bitten some other dogs. Persons possessing
canines should now treat them with the greatest caution.
Arkansas City
Traveler, July
9, 1884.
Council
Proceedings.
CITY CLERK’S
REPORT. Received from Bluebaugh license, Godfrey & Mowry, Reeves, street
license, Police Judge, W. D. Kreamer, room rent, Police court, Occupation tax
license, Dog tax...TOTAL: $2,076.41
DISBURSEMENTS.
Scrip issued to Ward Harnley, Mowry & Sollitt, merchandise, Speers, water
rent, P. Ellis, coal, P. Wyckoff, rent, J. W. Canfield, repairing tank, W. Gray,
marshal, E. Malone, water commissioner, Stroup, labor, Clarke & Coombs,
printing, Corzine & Richards, printing, Chicago Lumber Co., lumber, E.
Malone, hardware, J. Moore, labor, Benedict & Owen, merchandise, J. J.
Breene, police, D. Hawkins, sidewalk, R. Cowles, coal, J. Stedman, dog checks,
G. W. White, police, E. W. Finch, boarding prisoners, J. Kreamer, police, H.
Adams, police, F. Decker, water commissioner...TOTAL: $517.99
Arkansas City
Republican, July
19, 1884.
Females, whose
practices are so abominable that even their sex should not protect them from
the severest penalties of the law, were arrested Tuesday by Sheriff Rarick and
City Marshal W. J. Gray. More detestable, abominable, loathsome, disgusting
creatures cannot be conceived. Debased to a degree which places them in a scale
lower than the beasts. Their appearance and actions denote the depths to which
the human race is capable of descending. The case warrant for Tuesday [TWO
LINES OBSCURED] without delay. On Wednesday afternoon, they pleaded guilty to
the charges preferred, and were fined and discharged with the injunction to
leave the city within twenty-four hours. Much credit is due Judge Kreamer,
Sheriff Rarick, and Marshal Gray for their promptness in deciding the arrest of
these polluting creatures. [LAST SENTENCE NOT LEGIBLE.]
Arkansas City
Republican, August
2, 1884.
Monday evening,
a disturbance was caused by a cowboy going to Braden’s livery and evidently
seeking an affray. The manager, Mr. Ed. Pentecost, endeavored to avoid any conflict,
but the cowboy insisted and pulling his revolver partially from his hip pocket
and drawing back the hammer, began a volume of abusive oaths. Mr. Pentecost
left the stable, secured a revolver, and returned to his duties, but finding
the party unarmed, laid his own revolver aside. The stranger continued his
abuse, and finally struck at Mr. Pentecost. It was only the work of a moment
for Ed. to deal him a blow which sent the cowboy sprawling in the dust. Believing that the cowboy would inflict
some serious injury upon him, Ed. followed up his advantage and was fast
disabling his opponent, when someone interfered and pulled him off. Billy Gray
was promptly on hand and arrested the assaulter. The latter swore violently and
refused to be arrested, but upon Billy’s drawing his cudgel persuasively, the
stranger changed his mind and proceeded with Mr. Gray to the police court.
After Mr. Gray left, the stranger became intolerantly profane, and Judge
Kreamer fined him $10 for contempt of court, and ordered him taken to the
calaboose. The Judge deputized J. F. White to assist the night-watch to carry
out the mandate of the court, but we understand afterwards countermanded the
order. The stranger proceeded downtown, insulted non-interfering gentlemen, and
acted generally as though he had the police in charge. We think the order of
the court should have been strictly carried out, and the offender placed in the
calaboose, where his drunken conduct and hideous oaths could no longer have
insulted the ear of the public.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
2, 1884.
Arkansas City
may well congratulate herself upon the efficiency of two of her officials. W.
J. Gray is a man who does his duty without fear or favor. If a party violates
the law, he is arrested without hesitation. If a party is requested to attend
at the police court, he always accompanies Mr. Gray. We believe we are speaking
within bounds when we say that W. J. Gray is the best marshal in the state. Our
road commissioner, J. M. Moore, is equally efficient in his branch of business.
The streets have been straightened and graded by him in a satisfactory manner.
We are thorough believers, in civil service reform, and we are in favor of
having them retained in their positions as long as they may desire to keep
them, and so long as they perform their duties with the promptness and energy
that has heretofore characterized them. . . .
Arkansas City
Republican, September
13, 1884.
A boy by the
name of Dunham purloined something over $3 in money from his mother’s residence
last Thursday. Bill Gray captured him and recovered the money.
Arkansas City
Republican, September
13, 1884.
Master
Hollenbeck crashed in through an open window of T. J. Sweeney’s grocery store
Sunday afternoon and relieved the money drawer of about five dollars in cash.
Shortly afterward the theft was discovered, and Billy Gray set out to catch the
culprit. He caught young Hollenbeck and searched him and found $4.75 on his
person, the remainder he had made away with. He tried to buy beer at Eddy’s
drug store, but was refused. Hollenbeck is just entering his teens, and unless
he absorbs some of the reformation talked about to the Democratic platform,
suddenly, he is sure to come to some bad end. He was not prosecuted.
Arkansas City
Republican, October
11, 1884.
Billy Gray
arrested two negroes last week on the charge of horse stealing. It is alleged
they stole a pony at Ponca Agency and two over by Caldwell. They were taken to
Winfield and placed in jail.
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
17, 1884.
A.
O. U. W.
The lodge of A.
O. U. W., of this city, have elected the following gentlemen officers for the
ensuing year.
A. A. Davis, M.
W.; D. T. Kitchen, F.; D. L. Sifford, O. D.; M. J. Capron, Recorder; F. B.
Hutchison, Receiver; W. P. Waite, Financier; W. J. Gray, Guide; Geo. Ford, J.
W.; J. C. Pickering, S. W.; I. H. Bonsall, Rep. to G. L.; M. N. Sinnott, alt.
to G. L.
Arkansas City
Republican, December
27, 1884.
On Tuesday last
Edward Gage was arrested by Billy Gray on the charge of entering a house
without the permission of the owner. It appears that a man imposed on Ed’s
credulity. A carpenter by the name of Wright Seymour induced Ed. to accompany
him to a house which Seymour had been working on and had almost completed. The
house belonged to O. C. R. Randall. Mr. Randall had set up a stove in one of
the rooms and by the time Master Edward and Seymour arrived on the scene,
sparks were flying promiscuously. Randall had in the meantime departed from the
house, locking the door on leaving. Messrs. Gage and Seymour entered the house
with the intention of extinguishing the fire, which the former did. Accordingly
Mr. Gage was arraigned before Judge Kreamer, who remarked that $1 and costs
would satisfy the court. Edward meekly paid the amount “set opposite his name,”
and departed with about $6.50 of experience. Seymour induced Ed. to go with him
by asking him to serve as a witness. He was having some trouble about the
carpenter work.
Arkansas City
Traveler, January
7, 1885.
Bold,
Bad Men from Butler.
J. J. Breene,
W. J. Gray, and Henry Coryell captured three men hailing from El Dorado, who
were wanted there pretty badly. A reward of $100 had been offered for their
arrest and was divided by the officers who effected their “round-up.” The
circumstances as nearly as we can learn them were that the men, Riley Bennett,
Warren Bennett, and Dick Roe had been working for Judge J. H. Hill, of El
Dorado for some time. A few weeks ago they bought two shotguns, two
Winchesters, and three six-shooters, promising to pay for them in a month. Last
week they went to a bank in El Dorado and obtained $200, mortgaging some stock
that belonged to Judge Hill. As soon as they had obtained this money, they made
arrangements to leave. This they did, taking with them two span of fine horses,
a spring wagon, and a farm wagon, all belonging to the judge. The parties in El
Dorado offered $100 for their capture, and our officers being on the lookout,
firmly, yet gently, took them in when they arrived here last Saturday morning.
Saturday John Lewis took them up to Wichita and turned them over to Judge Hill,
and obtained the reward.
Arkansas City
Traveler, January
7, 1885.
Beans!
Beans!
In accordance
with the announcement made in last week’s TRAVELER, the committee to count the
beans in the bean guessing scheme of Sweeny & Smith, met in the office of
Collins & Shelden at half past nine Tuesday morning. The number of tickets
sold was about 1,350, of which 1,000 had been returned with guesses.
A. C. Gould, J.
M. Collins, W. J. Gray, and Will V. McConn, the committee, after a careful
count, found the exact number to be 9,327, and awarded the prizes as follows.
First prize: a
set of French-China dishes of 52 pieces, J. L. Mann. Number guessed: 9,322.
Second prize:
set of fancy table dishes, Joseph Hoskins and R. Kapp, tie. Number guessed:
9,333.
Third prize:
silver castor, J. Q. Ashton. Number guessed: 9,326.
Fourth prize:
hanging lamp, H. S. Ford. Number guessed: 9,338.
Fifth prize:
Meerschaum pipe and cigar holder, Edward Nail. Number guessed: 9,300.
Sixth prize:
Meerschaum pipe and cigar holder, H. S. Ford. Number guessed: 9,293.
Seventh prize:
five baskets of fine Japan tea, Mary Shindel. Number guessed: 9,368.
Eighth prize:
chamber set, Joe Garris. Number guessed: 9,369.
Ninth prize:
fancy lamp, E. D. Eddy. Number guessed: 9,379.
Tenth prize:
calico dress, Frank Bryant. Number guessed: 9,282.
Eleventh prize:
mustache cup and saucer, S. R. Turner. Number guessed: 9,400.
Twelfth prize:
fancy lamp, L. Pile. Number guessed: 9,401.
Of the twelve
guesses the farthest is only 73 from the number, which is very fair guessing
for Kansans. It is to be remembered that the jar which contained the beans was
globular—a form very deceptive. This will perhaps explain the difference in the
guesses. It is extremely curious the different ways people look at things. For
example, this bean guessing. The number guessed ranged from 1,320,000 down to
150; a slight difference of 1,319,850—the extreme views taken by two men. This
business of guessing, like everything else, is governed by common sense rules
that every man should certainly have at his finger’s end; and which every man
may acquire a knowledge of if they only thought. A comparison instituted just
here will illustrate our meaning. Ask almost any groceryman and he will tell you
that a pint cup will hold in the neighborhood of 1,100 beans, average size.
This is something we all ought to know. Taking this as a basis we have the
following results: The man who guessed 150 guessed an amount that would just
about cover the bottom of a pint cup—while the globe which contained the beans
holds a little over a gallon. About one-third of the guesses would not figure
up one pint. Take the other extreme now. The largest guess figures up over eighteen
bushels. At least twenty-five guessed over five bushels. This is not
good guessing, even for Kansans.
Neither the
shape of the vessel nor the difference in people will explain this wide
difference. The only way we can solve this is that a great number of the
guessers did not make use of their usual horse sense.
P. S. We will
warrant that those who read this article and also guessed at the beans will
never forget that a pint will hold about 1,300 beans—which is the moral that
adorns the tale.
Arkansas City
Republican, January
10, 1885.
Hon. J. D. Hill,
of Fort Scott, was in town Monday and Tuesday, looking after some $3,000 worth
of personal property which one Riley Bennett, of Chelsea, had taken from his
farm there, disposed of for cash, and fled. Several of our businessmen it is
said are badly sold on Bennett. Alex Blair for about $270, and the Exchange
National Bank for some $300, in a chattel mortgage on property which he did not
own. From the fact that Bennett stocked himself up with repeating rifles,
revolvers, and dirks, it is supposed he went to the Indian Territory. This is a
conspicuous example of black ingratitude. Hill took Bennett almost from the
gutter, bought him household goods, utensils, teams, and a farm, and turned
them over to Bennett to help him along. Even Bennett’s child is in Hill’s
family and is cared for by Mrs. Hill as if one of her own. Bennett will
undoubtedly be caught. It is supposed that a man by the name of Rowe is an
accomplice. Walnut Valley Times.
Last Saturday
Billy Gray, assisted by Johnny Breene, took Bennett and Rowe in and turned them
over to the proper authorities. They had been laying around Arkansas City some
two weeks previous to their arrest.
Arkansas City
Traveler, January
14, 1885.
Jugged.
Our officers
ran in two young men last week, who had been selling jewelry here rather
freely, and at ruinously low prices. The men’s actions looked rather suspicious
and when the marshal saw them selling ladies’ gold watches for a mere song,
they ran the young bloods in. They, however, had succeeded in disposing of four
gold watches to different parties and an unknown amount of other jewelry. The
officers could not prove that the jewelry was stolen, and so preferred the
charge of carrying concealed weapons. They were convicted of this charge; and
not being able to pay the fine, were sent to the county jail for thirty days.
W. J. Gray escorted them to that elegant abode last Saturday afternoon.
The boys—for
boys they were, being hardly past age—had been very close-mouthed, keeping all
they knew to themselves. On the way to Winfield they talked a little, enough to
give the officers a clue to work on. They intimated that the swag had been
captured near Carthage, Missouri, and said that this was their first bad break,
and if they got out of this, they would never do anything out of the way again.
The marshal also learned that they hailed originally from Iowa, and had left on
account of some “youthful indiscretions.”
The officers
found in their satchel a quantity of jewelry, having two different cost and
selling prices marked on them—indicating that they had been stolen from two
stocks. We were unable to learn the marks. They had only one watch left, a
silver hunting case. They said they started with twelve or fifteen. The amount
found with them was about $100. As near as could be ascertained, one of the
parties’ name was Stone.
The cause of
the downfall of these boys, who appeared like nice, gentlemanly fellows, was
evident upon their being searched. They had a number of obscene pictures,
obscene stories, letters, etc., and this, no doubt, was the beginning of their
downfall. This will certainly prove a warning to them. They are not out of the
woods yet, however, as likely before their sentence of thirty days expires, the
officers will find out from where the goods were stolen, and they will have to
face that charge.
Arkansas City
Traveler, January
21, 1885.
The
Stolen Jewelry.
Our readers
will remember the account last week of the young men arrested on suspicion of
having stolen jewelry in their possession.
The sheriff
received a letter from Springfield, Missouri, stating that a lot of jewelry and
watches had been stolen from there, giving the cost and selling marks, which
corresponded exactly with the marks on the jewelry in their hands. The letter
also gave the members of the watches stolen. The watches had been mostly
disposed of, four having been sold here. The marshal, W. J. Gray, has been
ordered to procure the jewelry or arrest the parties known to have purchased
them. It seems that the persons who bought the watches declare they have
disposed of them, and cannot tell to whom sold. They will be compelled either
to produce them or tell what became of them. They are liable to be charged with
being receivers of stolen property if they are not careful.
Arkansas City
Traveler, February
4, 1885.
Members
present, F. P. Schiffbauer, Mayor; C. G. Thompson, A. A. Davis, and T. Fairclo,
councilmen.
BILLS
ALLOWED. W. J. Gray: $3.00
Arkansas City
Republican, February
7, 1885.
Our street
crossings were in a horrible condition this week. Billy Gray, the city marshal,
rather than see the ladies plough through the mud with their shoes, procured a
“scoop” and shoveled a path across the main crossing.
Arkansas City
Traveler, February
11, 1885.
The heroic
efforts of the marshal, W. J. Gray, to conquer the mud on the street crossings
was rewarded by many a smile from the fair ones compelled to cross.
Arkansas City
Republican, February
14, 1885.
Billy Gray
rarely allows an opportunity to go by, when one is offered, to capture a
violator of the law. Monday a county sheriff of Missouri arrived on the noon
train looking after one John Gott, of Springfield. The sheriff described his
man to Billy, who remembered seeing him. He immediately set out to capture him
and found Gott in the vicinity of the depot. Billy arrested him and turned him
over to the sheriff, who departed for Springfield. Gott was wanted for larceny
principally.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
7, 1885.
Billy Gray for
marshal. He is the right man in the right place.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
7, 1885.
DIED. Some four
weeks ago the husband of Mrs. Larned, who resided 30 miles down in the
territory, died, leaving her and eight children in a destitute condition. They
lived in a dug-out, and were kept from starving by kind-hearted cowboys. Notice
was given Billy Gray of Mrs. Larned’s condition. He circulated a petition
asking for aid. He received in response a neat sum of money, with which he sent
a conveyance after the woman, and brought her here yesterday. She arrived about
noon and Billy purchased her a ticket to some town in Neosho County, where she
has friends.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
7, 1885.
Thursday Billy
Gray arrested one J. Hill, on the charge of murder of a man by the name of
Cobb, at Medicine Lodge last summer. Hill was identified by a gentleman who was
present at his preliminary examination. He was provided for until yesterday,
when the Sedgwick County Sheriff arrived and pronounced him the wrong man. Hill
was turned loose. The man who committed the deed broke jail at Wichita last
summer, and has not been seen since.
One paper shows
“Doty.” The other paper shows “Douty.”
Arkansas City
Traveler, March
11, 1885.
About a month
ago, in Wayne County, Ohio, a man was murdered by a Bob Doty, a neighbor. The
murderer fled. As is customary, the description of the fugitive was circulated
all over the country, and one came here. The peculiar descriptive mark on the
man wanted, was a scar on the outer corner of the left eye.
Saturday last
Billy Gray obtained information that the man was in this vicinity, and
consequently kept a sharp look out for him. Monday he was discovered on the old
Sipes corner, and Billy Gray, O. S. Rarick, and G. H. McIntire quietly arrested
him. He was completely surprised, thinking himself safe when he got this far
away, and broke down after arrest, confessing that he was the man they were
after. He was armed and meant fight, but he had no opportunity to use his arms.
The sheriff, after handcuffing and shackling him, took him to Winfield, in a
buggy, Monday morning. A reward was offered for his arrest.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
14, 1885.
Wash. Barcau
and Al. Johnson were arrested Wednesday morning by Billy Gray for dealing out
Spirits Fermenti illegally. Barcau in some way made his escape.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
14, 1885.
Bob Douty, of
Saline County, Ohio, was arrested Monday morning by Bill Gray, Sheriff
McIntire, and Capt. Rarick. Douty was wanted back in Ohio for murdering a man
in a saloon row about a month ago. He was so taken by surprise when our
officers made the arrest that he offered no resistance. He was taken to
Winfield and lodged in jail to await the coming of the Saline County officers.
A handsome reward was out for Douty’s capture, of which our officers will take
a goodly portion.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
March 21, 1885.
City
Election.
Two weeks from
next Tuesday city election will occur. As yet no action toward nominating a
ticket has been made. Hardly any interest is manifested in the rapidly
approaching election. There have been numerous names presented to the public,
but none have brought forward a ticket. But a few days yet remain in which to
take action. By another issue of the REPUBLICAN, the registration books will be
closed Friday, March 27, being the last day in which to register. Over 600
voters have registered their names with the city clerk, Jas. Benedict, yet
there are a large number who have not. It seems our citizens are waiting until
the last moment before they make the nominations. This is not as it should be.
Candidates should be nominated and elected upon a careful consideration by the
people. We want men who are willing to work for Arkansas City in office. The
future welfare of our town depends largely on the city officers to be elected
two weeks from next Tuesday. Somewhere along the territory line thee is going
to be a town that will be the gateway to all points south of us. Why not make
it Arkansas City? At present our prospects are the brightest. That they may
continue we want efficient city officers. Men who will work untiredly for the
welfare of Arkansas City. And as such the REPUBLICAN presents the names of the
following gentlemen to the voters of Arkansas City for the offices to be
filled.
FOR MAYOR.
FRANK P. SCHIFFBAUER.
COUNCILMEN:
FIRST WARD. JAS. HILL. JACOB HAIGHT.
COUNCILMEN:
SECOND WARD. A. V. ALEXANDER. ARCHIE DUNN.
COUNCILMEN:
THIRD WARD. DR. H. D. KELLOGG. J. H. HILLIARD.
COUNCILMEN:
FOURTH WARD. G. W. MILLER. J. C. DUNCAN.
POLICE JUDGE:
S. C. LINDSAY.
CITY CLERK:
JAMES BENEDICT.
CITY TREASURER:
WILL. MOWRY.
CITY MARSHAL:
WM. GRAY.
The REPUBLICAN
presents the above ticket to its readers for consideration. We believe the
gentlemen composing it are good, patriotic citizens. True, there are others
just as capable, but we hope one and all will take it into careful
consideration. If there are other men who are wanted worse by the voters of the
city to fill the offices mentioned above, they will say so at the coming
election, Tuesday, April 7, 1885.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
4, 1885.
Clean up your
back yards or Billy Gray will be around and do it for you Monday, April 6, and
the expenses will be charged up to you.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
18, 1885.
Woods, and
another butcher, took a large dose of medicine Tuesday night and had a slight altercation.
Billy Gray, the man who awaits on such patients, called in the attending
physician, Judge Kreamer, who gave them a different dose than that which they
desired.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
18, 1885.
Billy Gray,
city marshal, received notice yesterday to appear at Marion, Iowa, against
Stone and Doane. It will be remembered that some two months ago Billy arrested
Stone and Doane, for stealing some jewelry, and they were taken back to Marion.
Billy doesn’t want to go, but he will have to.
Arkansas City
Traveler, June
10, 1885.
Council
Meeting.
The City
Council met in adjourned meeting on Monday evening, the mayor and Councilmen
Thompson, Dean, Dunn, Hight, and Bailey present.
The following
bills were acted on:
W. J. Gray,
boarding prisoner, $13.25, allowed.
Excerpts...
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
June 13, 1885.
Last Monday
evening a citizen’s meeting was held in Highland Opera House to take steps
toward preparing for the Fourth of July. A committee was appointed to solicit
funds and the meeting adjourned. Thursday evening the adjourned meeting
convened with Judge Sumner presiding, and Judge Kreamer as scribe. The
soliciting committee reported they had received subscriptions to the amount of
over $500. The report was accepted and the committee instructed to solicit more
funds in order that Arkansas City may have the celebration of the
Southwest.
A general
arrangement committee of fifteen persons was appointed, consisting of Archie
Dunn, R. E. Grubbs, C. R. Sipes, W. D. Kreamer, Capt. C. G. Thompson, W. D.
Mowry, John Daniels, W. J. Gray, Ed. Pentecost, J. L. Howard, Al. Daniels, W.
M. Blakeney, Robt. Hutchison, Col. Sumner, and Mayor Schiffbauer.
This committee
was empowered to attend to everything pertaining to the celebration. After the
appointment of this committee, Mayor Schiffbauer arose and told the audience
that he had been requested by Messrs. Searing & Mead to announce that they
were in receipt of a dispatch from T. S. Moorhead saying that the steamer, The
Kansas Millers, sailed out of St. Louis June 10 for Arkansas City and that it
would be here positively by July 4th, or burst a boiler.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
June 13, 1885.
Democracy
Straight.
Wednesday Mrs.
L. M. Lutes paid her fine. Judge Kreamer asked for the privilege of keeping the
whip with which she struck Billy Gray, telling her that he desired it as a
relic. She refused the request, but immediately went up to the Democrat office
and presented the rod which had caused so much trouble to Charlie McIntire in
an appropriate speech. “Mc” responded and now has that dreaded weapon stored
away with the remainder of his relics.
Poem written
about the above:
Mariah “stuck”
to Cleveland
Because she
loved him so;
’Tis thus you
find Democracy
Wherever you
may go.
Arkansas City
Republican, June
13, 1885.
A Sunday
ordinance was lately framed by the city attorney and passed by the city council
and published by the official paper of the city, prohibiting all business
houses opening on that day except meat markets. The restaurants last Sunday,
excepting Hamilton & Pentecost’s, were in full blast. Monday morning
warrants were issued for the arrest of Pentecost & Van Sickle, C. F. Lang,
and C. A. Burnett; and they were served by Billy Gray.
The arrested
parties were taken before Judge Bryant and they informed “his Honor” they would
stand trial, as they thought the ordinance was no good. The case was set for
Tuesday morning. Monday evening the council came to the conclusion that the
restauranteurs had, and ordered Judge Bryant to stay proceedings. As usual, the
city has to foot the bill. The Traveler has to be paid for publishing
the ordinance, Billy Gray for serving the papers, and then Judge Bryant comes
in too. This is not all. Since the council has deemed it of no consequence, another
ordinance will have to be passed repealing the Sunday ordinance and published
in the official paper. And again the city foots the bill. The REPUBLICAN just
wonders how much longer the taxpayers of Arkansas City will stand for this kind
of a racket. A city attorney should have enough sense to know whether an
ordinance is valid before it is acted upon or published.
Arkansas City
Republican, June
20, 1885.
There is an
ordinance against lariating cows, horses, etc., so they can run across the
street. Billy Gray has received strict orders from the council to see that that
ordinance is enforced. All stock owners who violate this ordinance will be
taken before Judge Bryant and fined. Billy hereby gives all a warning.
Arkansas City
Republican, June
27, 1885.
Monday
afternoon Artemus W. Patterson filed too many statements for his disease, and
as a consequence became unruly. During the afternoon sometime he became enraged
at his bird dog, which he tried to make lie down. The “pup” didn’t understand
Pat’s language and refused to obey. He beat the dog quite severely. The marshal
had a warrant issued against him for cruelty to animals and when he went to
serve it, Patterson had quieted down, and he let the matter drop. In some way
Artemus was informed that Billy Gray had a warrant for his arrest. This
re-aroused his ire and a few more doses of medicine fixed him in good shape.
While standing in front of Newman’s store, with one or two other persons,
someone in the crowd pulled a revolver and shot a hole through one of the large
plate glass windows. Artemus skipped down into the Commercial Restaurant, where
he had a picnic with the police. Hr refused to allow them to arrest him,
telling them they were too little. By a dint of coaxing, Johnnie Breene finally
got him to come along with him to Judge Bryant’s office. He fixed the matter up
in some manner with Judge Bryant and went over to Geuda. He came back next
day—Tuesday—and appeared in Bryant’s office and settled the city case against
him for $2.50. Wednesday Capt. Rarick served a state warrant against Artemus
for resisting the officers. Thursday before Judge Kreamer he plead guilty to
the charge and was fined $50 and costs—about $75 altogether. The prosecuting
attorney, Bill Hackney, recommended leniency; but Judge Kreamer thought that
that fine was about right. This will teach Pat a lesson. We all remember how
the little daughter of Jos. Perry was killed in Wellington by a drunken man
discharging a revolver on the streets. A similar tragedy might have been
enacted here. As it is, someone is out about $102 for the plate glass in
Newman’s window. When Pat was finally arrested, no revolver was found on his
person; and no one testified that they saw him do the shooting. He denies doing
it. The general supposition is that he did it. Since writing the above
Patterson has informed us that he would go before a justice of the peace and
make an affidavit that he would not touch a drop of whiskey for six months. We
hope he will carry out this resolution and stick to it six years instead of six
months.
Arkansas City
Republican, July
4, 1885.
An intoxicated
man by the name of Jones was run in by Billy Gray and Johnnie Breene Wednesday
afternoon for disturbing the peace. Judge Bryant fined him $5 and costs, which
sobered him up.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 11, 1885.
The reason that
a certain officer in Arkansas City desires the resignation of Billy Gray is
because he has a brother-in-law who wants a job. There is nothing like getting
the entire family into office.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 11, 1885.
Monday Bill
Gray arrested W. Ward’s hogs for running at large, and put them in the city
pound. Next day Ward got out replevin papers and had them served by Frank
Thompson. On advice of city attorney, Billy refused to give up the keys to the
pound. Thompson, without any indemnifying bond, went and took the hogs out by
force. The case comes off before Judge Kreamer Monday. It is getting to be a
notorious fact that those who get in the toils of the city, laugh at its ordinances,
officials, and everything else. If the case is decided against the violator, he
appeals, and in some way gets scot free. Let us have a little reform.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 18, 1885.
“HIS
HONOR.”
At the council
meeting last Monday evening, Mayor Schiffbauer is reported as saying by the Traveler
that: “The jealousy of a rival attorney had instigated a good share of this
public odium, and the lies published in the REPUBLICAN had proceeded from an
outside pen, because there was not brains enough in that establishment to
concoct such fabrications. He cautioned the council against being influenced by
these scurrilous allegations, they being prompted by malice and having no
foundation in fact. If such charges were to influence the council to go back on
its officers, he wished it distinctly understood that he had no hand in the
business.”
The mayor also
said “that you might rake H__l over with a fine comb and not find as
black-hearted an individual as the one who wrote those articles in the
REPUBLICAN.”
We wish to say
that the junior editor of the REPUBLICAN does all the editorial work. All the
charges we have brought to bear against the city council and attorney were
written by that individual. We edit our own paper. We are not influenced by
outside talk. We espoused that which we thought to be beneficial to the city
and tax- payers. We were against that infamous water works ordinance because we
believed it to be a swindle. In an article we condemned that ordinance, and
showed wherein it was deficient. Later on we have shown plainly that the city
attorney was incompetent to handle our city affairs. The police judge has shown
that he is too lax in the management of his affairs. The council by a majority
vote has requested him to resign, also the city attorney. The Council did a
good night’s work last Monday in purging. We hope they will continue the
purging process until they get all the corruption out. But one thing we are
sorry for is that our mayor should so far forget his dignity as to use profane
language in the council chamber. While we may have been extremely provoking to
his side of the question, Mr. Schiffbauer should not be so put out as to lose
the dignity which belongs to the head official of the city. It is very
unbecoming.
In regard to
the articles which we have written, they were founded on facts. Take the back
files of the REPUBLICAN, inquire into the matter, and every charge we have made
is true and can be sustained.
Only one time
have we given space to any rumor; that was in regard to a certain officer
appointing his brother-in-law to succeed Billy Gray as city marshal. That
brother-in-law has since been appointed night watch at a salary of $25 per
month. Hight, Dean, and Davis voted against his appointment. Dunn, Thompson, and
Bailey voted for it, and as it was a tie, the mayor decided.
Mr. Schiffbauer
informs us that a number of merchants requested the appointment. As they hired
one night watch, they felt justified in asking the city to appoint one. But be
that as it may, we know now we have three salaried policemen and two night
watches.
The REPUBLICAN
has a right to criticize the action of any public officer. The people expect us
to voice their rights and agitate all questions of public interest.
The muddle
which exists in the council now is thrown upon the shoulders of the REPUBLICAN.
It was through our agitation of the ineligibility of the councilmen and the
incompetency of our city attorney, it is claimed by a few, that the present
state of affairs exists. We have no apology to offer. We have done our duty to
the taxpayers of Arkansas City. We thought the city attorney was incapable to
handle the affairs of Arkansas City correctly. We said so and produced evidence
to substantiate what we charged. We feel highly complimented that the
REPUBLICAN has been able to assist in purging the city of any incompetent
officer. But this is no reason why our mayor should lose his dignified bearing
and go down to the level of a profane citizen, especially in the council
chamber. We leave the matter to be decided by the taxpayers of Arkansas City.
In the language of Jake Hight, let us have a little more dignity in the
council.
Arkansas City
Republican, July
18, 1885.
The replevin
suit of W. Ward to recover his hogs came off Monday before Judge Kreamer. The
jury decided that Ward should have his hogs. It seems almost useless for Billy
Gray to make arrests. If he does make any, the violators always get free. The
REPUBLICAN suggests that that jury be given a leather medal. The case will have
a new hearing.
Arkansas City
Republican, July
18, 1885.
Billy Gray
arrested Ed. Vaughan’s team Monday for being hitched in front of Albert
Worthley’s residence. Vaughan was taken before Judge Bryant and fined $3 and
costs, which amounted to $7.50. With the exception of $1, the costs were
knocked off. If it had been a white man, he could have gotten loose someway. As
it was, it was only a poor “nigger.”
Arkansas City
Traveler, July
22, 1885.
DISASTROUS
FIRE.
Half a Block on
Summit Street Goes Up In Smoke.
On Monday night
about 11:30 the cry of fire was raised. Among the first attracted by the alarm
were Frank Schiffbauer, mayor of the city, and Capt. Rarick, deputy sheriff,
who were just parting for the night on the First National Bank corner. They ran
in the direction of the cry, and seeing a blaze in the rear of the New York
Restaurant, ran for the hose reel, and in five or six minutes returned to the
same. The flames had burst forth in the meantime, and were making rapid
headway, the building being of frame, and similar buildings adjoining it on
both sides. A crowd gathered, and among the foremost to act was Charley
Holloway, who kicked in the glazed door of Grimes & Son’s drug store, and
walked through the building with a view of saving its contents. He found the
fire had extended to the rear portion of the store, and an explosion of some
vessel a short distance in front of him, which scattered fragments wounding
both his hands, cautioned him that he was in an unsafe place. An attempt was
made to attach the hose to the hydrant, but some trouble was experienced in
detaching the cap. During this while the flames spread rapidly, the wind which
fortunately was light, driving the fire in the direction of Central Avenue.
Heitkam’s tailor store and a barber shop were on the lot south of the New York
Restaurant, and the occupants were promptly on hand to save their stock and
furniture from the devouring element. Mr. Heitkam saved half of his stock of
cloth and made up suits, but the frame buildings with their combustible
contents, burned so fiercely that the feeble efforts at extinguishing it were
hardly perceptible. In half an hour the buildings extending north to Central
Avenue were in a blaze, and it was evident that no power could be exerted to
save them. Crowds of men worked diligently to rescue what was portable, but
confusion prevailed, and there was no intelligent direction given to their
efforts. The St. Louis Restaurant, Grimes & Son’s drug store, Bundrem’s
butcher shop, and Means’ implement store were by 12 o’clock in the vortex of
the flames, and brief time was afforded the willing workers to rescue the
doomed property from destruction. To save Mowry & Sollitt’s brick drug
store, Kroenert & Austin’s grocery store, on the lot adjoining, was pulled down,
which stopped the progress of the flames in a southward direction. Mowry &
Sollitt, fearing their store would be involved, began moving their stock; but
on the suggestion of Capt. Thompson that the risk was less to let their goods
remain, the hasty tearing up was discontinued, and they escaped with slight
loss. Being checked on the south side and isolated at the other end by the
width of the street, the fire abated about an hour after a bad burst forth, and
spread over no more territory. The stream from the hydrant was kept up through
the night cooling the smoldering embers, and when the business of the next day
opened, the sight was presented to the beholder of half a block on our main
business street being laid in ruins. D. L. Means loses $3,000 in his stock, his
insurance is $1,000. Kroenert & Austin suffer quite as seriously. C. A.
Burnett estimates his loss at $2,400; he has $1,500 insurance. The buildings
being rated as extra hazardous, and the rate of insurance 7 percent, owners and
occupants were chary of securing themselves on heavy sums. The following is a
list of the losses and insurance.
Lot 1. Lot and
building owned by W. Benedict. Insured for $500. Occupied by D. L. Means,
insured in North American for $1,000.
Lot 2. Lot and
building owned by Dr. Shepard. Insured for $800 in Springfield Insurance Co.
Occupied by Charley Bundrem as a meat market, who was insured for $300 in the
New York Alliance, and by J. T. Grimes & Son, druggists, who carried $500
insurance in the Pennsylvania and the same amount in the Liverpool, London
& Globe.
Lot 3. Lot and
building owned by Mrs. Benedict and occupied by C. A. Burnett, as the St. Louis
Restaurant. Building uninsured; stock insured for $1,500 in equal amounts in
the Mechanics of Milwaukee, the Northwestern National, and the Connecticut.
Lot 4. Lot and
building owned by S. B. Pickle, who is now absent in Springlake, Ohio. Occupied
by O. F. Lang as the New York Restaurant. Stock insured for $500 in the Home
Mutual.
Lot 5, with the
frame building thereon, is owned by J. H. Sherburne—uninsured. Its occupants
were A. G. Heitkam, tailor, insured for $800; half in the Glens’ Falls and half
in the Fire Insurance of England; and a German barber, who carried no
insurance.
Lot 6, and the
grocery that stood thereon, were owned and occupied by Kroenert & Austin,
who carried $500 insurance on the building in the North American, and the same
amount on the stock.
INCIDENTS.
Mr. Holloway
received a severe bruise in the hand from an ax in the hands of an excited
individual, who brought his weapon down on the hydrant while he was unscrewing
the cap with a wrench.
The insurance
of Dr. Shepard on his building ran out at noon on the day of the fire; but his
agent, Frank Hess, had written him another policy, thus saving him from loss.
It is said that
Charley Bundrem had $187 in greenbacks placed under his pillow, which went to
feed the flames.
The fall of an
awning struck City Marshal Gray to the ground, and he came near being badly
scorched.
A young man in
the employ of C. A. Burnett lost everything in the fire except the clothes he
stands in.
Arkansas City
Traveler, July
29, 1885.
Proclamation
Concerning Dogs.
I, William J.
Gray, city marshal, of the city of Arkansas City, Cowley County, Kansas, by
virtue of authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim and make known that all
dogs found within said city without having the tax paid as provided in sections
18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 of ordinance No. 5 of the revised ordinances of the city
of Arkansas City, Kansas (approved May 29th, 1885), will be shot on sight,
after ten days from the date of publication of this proclamation.
Witness my hand
this 28th day of July, A. D., 1885. WILLIAM J. GRAY, City Marshal.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
1, 1885.
M. Sawyer was
arrested by Billy Gray Wednesday for erecting a frame building within the fire
limits. He was taken before Judge Bryant, but the Mayor ordered a stay of
proceeding because Sawyer agreed not to go any further with the building.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
1, 1885.
Charley Chapel
and Ed. Kingsbury, the would-be Old Sleuths—it could be—were on the war path
last Friday night. Billy Gray was watching certain suspicious looking parties
and the boys begged to be allowed to sit up and watch the fun. At about 12
o’clock, while the trio were sitting in front of Grubbs’ fruit stand with bated
breath waiting for developments, a groan was heard among the ruins of the
recent fire. The boys started at break-neck speed in the direction from whence
came the sound. With hair on end, they searched for the corpse, but it was not
to be found. Suddenly again the still night air was broken by that dismal
groan. This time it was still further away. Once more they girded up their
loins and flew. Industriously they searched, but alas, the victim was not to be
discovered. Up the alley to the rear of the boys, the groan was heard again
accompanied by “Charley, Charley come quick.” This paralyzed the boys. Their
knees refused to work, except up and down. Finally they summoned sufficient
courage to go up the alley a short distance. Nothing was found. Scared near
unto death the brave (?) boys returned to the protecting wing of Billy Gray.
Here they related their experience and begged him to take them home. Billy
informed them it was only a joke perpetrated on them by a ventriloquist sitting
in front of Hutchison & Sons’ store. The boys no longer desire to be on the
police force.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
1, 1885.
Proclamation
Concerning Dogs.
I, William J.
Gray, City Marshal of the city of Arkansas City, Cowley County, Kansas, by
virtue of authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim and make known that all
dogs found within said city without having the tax paid, as provided in Section
18, 19, 20, 21, and 22, of ordinance No. 5, of the revised ordinances of the City
of Arkansas City, Kansas, approved May 29th, 1885, will be shot on sight after
ten days from the date of publication of this proclamation.
Witness my hand
this 28th day of July, A. D. 1885. W. J. GRAY, City Marshal.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
5, 1885.
The deadlock in
the city council still continues, the collective wisdom of our city fathers in
the attempt to disentangle the snarl proving an utter mockery.
It has been
suggested that if they meet less frequently and talk less, a less amount of
friction might be created. It has even been intimated to this reporter that if
he ceased publishing the proceedings of that honorable body, less attention
would be directed to our city government, and less perplexity would distract
the minds of our municipal Solons.
Last week the
council held a stormy session, and all that resulted from their deliberations
was placing matters in a worse shape than before. The occupation tax was
referred to the equalization committee on the complaint of the insurance agents
of the city, and the water ordinance was referred to the water works committee
for revision, on the complaint that the tariff bore heavily on certain
interests—livery stable men, hotel keepers, barbers, etc. This causes more
delay, and in the meanwhile not a dollar finds its way into the city treasury.
Councilman
Hight, also, created ill feeling in the mind of the mayor, by his indiscreet
and injudicious devotion to retrenchment and reform. He bounced Night Watchman
Stafford, whose pay is $25 a month, on the ground that his support was an
unnecessary burden on an overburdened treasury. This officer had worn the star
but two weeks, he has been vigilant and had made several arrests. As a matter
of fact, the fines paid by the misdemeanants he handed in more than paid his
salary for the time; so the burden of his pay could not rest down very heavily
on the city treasury.
This seems to
have disgruntled the mayor; he feels it as a personal affront. He is working
without pay; he is ungrudging in his devotion of time and attention to his
duties; and he very naturally thinks himself entitled to some slight
indulgement at the hands of his brother officials. The citizen who pays the
taxes (or is expected to pay them), and look on, knows that correct government
cannot be obtained under the most expensive methods, and he is willing to wink
at any trifling peccadillo that quiet and efficiency may be preserved. An old
axiom says, “Notions thrive in spite of bad government,” and there is a saying
in the law books, de minimis lex non curat, (the law takes no heed of
trifles).
But the worst
pill in our municipal pharmacopoeia, is the city attorney. He is a worse
element of discord than a green apple to our internal arrangements. He is not
wanted, and he will not take himself away. His demand is for specific charges,
he declares he will not be suppressed by mere clamor. He seems to have
succeeded in making himself odious to the entire community. Petitions have been
circulated asking him to resign; a resolution to the same effect received the
unanimous support of the council. But these delicate hints he treated with
supreme scorn. The council, finding it had a tough customer to deal with, threw
away reserve, and its next step was to declare the office vacant. This was
supposed to be a sockdologer.
“Time was when
the brains were out, the man would die.”
But this shot
glanced off as harmlessly as the frigate Cumberland’s broadsides rained upon
the rebel ram Merrimac. The vote of the council being unofficially reported to
this disciple of Thomas, he laughed with intense enjoyment, and informed the
mayor they had not done with him yet. He still affects to perform the duties of
the office; and expresses his clear conviction that he is entitled to the pay.
At the council
meeting last week, Mr. Hight inquired of the mayor if he had appointed an
attorney to fill the vacancy. His honor replied he had not, as he was unwilling
to burden the city treasury with two attorneys. He then declared his belief
that the proceedings in ousting that much reprobated official were not in
conformity with state, and were hence invalid. Mayor Schiffbauer’s
understanding of this matter has been explained in our columns before. His
reading of the state law creating our city charter is that in removing a city
officer—other than the mayor, justice of the peace, and constable—written
charges must be presented, and the officer against whom they are preferred, be
heard at the bar of the council. This idea has probably been engendered by his
honor’s readings in history. Our schoolboy imaginations are very vividly
impressed with the proceedings in attainder of several British ministers; and
the American constitution prescribes an elaborate form for the trial on
impeachment of the president. But a strict construction of the provision
warrants no such resort to stage effect. The offending official can be removed
for cause, on a majority vote of all the members of the council.
Has not a cause
been given? Incompetency. Has not another cause been set forth, an inherent
cussedness, and a sort of true inward perversity, which set every man against
him, and create such friction that the car of our city government cannot roll
on with this extremely objectionable passenger aboard. Our British forefathers
would duck a village scold, and in this country as well as abroad, a litigious,
quarrelsome person can be restrained on a charge of barratry. “General
cussedness” being deemed too indefinite a charge to bring against a city
officer, a more direct and tangible cause was assigned, and for incompetency
the office of city attorney was declared vacant.
Here comes in
the deadlock. The irrepressible Stafford affects to ignore the authority of the
power that created him, and the mayor encourages his recalcitrancy by refusing
to fill the vacant office. The councilmen regard each other in perplexity. Boss
Tweed’s embarrassing query, “What are you going to do about it?” comes home to
them in full force. It will not do to give up, they all declare, in talking
over their embarrassment, but no two seem to agree in the manner they ought to
proceed. The TRAVELER has no suggestions to make, because the situation is too
sensational for a reporter to desire to see changed. In Chicago a heavy snow
fall last winter filled up the street and car tracks and seriously impeded
commerce. Large bodies of laborers were set to work to remove it, but it was
found that after all the shoveling was done the snow was still there. So with
our inevitable city attorney. The people may abuse him to their fill, and the
council dispose of him in every variety of way; but he bobs up smiling and
serene after the most merciless vivisection, and seems rather to enjoy the
torture of which he is made the victim. Why don’t the president appoint him
minister to Siam? The mission belongs to this state.
Since the above
was in type, the council at a regular meeting, last Monday, at the request of
the city attorney preferred by the mayor, withdraw its charges against that
official, on the condition that he tender his resignation. It was alleged that
harsh measures had been passed, as an opportunity had not been afforded him to
resign before the matter had been brought up in council and the office declared
vacant. This method of solving a difficulty and removing friction being
approved by the council, on motion the resolution was reconsidered and revoked,
and the city attorney requested to hand in his resignation.
Mr. Stafford
being called for, made a brief address, in which he said he was the victim of
clamor; that a crusade had been engaged against him without definite charges
being made, and all the proceedings against him adopted by that body were
tainted with irregularity. But since it was insisted that his incumbency in
office was the cause of irritation, and his withdrawal was demanded in the
public interest, he was ready to sacrifice his own rights and step down and out
on these conditions: That his pay be allowed him till the 17th inst., the end
of a month in his engagement, and also that he be allowed his fees as counsel
in the case of Ward against William J. Gray.
Mr. Hill said
it would be more graceful in Mr. Stafford to resign unconditionally and trust
to the magnanimity of the council.
Mr. Stafford
said the gentleman had not attended council meetings as regularly as he (the
speaker) had.
The mayor here
interposed with a personal guaranty that Mr. Stafford’s salary should be paid
to the 17th as demanded, and the fee he asked in the city marshal’s case, as
the council was bound to protect its own officers, he had no doubt that body
would allow. Whereupon the resignation was written out and tendered, as
requested, and formally accepted by the council.
John Stafford,
the night watchman, who has worn the star since he was declared discharged a
week ago, was formally reinstated. Mr. Hight declared he had been too hasty,
that his zeal had outrun his discretion, that he regarded it as one of the
deadly sins to trench on the mayor’s prerogatives, that in future he would keep
a watch on his lips, and uppermost in his soul was the saying of our dead hero,
“let us have peace.”
The curtain was
rung down at a late hour with the mayor and councilmen shaking hands all round,
the city clerk mounted on the reporter’s table singing the doxology in long
meter, and the TRAVELER reporter rushing furiously down stairs vociferating
that his occupation was gone. It was a good old-fashioned love feast, and
melted the hearts of the beholders.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
August 8, 1885.
All’s
Well That Ends Well.
MARRIED. For a
week or more the rumor had been prevalent that Will L. Aldridge was to be
arrested at the instigation of Miss Annie McBride for bastardy. Last Saturday
the rumor became a fact. It was understood that Aldridge intended leaving town
that afternoon. A short time after dinner, Johnnie Breene saw Aldridge on the
streets and started to arrest him. He was deterred from doing so by the
defendant’s attorney on the ground that there was no warrant out. Johnnie
immediately went and had a warrant issued for Aldridge’s arrest; and just as
the 3:05 Santa Fe train was pulling out, Billy Gray jumped aboard and arrested
Aldridge and brought him uptown. He was taken before Judge Kreamer, who bound
him over in the sum of $2,000 to appear the following Tuesday. He furnished the
necessary approved bondsmen.
This case shows
a great deal of depravity on the part of the defendant. A year ago he was a
respected lumber dealer in our city. He had a happy home, wife, and baby; and
as far as the outside world was cognizant, there was no more blissful fireside
than that of Will L. Aldridge. During the latter part of the winter, his wife
died after giving birth to a child.
Now as time
progressed he began the use of strong drink very heavily and in a few weeks
after the death of his wife became enamored of Miss McBride’s charms, and began
to press his suit. For more than three months the defendant plied himself to
accomplish his ends. Buggy rides after nightfall were frequent; fine dresses
and beautiful rings were presented to her, and finally his promises. “It won’t
be long until we are married,” caused the girl to yield all that a woman should
hold most sacred—her virtue. The defendant wrote letters full of love and
promises, saying he could not live without her. The girl, after allowing
herself to be used as was desired for some time, became aware that she was in
an interesting condition and called on Aldridge to fulfill his pledges ere her
shame become known to the world.
He refused, and
was quite indignant in the courtroom that he should be subject to an arrest
upon such a trivial affair. His bravado, however, was soon put to flight. Up to
Monday afternoon he was determined not to do justice to the poor girl; but upon
the advice of his father-in-law, Thos. Sidner, of Topeka, and seeing that the
law was all in favor of the plaintiff, he consented to marry her. At about 6
p.m. the couple accompanied by Miss McBride’s brother, went to Winfield in
carriages, and at 11 o’clock Judge Gans united the fallen pair in marriage.
Tuesday morning they returned to Arkansas City and have since been stopping at
the hotel. Aldridge says he intends to be a man from now on, and the REPUBLICAN
hopes he will make good the assertion. Miss McBride has always possessed a fair
name. She was employed as a domestic in the family of O. F. Godfrey. She lately
came here and is the sister of the wife of George Pile.
Let this sad
affair be a warning to all unscrupulous men and giddy maidens. Retribution will
overtake the guilty though it be at the eleventh hour. The REPUBLICAN hopes
that the termination of the life of the newly wedded pair will be more
honorable than the beginning.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
19, 1885.
At the council
meeting on Monday evening, the mayor and six councilmen were present, Dunn and
Hill being absent. The vote of the third ward was canvassed, and A. D. Prescott
declared elected. He presented himself and took the oath of office.
The following
bills were acted on.
Claim of T. J.
Stafford (ex-city attorney) of $20 for defending W. J. Gray, in a replevin
case, was allowed.
Arkansas City Republican,
Saturday,
August 22, 1885.
To
Whom the Fault Belongs.
In regard to
the Sawyer wrangle, the Traveler says:
“The question
was asked him if any of the neighbors objected to his work; he replied that no
complaint had reached his ears. Councilman Hill said he did not like to make
the enforcement of any ordinance oppressive. If the neighbors did not object,
the council might shut its eyes to the offense. His advice to the applicant was
to pay his fine to the police judge (he having been arrested), and trust to
being let alone in the future. To the surprise of all present, not a city
father raised his voice to show the folly of such cecutiency.”
Upon Mr. Hill
saying what he did, Mr. Sawyer rose up in the council chamber and pointing
toward Billy Gray said: “What shall I do about the city marshal arresting me?”
Mr. Hill
replied that that was his own look-out. But a few moments before this
conversation, on the same night, Mr. Sawyer presented his petition, which was
tabled, and on motion of Archie Dunn, the fire ordinance was ordered to be
enforced strictly, each councilman voting affirmatively.
This shows that
the blame does not rest upon the council, as the Traveler would like to
have it appear, in order to shield its protégée. Prior to this meeting Mr. Sawyer
had been arrested, just after he had commenced his building, but Judge Bryant
was ordered to stay proceedings by the mayor until after the council met.
What did the
council do? They ordered the ordinance enforced. Whose duty is it to see that
the ordinances are enforced? The mayor’s. Did he do it? We think not.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
22, 1885.
Council
Proceedings.
Last Monday
night was the regular meeting of the city council. Present: Mayor Schiffbauer
and Councilmen Davis, Hight, Thompson, Dean, and Bailey.
Bill of ex-city
attorney Stafford, who defended Billy Gray in the Ward hog trial, of $20, was
allowed.
The council
voted that the fire ordinance in regard to the erection of buildings in the
fire limits be strictly enforced.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
29, 1885.
The war between
Sawyer and the city has not yet ended. Yesterday Billy Gray served notice on
that offending individual from Mayor Schiffbauer warning him to remove his
building from the fire limits or take the consequence.
Arkansas City
Republican, September
5, 1885.
Lu Skinner was
taken in Tuesday by Billy Gray for being fuller than a “biled owl.” Judge
Bryant willed that Lu “set ‘em up” to the court to the tune of $2 and costs.
Total $6.
Arkansas City
Traveler, September
16, 1885.
A curious
complication arose over the collection of the occupation tax last week. City
Marshal Gray notified, among others, Dr. Acker and Dr. Shepard that their
contribution to the city treasury was not paid in. As these two gentlemen have
formed a co-partnership, they considered the payment of one tax ($10) would
answer for both. This was demurred to by the city marshal, and Dr. Shepard
sought the opinion of the mayor. His honor held that two doctors should pay two
fees, and so ordered. Dr. Acker on his refusal to pay was summoned before Judge
Bryant, but while his case was being heard, his partner paid the tax for one to
the city treasurer, receiving a receipt to the medical firm. Dr. Acker was
fined for practicing without a license, but appealed, and was released on
giving a bond to appear. This complicates the matter should it be carried to
the district court, and there is no doubt but a settlement will be made.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
September 26, 1885.
Council
Proceedings.
The city
council convened in regular session last Monday with the following members
present: Mayor Schiffbauer and Councilmen Prescott, Davis, Dean, Thompson, and
Hight.
The allowance
of bills occupied the attention of the August body first and the following action
was taken on those coming up.
J. A. Stafford,
special police, $2.00 allowed.
W. J. Gray,
boarding prisoners, $4; allowed.
On motion, Jim
Moore, the street commissioner, was fired.
The city
marshal was instructed to act in his stead until his successor was appointed.
The next thing
that was brought up for consideration was the old eye-sore, Sawyer. This time
it was because he had made such a stench in his neighborhood by allowing
soap-suds water to accumulate in a hole at the rear of his laundry that life
was a burden to his neighbors. Billy Gray was instructed to make the old man
clean up.
The next good
deed done was to discharge night watchman Stafford.
Arkansas City
Republican, September
26, 1885.
The
side-splitting fat men’s race, which the managers of the rink advertised to
come off Wednesday night, culminated in a free fight for all. W. Ward, while
skating in the race, fell down and as a consequence the fat men following fell
over him. The managers thought Ward was drunk and ran up and grabbed him by the
hair and coat collar and were dragging him off the floor. Billy Gray happened
in as several of Ward’s friends stepped up to interfere in the dragging
process, and quelled the racket. Thursday one of the managers was sitting over
by the hotel when Ward was passing. The latter stepped up to the former and hit
him with his fist in the back of the neck, knocking him several feet. Ward went
and gave himself up. Ward was not drunk at the skating rink. Last Saturday
night another row occurred there. Oh, that skating rink is a grand place for
decent girls to go! A newspaper that will stand up for such an institution
deserves to be condemned by the public.
Arkansas City
Republican, October
3, 1885.
Wednesday
afternoon, in fraternity hall, mugwump Democracy held their primary pow wow.
Friends, it was astonishing what a select crowd was in attendance. Just cast
your eye on the following array of talent, which goes to the county convention
today.
M. B. Vawter
and Judge McIntire were chosen delegates from the first ward; Austin Bailey and
Dr. Westfall, alternates. In the second ward, Ex-Street Commissioner Jim Moore
and Dr. J. W. Sparks were made delegates and Pat Franey and Tom Braggins,
alternates. The third ward, Jas. Benedict and J. M. Collins were denominated delegates,
and Wyatt Gooch and E. Elerding, alternates. Fourth ward: Delegates, D. A.
McIntire and Hon. E. C. Gage; alternates, John C. Willoughby and Capt. H. M.
Maidt. Billy Gray and G. W. Ford were made delegates at large and C. T.
Thurston and D. J. Buckley, alternates. Judge McIntire was chairman of the
meeting and Edward C. Gage, secretary. A new departure was made in the
convention. The delegates were left uninstructed. How are they to vote
intelligently?
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
7, 1885.
Council
Proceedings.
City Marshal
Gray was reappointed street commissioner to hold the office until his successor
is appointed and qualified. A resolution was also adopted that ex-Street
Commissioner Moore be instructed to make his report and deliver his records to
his successor without delay.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
14, 1885.
Street
Commissioner Gray has laid a gravel crosswalk along Summit Street on Fifth
Avenue, which will be a boon to pedestrians in bad weather.
Arkansas City
Republican, October
17, 1885.
Let every man
pay his poll-tax so City Marshal Gray can go with his improvements of the
streets of the city.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
21, 1885.
Council
Proceedings.
W.
J. Gray, $10; allowed.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
21, 1885.
Horse
Thief Captured.
On Monday
afternoon City Marshal Gray was telephoned from Winfield, by Sheriff McIntire,
to be on the look out for a horse thief who was traveling in the direction of
this city. The man’s name is Bill Johnson, and he has been employed as a cowboy
in the territory. Growing tired of this pastoral occupation, he struck out for
Kansas, and some distance south of Caldwell, he laid violent hands on a horse,
belonging to a farmer named Brown. The latter discovering his loss went in
pursuit of the thief, tracking him to Winfield where he sought the assistance
of the sheriff. Caution was sent to various towns surrounding, and to our city
marshal, as has above been stated. This officer kept himself on the alert, and
towards evening noticed a stranger ride into town from the north, whose
description answered that briefly sent him by the sheriff. Marshal Gray
informed the horse operator he had business for him, and in spite of the man’s
protestations of innocence, took him in. He immediately telephoned Sheriff
McIntire that he had caught the man, and early yesterday morning, that officer
accompanied by the owner of the stolen animal arrived in town. The horse had
been swapped on the way, however, and whether the owner can recover the
property is doubtful. The prisoner was taken to Winfield on the afternoon
train, and his chances for becoming a guest of the state are very promising.
Arkansas City
Republican, October
24, 1885.
Monday
afternoon City Marshal Gray was telephoned from Winfield by Sheriff McIntire to
be on the look out for a horse thief by the name of Bill Johnson. Johnson is a
cowboy and a few weeks ago he left the territory and stole the horse for which
he is now under arrest. The owner resides south of Caldwell and he traced
Johnson to Winfield. Our marshal discovered Johnson in one of our restaurants
about dusk buying something to eat, and arrested him. He telephoned to Winfield
for the owner of the horse, and sheriff, who came down on the 9 o’clock train
and took charge of the prisoner, taking him to Winfield Tuesday morning. The
gentleman from whom the horse was stolen promised not to prosecute Johnson if
the latter would divulge the whereabouts of the animal, he having traded it off
on his way here. This was agreed to and the prisoner is now in the hands of the
officers. He will most likely get to serve a term in the penitentiary as he
deserves.
Arkansas City
Traveler, November
4, 1885.
Poker
Room Raided.
Some excitement
was created on Saturday evening by the arrest of Frank Bluebaugh for keeping a
poker room, in the basement under the Commercial block. Information was lodged
with City Marshal Gray, by one Jones, who admitted he was running the game for
a commission paid by Bluebaugh, but there being no city ordinance imposing a
penalty for such offense, the case was placed in the hands of Constable Frank
Thompson, to proceed against under the state law. On Saturday evening he
visited the place, and arrested the proprietor, entrusting him to the custody
of an assistant, while he proceeded to take in others implicated. But the
prisoner eluded the vigilance of his custodian, and issuing from the hall, set
out for parts unknown. This misadventure seems to have stayed all further
proceedings.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 5, 1885.
Billy Gray and
a drunken Paddy had a disagreement Monday. Billy arrested him, but Paddy did
not want to go, so our marshal threw him down and sat upon him. Paddy was put
in a wagon and taken to the cooler, where he sobered up. He was taken before
Judge Bryant Tuesday and liquidated for his misdemeanor to the amount of $8.65.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 5, 1885.
ALMOST
ANOTHER CONFLAGRATION.
The Leland
Hotel Set on Fire Wednesday Night;
and
Jerry McGee Arrested for the Deed.
Last Wednesday
evening, at about 10 o’clock, the alarm of fire was given. It proved to be in
the Leland Hotel, and from the testimony offered in the preliminary examination
yesterday, of the man who is accused of the deed, we glean the following
information.
Shortly after the
Santa Fe train came in Wednesday night, the fire was discovered under the
stairway by a chambermaid going to a closet after bed clothing. She screamed
for Landlord Perry, who came with a pitcher of water, followed by a drummer
with a bucket of water. They both dashed it on the flames and extinguished
them. While this scene was transpiring, upon the outside two girls employed in
the hotel were coming into the house from the laundry, when they met a man, who
appeared to be trying to hide from them. They recognized him as Jerry McGee,
and one of them, Ruth Bowles, caught hold of his coat collar and asked what he
was doing there. No answer was made to her inquiry, and the girl held on to him
for a short distance as he moved away trying to obtain an answer from him. She
finally let loose and upon going in the house learned what had occurred there.
She told Mr. Perry of her experience outside and he immediately had Billy Gray
to go over to the Occidental where McGee worked, and see if he was there.
Marshal Gray found him there and arrested him. He was kept under guard all
night. Thursday the preliminary trial was to have come off, but it was
postponed until yesterday. Landlord Perry tells us a man by the name of Hill
saw the prisoner in the hallway of the Leland just before the fire occurred,
but this witness strangely disappeared before the trial began. DeWitt McDowell,
proprietor of the Occidental Hotel, testified that McGee was in his hotel at
the time the fire occurred. The girl who caught the man by the coat collar is
positive that it was McGee and McDowell was equally positive that the prisoner
was in the Occidental at that moment. But Judge Kreamer wisely gave his
decision to hold McGee, and he was bound over in the sum of $2,500.
The Leland
Hotel was chock full of lodgers and if the fire had gotten under headway, no
doubt some of them would have been cremated. The fire was under the only
stairway in the hotel and if it had burned, all egress would have been cut off
except through the windows. Whoever it was, it was intended to make a sure job,
as everything in the place where the fire was started was saturated with coal
oil.
Excerpts from a
very lengthy article...
Arkansas City
Traveler, Wednesday,
December 9, 1885.
ATTEMPTED
INCENDIARISM.
The Leland
Hotel Comes Near Going Up in Smoke.
Jerry McGee, a
Discharged Employee, Arrested for the Crime.
He is Examined and
Committed for Trial in the District Court.
Will J. Woods
deposed that he was in the Occidental Hotel on Wednesday evening, when the
train whistle blew, and remained there till the bus came up. One passenger came
in and registered. McGee also came in and sat down by the stove. He talked
three or four minutes with him, and then crossed over to the Leland, leaving
McGee sitting there. In the Leland talked to his brother about a letter he had
received from home, and talked to some other persons. A stranger inquired what
escape there was from the house in case of fire. The porter showed a diagram of
the place, and said escape was easy. Shortly afterward a cry of fire was
raised, and witness went to the door and called for water and buckets. Quite a
number came in, but it was then reported that the fire was out, and witness
endeavored to keep the crowd out of the hall. The next witness saw of McGee was
in the Occidental, and then heard he was accused of setting fire to the Leland.
McGee was still sitting there. City Marshal Gray entered, and told McGee he had
come to arrest him. It was talked that the girls at the Leland had seen him
there, but McGee denied that he had been there.
DeWitt
McDowell, proprietor of the Occidental, was next sworn. He deposed that McGee
was in his employ as porter. It was near 10 o’clock when the bus came in. Jerry
entered the office with one man carrying a small bundle. McGee sat down and the
passenger washed. He (the accused) then went upstairs, and two minutes later
there was an alarm of fire. He did not leave the office till he went upstairs.
Billy Gray came in about ten minutes after the alarm of fire was given and took
McGee away. On going upstairs, witness met him coming down, and told him there
was a fire; he asked where it was. Both went to the door to look out, and saw a
crowd running into the Leland Hotel.
William J. Gray
deposed that he arrested Jerry McGee 15 to 20 minutes after the fire. On his
first trip he didn’t find him. The second time he found him in the Occidental
office. Had no warrant to arrest him. Held him in charge till he gave bond.
Shortly after releasing him went to Occidental again with Judge Kreamer, where
he found his prisoner.
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
9, 1885.
The Englishman
says, “If you give a man a hinch he’ll take a hell.” Mr. Davis, in the city
council on Monday evening, made a similar complaint. He said when leave is
granted a property holder to use the street for building material, it is always
understood that a sidewalk must be kept open for pedestrians, and only
one-third of the width of the street must be used. But in the burnt district
nearly the entire roadway was encumbered, leaving barely room for one wagon to
pass, and where a passage should be left open for pedestrians, a mortar bed was
placed. City Marshal Gray was instructed to bestir himself, and see that the
rights of the sovereign people are respected.
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
16, 1885.
Capt. Rarick,
City Marshal Gray, and Constable Breene made a descent yesterday on three
moonshiners, on an island five miles east of this city, old man Tournier being
one of the contraband operators, the names of his two accomplices we did not
learn. Their stock in trade consisted of an empty whiskey barrel, its contents
having just been exhausted. The parties were examined before Judge Kreamer, and
in default of bail, were here held in durance vile.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
January 23, 1886.
Tuesday City
Marshal Gray arrested the two soiled doves, Nellie Tartar and Jessie Cuppy, and
their “pimp,” Geo. Cuppy. The trio were taken before Judge Kreamer, as Judge
Bryant was not in his office for trial. The charge preferred against them was
the keeping of a “bawdy house.” They were found guilty and fined $5 each and
costs. The boy was taken to the Winfield bastille Wednesday morning, where he
languishes now for his deeds. The girls were given until Wednesday noon in
which to pay their fine. Several hours before that time, they walked up to the
bar of Justice and liquidated. When arrested Tuesday they were moneyless. They
told the Judge if he would give them 24 hours more, they would raise the money
to pay the boy’s fine. The Judge refused.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
January 23, 1886.
Chas. Custer, a
Tonkawa chief, was in the city the first of the week on his way to Washington,
D. C. He put up at the Central Avenue hotel. Monday night he got some man to go
and get him some whiskey and Charles proceeded to get drunk and go to sleep.
Tuesday morning when he waked up and counted his money, he found he was out
$29, which he claimed someone had appropriated. Accordingly City Marshal Gray
was ordered to arrest J. C. Anderson. He was taken before Judge Kreamer; but
the Indian said he was not the man, when but a few moments before he had said
he was. All parties were turned loose. On the stand the Indian picked out Tommy
Braggins as the man who bought the whiskey for him. Tommy never saw the
red-skin before and only happened to be sitting in the courtroom at the time of
the trial. This proved conclusively that Chas. Custer did not know what he was
talking about. But one thing was certain, that Charles had been on a drunk and
was not entirely sober when he was on the stand.
Arkansas City
Republican, February
20, 1886.
A woman by the
name of Parker, who resides on South Summit street, hunted up Marshal Gray
Wednesday morning and informed him that her gold watch had been stolen the
night before. She stated that a man had removed her “chattels” from the Hasie
block to her present quarters the day before the watch had been taken and had
left town that morning. Sheriff McIntire was telephoned to stop the man at
Winfield. He did so and searched him, but did not find the watch. The prisoner
was turned loose. The man stated he had lodged with the woman overnight after
moving her chattels, and that is why she suspected him of taking the
time-piece. Since we have an ordinance now, don’t the citizens of Arkansas City
think it is high time that such irregularities should be stopped?
Arkansas City
Republican, February
20, 1886.
Monday night
the council passed an ordinance against prostitution. Thursday Mollie Anthony,
Jennie Jones, and Dora _____, all professionals from Winfield, were taken in by
Marshal Gray under its provisions. They were taken before Judge Bryant and
plead “guilty.” Each was fined $10 and costs. Jennie Jones and Dora _______
paid, but Mollie Anthony asked for an extension of time. She was returned in
custody. These women had their resort near Rosenberg’s restaurant.
Arkansas City
Traveler, February
24, 1886.
DRAYMEN’S
REVOLT.
They Declare
They Will Not Pay Their License Unless the Ordinance is Better Enforced.
The draymen of
the city have been raising a sort of racket over the payment of the occupation
tax. Mention having been made in the city council that a number of persons were
delinquent in this tax, the city clerk was instructed to prepare a statement
showing the names of all who had paid their occupation and dog tax. This was
presented at the last meeting of the council, and referred to the finance
committee. A cursory glance over the list showed that the draymen of the city
were defaulters, and City Marshal Gray was instructed to arrest them and take
them before the police justice for a hearing. Accordingly on Wednesday
afternoon Frank Wallace, William Huff, William Ward, W. J. Gamel, Jas. Moore,
Henry Bryson, Scott Brandon, and M. Hartman appeared before Judge Bryant, who
fined them each $2 and costs for violation of a city ordinance.
This puts the
draymen in a bad light before the public, but they have their grievances which
they put in as an offset. Their first demurrer is that the section in the city
ordinance relating to draymen is so bunglingly worded, that no lawyer has yet
been found in the city who can construe it. One clause in the section sets
forth as follows:
“Any wagon used
or kept for use for hauling or transferring for his profit or compensation, any
goods, wares, or merchandise, or other property of any kind, except ice, coal,
wood, sand, stone, brick, and building material not owned by the owner of the
wagon, shall be deemed a job wagon.”
According to
the ordinary rules of construction, this would exclude the hauling of the
articles above named by an owner of a wagon, to whom the goods do not belong,
from liability to pay occupation tax on a job wagon. But it is not so construed
by the police justice, and it is not so understood by the draymen implicated.
According to the decisions of Judge Bryant, a coal dealer who delivers coal in
his own vehicle is not the owner of a job wagon, and hence not liable to the
tax on the same; but the man who delivers coal, who is not the owner of the
same, and receives money for the service, is running a job wagon and should pay
the tax.
The draymen
complain of other irregularities in the enforcement of this ordinance which are
vexatious to themselves, one or two of which we will mention.
Some time ago
several car loads of corn arrived at the depot, which the owner desired to have
hauled to his crib. The draymen agreed upon $5 a car load as their rate of
compensation. The owner of the corn found someone who was willing to do the
work for $4.50, and set him to hauling it. The draymen complained to the city
marshal that this man was running a job wagon without paying his tax, and he
was arrested for the offense. On the trial the owner of the corn testified that
he had sold the wagon used for transferring the corn to the man who was driving
it, and had not yet been paid; on this he based his claim to ownership of the
wagon. This was accepted as sound logic and good law by the court, and the
charge was dismissed.
The draymen
also object to the practice of licensing a job wagon for a fraction of a year.
They allege that men who use their wagons and teams in farm work during the
summer, will come to town when farm work
is over and run job wagons during the winter months at a rate of
compensation just sufficient to pay for horse feed. City draymen who are
willing to take out a license and expect to support their families by their
industry, are injured by this competition; and as a protection, they demand
that these men be required to pay the tax for a whole year. It has been said in
the council chamber that the licensing ordinance is not a protective tariff,
that its sole purpose is to provide revenue, and those persons who seek
protection from it, mistake its intent and purport. But the draymen maintain
that they have a right to incidental protection, and the lax way in which
licenses are granted deprives the municipal law of all usefulness and validity.
Thus we have the great political issue of a tariff for protection or a tariff
for revenue only, brought home to our city administration; and to Judge Bryant
is committed the delicate duty of determining which rule shall apply.
The draymen
made a picnic of the prosecution. Being committed in default of payment, and
there being no jail to confine them in, they considered themselves under
arrest, and demanded board of the city marshal. This officer was not prepared
to feed so numerous a family, so to escape the embarrassment he skipped out,
leaving his prisoners to provide for themselves. At supper time they repaired
to a restaurant, called for a meal, ate heartily, enjoying the affair as a huge
joke, and referred the perplexed caterer to the city council for payment.
One of the men
tells an amusing domestic incident. It was told his children that their father
had gone to jail, there was no one to provide for them now, and they would have
to go to the city for support. This sadly troubled them, and when a grocer’s
wagon stopped at the door shortly after to deliver some goods, a little
toddler, four years old, said to the clerk, “My pa is put in prison, and you’ll
have to go to the city for your pay.”
This revolt of
the draymen against a city ordinance is an unpleasant incident, and we look to
see the matter brought up before the city council at its next meeting.
Since the above
was written, the draymen have paid the fine and costs, and give notice of
appeal.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
13, 1886.
Notice.
Every citizen
in Arkansas City is hereby notified to clean up their alleys, pig pens, and out
buildings, or take the consequence of the law. W. J. GRAY, City Marshal.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
20, 1886.
Annie Davis was
arrested by Marshal Gray Thursday, on the charge of prostitution. Judge Bryant
fined her $10 and costs. She paid up in full.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
20, 1886.
Jennie Miller,
Maud Dewit, and Mollie Jones were arrested Thursday morning by Marshal Gray for
running a “baudy house.” They were taken before Judge Bryant and fined $10 and
costs. They paid.
Arkansas City
Republican, March
20, 1886.
W. J. Johnson,
a man who has been in the employ of C. M. Scott for some time, was arrested
Monday morning by Marshal Gray for beating his wife. He was taken before Judge
Kreamer, but the prosecuting witness failed to appear, and he got off by paying
costs.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
3, 1886.
Geo. Washington
has been resurrected. He was arrested Wednesday, by Marshal Gray, on the charge
of fighting, and was fined $2 and costs; total $6. George paid the cost up in
full, and was released. He is a colored man.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
3, 1886.
Mrs. Hallie
Jones, with the aid of Judge Bryant and Marshal Gray, celebrated “all fool’s
days” in grand style. The marshal arrested her on the charge of running a bawdy
house, and the judge fined her $10 and costs, total $14. Mrs. Hattie paid the
assessment.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
24, 1886.
Wm. Gray was
reappointed City Marshal Monday evening last by Mayor Schiffbauer. Johnnie
Breene was appointed assistant, and James Benedict City Clerk. The appointments
were promptly confirmed by the council.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
24, 1886.
Two of the
“boys in blue,” who have been stationed here for some time, drank and became
drunken Saturday night last. They were arrested by Marshal Gray and placed in
jail overnight. They were released the next morning by the order of Mayor
Schiffbauer.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
24, 1886.
Pat Moran and
wife jumped the town last Sunday night, leaving a board bill of $24 unpaid.
Marshal Gray telegraphed to the marshal at Mulvane and the parties were taken
in and brought back. They paid up the board bill and all the costs and were
released.
Arkansas City
Republican, April
24, 1886.
Austin Bailey
and Tom Saymens became involved in a dispute Wednesday evening on 5th Avenue
over the auctioneering business and which led to a bout with the fists. Bailey
hit Saymens in the eye and the latter dittoed, when they were separated by
Marshal Gray. They were taken before the police judge and fined $1 and costs
each.
Arkansas City
Traveler, April
28, 1886.
City Marshal Gray
has something to say to householders about cleaning up their premises. His
message will be found in another column.
Take
Notice.
All persons
owning or occupying lots are hereby notified to remove all garbage or decaying
animal or vegetable matter from their premises and alleys adjoining, according
to the requirement of the city ordinances. A thorough cleansing and purifying
at the approach of hot weather is necessary to the health of the city. Persons
neglecting this notice will be punished to the full extent of the law. WILLIAM
J. GRAY, City Marshal.
Arkansas City
Republican, May
8, 1886.
The
Jail Delivery.
Last Monday
night at about 9 o’clock, the first successful jail delivery was effected in
Cowley County at Winfield. The prisoners, not usually locked in their cells
till 9 or 9:30 o’clock, were at large in the jail corridor. Sheriff McIntire
and Deputy Joe Church had just gone uptown, when the prisoners rapped on the
iron door of the jail and called for water. Jailor Tom H. Herrod and Deputy
Henry A. Champlain remained at the jail to attend the prisoners. They went to
answer the summons, Champlain guarding with his revolver for any emergency,
when Herrod opened the door. It was opened only about one foot when five of the
prisoners made the break for liberty. Chas. Swift, the leader of the gang,
convicted of forgery last week, grabbed Herrod and pulled him in while Bill
Matney, a U. S. prisoner for horse stealing in the Territory, gave him a blow
on the top of the head with a bed slat that stunned him and he fell back
against the door sill. Before he fell, Champlain couldn’t shoot for fear of
hitting Herrod, but as soon as he was knocked down, the guard opened fire with
his revolver. Wm. P. Bennett, whose conviction for counterfeiting was scarcely
four hours old, grabbed the door low down and was in the act of slamming it
wide open when a ball from Champlain’s 45 took him in the groin, ranged upward,
severed the main artery, and without uttering a word, he whirled around, sank
down by a cell door, and in three minutes had bled to death. The shot was
paralyzing. The smoke from the first shot blinded the guard, but he blazed away
again; whether the shot took effect or not is unknown. Swift sprang forward,
belted Champlain a blow on the head with a bed slat, momentarily stunning him.
The final dash was made and before Champlain could gather himself, four of the
prisoners were out. Three of them went between the jail and Finch’s house, and
the deputy followed them with the remaining bullets in his revolver. Another
went around the west side of the jail and jumped the fence southwest of the
courthouse. Sheriff McIntire was on the scene in a few minutes, organized a
posse, and made hot pursuit though the cloudy darkness gave the criminals every
advantage. Marshal Gray and Capt. Rarick were telephoned and they also got out
a squad of searchers. None of the fugitives were found until Wednesday when
Chas. Swift and David Wiggins were captured in the vicinity of Dexter.
Wednesday night Bill Matney was captured. He was caught at the Chilocco Indian
Schools in the Territory by Sam Endicott. Marshal Gray took the prisoners to
Winfield Thursday morning. Those who escaped were: Chas. Swift, convicted last
week of forging the name of J. T. Stinson to a $15 check and passing it on J.
B. Lynn. Bill Matney has been in jail for two months awaiting a trial before
the U. S. Court, for horse stealing in the Territory. John David Wiggins was
convicted last Friday of manufacturing and circulating counterfeit silver
dollars. He was arrested at Atlanta two months ago, with his “kit” of tools
with him in a “grip.” W. P. Bennett, who was killed, was an assistant of
Wiggins in the counterfeiting business. James Whitehead was a horse thief.
There were several other prisoners in the corridor, but they made no attempt to
get out. The latter has not been captured.
Arkansas City
Republican, May
22, 1886.
Real Estate
Transfers of Monday and Tuesday.
HOWARD,
DIX & CO.
J. M. Godfrey
to Wm. Gray, house and lot, $600.
Arkansas City
Republican, May
22, 1886.
Council
Proceedings.
The city
council met Monday evening in regular session. Present: C. G. Thompson, C. G.
Thurston, A. A. Davis, A. D. Prescott, J. Hight, C. Dean, and O. Ingersoll.
The allowing of
bills occupied the attention of the council first.
W.
J. Gray, $3.80; allowed.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
May 22, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
David Griffin,
Thos. Murray, and Jas. Tully were taken in Tuesday evening by Marshal Gray on
the charge of drunkenness. They were taken before Judge Bryant. Griffin was
found not guilty. The other two were found guilty and fined $5 and costs each.
They languish in the calaboose.
Arkansas City
Republican, May
29, 1886.
Monday evening
the city council met. Present: Mayor Schiffbauer, Councilmen A. D. Prescott, O.
Ingersoll, A. A. Davis, C. T. Thurston, C. G. Thompson, and J. Hight.
W. J.
Gray, board prisoners, $4.60; allowed.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
May 29, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
City Marshal
Gray Tuesday notified the druggists of the city that if they sold any more
whiskey on Sunday, he would arrest them. It is a violation of the city
ordinance to sell whiskey on Sunday.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
May 29, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
Bent Moore, M.
Hungerford, and J. E. Miner were arrested by Marshal Gray last evening for
being drunk and disorderly. Judge Bryant fined each $1 and costs; total, $5
each.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
May 29, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
Nellie Tartar
was arrested by Marshal Gray this morning for running a “bawdy house.” She was
fined $10 and costs.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
June 5, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Mattie Jackson
and Nellie Shepard were taken in by Billy Gray Tuesday, for running a bawdy
house. Judge Bryant cared for them in the sum of $10 and costs each.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
June 12, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
This morning,
just before noon, Marshal Gray, Capt. Rarick, Sheriff McIntire, Johnnie Breene,
and John Lewis visited the Monumental Hotel and made a raid upon the basement
for whiskey sellers. The building was surrounded and an officer detached to
make the search. A thorough search was made, but the jointists had gone, taking
with them their liquors before the officers got there. It is supposed the
criminals had gone to the Territory.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
June 12, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
Wednesday the
little five year old son of Widow Matlock was bitten quite severely by a
vicious dog. She resides in a cottage east of the Santa Fe. She sent the boy to
a neighbor’s upon an errand and as he was entering the yard, the dog sprang
upon him, lacerating his head very badly. The teeth of the lower jaw of the dog
entered the boy’s head just above the ear; of the upper jaw, on top of the head,
and as the animal shut his mouth, it scraped the flesh from the skull bone. The
boy was promptly attended to by physicians. Officers Gray and Breene went down
to slay the brute; but he had imbibed in his soul the same spirit that a few of
our illicit whiskey dealers had, and disappeared.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
June 26, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
John Kennedy
was arrested yesterday for carrying concealed weapons. He was fined $5 and
costs. After the arrest Marshal Gray placed the revolver in Police Judge
Bryant’s desk and someone stole it. Billy is now hunting for the thief.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 3, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Marshal Gray
and J. J. Breene captured one John Jackson, a horse thief, who stole two ponies
from the Pawnee Indians last Friday night. The thief and ponies were captured
Sunday near Geuda Springs; the trial came off at one o’clock at Justice
Kreamer’s office this afternoon and is still progressing.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 3, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
Two “soiled
doves” were given until train time this morning by Marshal Gray to leave town.
Their names are Mollie Jackson and Bertha Sherwood.
Arkansas City
Republican, July
3, 1886.
Peter Hanson, a
stone-cutter residing in the 3rd ward, has been sick for ten days past with an
attack of some sort of brain trouble. He has been delirious most of the time.
Monday he arose from his bed, while his wife was away from his side for a few
moments, and came uptown. He was returned home by friends. This morning he did
the same thing. He was so bad off that neighbors had to be called in to get him
home. He was perfectly wild. Marshal Gray placed hand-cuffs on him and tied his
feet. He was taken to Winfield on the afternoon train, where he will be placed
in confinement. He was very violent when he was taken in charge and it took
five men to hold him.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 10, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
Saturday
Sheriff McIntire arrested a youth by the name of McGrew on the 4th of July
grounds at Winfield, for attempting to pass counterfeit dollars. A short time
after his arrest, the boy confessed that his father and two brothers and one
Geo. Field were engaged in making the spurious coin at this city. McIntire
telephoned Marshal Gray the particulars late Saturday evening, and Sunday
morning just at the dawn of day he, accompanied by Capt. Rarick and Johnnie
Breene, made a raid upon the den of counterfeiters. They were in a tent over in
Oak Grove addition. The old man, his sons, and Field were captured, the tent
was searched, and $27 counterfeit dollars were found buried about six inches
beneath the surface of the ground. The paraphernalia for the manufacture of the
money was also found. The prisoners were taken to Winfield on the 8 o’clock
Frisco train, where the whole family now languish. The boy when arrested at
Winfield had $7 of counterfeit coin upon his person. The old man and his two
sons arrested here were over to Geuda Springs Saturday, and it is supposed that
they made away with a considerable amount of the bad money. From the ring of
the coin, we should judge it was made of Babbitt metal.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 17, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
Marshal Gray is
after the owners of canines. He gives them warning this morning that unless
they walk up and pay the tax upon their brutes within five days, they will be
taken before Judge Bryant and fined according to the ordinance.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 24, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
City Marshal Gray
came uptown this morning carrying a double-barreled shot-gun. He is on the
war-path for the festive canine. Pay your taxes and save your brute.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 24, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
The Democrats
of the city held their primaries Tuesday. From the first ward W. J. Gray and M.
W. Hoover were selected delegates. From the second ward, Thos. Braggins and
Jos. Finkleberg. From the third ward, A. D. Prescott and C. G. Thompson. From
the fourth ward, Jos. Knowlton and C. T. Thurston. At large: T. McIntire, John
Love, and Ed. C. Gage.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 24, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
This afternoon
Tom Corline was arrested for assaulting Jas. Hedley and robbing him. The deed
was perpetrated in the rear of the Occidental Hotel, shortly after dinner.
Corline attacked Hedley and struck him with his fist, knocking him over a pile
of wood and breaking his collar bone. He, then, it is said, removed what money
Hedley had on his person. Marshal Gray arrested Corline and took him before
Judge Bryant, where he answered three charges: disturbing the peace,
drunkenness, and fighting. He was fined $5 and costs upon each charge. Not
having the money to pay the fine, he was committed to jail. When he was
arrested Marshal Gray found some $2.50 on him. Hedley is a stone cutter.
Corline is a laborer and has been working on the various buildings going up in
the city. He will be arrested upon state warrant for highway robbery.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 24, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
Probably as
outrageous a deed as could be perpetrated was that done by Dr. Holland and H.
C. Scroggs, of Geuda Springs. About dusk yesterday evening Mr. and Mrs. F. J.
Hess were out driving and just as they arrived at the crossing of 4th Avenue
and Summit Street, along came the above named intoxicated individuals, driving
at a rapid gait, and ran the front wheel of their buggy into the hind wheel of
Mr. Hess’s carriage. In attempting to turn their horse and buggy, Holland and
Scroggs upset the vehicle with which they collided. Mr. and Mrs. Hess were
thrown out, the latter receiving a bad bruise on the shoulder, a sprained arm,
and a severe wrench of one of her lower limbs. Mr. Hess was uninjured and as
quickly as possible conveyed his wife home and summoned a physician. She was
carefully attended and at the present writing is reported improving. Holland
and Scroggs had no sooner done the deed than they made a break to get out of
town and an exciting chase ensued between them and Marshal Gray and Johnnie
Breene in Ware & Pickering’s delivery wagon. They were chased down Summit
Street to 7th Avenue, when they turned and ran down the alley between 6th
Street and Summit, until they arrived at the rear of the Central Avenue Hotel.
Here they were overtaken and arrested. Before Judge Bryant they were fined $10
and costs for disturbing the peace. They paid up immediately, highly elated to
think they had gotten out of their difficulty so easily. But their hilarity was
cut short, for they were arrested again with a state warrant upon the same
charges. They were taken before Judge Kreamer, but that gentleman refused to
allow them out on bond, so they were placed in custody until this afternoon.
When the case came up, Scroggs plead guilty and was fined $20 and costs, total
$48. He paid up. Holland stood trial and was fined $10 and costs. He proved
that he had nothing to do with the accident, except that he was in the buggy
riding with Scroggs.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 31, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Saturday night
Marshal Gray, J. J. Breene, and John Lewis made a raid on a gambling den in the
Grady block. They captured 13 men; one got away in the darkness. The 12 were
held in custody until this morning at 10 o’clock when five plead guilty before
the acting police judge, Kreamer, and were fined $10 and costs; total $21 each.
The remaining seven plead guilty this afternoon and were fined the same. All
have paid up except two and they are rustling for the money and will have it in
the city treasury before night. The names of the parties arrested were John
Boucher, Wm. Fullerlove, F. A. Hale, H. Armstrong, Jos. Rogers, C. Tuby, Chas.
Harkins, J. R. Vanskye, Harry Gage, Clate Jones, Harry Hughes, and De Witt
Moonhouse. The officers also captured some poker chips. Who runs the
establishment is not known.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
July 31, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Yesterday
afternoon Marshal Gray pulled five “joints,” under the new city ordinance for
selling intoxicants. They were located as follows: Bluebaugh’s Billiard Hall;
basement Nickle Plate Restaurant; Billiard Hall in the basement of the Creswell
block; the upstairs of the Godehard block, and the upstairs of the Grady block.
The names of the proprietors we are unable to give, because before Police Judge
Bryant they answered to the names of John Doe and Richard Roe. They were fined
$50 and costs each. They paid.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
August 7, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
The council met
last evening. Present: Mayor Schiffbauer; Councilmen A. D. Prescott, C. Dean,
O. Ingersoll, A. A. Davis, C. G. Thompson, Jas. Hill, C. T. Thurston.
Bill of
W. J. Gray, boarding, $2; allowed.
Arkansas City
Traveler, August
18, 1886.
On Saturday
Sheriff McIntire, with his deputy, Tom Herrod, aided by City Marshal Gray,
raided a number of joints in this city, and captured several prisoners. The
parties taken in were Frank Bluebaugh, J. W. Hall, W. D. Johnson, and Ed
Leonard, alias W. B. Bartholomew. Bluebaugh was admitted to bail, the others
were carried to Winfield and committed to jail, to await trial, which is set
for today. Frank Miller and Van Skoid, owners of the billiard hall, in the
Sherburne building, escaped arrest and have left the country. The charge
against the accused is selling intoxicating liquors in violation of law, and
the County Attorney is said to have proof to convict. There are seven counts
against Johnson and four against Leonard.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
August 21, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Jim Schofield
was taken in by Marshal Gray last night because he was too drunk to be sober.
He was cast into the calaboose until this morning, when he was arraigned at the
bar of justice before Judge Bryant and the usual fine and costs assessed up
against him.
Arkansas City
Republican, August
27, 1886.
There was a
disgraceful scene enacted on our streets last night. Samuel Hamlin, a cowboy,
and another individual became involved in a quarrel over a lewd woman in the
alley near the stand-pipe. Hamlin pulled his revolver and fired it off five
times. The shooting awakened the mayor, who went out to the place where he
thought the shooting occurred. The police arrived on the scene and after a
search discovered the culprits. Gallant Marshal Gray took charge of the woman and
placed her in custody until this morning. The other officers took Hamlin; but
on his refusal to go to the calaboose, they turned him loose upon his own
recognizance. We are told Hamlin defied the officers and dared them to put him
in the calaboose. This morning there was some skirmishing hunting up the
prisoner and when he was found, he was taken before Judge Bryant and fined only
$5 and costs. Evidently our police force need a little nerve.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
August 27, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Yesterday
evening at about supper time a tow-headed boy came uptown and informed City
Marshal Gray that there was a dog down in the vicinity of the First Ward School
Building that was acting queerly. The dog was found and killed within an hour afterward.
He displayed symptoms of madness.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
August 27, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
Charlie Bundrem
was taken under the protecting wing of City Marshal Gray last evening for being
drunk. Poor Charlie has drank so much lately that he is but a wreck of his
former self. Marshal Gray informs us that the next person he catches giving or
selling intoxicants to Charlie, he will prosecute them to the fullest extent of
the law. All parties are therefore warned of the consequences.
Arkansas City
Traveler, September
8, 1886.
A lively
excitement was raised in Summit Street on Sunday morning by a cowhiding fracas.
The principals in this disgraceful affair were a waitress in Beard’s
Restaurant, named Gussie Seine, a confederate in the flagellating business
named Durham, who held up the victim with his revolver, and the floggee, named
M. V. Jones, a former partner in the restaurant, who had been telling naughty
stories about the fair Augusta. The slanders retailed by Jones, coming to the
girl’s ear, she determined to administer punishment, and an opportunity being
afforded on the Sabbath morn, she sallied out, and astonished her defamer by
assailing him vigorously over the head and face with her rawhide. He was
terrorized into mute acquiescence by the sight of the revolver pointed at his
head by Durham. When a number of blows had been laid on, the crowd that had
gathered around interfered, and the parties were separated, Jones’ countenance
showing signs of punishment. Durham, who filled the most objectionable part in
this drama, escaped arrest by fleeing to the territory, but Marshal Gray took
possession of his personal effects, and will hold them until he pays the
penalty of his offense. Jones and the girl were fined: the former $2.50; the
latter $10, with costs.
Arkansas City
Traveler, September
22, 1886.
The city
council on Monday granted Marshal Gray three days’ respite from duty, to enable
him to take needed rest after a long spell of over work.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
September 25, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Council
Proceedings.
On motion W. J.
Gray, City Marshal, was granted a four day lay-off from official duty.
Arkansas City
Traveler, September
29, 1886.
There was a
wholesale jail delivery on Monday night from our city cooler, seven hard cases,
locked up for drunkenness making their escape by sawing away the sill through
which an iron bar was driven, and thus making their exeunt through the
window. The eighth prisoner, who was suffering with chills, being too weak to
make a run for liberty, was the sole occupant found by the city marshal in the
morning. The names of three of the fugitives are Jas. Hamilton, Charles Walden,
and Pierce Haysel. The other four had been arrested the day preceding and were
not tried. Marshal Gray offers a reward of $10 for anyone who shall be arrested
and returned to his custody.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
October 16, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
This morning
two jointists were arrested by Marshal Gray. They were carrying on business in
the basements of the Cresswell and Commercial blocks. Each were fined $50 and
costs. They liquidated. Their names were unknown to us.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
October 16, 1886. From Tuesday’s Daily.
DIED. Last
evening about 9 o’clock a man came running up from the Santa Fe depot to
Marshal Gray and told him a man down there was trying to kill off everybody.
The Marshal went down and found three men holding the fourth down. He had a fit
and it lasted until about 12 o’clock. At times it took the entire crowd to hold
him. The man was completely drenched with water and everything else possible
was done to restore him, but it was useless. He was a stranger here.
Arkansas City
Traveler, October
20, 1886.
W. J. Gray, our
efficient city marshal, was confined home two or three days last week with a
severe attack of bilious colic.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Wednesday,
October 27, 1886.
From
Our Exchanges.
Winfield
Courier: County
Clerk Smock and Deputy Gray are covered over with work. The accumulation of
county scrip for two quarters keeps one man busy to hand out, and the tax rolls
must be finished by Nov. 1st. George Black and A. J. McClellan, whose school in
district 1 has been closed for a week or so on account of diphtheria, are
assisting on the tax rolls.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
October 30, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
Yesterday
Marshal Gray received word from Quincy, Illinois, to be on the lookout for one
Monroe Morgan, a colored man. At about six o’clock the marshal saw a colored
man answering the description, and immediately arrested him. The negro
protested his innocence and claimed that he had never been in Illinois, but it
was proven that he had told his landlady that he had. He was taken into custody
and is now held awaiting the action of the authorities of Quincy. Morgan is
wanted for cutting a man with a knife. He came here about two weeks ago and is
a blacksmith by trade.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
November 6, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Contractor
Murray, of the Santa Fe, notified Marshal Gray Saturday afternoon that he had a
watch and chain stolen. Later on J. R. Norman was arrested, accused of having
committed the theft. He was placed in the lock-up until yesterday, when he was
turned over to the sheriff for safekeeping until the day of trial. Norman sold
the watch and chain as soon as he stole them and this led to his discovery.
Arkansas City
Traveler, November
10, 1886.
City Marshal
Gray and his assistants appear in handsome new uniforms.
Arkansas City
Traveler, November
17, 1886.
A couple of
roughs had a pugilistic encounter on Central Avenue yesterday, in front of
Bailey’s livery stable. One of the combatants got the other down, and the
prostrate man discharged his pistol, but whether with deadly intent or not was
in dispute at the time. City Marshal Gray and his assistant Breene came up a
few minutes after the altercation, but the men were missing and no one seemed
to know anything about them.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
November 20, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
TAKEN UP. By
the city marshal on October 25, 1886, one gray mule branded on the left hip “A.
R.” Blind in one eye. Said mule will be sold on the 25th day of November 1886
to pay costs unless released. W. J. GRAY, CITY MARSHAL.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
November 27, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
“Lottie St.
Clair and Frank Carter, two frail women, were arrested Saturday afternoon,
charged with being drunk and assaulting W. Ward. It appears the two women were
in a restaurant near the old Occidental Hotel drinking malt, etc. When Ward
happened in, one of the girls commanded him to ‘get out.’ He told them he
guessed not. At that one rose up and struck him with a club. Marshal Gray put
in his appearance and took the women under his charge. They were taken before
Judge Bryant, who fined them $50 each and costs. The total was $100.50. The
Judge also gave them the choice of paying their fine, leaving the town, or
going to jail. They had until the 5 o’clock train in which to decide.”
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
November 27, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
The city police
arrested five drunks last night. One is what is called a “spotter.” He was sent
down from Winfield to spot the men selling whiskey. He got so drunk by the time
he had visited three joints that he could scarcely walk. Instead of him
reporting the jointists, they reported him to Marshal Gray, who took him in and
sent him to Winfield this afternoon, after he was fined $10 and costs. He
couldn’t pay, so he was sent to jail. His name was Cox.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
November 27, 1886. From Friday’s Daily.
City Marshal
Gray arrested a horse thief last evening. His name was John Williams and he
took the horse at Ellinwood from a man by the name of R. H. Keller. Williams
just arrived in the city yesterday. He is held in custody until the sheriff
arrives from Ellinwood to take charge of the prisoner.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 4, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Marshal Gray
had a lively chase this morning after Sam Smith, a negro. Smith stole a pair of
pants of Charley Milks Saturday night. He was seen with them on Sunday, and
this morning Marshal Gray was informed of it. He caught sight of him up at
Grady’s corner, and as soon as he saw the marshal coming, Smith broke on a dead
run, and Marshal Gray started in pursuit. The chase was east on Third Avenue to
Sixth Street, and then north to Fourth Avenue, and then east on that avenue
across the railroad and around the roundhouse over into John Harmon’s field.
The negro was surrounded here and taken prisoner. He refused to come, and had
to be pushed along until Sheriff McIntire arrived on the scene with a buggy. He
was hauled uptown and taken before Judge Kreamer and fined $10 and costs. He
was taken to Winfield on the afternoon train. Smith had hidden the pants in a
colored man’s house where he had been staying.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 11, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
THE
SHOOTING
Of Maggie James This
Morning by Her Paramour, W. M. Mason.
The Wounded Woman Lying at Death’s
Door—W. M. Tuders and Annie Tuders
Arrested
as Accomplices.
Shooting Claimed to be
Accidental, but Strong Evidence Points Differently.
This morning at
about 10 o’clock, the city was thrown into great excitement by the report
brought uptown by W. M. Tuders that W. M. Mason had shot Maggie James. The news
spread quickly, and soon a large crowd of citizens, among them Marshal Gray and
Policeman Thompson, and a REPUBLICAN representative, started for the house
where the crime was committed. It is a small cottage on 4th street near the
Santa Fe road. Arriving there, Mason was placed under arrest. He was
endeavoring to build a fire when the police went in. He made no resistance, but
submitted to being searched without a murmur. The revolver with which the
shooting was done had been taken by neighbors living next door immediately
after the deed was committed. The victim lay on the bed in great agony.
Physicians had been summoned, and they began to administer medicine to relieve
the pain. The ball took effect in the left breast, struck a rib, turned
slightly upward, and passed out beneath the shoulder. It went entirely through
the body. It was found afterward with a small piece of the rib attached to it.
Had it not been for the rib the ball would have pierced the heart, as it was
aimed in that direction. The revolver was a 45 calibre.
During the
brief examination which the physicians made, Mason stood in the room in the
charge of the police, listening to the cries of agony from the woman whom he
had shot. He was considerably agitated and once he attempted to soothe her by
talk, but her misery was so great that she could not restrain from crying out.
When Marshal Gray informed him that he was ready to take him uptown, Mason put
on his coat and remarked, “Maggie, I will be back soon,” and started. He was
taken before Judge Kreamer, where a warrant was made out for his detention.
Warrants were also issued for W. M. Tuders and Annie Tuders, and the trio are
now in custody, awaiting the result of the shooting.
According to
his own statement, Mason is a gambler. He and W. H. Tuders live at the house
where the shooting occurred with Maggie James and Annie Tuders. Last night he
was out playing cards and this morning when he went to where he was living, he
was intoxicated. A dispute arose about something, in which Mason, Annie Tuders,
and Maggie James became involved. Mason had his revolver and he flourished it
around considerably. W. M. Tuders endeavored to get it away from him, but did
not succeed. Mason laid the revolver down on the breakfast table, but took it
up again. The two women were sitting on the bed opposite him and he claims he
endeavored to lower the hammer, which was cocked, when it went off with the
results above stated. Annie Tuders confirms Mason’s story as does her husband.
There are many rumors flying around to the effect that Mason shot the woman
intentionally.
J. P. Randall,
delivery man at Houghton, Upp & Co.’s store, was there immediately after
the shooting; says Mason confessed to him that he intended to murder Maggie
James. Other parties have heard him make threats to the effect that he intended
to take her life.
County Attorney
Swarts and Sheriff McIntire were sent for, but had not arrived at time of going
to press. While the prisoners claim the shooting was accidental, there is
considerable evidence to show it otherwise. A trial of the case will develop
whether it was accidental or intentional. Dr. Stuart is attending the wounded
woman. Annie Tuders, under guard, has been sent to take care of her.
This afternoon
in Judge Kreamer’s office, Mason broke down and cried like a babe. We fear his
tears come too late. They will avail him nothing now. He is a hard case; in
fact, the quartette, Mason, Tuders, and the woman, may be classed under the
same heading.
At press hour
the woman was still alive.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 11, 1886. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Chas. Fuller,
J. B. Lynn, Chas. Harter, J. B. Clark, W. Thompson, J. H. Keck, and C. C.
Harris all came down from Winfield today. When we saw them, Marshal Gray had
them in tow.
Excerpt from a
lengthy article...
Arkansas City
Traveler, Wednesday,
December 22, 1886.
How many houses
of ill fame (under their various disguises) are running in this city, we have
no official record. These scurvy establishments are under the management of
Marshal Gray, who also makes his monthly rounds, and collects $10 from every
courtesan he meets. This, we are also to suppose, finds its way into the city
treasury, through the hands of the police justice.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 25, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Fannie Keller,
a prostitute, got drunk on morphine yesterday, and was arrested by Marshal Gray
for disturbing the peace. She was without friends or money, and the marshal
bought her a ticket and sent her to Wichita, where she claimed she had friends
who would look after her.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 25, 1886. From Monday’s Daily.
Mrs. Anna
Sproul got drunk yesterday and proceeded to disturb the peace of J. C. Armstrong
and family. Marshal Gray was sent for, who took her in charge. This morning she
was fined $5 and costs by Judge Bryant. Mrs. Sproul is a bride of one week. She
has reversed the order of things: instead of the groom getting drunk and
celebrating, she does it.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
December 25, 1886. From Thursday’s Daily.
Yesterday
afternoon Joseph Ball was drunk. Late in the evening he visited the clothesline
of C. H. Searing and stole some underwear from it. Marshal Gray arrested him and
put him in the calaboose to shiver and to think over the wickedness he had
done. This morning Judge Bryant fined him $10 for his “spree.” Ball claims that
he stole the clothing for devilment. As he could not pay the fine, he was sent
back to the calaboose.
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
29, 1886.
THE
CITY GOVERNMENT.
A Friendly Talk
with the Police Judge and City Marshal.
The Easiest
Way to Get Money Into the Treasury.
There is some
feeling in the minds of several of our city officers, aroused by the article
reflecting on their doings, contained in our last issue. Judge Bryant, whom we
will mention first, takes exception to the portion that he feels reflects upon
his honesty. He has lived many years in this community, he says, filling
various relations in life, and this is the first time that any suspicion has
been cast on his up-right dealing.
Not intending
to deal out reproach where wrong doing was not proved, we requested his honor
to point out the passage in the offending article which he understood to do him
injustice.
He produced a
copy of the TRAVELER, and after a careful hunt through its columns, pointed out
the following paragraph.
“Sources of
city revenue are more abundant now and Judge Bryant’s office pays a snug little
revenue to the city. But what assurance have we that all the fines professedly
paid into his hands, find their way into the city treasury?”
This he
regarded as an allegation of dishonesty; an intimation that he might withhold
to his own uses a portion of the money that came into his possession, and hence
a gross and unwarranted injury.
We read the
passage after the police justice, laying stress on the adverb “professedly.”
“There is no reflection in this,” we remarked to the offended justice, “the
fines (or this hush money) are professedly paid into your hands, but
does this money really come into your possession?”
This stirred up
City Marshal Gray, who was standing by listening to the colloquy. “You do not
wish to intimate that I keep back any money, do you?”
“Gentlemen,”
said the writer, “we must understand one another before we go any further in
this business. I intimate no wrong doing, I allege no offense. As a newspaper
man speaking in the interest of the citizens, I inveigh against this loose and
irregular way of punishing misdemeanants. The marshal has no right to collect
fines, no member of the city council has a right to usurp the justice’s
functions.”
Judge Bryant:
“Can’t I delegate the city marshal to act as my deputy?”
The writer:
“No, sir; you are elected by the people to the office of police judge, and you
cannot delegate your duties or responsibilities. If complaint is made to you
that any man or woman is violating a city ordinance, it is your business to
issue a warrant, have the offender brought into court; and if proved guilty,
inflict a fine. The city marshal is not competent to convict an offender and
assess a fine; and in all cases where this is done, he acts illegally and is
liable to impeachment.”
Both Judge
Bryant and Marshal Gray explained that they were under orders to collect money
in this way, as the easiest method of dealing with offenders, and the most
profitable to the city.
This writer
(addressing the police justice): “Judge, from whom do you receive orders?”
His Honor
hesitated, then candidly answered: “Well, the mayor.”
This writer:
“You recognize the mayor as your official chief?”
Judge Bryant:
“Well, not exactly.”
This writer:
“Neither do the people of Arkansas City. You are elected to perform your
functions, as the mayor is elected to perform his duties; and any attempt at
dictation by one officer to another, is an act of usurpation, which should be
resisted. The marshal holds an appointive office, and is naturally ready to
comply with the commands of the power that gives him life. But he is also responsible
for his acts, and he is not justified in obeying an improper order.”
The above
conversation occurred in the police courtroom, and a crowd of idlers gathered
about the colloquists.
Said one, “Do
you suppose you could root out all the loose girls, if you were to raid them
every once in awhile?”
This writer
admitted his belief that it could not be done. But he would use proper efforts
to restrain the evil, and punish by trial and conviction and not by levying
blackmail.
“If you close
the joints,” said another, “how are you going to support the city?”
This is Mayor
Schiffbauer’s very practical argument, and it is evident he has infused his
views into all the members of our city government, and into the minds of those
who lounge about the city offices.
The question
cannot be answered by a sentiment. Salaries are to be paid, the use of the
hydrants also paid, the interest on the city indebtedness met, and the sinking
fund laid away; and those who are present at the reading of the bills against
the city at every meeting of the council know that there are a thousand and one
expenses to meet. Five hundred dollars a month turned in by the police
magistrate to the city treasurer helps matters along wonderfully. Orders issued
by the city clerk are promptly met by the treasurer; there is no kicking by
unpaid claimants and the mayor and council have an easy time.
But the system
is wrong; it is illegal and iniquitous, and we are sowing the wind to reap the
whirlwind. By colluding with lawlessness and riot, we are fostering a class in
our city that will entail more mischief and expense than the city magistrate
can reimburse during his whole term of office.
The advance in
real estate comes in most opportunely to help our city fathers out of their
financial difficulty. In the spring of 1885 the assessor’s rolls (in round
figures) showed taxable property to the amount of $325,000; last spring the
valuation was increased to $655,000. The city taxation is as follows.
For general
purposes 12 mills
Bond fund 9
mills
Bridges 4 mills
Hydrants 5½
mills
Internal
improvements 4 mills
Sinking fund 2
mills
School district
12 mills
School bonds 5
mills
TOTAL: 53 ½
MILLS.
This ought to
pay the salaries and meet all other incidental expenses, and we have no doubt
would, the money being judiciously disbursed. With these figures before us, we
say there is no need to continue the present unlawful and degrading practice of
colluding with law-breakers, and the TRAVELER, in behalf of an indignant and
scandalized people, demands that the mode of dealing with offenders be
reformed.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
January 15, 1887. From Saturday’s Daily.
Peter Tournier
was brought up last evening from his Island home, on the charge of selling
whiskey, by Captain Rarick, Johnnie Breene, and Marshal Gray. He was taken
before Judge Kreamer and bound over in the sum of $1,000 to appear on the 22nd
of this month. On failure to furnish the bond, he was taken to jail at
Winfield. The officers found some two gallons of whiskey, and it is held by them
by orders from County Attorney Swarts.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
January 22, 1887.
Today on the
noon mail Marshal Gray received the following letter, which he asks us to
publish. It came to him, we believe, unsolicited.
WINFIELD,
KANSAS, January 20, 1887.
W. J. GRAY,
Esq., Arkansas City, Kansas.
DEAR SIR: I
notice in Wednesday’s Traveler they say you were paid $50 on Dec. 15.
This is a mistake which I am very sorry occurred. I will make a statement
below, which please hand to the editor of the Traveler and have him
correct it. Yours respectfully,
FRANK
GANTT.
To the Editor
of the Traveler, Arkansas City, Kansas: In your last issue you stated W.
J. Gray received $50 for a fine of running a joint from me. I will here state
it was paid to Capt. Thompson, and not W. J. Gray. Please correct this and
oblige. Yours, FRANK GANTT.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
January 29, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Last night at
about 11 o’clock City Marshal Gray and other police made a raid upon a gambling
den in the Occidental Hotel. They captured six persons. John White, colored, of
Wichita, was the man running the house. S. C. Simpson, C. B. Berry, J. E.
Kelly, G. W. McAfee, and D. Lockwood were the other parties arrested for
gambling. White was fined by Judge Bryant last night at about midnight $20 and
costs, making a total of $24. Each of the others was fined $10 and costs; total
each, $14. They all paid up and were dismissed. The state will most likely
interview them next.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
January 29, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.
Major Cummins
while on his way to his sleeping apartments lost his hat on Fifth Avenue. A
whirlwind came along about the time the Major arrived in front of the Post
Office and blew his hat off and away into the darkness. Anyone finding it will
be rewarded. It is a soft black hat, and new; size 6½. Later. It was found by
Marshal Gray on Summit Street.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
February 5, 1887. From Monday’s Daily.
Dr. Donnelly
came down from Winfield yesterday and filled himself up with bad whiskey which
he obtained at some of our joints, we suppose. Late in the evening the Doctor
was very much intoxicated and wanted the right-of-way for the entire street.
Marshal Gray “folded him in his embrace,” and marched him to the calaboose,
where he languished until this morning. Before Judge Bryant he was fined $5 and
costs. The Doctor put up his watch until he could get back home and obtain some
money.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
February 5, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Jay Day, real
name unknown, was arrested for running a joint by Marshal Gray yesterday
afternoon and taken before Judge Bryant. He was fined $60 and costs, total $64.
Tom Tye was also arrested upon the same charge and fined $55 and costs, total $59.
Joe Loe was fined $60 and costs, total $64, on the same charge. They all paid
their fines.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
February 12, 1887.
The First Ward
had a genuine sensation yesterday afternoon between four and five o’clock. John
Angle, a youth yet in his teens, appeared at the residence of T. L. Mantor and
asked and received something to eat. Going out of the side gate, he crossed the
alley and entered a small house, on A. A. Newman’s lots, which is used by
employees of Mr. Newman. He entered the house, it is alleged, and went through
the trunk of Tommie Tyler, taking a watch chain, valued at $8, a pair of pants,
and some other clothing. When Tyler returned to his room, he discovered that
his clothes were gone. He began immediate search for the individual who had
been at Mr. Mantor’s residence. Some children in playing in the barn of R. A.
Houghton heard a noise in the hay mow and as Tyler happened along at this time,
they asked him to learn what caused it. He climbed the ladder and discovered
Angle covered up in the hay. Drawing his revolver Tyler ordered him to get
down, which he did. It was then discovered that the prisoner had on the missing
pants. Tyler covered him again with his revolver and marched him uptown and
turned him over to Marshal Gray. He was put in the calaboose overnight. This
morning in Judge Kreamer’s court he was bound over in the sum of $300 to appear
for trial at the district court. At our press time he had not secured the
necessary bondsmen. Angle claimed he bought the pants of a railroader for 75
cents. The watch chain and other clothing was not found. He says he is
innocent.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
February 12, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
The
auctioneering business on 5th Avenue is becoming a general nuisance. The
council should relegate them to a back street. Give one of them an inch and
they claim the entire street and use it. Today Tom Saymens drove a farm-wagon
loaded with stoves and tinware to the center of Summit and 5th Avenue,
unhitched his horses, and tied them to hitching posts, and unloaded part of the
goods in the street beside his wagon. He managed in this way to fill up the
small square between the four crossings almost entirely. In passing up and down
5th Avenue teams had to turn out or run over Saymens’ outfit. Complaint was
lodged with the city marshal and Tom was ordered to move, but he wandered down
on the seashore and didn’t do it. In about 30 minutes after Marshal Gray issued
the order, he and the police force hauled them away. Let us get a move on the
auctioneers.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
February 12, 1887. From Friday’s Daily.
Mable Noe and
Anna Van Hook were arrested over at Geuda yesterday by the city marshal. They
were wanted here for a “big time” they had night before last in rooms in the
Ex-Occidental hotel building. Mable and Anna and a youth by the name of Fred
Hall went on a drunken spree and during the debauch the first named fought with
another prostitute by the name of Jennie Miller. The gang thought they would play
it sharp on Marshal Gray and the following morning skipped for Geuda. But they
were headed off by the telephone. Marshal Gray ordered their arrest and they
had scarcely touched the town until they were taken in. Before Judge Bryant the
gay Mable was fined $10 and costs; Anna $5 and costs. Fred Hall had his trial
this morning and was fined $5 and costs. Marshal Gray ordered Noe to leave the
city on the first train or he would put her in jail.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
February 26, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Al Smith,
colored, was arrested shortly after dinner today, charged with swindling a
Ponca Indian out of $5. Poor Lo charges that he came up from the Territory last
evening and was standing in front of the Burroughs block. He saw Smith and went
to him and asked him where he could get some bread and meat. Smith told him if
he would give him $5 he would go and get him what he desired. He did so and sat
down and waited until 1 o’clock this morning for his return, but he came not.
He reported the affair to Marshal Gray, who began to search and succeeded in
finding the prisoner. He was taken to Judge Bryant’s court, where he had his
trial and was found guilty and fined according to the “statoots.”
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
March 5, 1887. From Thursday’s Daily.
Marshal Gray
sold his house this morning to J. P. Burnes, of Seeley, for $1,200.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
March 19, 1887. From Saturday’s Daily.
Yesterday our
German storekeeper, Gable, complained to the officers that his money drawer had
been robbed; that he had left his little son in charge of his store until he
could attend to some business and while he was away a boy by the name of
Pickard came in, opened the drawer, and took the money in it, and skipped out.
City Marshal Gray began searching for the boy but as yet has not taken him in.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
March 26, 1887. From Wednesday’s Daily.
Night watchman
McCoy at the Cracker Factory telephoned up last evening for Marshal Gray to
come down immediately, that someone was trying to rob the cracker factory. The
marshal and policeman Thompson started down. When they arrived they found McCoy
standing in the door with revolver in hand. He didn’t want to let them in: he
thought they were burglars too. He told them that someone was throwing rocks at
the factory; that he couldn’t tell whether they were on the inside or out. He
was badly scared. The trio then began searching the institution over for
burglars. On arriving at the third story of the building, McCoy was the first
to discover a man upon his back upon a candy table with a long butcher knife in
his chest. This was too much for McCoy, and he broke and ran. Upon
investigation the supposed dead man proved to be a suit of old clothes stuffed
with straw. Someone had successfully “put up” a scare on McCoy.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
April 2, 1887. From Monday’s Daily.
Frank Sheets,
Wm. Davis, Robert Ald, and Dennis Fox worked a dangerous scheme Saturday
evening to get into the opera house to witness Humpty Dumpty. They went up into
the hall and at the ticket office Sheets and Fox drew their revolvers on Chas.
Huber, the ticket seller, and demanded four tickets. Huber handed them over and
while the boys went in, sent down for Marshal Gray and Johnnie Breene, who came
up, arrested them, and put them in the calaboose overnight. Fox was released to
appear for trial Wednesday upon giving bond. Sheets was turned over to the
state for prosecution and this morning in Judge Kreamer’s court was charged $5
and costs. He paid. Davis and Ald are two boys. They did nothing, but were
accessories. Sheets is the man whom McGinnis cut with a razor two years ago.
Arkansas City
Republican, Saturday,
April 2, 1887. From Tuesday’s Daily.
Peter Haney was
arrested last night by Marshal Gray. He had been tarrying over the wine cup too
long and was “too full for utterance.” This morning he was fined $5 and costs,
which he paid.
[Note to file:
April 1887 was the point when I quit with the early newspapers. To my surprise,
W. J. Gray showed up in the 1920s. He was referred to as “Constable Gray” at
that time. I have several stories from that time period. MAW ½/2002]
Arkansas City
Traveler, Monday,
June 13, 1921.
Marion J.
Lockard, age 25, was almost instantly killed yesterday afternoon when the motor
car which he was driving skidded and turned turtle. The accident occurred on
the rock road about five miles north of the city.
Robert Gilbert,
another member of the party, is in a critical condition today and doctors hold
very little hope of his recovery. Earl Travis and R. J. Smith, also in the
motor car, sustained minor injuries. Travis was said to be in a critical condition
this afternoon.
According to
eye witnesses the Dodge motor car, belonging to Gilbert and driven by Lockard,
was going south towards Arkansas City. They were directly behind a Chevrolet.
An Essex motor car, driven by Carl Wright, traveling at a high rate of speed,
attempted to pass the two cars on the right side of the road. Lockard shot
around the Chevrolet, but struck the car—tearing off the left fender. He lost
control of his car, and after skidding for several yards, it turned three
successive loops, throwing all the passengers from the car.
Travis and
Lockard were found lying directly behind the Dodge following the accident, and
the other two men were in the road side.
“Gertrude,”
(his wife’s name) Lockard moaned when the first rescuers reached him, following
which he lapsed into unconsciousness and died shortly afterwards.
Wright by this
time had succeeded in stopping his car, and returned to rush the other three
members of the party to hospitals here, where their injuries were dressed.
Gilbert suffered a badly bruised head, and a deep gash about the hips. He
probably suffered internal injuries also. Travis suffered three broken ribs and
a gash over his left eye and minor bruises about the body.
According to
farmers residing in the vicinity of the accident, the two motor cars were
traveling at a speed estimated to be between 45 and 50 miles an hour at the
time the accident occurred.
Lockard was
employed as foreman of the shop at the Kinslow Motor company. He had been
employed there for two years, and according to the shop men he was recognized
as a very careful driver. Lockard’s head was badly crushed and he also
sustained serious injuries about the body.
Dr. H. W.
Marsh, county coroner, announced today that he would hold an inquest Tuesday
morning at the police court rooms in the city building over the accident. Ellis
Fink, county attorney, will also be in attendance at the inquest to look into
the matter of excessive speeding on the Rock Road. Constable Gray is authorized
to impanel a jury of six men on the case, for tomorrow morning.
No funeral
arrangements have been made as yet, but it is probable that it will be held
sometime Wednesday.
Lockard is
survived by his wife and step-son. His home was at 324 North Second street.
Motor cars
thronged to the scene shortly after the accident and as late as 7 o’clock last
evening, motor cars of every description bearing inquisitive people parked at
the scene of the disaster to view what was left of the car. The motor car in
which the men were riding was a complete wreck.
Local
physicians late this afternoon stated that both Travis and Gilbert were in a
critical condition. Gilbert is suffering from a badly crushed back, while it is
thought Travis has internal injuries. An injury to his leg is giving him great
paid, but as yet doctors have failed to detect the trouble.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Tuesday,
June 14, 1921.
J. M. Tucker,
well known to the police and a number of other citizens of this city,
languishes in the city jail today as the result of a bad stunt which he pulled
off last night.
Tucker was not
able to be arraigned in the state court this morning on several charges which
are now lodged against him on account of the affair of last night when there
came near being serious results of this little frolic and actions of the defendant.
One of the
stunts he pulled last night while under the influence of corn whiskey, the
officers assert, was to go to the home of Deputy County Attorney C. L. Swarts
and threaten him with a shotgun; and another was to attempt to cut the throat
of Policeman Bert Harris after Harris and Constable W. J. Gray had placed him
under arrest and were on the way to the city jail with Tucker a prisoner.
Officer Harris came near shooting the man and was prevented from doing so by
the interference of the other officers in the party, they assert; and they also
state that Harris would have been justified in shooting the man as he attempted
to do the officer bodily harm. In fact, Tucker got to the throat of the officer
and cut a slight gash in his neck before any of the party realized what he was
doing. The officers in the party at the time were Constable Gray, Policemen
Harris, Chadwell, and Bert Williams. But the force was too much for the
infuriated man and he was finally landed in jail, where he was peace-fully
slumbering this morning about nine o’clock with wounds about his head and face.
It was necessary for one of the officers to strike the man over the head with
a shotgun for self- protection and in this fracas the handle of the gun
belonging to Chief Peek was broken off. After the fray the alleged intoxicated
man was in need of a physician and Dr. Young dressed his wounds.
The trouble of
last night started about eight o’clock when Officer Gray served a state warrant
on Tucker, in which C. A. McDaniels had made complaint that Tucker had
threatened to do him bodily harm because McDaniels had testified against him in
the recent liquor trial, at which time Tucker was found guilty of handling
liquor by a jury of six men. After the trial Tucker’s attorney, H. S. Hines,
filed an appeal bond and therefore Tucker was at liberty again.
Other charges
besides the one made by McDaniels will be placed against the alleged bad man
and will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, all the officers in the
case asserted this morning. The man first rode away from Officer Gray after the
officer had read the warrant to him. Then Gray and Harris gave chase in Harris’
Ford car, but Tucker gave them the slip and in the meantime went to the home of
Judge Swarts, where he made dire threats against that official. When the
officers finally overtook Tucker again, he was in front of the North Windsor
hotel and refused to stop, but acted as though he would ride over them. Officer
Harris here shot once with his revolver in the windshield of the Tucker car in
an effort to strike the man’s hands, it is said, and thus loosen his hold on
the steering gear. The bad man finally was stopped when the officers ran his
car into the curbing. After placing him under arrest, four of the officers
started to the station with the man in the police car, the holdover being only
a block away. But before they had driven that far, Tucker got the knife from
his coat pocket and made the dash for Officer Harris, which came near proving
serious.
Relating his
part of the experience with J. M. Tucker, deputy county attorney Swarts today
informed a Traveler reporter that on Monday morning Tucker came to his
office and asked him for a warrant for the arrest of C. A. McDaniels, who was a
witness in the liquor trial last week, stating that McDaniels had assaulted
him.
The deputy
county attorney didn’t exactly like the appearance and condition of Tucker,
and informed him that he would investigate the matter for him, to come back the
next day and if everything was all right, he would issue a warrant for
McDaniels.
Yesterday
afternoon McDaniels appeared and asked for a peace warrant for Tucker, which
was issued and given to Constable Billy Gray and policeman Bert Harris to
serve. They went to Tucker’s home on North Summit street and found him sitting
on the porch. It was just getting dusk when the officers appeared at the house.
Gray told Tucker quietly that they had a warrant to serve. He said, “All
right.” He asked them if he should go with them, and they informed him in the
affirmative.
Tucker then
went for his car, which was parked by his place, and cranked it up and
hurriedly drove away while officer Gray was walking around to the other side of
the car to get in. Instead of coming uptown, Tucker went to the home of the
deputy county attorney, who lives at 726 North Fourth street. Mr. and Mrs.
Wickliffe live on the corner north of Judge Swarts at 728 North Fourth street.
Tucker parked
his car on Birch Avenue, around the corner. When he did this Judge Swarts was
walking in block seven hundred on his way home. He saw Tucker alight from the
car and take a shotgun in his hands as he got out. He was probably one hundred
feet away from his home by the time Tucker arrived at the front door of his
home. He hurried up and got there just as Miss Swarts was answering the door.
He asked Tucker what he was doing there, and Tucker replied, “Judge, I love
you, but I am afraid you will compel me to do something I ought not to do.”
Judge Swarts told him he had better go on away and Tucker replied, “I am
getting tired of these prosecutions and if there are any more of them, I am
going to blow you to pieces.”
By being calm
and using peaceful arguments, Judge Swarts got Tucker to leave his home. Judge
Swarts then entered his house and phoned to the officer that Tucker was there
and had started uptown.
Tucker was not
able to be arraigned in court today, as he was in a sort of stupor all day
long. It is not thought that the injuries which he received last night are of a
serious nature. He will be taken into court on several charges when he is able
to go there. The warrant in the case yesterday evening was issued out of Judge
McIntire’s division of the state court.
Arkansas City
Traveler, June
17, 1921.
“Uncle” Billy
Gray was the city Marshall in 1876. He is still a resident of the city and is
now serving as constable. He has held nearly all the peace offices in the city
and county, with the exception of sheriff, and for many years past he has been
elected to the office of constable at each succeeding election.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Thursday,
June 23, 1921.
Case of State
of Kansas versus J. M. Tucker, alleged mad man who was arrested here several
days ago on the charge of threatening the life of S. A. McDaniel, and who also
threatened Judge Swarts and the police force of this city, was up for
preliminary hearing this morning in Judge McIntire’s court. There was an array
of witnesses for the state in this case, including Constable W. J. Gray and
three of the city officers, Harris, Williams, and Chadwell, who were interested
in the arrest of the man last week, when Tucker ran wild for a time and made
dire threats against several men of this city. Tucker was brought here from the
county jail at Winfield this morning and was in the courtroom when the case was
called for trial. H. S. Hines is defending and County Attorney Ellis Fink and
Deputy C. H. Swarts are prosecuting the case. Several witnesses were examined
in the case during the forenoon session and then the trial was adjourned for
the noon hour.
Later in the
day there were other witnesses called upon to testify, and the trial lasted
most of the day. There was also a large crowd of spectators in attendance at
the trial most of the day as Tucker, who formerly worked at the barber trade
here, is well known in the city.
Late today the
hearing in regard to the peace bond was still on and witnesses were being
examined by the county attorney and H. S. Hines. Attorney Hines cross-examined
the members of the police force who assisted in the arrest of Tucker on the
night of June 13 very vigorously and laid stress on the fact that they arrested
the man without a warrant and while none of them were deputized as state
officers and had not seen a crime committed in connection with the case.
Policeman Harris admitted hitting Tucker on the head with his revolver and all
the officers in the case had a chance to tell their side of the story at the
trial today.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Friday,
June 24, 1921.
Case of State
versus J. M. Tucker on the charge of threatening to do bodily harm to S. A.
McDaniel, on trial in the justice court of G. H. McIntire here yesterday, ended
late in the evening and the peace bond in this case was fixed at $4,000, in
spite of the fact that attorney H. S. Hines, for the defendant, argued for a
bond of not more than $1,000. Tucker was committed to jail and was taken to the
county seat this morning by Constable Gray. Bond could not be made in this
case.
Following the
completion of the hearing yesterday in this case, there was another state
warrant served on Tucker, charging him with assault with intent to kill, upon
the person of Policeman Bert Harris, using in the alleged assault a pocket
knife. Bond in this case was fixed at $500.
County Attorney
Ellis Fink of Winfield conducted the case for the state yesterday, and H. S.
Hines was there for the defense. The taking of testimony lasted all the day and
there were a number of witnesses examined, all used by the state in an endeavor
to show that Tucker, while under the influence of liquor, had threatened
several parties. Attorney Hines attempted to show by the cross-examination of
the witnesses that there was bad blood existing between the police force and
Tucker, and that the force had it in for Tucker. The police, however, would not
admit the alleged bad feeling.
The hearing on
the Harris charge will be held at a later date and in the meantime Tucker is
resting in the county jail at Winfield.
Tucker is now
under three separate bonds, none of which he is able to give so far. One is in
the liquor case tried some time ago for $800; one in the McDaniel case for
$4,000; and in the Harris case for $500, total $5,300. His attorney went to
Winfield with him this morning, and he intimated that he would attempt to
secure the release of Tucker on a writ of habeas corpus in the district court.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Saturday, July 30, 1921.
Automobile
thieves took advantage of the crowds in attendance at the circus in Arkansas
City last night.
Two cars were
stolen last night at the circus grounds on East Madison Avenue, while the night
audience was in attendance at the show. They were a Buick touring car, 1920
model, belonging to Dick Clampett, and a new Ford roadster, belonging to the
James Stanton Construction Co.
Soon after the
cars were missed, the police were notified of the thefts and they worked on the
cases all night long. Phone messages were sent out to all the surrounding towns
in the hope of heading off the thieves. This morning, however, there had been
no trace of either one of the cars; but Chief Peek was still busy burning up
telephone wires at ten o’clock, in an effort to get some trace of the stolen
property.
There was a
large crowd in attendance at the show last night and many cars were parked in
that vicinity. It was an easy matter for car thieves to spot just what they
wanted and to get away with cars while the crowd was busy watching the big
show.
Auto stealing
in this city has become very common again, and in the past two weeks four have
been stolen from here, which have never been heard from up-to-date. They were
the Hudson of J. W. Curtis; Elgin of Clarence Miller; Ford of J. R. Bays, and
Ford belonging to S. B. Marshall.
Mr. Clampett is
offering a reward of $50 for the return of his Buick car and $50 for the arrest
and conviction of the thief. Cards giving a full description of the Buick were
sent out to all points near here today. Information on this car should be sent
to A. A. Clampett, Constable W. J. Gray, or Chief C. H. Peek.
Excerpts...
Arkansas City
Daily Traveler, Thursday, September 15, 1921.
BOYS
FINED FOR HAZING
Three Failed to Appear
and Alias Warrants are Issued.
The cases of
the state of Kansas against the boys for whom warrants were issued yesterday
afternoon, in the recent hazing cases of a number of the local high school
boys, were called for trial in the courts of J. W. Martin and G. H. McIntire
this morning between 9 and 10 o’clock. All of the defendants with the exception
of three were on hand and all present pleaded guilty to the charges named in
the complaints and the warrants. The three not present were Harry Frye, Robert
Pollard, and Robert Harp. Each of them have charges in this connection against
them in both of the justice courts. The deputy county attorney, C. L. Swarts,
instructed the justices to issue alias warrants for these boys and the warrants
are now in the hands of the constables, W. J. Gray and R. W. Callahan.
C. L. Swarts
appeared for the prosecution and Tom Pringle and Harry V. Howard appeared for
several of the boys.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Thursday,
December 8, 1921.
Mr. and Mrs.
Harold Revod, arrested some time ago on the charge of having whiskey and a
whiskey still in their possession, and also on the charge of being drunk, were
arraigned in the state court of J. W. Martin late yesterday afternoon and both
were committed to jail. He received a fine of $100 and 60 days in the county
jail, on each of two counts; and the woman received the same sentence. He was
taken to the county jail at Winfield this morning by Constable W. J. Gray, and
Mrs. Revod will be taken to the state industrial farm of women, at Lansing, as
the women prisoners of Cowley County are not kept in jail at Winfield anymore.
She has been an inmate of that institution once before, the local officers
state.
The hearing in
the state court yesterday closes the several chapters in the Revods’ alleged
unlawful affairs, in the past several weeks. She was arrested by the police
early one morning on the charge of slashing her husband’s throat and also on
the charge of being drunk. At that time Revod was taken to a local hospital
where he remained for several weeks on account of a severe wound on the throat.
He recovered, however, and at the trial of the wife on the charge of cutting
his throat, a sister of the woman testified that she and not Mrs. Revod, did
the cutting. The sister was not arrested, as she is a cripple and said that she
did the cutting in order to save her sister from being killed by the drunken
husband.
Now the pair,
who have caused the local officers a lot of trouble in the past, seem to be out
of the limelight for at least a term of 60 days.
Arkansas City
Traveler, December
21, 1921.
BIG
CHRISTMAS EVENT.
Billy Gray’s Annual
Distribution of Gifts for Eagle Lodge.
The Eagle Lodge
gave its annual oyster supper and dance in Eagle’s hall last night. The event
was for the members and their families and was largely attended. A fine supper
was served and the dance was largely participated in, and the affair was
greatly enjoyed from start to finish.
The annual
supper and dance is only one of the Christmas activities of this lodge, the
other principal event being the distribution of Christmas gifts, which for
several years past has been under the personal supervision of Billy Gray.
The
distribution will be made from the basement of the building occupied by the
Eagle lodge, where everything is now in practical readiness for this event. The
distribution will be greater this year than ever before, according to Mr. Gray,
who has collected a wonderful line of wearing apparel, groceries, fruits, and
goods of various descriptions, which will be on exhibition to the public next
Saturday.
Mr. Gray would
like to have as many as possible see this display, so that they may have an
idea of the extent of this annual undertaking by the lodge. Perhaps there is
not a city anywhere else that can boast of such a sight as will greet the
visitors to Billy Gray’s basement quarters, on North Summit street Saturday.
On Sunday at 8
o’clock the distribution will begin and will continue all day; and if
necessary, into the night until all goods of all descriptions are disposed of.
There will be two or three ladies as well as four or five men together with a
Santa Claus to help take care of the crowd. There will be sacks of candies,
nuts, oranges, etc., for between 1,500 and 1,600 children under 16 years of
age. There will be gifts for everybody, but people must come to the lodge
quarters to receive them.
Billy Gray is
making arrangements to have all the news boys of the city present on Friday at
3 o’clock, at which time he will have a photographer present to take a group
picture of the boys. There are about fifty newsboys in the city and Billy wants
every one of them present at the above time.
The
distributions of these presents will constitute one of the biggest Christmas
events in the city this year, and those whose hearts will be gladdened thereby
are expected to number twenty-five hundred to three thousand people.
Billy Gray
claims to be the one who initiated this form of Christmas giving in this city,
this being his sixth year in the business. Last year he distributed more than
$1,000 worth of groceries. But this year has been the greatest of all, and Mr.
Gray is very proud of the results achieved. He had a photograph taken of the
Christmas quarters this year to preserve for future reference.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Saturday,
December 24, 1921.
Among the Christmas
benefit undertakings in this city, Billy Gray’s annual distribution of gifts
under the supervision of the Eagles lodge, ranks right up to the forefront as
usual. In fact, Billy fairly outdoes himself this year, having collected a
wonderful supply of wearing apparel and useful articles, which was opened for
inspection to the public this morning. The many visitors to the basement of the
building occupied by the Eagles lodge expressed great surprise at the display
collected. Mr. Gray says that not a penny in money was received this year to
make this collection of gifts; but all came on his personal solicitation, and
every article in the house was carried there by himself. Some of the local
merchants have made estimates of the value of the wearing apparel, which
estimates range around $1,000 to $1,200, which does not take into consideration
groceries, fruits, and articles of other kinds.
Mr. Gray has
provided 525 pounds of candy, enough to make up 1,600 sacks, also 1,600 sacks
of peanuts, which are fresh roasted for the occasion, 12 boxes of apples, and 8
cases of oranges, estimated to supply 1,600 sacks containing apples and
oranges. The candy, nuts, apples, and oranges were paid for by Gray out of
money left over from last year.
Among the
articles to be distributed tomorrow are 265 boys’ caps and hats, about $1,200
worth of wearing apparel consisting of men’s suits, ladies’ dresses, underwear,
hose, overcoats, men’s shirts, etc., and in addition, there will be four sacks
of candy, nuts, oranges and applies for all school children up to fourteen
years of age.
Two Christmas
trees have been decorated to delight the children and there will be a Santa
Claus in the person of John Wilhelm. At eight o’clock tomorrow morning the
children are asked to line up at Eagle hall in the 100 block on North Summit
street to receive their treats. There will be a competent force of men and
women on hand to see that the children are properly taken care of. The quarters
will be kept open throughout the day tomorrow for the distribution of the
entire collection of gifts received by Mr. Gray. Every person in the city in
need of wearing apparel is required to visit Santa headquarters here and every
effort will be made to provide all according to their needs.
Billy Gray
claims to be the one who initiated this form of Christmas giving in this city,
this being his sixth year in the business. Last year he distributed more than
$1,000 worth of groceries. But this year has been the greatest of all, and Mr.
Gray is very proud of the results achieved. He had a photograph taken of the
Christmas quarters this year to preserve for future reference.
The children
and many families are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Christmas morning when
many homes in this city will be made happy through the untiring efforts of Mr.
Gray and the commendable generosity of the Eagle lodge.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Thursday,
April 27, 1922.
“The shot that
struck my brother down awakened a new fighting spirit in me,” declared Virgil
Snodgrass, brother of Everett Snodgrass, overseas man, who was killed by
Policeman Ketch in a raid at 222 North Eight street Saturday night, as he stood
in Justice Martin’s court today.
Snodgrass
pleaded guilty to having dope in his possession when he was nabbed by policemen
at the Santa Fe depot several days ago.
“I’ve only been
on the dope about three months,” he continued, “and the tragic death of my
brother, bringing as it did a heartbreak to my mother, has made me resolve to
go straight and quit the drugs. I want to go to jail and stay there until I
have triumphed over the desire for dope. My associations led me to take the
first shot with the needle. I am through with them now. I would rather be dead
than to let the habit fasten itself upon me. Out at 506 North Tenth street is
an old mother that loves me like she loved Everett, but I went wrong and
Everett was going straight. I am going to try and take the place of my brother
and help support my mother in the future. This is the first time I have ever
been arrested, and a few hours after I was looking at the cold walls of the
jail, I took a brace to myself and swore I would turn over a new leaf. I
kneeled upon the concrete floor and prayed to God for help.”
The youth’s
plea found an echo in the courtroom. Attorneys grasped his hand and wished him
luck on his new start in life. The judge fined him $100 and sentenced him to 30
days in the county jail, in accordance with Snodgrass’ wishes, where he said he
could make a better fight against the dope desire.
“It would be
just as impossible for him to quit under the old associations as for two trains
to pass on the same track,” said his attorney, H. S. Hines.
Constable Gray
took him to the county jail late today.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Wednesday,
June 14, 1922.
This morning in
the state court of J. W. Martin, there was settlement of an old lawsuit. The
case was one wherein a man by the name of M. P. Hutchinson, of Wichita, gave a
“no fund” check to John Sweet of the Osage Hotel in the year 1921. There was a
warrant issued for the arrest of Hutchinson, but he had kept out of sight of
the local officers all that time. Finally Constable Gray learned that
Hutchinson was back in Wichita and he caused his arrest there. The check was
for $19.98, and being just under the sum of $20, the charge was not a felony.
This morning a representative of Hutchinson came to the city and settled the
case, paying the amount of the check and the costs of action, in all $38.98.
Word was then sent to Wichita to release Hutchinson. The defendant was once a
member of the police force in Wichita, the local officers say.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Thursday,
June 22, 1922.
County Clerk
Harriet C. Vorhis, announced the following.
Constables, Arkansas City:
Democrats—W. J. Gray; Robt. Callahan.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Wednesday,
August 16, 1922.
Constable W. J.
Gray went to Wichita this morning, armed with a warrant to bring P. E. Hackett
to this city on the charge of embezzlement. The alleged embezzler has been
placed under arrest there, according to the officer. The man will be brought
here and taken into the state court of J. W. Martin, to answer to the charge,
as the papers in the case were issued by that official.
The complaint
in the case was signed by D. C. Stapleton, manager of the Apex Electric Co.,
here and the amount of money involved as shown in the warrant is $613.50.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Thursday,
August 17, 1922.
P. E. Hackett,
who was brought from Wichita yesterday by Constable Billy Gray, is being held
on a charge of embezzlement sworn out by the Apex Electrical company, Mr.
Hackett having been the agent of the company at this place. He is charged with
having embezzled the sum of $613.50. Attorney W. L. Cunningham has been
employed to represent the defendant.
The defendant
has been trying to arrange a bond today, but owing to the fact that all the
banks are closed on Thursday afternoon, it was thought he would not be able to
make the bond today. According to information from the deputy county attorney’s
office, the bond will probably be fixed at $1,200, and the case set for
preliminary hearing about the middle of next week.
Arkansas City
Traveler, Friday,
September 1, 1922.
M. A. Shaklee
was arrested last night by Constable Gray and Policeman Atteberry on the charge
of giving a “no fund” check to C. H. St. Clair of this city. He was held in the
city jail until today, when the action was abated and the matter settled up.
Shaklee is one of the men who recently purchased the House of Bargains here,
and today there was an attachment served on the place, which is now in the hands
of the state court here. The title of the case is Eunice Fawcett versus M. A.
Shaklee, attachment in the sum of $1,307.50. The store is now closed.