A.
T. SHENNEMAN.
Sheriff
of Cowley County.
The Winfield census of 1878 lists A. T.
Shenneman, age 32 and unmarried.
The Winfield census of 1880 listed A. T.
Shenneman, 34, and his wife Ella C., 27.
She is the daughter of J. C. Walters.
THE
SAGA OF A. T. SHENNEMAN.
A. T. Shenneman was a native of
Waynesburg, Ohio. While a small boy his parents moved with him to Illinois,
where he was brought up and educated. At the age of 16, in 1861, he entered the
Union Army, enlisting in the 68th Illinois volunteer infantry. He joined Dan
Wilt’s Company “D,” 7th Illinois Cavalry, in which he served with distinction
to the close of the war. It is a compliment of his young patriotism to state
that when he entered the service, his stature was only five feet seven inches;
and when he came out, he had elongated to the height of six feet one and
one-half inches, and had grown immensely in the esteem of his comrades in arms.
A.
T. Shenneman Was One of Cowley County’s Early Settlers.
Drawn by the opening of the West and the
Osage Diminished reserve, he emigrated to Kansas, being one of the early
settlers in Cowley County, where he made a very large number of friends. On
Christmas eve of 1869, A. T. Shenneman was in the freighting business and spent
the night at what is now known as “Island Park.” He worked at several jobs,
including Stewart and Simpson’s Brickyard.
Shenneman
Was an Early Marshal in Cowley County.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 1, 1873.
Shenneman makes a good city marshal.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 1, 1873.
Marshal Shenneman had all the boys in
town helping him corral the dogs of the city. We wish the Marshal success in
his new field of operations.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, May 15, 1873.
When we said that Marshal Shenneman had
all the boys in town helping him corral the dogs, we had no reference to the
“handsomest Editor in Winfield.” If we had meant to include him, we would have
said “Curr,” instead of dogs.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, June 26, 1873.
Palpable
Negligence.
More palpable negligence of duty of
office we have never seen than that of Marshal Shenneman allowing a regular
round of assault and battery to be witnessed upon our streets without the least
interference upon his part. The enraged mother absolutely jerked the little
vixen clear of mother soil and spanked its “gibs sheet” in the gentle breeze,
and there sat our moody Marshal chuckling at the scene. Oh! for a change.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, July 3, 1873.
Marshall Shenneman had plenty of business
on hand last Saturday.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 21, 1873.
Marshal Shenneman is out of luck and
business, he looks inconsolable and lazy, he hasn’t had a job in a long time.
Won’t somebody raise a row, start a fight, do anything, only give that marshal
something to do.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 21, 1873.
We desire to call attention to the
announcement of A. T. Shenneman, who appears as a candidate for Sheriff. We are
glad to see such men asking for the suffrage of the people. Mr. Shenneman has
been our city marshal for some time past, and we are glad to say has given
entire satisfaction, and if elected will make an honest, sober, and impartial
officer.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, August 28, 1873.
At a meeting held by the children of
Winfield on Wednesday of last week in the Methodist Church it was decided to
have a picnic in Mr. Andrew’s grove on Friday Sept. 5th. The following
committees were appointed.
Committee to see that the trees are not
injured in any way: A. T. Shenneman, Sheriff Parker, M. L. Robinson.
[IN SUPPORT OF A. T. SHENNEMAN.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 18, 1873.
ILLIOPOLIS,
ILLINOIS, Sept. 10, 1873.
We, the undersigned citizens of
Illiopolis, Illinois, seeing the name of Mr. A. T. Shenneman announced in your
paper as a candidate for the office of Sheriff of Cowley County, take this
method of saying a word in favor of our former neighbor. We have known Mr.
Shenneman intimately for many years, and know him to be a man whose character
for honesty, veracity, sobriety, and industry to the time he removed from our
midst to Kansas, was without a blemish, and we believe that should the people
of Cowley County select him as their Sheriff, they will not have any cause to
regret their selection. Mr. Shenneman in politics is a life long Republican and
served creditably to himself in the army of the Union, in our late civil war.
SIGNED:
J. M. BURCH DOCTOR.
I. MITCHELL MERCHANT.
A. D. GILBERT P. M.
JAMES W. McGUFFIN MERCHANT.
JOSHUA CANTRALL FARMER.
JOHN M. PEARSON FARMER.
J. M. CAPPS WHOLESALE GRO.
A. S. CAPPS IMP. DEALER.
J. H. MYERS NOTIONS &
CONF.
JOHN P. COWDIN M.
D.
F. S. & H. C. BLAIN W.
G. MILLS EL.
S. K. SKEEN AGT. T. W. & W.
RY.
W. G. TINKER MERCHANT.
WISE & MITCHELL DRUGGISTS
& GRO’S.
H. T. HANKINS COM. MERCHANT.
G. W. RICHARDSON DRUGGIST.
G. O. WISE FARMER.
JOHN N. ROBERTS FARMER.
J. S. HAMPTON MERCHANT.
J. T. PEDEN MERCHANT.
V. S. RUBY GRAIN &
LUMBER.
T. B. GRAHAM FARMER.
A. BOYD FARMER.
J. B. ROLSTON LIVERY.
D. PEEL FARMER.
S. P. DAVIS FARMER.
P. P. LUCUS J. P.
J. L. HALL T. CONSTABLE.
S. DAKES GRAIN
DEALER.
W. B. CRAINE FARMER.
D. J. MAYES M. D.
D. DICKERSON FARMER.
B. F. CRAINE FARMER.
REUBEN SMITH BANKER.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 18, 1873.
Mr. A. T. Shenneman has resigned his
position as City Marshal. He is succeeded by John Young. Mr. Shenneman expects
to embark in some more lucrative business unless the people see fit to make him
their next Sheriff.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, September 25, 1873.
A. T. Shenneman: Sheriff.
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 23, 1873.
A. T. Shenneman left town last Tuesday
for the western plains where he expects to locate for the winter, hunting
bison, etc.
[THE SOLDIERS’ REUNION.]
Winfield Courier, Thursday, October 23, 1873.
Meeting
of the Veterans.
At half past 2 o’clock the soldiers, to
the number of about 150, fell into line at the tap of the drum, and preceded by
the Winfield Martial band, marched to the Methodist Church, which had been
kindly tendered for their use. The meeting was called to order by T. A.
Blanchard. L. J. Webb was chosen Chairman, and James Kelly, Secretary.
The chairman stated the object of the
meeting to be to organize a permanent Soldiers’ Union.
The roll being called; the following
“Boys in Blue,” answered to their names.
ILLINOIS.
A. T. Shenneman, Co. I, 7 Ill. Cav.
Winfield Courier, December 4, 1873.
A. T. Shenneman has returned from his
buffalo hunt. He reports game rather scarce on Cimarron.
[GRAND MASONIC FESTIVAL.]
Winfield Courier, December 12, 1873.
TABLE COMMITTEE. A. T. Stewart, J. F.
Paul, T. A. Rice, W. M. Boyer, J. E. Saint, J. D. Cochran, J. C. Fuller, John
Swain, J. A. Simpson, A. T. Shenneman, A. S. Williams, J. P. Short, Mrs. J. P.
Short, Miss Read, Miss Mary Stewart, Mrs. Geo. Oakes, Mrs. J. F. Paul, Mrs. E.
Maris, Mrs. J. C. Fuller, Mrs. W. M. Boyer, Mrs. L. R. Paul, Mrs. L. J. Webb,
Mrs. J. C. Weathers, Mrs. Newman, Mrs. Howland, Mrs. Hickok, Mrs. W. G. Graham,
Mrs. J. D. Cochran, Mrs. C. A. Bliss, Miss Parmelee, Miss Lizzie Graham, Miss
Yount.
[POLITICAL ANNOUNCEMENTS.]
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
For Constables, Z. T. Swigart and A. T.
Shenneman.
Winfield Courier, April 10, 1874.
Winfield
Township Officers.
The following are the officers elected in
this township last Tuesday: Trustee, H. S. Silver; Clerk, E. S. Bedilion;
Treasurer, O. F. Boyle; Justices of the Peace, N. H. Wood and W. M. Boyer;
Constables, A. T. Shenneman and Burt Covert.
[COMMISSIONER’S PROCEEDINGS: APRIL 16,
1874.]
Winfield Courier, April 24, 1874.
The following is a list of bills allowed
by the Board of County Commissioners at their last regular meeting, showing the
amount to whom allowed, and for what purpose.
A.
T. Shenneman, Agent: $136.65
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1874.
City
Council Proceedings.
Bill of A. T. Shenneman, services as
police, claimed $2.00, allowed $1.50.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.
Yesterday morning, A. T. Shenneman
started for Ft. Worth, Texas, with twenty-five head of horses. He will be gone
a month, more or less.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.
Al Headrick is in limbo again; this time
it is for stealing a horse in Labette County.
He had been working for a man named Humphries, living twelve miles
southwest of Parsons, and being out of work and out of money and not being
anxious to walk away, he ‘borrowed’ a horse and rode away. He says he meant to
turn the horse loose and start him back home after he got to Grouse creek, but
his great aversion to treading on mother soil overcame his scruples in regard
to keeping other people’s property and so he rode on. He stopped at a school
house to attend church, a few miles north of town, on Timber creek, where he
was arrested by Sheriff Walker and Constable Shenneman, and lodged in jail at this
place. Sheriff Walker started with him for Labette County, yesterday morning.
Winfield Courier, May 22, 1874.
County
Commissioners Proceedings.
The following is a list of the bills
allowed by the board of County Commissioners at their meeting commencing on the
18th day of May A. D. 1874. Among these
were the following:
R. L. Walker, sheriff: $10.50; $11.00; $25.00. A. T. Shenneman,
bailiff: $10.00.
[Shortly
thereafter, A. T. Shenneman went to Texas; returning in July.]
Winfield Courier, July 3, 1874.
We notice that A. T. Shenneman has
returned from Texas.
Winfield Courier, July 10, 1874.
Real
Estate Transfers.
Albert T. Shenneman to William Carter,
southwest 1/4 section 33, township 32 south, range 3 east: $1,100.
Winfield Courier, July 24, 1874.
A. T. Shenneman wants to buy some County
Scrip.
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1874.
T. O. Hill had one of his horses taken
out of the pasture last Saturday night by some person, who, after appropriating
A. T. Shenneman’s saddle, lit out for parts unknown. Mr. Hill immediately advertised to pay fifty
dollars reward for the recovery of the horse and thief, and he has received
word that the thief was arrested in Independence, on suspicion, while trying to
dispose of the animal on the streets at a remarkably low figure. Deputy Sheriff
Geo. Walker will bring him back with him on his return from Independence
whither he has gone in charge of a Montgomery County horse thief.
Winfield Courier, August 28, 1874.
Right
Front in Line. March!
Pursuant to a call, the citizens of
Winfield and vicinity met at the courthouse on Monday evening, the 24th,
electing J. J. Williams as chairman, and W. W. Walton Secretary; E. B. Kager
stated the object of the meeting to be, the organization of a company of State
Militia.
Capt. J. B. Nipp, being called upon, made
some very good suggestions besides giving the latest news from the frontier. He
thought that there was more danger of an invasion by the Indians now than there
had ever been. The Osages demanded the return of the ponies and one thousand
dollars each for the Indians killed in the recent engagement with the Militia.
These terms will not be conceded by the Governor, and an open war on the
extreme border this fall and winter is threatened.
A sufficient number having signed the necessary
oath, they were sworn in by Capt. Nipp.
They then proceeded to the election of officers, resulting as follows.
Capt., E. B. Kager; 1st Lieut., A. T.
Shenneman; 2nd Lieut., L. J. Webb; Orderly Sergeant, W. W. Walton.
Recruiting has begun in earnest, and a
large company will be formed here, the necessary arms and accoutrements will be
sent on immediately. Yesterday Capt. Kager received the following from Col.
Norton which explains itself.
ARKANSAS
CITY, August 26, 1874.
CAPTAIN KAGER: Please report to me the
number of effective men in your company that you can count on to go, both
mounted and unmounted. This is by order of the Adjutant General. He says: “Have all the companies carefully
inspected and accept none but first-class men for service.” Yours, G. H.
NORTON, Lieut. Col. Kansas Militia.
Winfield Courier, October 9, 1874.
A. T. Shenneman is in Illiopolis,
Illinois, visiting his friends and relatives.
Winfield Courier, October 29, 1874.
A. T. Shenneman has returned from
Illinois, where he reports everything flourishing and times good.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET: MARCH TERM.]
Winfield Courier, March 18, 1875.
CIVIL
DOCKET. FIFTH DAY.
No.
485. Benj. G. Jones, et al, vs. A. T. Shenneman.
Winfield Courier, June 17, 1875.
Attention,
Company G!
In pursuance with an order from
Headquarters, Co. G., of Cowley County Militia, will meet at the Courthouse in
Winfield, Saturday evening, the 19th, inst., at 8 o’clock sharp, to elect
officers to fill the present vacancies in said company, and to transact such other
business as may possibly come before them. By order.
A.
T. SHENNEMAN,
1st
Lieut. and Acting Com.
Winfield Courier, June 24, 1875.
A. T. Shenneman was elected captain of
the militia.
Winfield Courier, June 24, 1875.
While Shenneman was trying the speed of
his mustang in the Northeast part of town last Saturday, it became unruly and
succeeded in running on a pile of stone containing about nineteen cords, and
then capped the thing off by jumping sideways through a crack in Bedilion’s
fence, without damaging anything—except the fence.
Winfield Courier, June 24, 1875.
Frank Gallotti wants another Indian war
since he is Quartermaster Sergeant of company “G.”
At the meeting held by Company “G,” last
Saturday night, A. T. Shenneman was elected Captain, W. M. Boyer, 1st Lieut.;
and J. E. Saint, 1st Sergeant. 2nd Lieut. Webb gave notice of his intention to
resign, and Wirt W. Walton was recommended to fill the vacancy.
Winfield Courier, July 1, 1875.
Capt. A. T. Shenneman, Frank Lutz, G. A.
Haight, Geo. Shryack, and C. C. Harris started to Ft. Sill, Indian
Territory, last Saturday to attend the
government sale of ponies to be held there on the 5th of July. Considering the
number of buyers going there, we think there will be about one pony, and a half
mule for each person.
Winfield Courier, July 1, 1875.
The following is a list of the names
registered at the Lagonda House, Saturday the 26th inst.
A.
T. Shenneman, Ft. Sill, Indian Territory.
Winfield Courier, July 11, 1875.
Capt. Shenneman and the boys returned from
Ft. Sill. They brought up some nice ponies, but had to pay all they were worth
for them.
Winfield Courier, July 29, 1875.
Crazy
Man.
Tolles was his name, Dan Tolles, he said,
and he was from Beaver creek, in the southeast corner of the county. He had run
all the way from the state line—on a hair line. The Osage Indians had killed
his brother, Sam Tolles, and he, Dan Tolles, had killed as many of them as they
had of him and the remainder of them pursued, fired at, and tried to kill him
again, but he had out winded ‘em and give them the slip, and now he wanted to
raise a company of men (Capt. Shenneman and his militia company would do if he
couldn’t get boys and private citizens enough) to go down and massacre these
cruel savages, recover the body of his brother, and stop them in their
murderous work.
The above we caught from the hurried and
excited conversation of a travel-soiled, hair-disheveled, badly frightened,
crazy looking individual who suddenly appeared on our streets last
Thursday. We thought at the time the man
was crazy and our surmises have since been proved to be correct. From Mr. Wm.
Bartlow, of town, we learn that last Thursday morning while coming home from
his mill on Grouse creek, he was overtaken by this same man, who was at the time
terribly excited. He said the Indians were just behind him and were trying to
kill him. He wanted Mr. Bartlow to hide him. Mr. Bartlow thinking there might
be some truth in the statement, hurriedly helped him into his wagon, covered
him up with some blankets, and drove on. Soon, however, he came to a place
where the road was new, being in doubt, got out and went ahead to
reconnoiter. Returning in a few moments
to his team, he saw this strange man jump from the wagon, and on seeing him,
started off down the hill at breakneck speed, screaming at every jump, and he
only stopped, as we suppose, when he reached our city as above described.
From parties living in the neighborhood
we learn that there have been no Indians except a few begging Kaws down there
since the Indian war and that this man Tolles must actually be crazy. He left
town Friday and we have heard nothing of him since.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1875.
Capt. Shenneman is cultivating a
mustache.
Winfield Courier, August 19, 1875.
Mr. Shenneman is still selling ponies.
[COWLEY COUNTY DISTRICT COURT.]
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.
CIVIL
DOCKET. SECOND DAY.
Benj.
J. Jones vs. A. T. Shenneman.
[ANNOUNCEMENT: FRANK GALLOTTI FOR COUNTY
TREASURER.]
Winfield Courier, September 16, 1875.
TO
THE VOTERS OF COWLEY COUNTY.
This is to certify that we, whose names
are hereto subscribed, do most heartily recommend for our next County
Treasurer, FRANK GALLOTTI, who has for the last year and a half faithfully and
satisfactorily preformed the duties of said office while acting in the capacity
of Deputy; and we do hereby further certify that his character during that time
has been such as to fully entitle him to the recommendation. The records of
said office kept by him, bears ample testimony of his capability and
efficiency. We consider him well qualified to fulfill the duties of said
office, and therefore cheerfully recommend him to the voters of Cowley County
as well worth of their cordial support, and who, if elected, will most
faithfully and systematically perform the duties of said office.
A.
T. Shenneman was one of those who signed petition.
[REFORM CONVENTION!]
Winfield Courier, October 14, 1875.
The next heat was for Sheriff, for which
there were five entries, to-wit: Hoffmaster, Deming, Lippman, Shenneman, and R.
L. Walker. Walker’s name was withdrawn; Shenneman declined in favor of Deming.
Hoffmaster won.
[LAZETTE NEWS.]
Winfield Courier, October 21, 1875.
A. T. Shenneman paid a visit to Grouse
Valley last week, spending Friday night in our city.
Winfield Courier, January 27, 1876.
SHENNEMAN, the rover, is back. This time
he came from Ft. Smith, Arkansas, where he has been attending U. S. court.
[DISTRICT COURT DOCKET.]
Winfield Courier, March 23, 1876.
CIVIL
DOCKET. SECOND DAY.
Benj.
G. Jones et al vs. A. T. Shenneman.
Winfield Courier, March 30, 1876.
Mr. Joseph Requa left here Saturday after
dark for parts unknown. It is supposed A. T. Shenneman took him in a buggy
towards the eastern part of the State or into the Territory. He had about
$10,000 in money with him according to the estimates of posted ones. He is
supposed to be flying from a divorce suit. The escapade caused quite a
sensation in town.
Cowley County Democrat, Thursday, April 6, 1876.
Mr. Shenneman, who has been on an
exploring trip toward the Indian Territory, has returned, but nobody can find
out whether he struck a bonanza or not. Mr. Shenneman and Mr. Requa, another
prominent citizen, left about the same time, but so far, although his friends
have had great anxiety to hear from him, no tidings of Mr. Requa come to hand,
but we are fortunate to save Mr. Shenneman anyway.
Winfield Courier, June 1, 1876.
SHENNEMAN has returned from Ft. Smith,
Ark. He brings some good horses this time.
Winfield Courier, June 22, 1876.
Shenneman has arrived with more horse
flesh.
Winfield Courier, July 6, 1876.
A. T. Shenneman has gone to Missouri
to—“bring in another horse.”
Winfield Courier, July 20, 1876.
SHENNEMAN has just returned from Missouri
with some good horses, mules, and a new wagon for sale.
Winfield Courier, August 24, 1876.
Shenneman has again returned.
Winfield Courier, November 9, 1876.
Mr. Maris and A. T. Shenneman are still
out on the hunt of the stolen mules.
[JOSEPH REQUA DROWNS HIMSELF IN THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.]
Winfield Courier, November 9, 1876.
REQUA’S
REST.
He
Drowns Himself in the Turbid Mississippi.
[St.
Louis Globe-Democrat, Nov. 7th.]
Coroner Dudley yesterday held a view of
the body of an unknown white man, who was found in the river at the foot of
Sidney street yesterday morning, between 8 and 9 o’clock, which was afterward
removed to the morgue for identification. The man was dressed in a new suit
made of blue flannel, and had a pair of elastic gaiters on his feet. He wore a
fancy calico shirt, with three gold studs, having white stone sets, a gold
collar button, a small gold breastpin, with a diminutive white imitation stone
setting, and a black necktie. On the little finger of his left hand was a
small, plain gold ring. In his pockets were a pair of steel frame spectacles, a
black handled knife with three blades, and three small iron trunk or drawer
keys. No papers or other articles were found which would lead to the
identification of the deceased. He was about fifty years of age, five feet nine
or ten inches high, with dark brown hair interspersed with gray, and reddish
whiskers.
The body remained at the Morgue till
after five o’clock, when it was identified by several officers connected with
the Central (Four Courts) Police District, and also by special officer Tom
Bardner, and Charles M. McDowell, of the firm of Bussey & Co., No. 16 South
Commercial, who had known the deceased for twenty-five years.
The name of the dead man was Joseph
Requa, who, just two weeks ago, was robbed of something over $11,000 in notes,
bonds, and money, by a colored prostitute named Maggie Moore, in a basement on
Spruce street, between Sixth and Seventh streets, a full account of which was
published in the Globe-Democrat at the time. All of the stolen property,
excepting one United States bond of $1,000, one of $100, and $35 in money, was
recovered at the time the Moore girl was arrested, and Requa, who had attempted
to drown himself after discovering his loss (his design being frustrated by a
police officer), was greatly delighted at the recovery of so much of his money.
He reported at the Four Courts every day thereafter until and including Friday,
October 27th, during which time he appeared in excellent spirits, laughing and
joking considerably. Since then he has not been seen, as far as known, by
anyone, and considerable alarm was felt concerning him, Mr. McDowell even
going so far as to telegraph to George Cooper, a brother-in-law of Requa, at
Mount Pleasant, Iowa, who came to St. Louis and subsequently went to Kansas in
search of the missing man.
From Mr. McDowell, who has known Requa
for the past twenty-five years, the following facts were ascertained.
Joseph Requa was about fifty years of age
at the time of his death; he had lived in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, for a long time,
where he has a wife and grown up son and daughter. Some estrangement occurred
between Requa and his wife, resulting in a separation; he removed to Kansas,
where he was engaged in farming for the past two years. In the meantime, his
wife instituted proceedings to obtain a divorce from him, a decree to that
effect having been granted her a short time ago. Requa left his Kansas farm and
came to St. Louis about two months ago and knocked around town from that time
until the last time he was seen, October 27th. During his absence from Kansas,
his friends used great efforts to discover his whereabouts, but without
success. While here he boarded and roomed at No. 1002 Market street; but when
the landlady of the house was sent for, last evening, to identify the body, it
was found that she had removed to some other locality, which was unknown. It is
probable, however, that she will be found today and taken to the Morgue to
identify the body.
Mr. McDowell feels satisfied that Requa,
who was more than ordinarily intelligent, was suffering from aberration of
mind, and while in that condition drowned himself, in the river. There were no
marks of violence upon the body.
When Requa was last seen, he had a
valuable gold watch, attached to a black silk ribbon, but this was missing when
the body was found, and Mr. McDowell believes that he must have pawned it, as
he had no money except that which was stolen from him.
The bonds and notes recovered still
remain in the hands of the police authorities, to be used as evidence against
the Moore girl when her case comes up for trial.
Geo. Cooper, the brother-in-law of Requa,
mentioned above, arrived today, and had only been at the Central Hotel a few
moments when he learned the above sad news.
Winfield Courier, July 12, 1877. Editorial Page.
The
Bridge Question.
We, the undersigned, agree to pay the
amounts set opposite our names for the purpose of completing an iron bridge
across the Walnut, Cowley County, Kansas, and votes aid therefor in the sum of
three thousand dollars ($3,000) at an election to be held July 17th, 1877. Said
sums of money to be due and payable in consideration of the erection of said
bridge, to the order of the party to whom the officers of the said township let
the contract for the erection of the said bridge.
WINFIELD,
KAN., June 25th, 1877.
John Himelspaugh $60.00.
E. S. Sheridan $50.00.
John R. Davis and Son $50.00.
M. B. Rupp $50.00.
C. S. Smith $50.00.
L. D. Randall $25.00.
Thos. Randall $35.00.
C. P. Ward $40.00.
Wm. Carter $25.00.
A. T. Shenneman $50.00.
A. B. Graham $25.00.
J. R. Taylor $25.00.
J. F. Brooks $20.00.
Jesse Chatfield $20.00.
P. M. Wait $100.00.
M. L. Read’s Bank $200.00.
Calvin Kimble $10.00.
C. W. Donkin $10.00.
B. Alexander $10.00.
C. G. Bradbury $10.00.
J. C. Poor $5.00.
Wesley Bowers $20.00.
J. W. Randall $20.00.
O. F. Boyle $50.00.
Joseph Likowski $20.00.
R. Ehret $10.00.
Winfield Tunnel Mills $50.00.
George Easterly $10.00.
Philip Stump $10.00.
Six hundred dollars ($600.00) has been
assured in subscriptions for the completion of the bridge south of town on the
W. S. Voris county road. The parties having the matter in charge are confident
that the subscription to the two bridges will amount to $2,000 or upward. It
now remains for the citizens and voters of Winfield township to say by their
ballots whether they will avail themselves of the very liberal subscription or
repel the trade seeking admission to our thriving city.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 8, 1877.
MR. SHENNEMAN, a gentleman will known in
this county, made us a call last week. He is a candidate for Sheriff, and
favors the narrow gauge.
[ANNOUNCEMENTS.]
Arkansas City Traveler, August 22, 1877.
Sheriff.
I hereby announce myself as a candidate
for the office of Sheriff of Cowley County, subject to the decision of the
Republican convention, and ask a fair and impartial consideration at the hands
of the people. A. T. SHENNEMAN, Vernon Township.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 22, 1877.
A. T. SHENNEMAN made us a call yesterday
and left his announcement as a candidate for sheriff with us. Among the many candidates
for the office, a good sheriff should be chosen. If Mr. Shenneman is the choice
of the Nominating Convention, we shall take great pleasure in doing our best
for him, as we know him to be a worthy man and believe he would be a true and
faithful officer.
[COMMUNICATION FROM “LITTLE
DUTCH”—WINFIELD.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 5, 1877.
Our town is still going ahead. Several
new buildings going up: candidates as thick as ever. Shenneman is the best
looking man on the track, but Troup wears the best clothes; old Tom Bryan has
the most belly and stomach, and is the surest to win; Kinne don’t say much, but
he has lots of friends, and I should not be astonished if he makes the riffle
much easier than last time. A good many are running just for the fun of the
thing—don’t expect to be nominated, but want to get acquainted in the hope that
the lightning might strike them in the future. Our Bill is still slashing
around, supporting the hand that furnishes the supplies.
LITTLE
DUTCH.
Winfield Courier, September 6, 1877.
A. T. Shenneman is announced as a
candidate for Sheriff. He is in every way well qualified for the position. In
his long career in this county in business of the same nature as are the duties
of sheriff, he has proved himself to be honorably and eminently efficient. He
has hosts of friends.
Winfield Courier, September 13, 1877.
Republican
Convention.
The Republicans of Richland Township,
Cowley County, met pursuant to call at the Floral schoolhouse Sept. 8, 1877.
On motion N. J. Larkin was chosen
chairman and James Groom secretary.
On motion Samuel Groom and John R.
Thompson were elected delegates to the county convention by acclamation.
On motion the third delegate was elected
by ballot. M. C. Headrick received 13 votes, Daniel Maher received 17 votes and
was declared elected.
Motion to instruct the delegates for
Walker for Sheriff and Troup for clerk was lost.
Daniel Maher offered the following
preamble and resolutions and moved their adoption.
WHEREAS, We Republicans of Richland Township
in caucus assembled, believe that T. K. Johnston was chosen chairman of the
County Republican Committee by unfair means and against the best interests of
the party, therefore,
Resolved, That our delegates are hereby instructed
not to recognize him as such chairman, but to recognize Chas. H. Eagan as
secretary and chairman pro tem.
Resolved, That our delegates are instructed to use
their votes and influence in the county convention for James S. Hunt for County
Clerk and A. T. Shenneman for Sheriff. Adopted.
Moved and carried that the proceedings of
this meeting be published in the Winfield COURIER. On motion adjourned. N. J.
LARKIN, Chairman.
JAMES GROOM, Secretary.
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
The boys tell one on Shenneman: Our
friend, James McDermott, has a young man stopping with him. He just came into
the country lately, and is looking around with a view to locating. He is rather
new to our county politics, but Shenneman heard he was working for the Lippmann
delegation, and he posted off in hot haste to electioneer him. The young man
weighs ten pounds and Mac calls him his baby. How is it A. T.?
Winfield Courier, September 20, 1877.
The Republican primary meeting held in
this city last Saturday was attended with unusual interest and excitement. W.
Q. Mansfield was chairman and J. M. Bear secretary. The principal battle was
between the candidates for sheriff. Two sets of delegates were voted for, the
one ticket being put in the field by the friends of Walker, the other by the
friends of Shenneman, and the township was scoured for votes. The result was
the election of the Walker ticket by a majority of one in a total vote of 355.
[EDITORIAL COLUMNS: THE CONVENTION.]
Arkansas City Traveler, September 26, 1877.
On last Saturday the delegates of the several
townships, chosen to nominate officers for the Republican ticket, gathered
together at Winfield. As considerable interest and strife was manifested among
several of the candidates, the members of the convention met early to organize.
After considerable dispute, the temporary organization was completed and Mr.
Callison, of Spring Creek Township, chosen Chairman, Chas. Eagin, Secretary,
with R. A. Houghton and L. J. Webb, tellers.
Nominations being in order, Geo. Walker,
Leon Lippmann, A. T. Shenneman, and S. W. Chase were nominated for the office
of Sheriff, and an informal ballot taken resulting in 21 for Lippmann, 16 for
Shenneman, 15 for Walker, and 4 for Chase.
Fifty-two ballots were then taken in
succession, with nearly the same result and without any delay further than
remarks now and then by the friends of the several candidates and one hour for
supper, lasting from one o’clock p.m. until eleven o’clock at night. By this
time everyone was tired, weary, and disgusted, and expressed themselves bitterly
against the men who seemed to endeavor to prevent a nomination by shunning a
compromise, or listening to the advice of friends. Finally, one of the leaders
of Mr. Walker’s party was overheard to say he was going to throw his votes for
Lippmann. Mr. Shenneman was made aware of the fact and ran in ahead and
withdrew his name from the convention in favor of Mr. Lippmann, who was
unanimously declared the nominee.
Winfield Courier, April 11, 1878.
A. T. Shenneman has returned from
Missouri bringing several fine teams and buggies, and will open a livery stable
here.
Winfield Courier, April 18, 1878.
Commissioners’
Proceedings.
Upon presentation of a petition and bond
by E. C. Manning et al. asking for the view and survey for a county road, the
board appointed T. A. Blanchard, Robert Hudson, and A. T. Shenneman viewers, to
meet on the 9th day of May, 1878.
Winfield Courier, April 25, 1878.
Messrs. Shenneman & Millspaugh have
opened a new livery stable just west of Manning’s block.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
Shenneman and Millspaugh run a number one
hack between Wichita and Winfield.
Winfield Courier, May 2, 1878.
Shenneman
& Millspaugh
will carry you to Wichita or elsewhere in
their new passenger hack, and make the trip a pleasant ride.
Winfield Courier, May 23, 1878.
Shenneman & Millspaugh have gone into
the sign business heavily. If you cannot find their livery stable, it is
because you cannot read.
Winfield Courier, August 8, 1878.
Shenneman & Co. change teams at
Bitter Creek and carry passengers to Wichita, with comfort, safety, and
celerity.
Winfield Courier, August 22, 1878.
A
Horse Thief.
A Mr. Overturf, from Montgomery County,
was in the city last week in search of a stolen horse, which he described to
the sheriff and others. Mr. A. T. Shenneman heard a part of the description;
and when returning from Wichita with his hack and passengers on Saturday, he
met a man with a horse, which he imagined answered the description. He asked
the man to come back to town with him, and he would pay for his time if the
horse should not prove to be the stolen horse. The man promptly got into the
hack and the horse was led behind. On the way in, Shenneman had occasion to
stop at a house; and the man, taking advantage of it, eluded the passengers,
took to the brush, and escaped. The horse proved to be the stolen one.
Winfield Courier, August 29, 1878.
Council
Proceedings.
A. T. Shenneman, horse hire. [Claimed
$2.00.] Referred to finance committee.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 11, 1878.
Hon. W. P. Hackney, S. H. Myton, A. T.
Shenneman, and G. S. Manser, all of Winfield, paid this place a visit
yesterday.
Winfield Courier, January 2, 1879.
[This
issue listed Courier advertisers.]
SHENNEMAN & MILLSPAUGH are very
enterprising and popular gentlemen in the livery business. They keep the best
of teams and are always ready to accommodate.
Note: At this time there were four
livery, feed, and sale stables—
(B.
M. Terrill, Harter & Speed, C. W. Garroutte, Shenneman & Millspaugh).
Winfield Courier, February 6, 1879.
One of the largest and best mule teams in
Cowley County for sale cheap.
A.
T. SHENNEMAN.
Winfield Courier, February 27, 1879.
Shenneman & Millspaugh have been
fixing up their livery stable recently.
Another item in the same issue: We hear a report that some ‘doctor’ (name not
given) on Grouse Creek on last Monday shot seven times at a single man without
a hit. This shooting business is horrible and must be stopped in some way. We
can scarcely believe we are in a civilized country.
Winfield Courier, March 20, 1879.
Springs will tell. Go to Wichita in
Shenneman & Millspaugh’s rigs, as cheap as the stage.
Winfield Courier, May 1, 1879.
We are informed that Mr. Frank Millspaugh
has sold out his interest in the livery business of Shenneman & Millspaugh
to Mr. A. G. Wilson.
Winfield Courier, May 8, 1879.
Mr. A. G. Wilson has again launched in
the livery business in Winfield, having purchased the interest of Mr.
Millspaugh, in the firm of Shenneman and Millspaugh. Mr. Wilson is one of the
oldest and most popular liverymen in Winfield, and in days gone by it was a
‘snide’ rig that didn’t come from Wilson’s livery stable. We wish the new firm
success.
[REPORT FROM “SCREECH OWL” AT VERNON.]
Winfield Courier, May 15, 1879.
Mr. Shenneman has a small house built on
his farm.
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.
M. M. Thompson has purchased A. T.
Shenneman’s interest in the livery business on Ninth Avenue. Mr. Shenneman will
now devote his time to harvesting his 150 acres of wheat in Vernon township,
and improving his fine farm.
[REPORT FROM “NO MORE” AT NEW SALEM.]
Winfield Courier, May 29, 1879.
A. T. Shenneman is our choice for
Sheriff.
[SOUTH RICHLAND - FLORAL]
Winfield Courier, June 5, 1879.
Politics are looming up. Mr. A. T.
Shenneman is the choice of the Republican voters of Richland township,
notwithstanding V. J.’s assertion to the contrary. We want no old broken down
horse, but a man who has been tried in the capture of horse and other thieves
to the satisfaction and interest of the citizens of Cowley County, and A. T. Shenneman
is that man.
[EDITORIAL PAGE.]
Arkansas City Traveler, July 16, 1879.
Announcements made by several people for
political office...
For Sheriff: Republican, A. T. Shenneman.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 23, 1879.
MARRIED. At the residence of the bride’s
parents, in Winfield, Sunday, July 20th, 1879, by the Rev. J. E. Platter,
Albert T. Shenneman and Miss Ella C. Walters, both of Winfield.
[Note: Miss Walters was the daughter of
J. C. Walters Winfield census of 1880
listed A. T. Shenneman, 34, and his wife, Ella C., 27. RKW]
A. T. SHENNEMAN]
Winfield Courier, August 14, 1879.
LETTER
FROM JOHN C. ROBERTS RE SHENNEMAN.
RECAP: HE STATED THAT THE PEOPLE OF
WALNUT TOWNSHIP ARE FOR SHENNEMAN....Mr. A. T. Shenneman at the age of sixteen
entered the war of 1861, served till its close, and was honorably discharged
from the service. Thus early in life he was inured in the trials and hardships
of the fiercest war that has raged in modern times, and which have so
effectually marked his career from that time to the present. Besides he has had
the requisite experience in the line of duty pertaining to the office of
Sheriff. We can say of a truth, as can a great many more, that he has performed
duties without any compensation whatever and that too, when the proper officials
refused to act at the time called upon to do so.
For instance, when A. B. Graham’s horse
was stolen, not one of the proper officials could be prevailed upon to perform
their duty. Not so with Shenneman. He was willing to go and did go, although he
was not the officer elected to perform that duty, neither was he the deputy.
Had he been Sheriff at the time the Arkansas City bank was robbed, instead of
lounging around town, he would have pursued those desperadoes in person, and
the probabilities are that he would have succeeded in securing them.
With A. T. as sheriff, cattle thieves,
horse thieves, and desperadoes of all kinds will give Cowley County a wide
berth, as they well know that they will have more than a mere pigmy to contend
with.
Arkansas City Traveler, August 20, 1879. At the primary election
in Winfield the following gentlemen were elected delegates. First ward, W. O.
Johnson, C. Coldwell, J. E. Saint, David Long; second ward, H. Brotherton, C.
Trump, D. L. Kretsinger, Archie Stewart; delegate at large, David C. Beach.
This is understood to be a Shenneman delegation.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 10, 1879.
The nominating convention held at
Winfield last Saturday placed the following ticket in the field: Sheriff, A. T.
Shenneman, Winfield; County Clerk, Capt. Hunt, Winfield; Treasurer, J. N.
Harden, Dexter; Register, Jacob Nixon, Vernon township; Coroner, Dr. Graham,
Winfield; Surveyor, N. A. Haight, Winfield; Commissioner for 2nd district, Mr.
Harbaugh, Pleasant Valley Township.
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
A vote was taken for sheriff, resulting
as follows. A. T. Shenneman, 72 votes; P. M. Waite, 15. On motion the
nomination of A. T. Shenneman was made unanimous.
[CANDIDATE A. T. SHENNEMAN.]
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
A.
T. SHENNEMAN.
He is a native of Waynesburg, Ohio. While
a small boy his parents moved with him to Illinois, where he was brought up and
educated. When a mere boy, at the age of fifteen, in 1862, he enlisted in the
68th Illinois volunteer infantry, but was soon transferred to the 70th
Illinois cavalry, in which he served with
distinction to the close of the war.
It is a compliment on his young
patriotism to state that when he entered the service, his stature was only five
feet seven inches; and when he came out, he had elongated to the height of six
feet one and one-half inches, his present stature, and had grown immensely in
the esteem of his comrades in arms.
After the war he emigrated to Kansas as
the young State of his permanent home. He was one of the early settlers in this
county, where he has made a very large number of the most enthusiastic
friends, as the compliment of his nomination by so overwhelming a vote over one
of the best men in the county, by delegates fresh from the people and farmers
of the county, fully proves.
He has had in this county much experience
in the line of services which pertain to the office of sheriff, in which he has
exhibited in an eminent degree the qualities which are wanted in such an
officer. Cool, courageous, shrewd, energetic, and with all, pleasant and
gentlemanly, we predict that he will prove one of the best officers that Cowley
County ever had. Such as he could not get office from the brigadiers in
Congress, for his early experience in fighting for our nationality and against
states rights heresies has made him a steadfast, unflinching, and working
Republican.
REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.]
Winfield Courier, September 11, 1879.
A vote was taken for sheriff, resulting
as follows.
A. T. Shenneman, 72 votes; P. M. Waite,
15.
On motion the nomination of A. T.
Shenneman was made unanimous.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 17, 1879.
REPUBLICAN
TICKET.
Sheriff: A. T. Shenneman, Winfield;
Treasurer, James Harden, Dexter; County Clerk, James S. Hunt, Winfield;
Register of Deeds, Jacob Nixon, Vernon; Surveyor, N. A. Haight, Bolton;
Coroner, Dr. Graham, Winfield; Commissioner, 2nd District, Henry Harbaugh,
Pleasant Valley.
[A GRAND SCHEME TO ELECT HARTER SHERIFF
BY FOUL MEANS.]
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1879.
A
Grand Scheme
To
Elect Harter Sheriff by Foul Means
Embracing
Several Hundred Fraudulent Votes.
200
to be Fraudulently Registered in Winfield,
The
Balance to be Voted in the Townships.
Lies
to be Made and Circulated Against Shenneman.
Votes
to be Bought for Whiskey and Money.
Stapleton,
Benedict, and Story to be Sold Out for Harter.
A
Deputy U. S. Marshal, a City Clerk, and
City
Marshal Among the Schemers
To
Share the Spoils of the Forced Election of the
Most
Inefficient, Timid, and Avaricious
Sheriff
Cowley County Ever Had.
We are reliably informed that one of the
boldest and most vicious schemes is organized for the purpose of electing C. L.
Harter to the office of sheriff by fraud, bribery, slander, and rascality.—The
scheme embraces the buying up by whiskey and even money the hundreds of
transients now in the county at work on the railroad or looking at the country,
and voting them for Harter.
It is thought that most of them have
democratic proclivities, and would readily vote for a democrat, if well supplied
with whiskey, even to swearing in their votes, if need be, and thus some three
hundred illegal votes are expected in the townships, while in this city we are
told that near two hundred persons have registered illegally with a
registering officer who is a member of this Harter ring. We are told that a
City Marshal and a U. S. Deputy Marshal are members of this ring; that a
pretended republican, who never voted a republican ticket, named Ebert, a
saloonist, brags that he has taken up and registered sixty-four of these
frauds.
The next thing in their program is to
fabricate and circulate a large batch of lies against Shenneman. This was
shadowed forth a week ago in the Telegram, which asked a dozen
questions, like Did not Shenneman steal a sheep? etc. Each question containing
a mean insinuation against Shenneman. Now we have to answer each and every
question in that list with a distinct and emphatic No, and we boldly assert
that there is not a fact in existence which is the slightest reason why Shenneman
should not be elected sheriff. But the plan of the ring is to make lies and
tell them, and they will be told.
We are informed that business has been so
good the past year that Harter has a bar! and is to use it in buying up votes
and setting up the whiskey.
The program includes every kind of a
trade which will make a vote for Harter. His colleagues on the ticket are to be
sold out. Stapleton, Benedict and Story are to be slaughtered to get votes for
Harter. No stone is to be left unturned, no means however foul are to be
neglected, all to make votes against a man eminently qualified and for a man
totally unfitted for it in every particular.
We have liked Harter and neglected to
speak the truths which ought to be spoken of him when he is a candidate for the
office of sheriff, but since we know, by his own statement, that he made a
bargain and sale with Allison, two years ago, we doubt not that such a bargain
exists now, and such an attack on Shenneman would not have been made without
Harter’s approval. Neither can we think he is not in a ring which aims at
illegal means to secure his election.
So it becomes our duty to tell the following truths, which everyone who
has noticed and examined the matter, knows to be true: that Harter is grossly
inefficient as a sheriff, the most so of any we ever had, that he is deficient
in moral and physical courage, and is by many called a coward, that he has
never attacked and overcome resistance, but has backed down when resistance was
threatened, that he has never run into danger, that he has been avaricious and
made more money out of the office than any other sheriff ever made in the same
time, that he has constantly charged and collected constructive mileage, that
he charges full mileage from Winfield to the home of the taxpayer on each
tax-warrant put into his hands, on one warrant for fourteen cents collecting
six dollars, and sending down to Arkansas City, to another officer, a large
batch of warrants, ordering that $2.80 be collected on each for his mileage though
he did not travel a mile, and that a hundred other incidents illustrate the
same fact. He is believed by the people here to be grossly immoral, among the
other things that unfit him for the office of sheriff.
Now these things are not yarns got up for
the occasion, but are susceptible of proof. We append a few affidavits, all we
have room for, bearing on some of these statements, and there are plenty more
to be had, even from the personal friends of Mr. Harter.
We appeal to the honest voters of this
county to vote for Shenneman, a capable and honest man, instead of one whose
unfitness requires the aid of fraud to give him any chance. We appeal to them
that they see that all attempts at fraud in the coming election be detected and
punished.
Here following some of the affidavits.
ROBERT
HUDSON’S AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, )
Cowley County. ) ss.
Robert Hudson, after being first duly
sworn, upon his oath, says that he is a citizen of Winfield, in said county and
state, and has been for several years last past.
That his occupation is that of house
mover, that during the year 1878 James Kelly, then postmaster of this city,
employed affiant to move the old post office building from Dr. Mendenhall’s
premises. Dr. Mendenhall commenced an action in attachment against James Kelly,
and the order of attachment was placed in the hands of Charles L. Harter,
Sheriff of said county, to execute, and instructed him to levy upon said
building. He came down to levy upon the building, affiant at the time being at
work getting it ready to move away. James Kelly was present. Harter stated his
business to him and said he was going to levy upon the building and for me to
stop work, and for Kelly to get out.
Kelly ordered him to leave and told him
he would put a head on him if he did not go and Harter taking him at his word
left. Kelly told affiant to go ahead with the moving. Affiant did so and moved
the building away and Harter never did get possession of the same, and further
the affiant says not. ROBERT HUDSON.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day of October, 1879.
HENRY
E. ASP, Notary Public.
SETH
W. CHASE - AFFIDAVIT.
State of Kansas, )
Cowley County. ) ss.
Seth W. Chase, after being duly sworn,
upon his oath doth say, that he is a resident of Tisdale township in said
County of Cowley, and has been for more than six years last past.
Affiant further saith, that in the month
of July, 1878, Zeke White, William Baker, and Mrs. Wood committed the crime of
theft in said Cowley County and a warrant upon the complaint of affiant was
issued by George H. Buckman, Justice of the Peace of Winfield township in said
Cowley County, and the same was placed in the hands of Charles L. Harter, as
sheriff of said Cowley County, to arrest them. That affiant accompanied the
said sheriff and showed him the said thieves. That said Harter called to them
to come out to where we were. Affiant was unarmed, but the said Harter was
armed. Bill Baker and White came up to where we were, and Baker told Harter he
would not be taken. White made no resistance. And thereupon the said sheriff,
after parleying with said Baker for some time, in a tone of voice not heard by
me, turned to affiant and said, let’s go, and we left. Baker and White went
back to where they came from. White was unarmed. I said to Harter on our way
back, what are you going to do? He replied, what can I do? I then said, Go get
Titus and I will get Chaffee and his shot-gun, and we will go back and get them
(the said Baker and White). He said, no; I will get the drop on them tomorrow.
I replied, they will be gone tomorrow; and he replied, that will be better than
to arrest them. I then said, Give me the warrant and deputize me and I will
bring them in tonight. He looked at me and said, No, damn you; you would kill
him. We then separated. I went home and he came on to town. All the thieves
made their escape that night, except White, and he came in and gave himself up,
and the other parties have never been arrested, and no attempt ever made to
arrest them; and further deponent saith not. SETH W. CHASE.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day of October, 1879.
W.
P. HACKNEY, Notary Public.
DANIEL
GRAMM’S AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, )
Cowley County, ) ss.
Daniel Gramm, after first being duly sworn,
upon his oath deposes and says, that he is a resident of Pleasant Valley
township in said county and state and has been since about April 15th, 1879.
That some time in the early part of July last he lost a span of mules, the same
having been stolen, and since then has never heard of them. That as soon as
affiant heard of the theft aforesaid he offered a reward of fifty dollars for
said mules and applied to Charles L. Harter, the sheriff of said Cowley County,
to look after the matter and wanted him to make a search. He did not seem to
take any interest in the matter and affiant could get neither counsel nor
assistance out of him, and the only aid he vouchsafed to affiant was That he
would look around town. Afterwards I went to him with a letter from one of
the men who I think stole my mules. That the supposed thief stated that he was
at Raymond in Rice County, Kansas, and for them to write him there. I begged
him to go and arrest the thief, but he would do nothing, and the thief finally
came down and gave himself up and was sent to the penitentiary. Whether his
disgust at Harter for not doing his duty had any thing to do with his voluntary
surrender, affiant can’t say. Affiant applied to Harter’s deputy, Jim
Finch, with same result; and further affiant says not. DANIEL GRAMM.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day of October, 1879.
W.
P. HACKNEY, Notary Public.
J.
C. ROBERT’S AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, )
Cowley County. ) ss.
J. C. Roberts, after first being duly
sworn, upon his oath, doth say that he is a resident of Walnut township,
formerly Winfield, in said county and state, and has been for more than eight
years last past.
That in the month of November, 1878, my
son-in-law had a horse stolen in said county, and my son-in-law, A. B. Graham,
and myself went to the city of Winfield and endeavored to get Charles L.
Harter, the Sheriff of said county to go with us after the thieves. Harter not
being at home I went to Finch, the Deputy Sheriff, and asked him to go with us.
This he refused to do then and wanted us to wait until the next day as he had
ridden all the way from Wichita that day and was too tired.
We then went to look for A. T. Shenneman
to get him to go with us. He was absent with passengers brought from Wichita
and taking them to east part of this county. Learning that he would be back
that night, we waited until 12 o’clock, at which time Shenneman came home. We
told him what we wanted, and notwithstanding he had the day before driven from
Winfield to Wichita and that day from Wichita to Winfield and thence some 12
miles and back that night, he immediately got his shot-gun and borrowed a
revolver from J. H. Finch, Harter’s deputy, and we went at once after the
thieves, traveling all that night and all the next day and the day following
and got home at 12 o’clock that night, and while we were unsuccessful in our
search for the thieves, the facts show what the Republican candidate for
Sheriff will do when he is elected, and what the conduct of our present
officials has been and will continue to be if Mr. Harter is elected. J. C.
ROBERTS.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
18th day of October, 1879.
W.
P. HACKNEY, Notary Public.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1879.
A
BATCH OF LIES.
The Telegram, of yesterday
morning, finally came out with its batch of full-blown lies, such as it had
intimated by its insinuations being manufactured against Shenneman. After
stating the lies without the least evidence in proof, the Telegram has
the cheek to say: “If they are not true, let Shenneman and his friends go to
Troup, Walker, Webb, or Hackney, and get their affidavits to the contrary.”
That is their game. If they charge that Shenneman sometime stole a sheep or
robbed a hen-roost, they expect it to be believed unless he comes forward and
performs an impossibility for any man by proving he never did such a thing.
Never mind. You will see affidavits enough, and your timid, namby-pamby,
money-getting candidate will be somewhat shown up too, because of going into
this contemptible mode of
electioneering.
A correspondent for the Winfield
Courier from Arkansas City, calling himself
“Cresswell,” reported to D. A. Millington, October 17, 1879. His letter
appeared in the October 23, 1879, issue.
By a late Telegram I see that
Allison is paying his respects to Shenneman. Bill is at his old game, trying to
make Democratic capital at the expense of the Republican nominees. Well, here
is a conundrum for him and all other Democrats to wrestle with. When the
Arkansas City bank was robbed, a general rush was made by all who could go to
capture the robbers. “Where was Charles L. Harter, Sheriff of Cowley County,
at that time?” Did he spend a nickle, or move a hoof to aid in the pursuit
of these bandits? Not that anybody ever heard of.
One great, leading duty belongs to the
office of Sheriff, to keep the peace, and to arrest violators of law, horse
thieves, and robbers. Has Sheriff Harter a record in this respect that any law
abiding citizen can take pleasure in? Not that anybody knows of.
Winfield Courier, October 23, 1879. A good joke is told on
Charley Harter about the Arkansas City bank robbery. After the news had
arrived, Charley met Burt Covert on the crossing of Main Street and Ninth
Avenue, his face pale and hair disheveled, and grabbing him by the arm, said:
“B——; B—— Burt; Read’s Bank has been robbed; five hun——hundred dollars reward,
get Dick Walker and go after them quick.” Burt and Dick went after them while
Charley, after his ‘excitement’ had subsided, learned that it was Arkansas City
instead of Winfield that had been raided, and immediately took steps to capture
them if they came within two blocks of Main street.
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.
THAT
SHERIFF BUSINESS.
Harter has made an amount of money from
the sheriff’s office far in excess of that of any other incumbent in the same
time, and below we give one of the ways in which he did it.
He received a very large number of
personal tax-warrants, and collected them, charging full mileage on each from
Winfield to the residence of the tax-payer and return, notwithstanding considerable
numbers of the tax-payers lived in one immediate neighborhood. For instance,
he sent some forty of them to Arkansas City, to be collected for him, and
though the actual mileage on each would not have averaged twenty cents, he
collected $2.80 on each.
Here are some of this batch, all in the
same immediate neighborhood.
Taxpayers. Taxes. Sheriff’s Fees. Amount Collected.
J. J. Brown $ .85 $ 3.55 $
4.40
N. Edwards .56
3.55 4.10
W. M. Simpson .44
3.55 4.00
Wm. Hathaway .30
3.55 3.85
J. T. Grimes .37
3.55 3.92
Wm. Atkinson .49
3.55 4.31
Totals for Six: $3.01
$21.30 $24.31
Other neighborhoods present similar
illustrations. Austin Fickle’s tax was fourteen cents. He paid Harter, tax and fees, $6.00. But the
list would be too lengthy for this article. This is constructive mileage in its
purest sense and of course illegal.
What shall we call such extortion? Had
Shenneman been guilty of this, he would be
charged with robbery and stealing.
The October 30, 1879, issue had further
comments.
Tuesday morning’s Telegram, to
bolster up Harter’s fortune, takes over a column to try to make it appear that
Harter once had the courage to take a man by the ‘nape of his neck and seat of
his breeches;’ and that Shenneman is stingy. Now if Harter ever did such a
thing, we wager it was to a weak and decrepit or one-legged man. Such men as he
are always tyrants over the weak and weak before the strong.
Again, we will wager that the records of
churches, schools, and objects of benevolence in this city will show ten
dollars given by Shenneman to one given by Harter.
The Telegram shows that Judge
McDonald is opposed to the election of C. L. Harter for sheriff. Everybody who
knows J. Wade McDonald knows that his opposition to Harter or any other man on
a democratic ticket cannot be from personal motives. He always supports
heartily every democratic nominee except in case of one who is totally unfit
for the office, and he has had as good opportunities to judge of Harter’s
fitness as any man.
The Winfield Democrats are straining
every effort to save one man on their ticket at the expense of the balance.
Had they selected Story or Stapleton or
Benedict as that man, there would be more sense in it, but they have selected
Harter, the very worst man on their ticket, merely because he is a Winfield man
and has made money out of the office.
[MORE AFFIDAVITS RE C. L. HARTER.]
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.
The following affidavits completely
refute the charge in the Telegram in relation to Shenneman and confirm
our former statements as to Harter.
A.
T. SHENNEMAN’S AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, )
Cowley County. ) ss.
A. T. Shenneman, after being first duly
sworn, on oath says that he has read the affidavit of Amos Biddle, published in
this morning’s Daily Telegram, and the facts in this matter are as
follows.
Mr. Biddle came to me and wanted to rent
my farm and buy a mule team I had in July, 1877. He proposed to pay a share of
the crop as rent and buy my mules on one year’s time. I told him I would like
to rent him the farm, but did not want to sell the team without the money as I
needed it in my business. He then said if I would let him have the team, he
would give me a mortgage on the team and crop to secure me, and would pay the
same interest that I would have to pay to get the money.
With this understanding I came to
Winfield and made arrangements to get what money I wanted for twenty percent
of Mr. E. C. Seward. I told Biddle of my arrangement with Seward, and he said
he would take the team and allow me that rate of interest. The papers were
drawn up. I sold him mules, wagon, and harness, cover and bows, for $450.00, he
giving me a note for $540.00, due in one year, and I borrowed money of Seward
from time to time as I needed it, to supply the place of this money that I
should have had when I sold my team.
When this note came due, Biddle had not
threshed his wheat and wanted me to wait and said he would pay the interest. I,
at that time, was paying J. C. McMullen 18 percent for money I had borrowed of
him. I extended the time. Two or three months after the note came due, Biddle
threshed his wheat, took his time to haul it to Wichita, paid me $110.00, and I
gave him a receipt. About two months after this, he again threshed and again
took his time to get the wheat to market, and when through paid me $150.00, and
I gave him a receipt therefore. Some six weeks after this he threshed the
balance and hauled it away as before, but failed to pay me any money. One of
his neighbors, knowing I had a mortgage on every-thing, informed me that he
thought Biddle was using the money instead of paying me. I saw Biddle; he said
he had other debts to pay and had used the money, and wanted me to take the
mules back, stating the time he would come in and we would fix the matter up.
This I did not want to do, telling him that I had trusted him to haul the wheat
away and pay me the money; that he knew I needed it, and he ought to pay it;
that it was in the dead of winter, and no sale for the mules; that I could not
realize on them, and must have money with which to meet debts contracted by me
in anticipation of the payment of his note.
Finding that he could not pay me and that
there was no chance to get the money from him, at his earnest solicitation I
consented to take the mules and harness at his own figure: $280. He wanted to
keep the wagon, it being worth $65 to $75. He brought the team in, his
brother-in-law, Robert Kerr, accompanying him. I threw off a part of the
interest, which left, as we settled, a balance due of $322 or thereabouts, I
think.
I took the mules and harness at $280, and
he agreed to pay me $25 thereafter; and I threw off the balance and the matter
was satisfactory to him, and his said brother-in-law afterwards told me that
Biddle said it was. The matter closed, and I gave him a receipt for $280. He
took the wagon home, and five days after, paid me $25; and I gave him his note.
I gave Biddle a receipt for every cent he ever paid me except that $25 paid
when I gave him the note and he can produce them if he chooses. I kept the
mules until the following April, and in my settlement with Millspaugh of our
partnership, I allowed $20 for feeding them. I paid Benj. Cox, of Winfield, $2
to take them to Wichita. He placed them in the hands of J. F. Reese to be sold.
He sold them for $270, kept $10 for his trouble and expense, and gave me a
check on the Wichita Savings Bank for $260, and if anyone will take the trouble
this can be shown by Reese’s check book. I sold the harness for $10, thus
realizing but $248 on the mules and harness, for which I allowed him $280 in
our settlement, to say nothing of the interest I paid for money during the time
I had to hold the mules.
The note, when due, called for just $540.
I got my money in installments, as above stated; and realized, all told, but
$533, to say nothing of the interest paid by me for money during all these
months that I was accommodating this man, and which amounted to certainly not
less than $50.
Hearing that it was reported that I had
wronged Biddle, I took Moses Teter and went to him and stated the facts in the
case so far as our dealings were concerned; and he admitted to Moses Teter, in
my presence, that they were true, and as I have here stated them, and that he
had no cause of complaint against me except that I knew he was on the road and
had procured another man to haul a load of coal from Wichita to Winfield,
whereas I ought to have given it to him.
This is a full, accurate, and complete
statement of all facts and circumstances connected with, or in any wise
appertaining to each and every circumstance growing out of my trusting and
befriending this man, Biddle. A. T. SHENNEMAN.
Subscribed in my presence, and sworn to
before me this 23rd day of October, 1878.
HENRY
E. ASP, Notary Public.
MOSES
S. TETER’S AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, )
Cowley County. ) ss.
Moses S. Teter after being first duly
sworn on his oath doth say that he knows A. T. Shenneman and Amos Biddle, and
was present in Winfield some weeks ago when Shenneman and Biddle talked over
the matter connected with the mules referred to in the affidavit of A. T.
Shenneman hereto attached, and which affidavit I have heard read. That in the
conversation Amos Biddle admitted that the facts as stated by Shenneman in his
affidavit were true, and I at that time asked Biddle if he had asked Shenneman
for more time when the mules were given back to Shenneman, and he said he did
not ask him for any more time. Biddle said the only cause of complaint he had
was that Shenneman had hired another man to bring a load of coal from Wichita,
which he might have let him haul if he had so wished. I asked Biddle whether
Shenneman had done as he agreed to and he said no. I then asked him in what way
he had failed. He said he had let another man haul a load of coal down from
Wichita when he (Biddle) was going up, and that he might have let him haul it.
Biddle stated in the conversation above referred to, that when Shenneman took
the mules back that he did it at his (Biddle’s) request, and further affiant
saith not. MOSES S. TETER.
Subscribed and sworn to before me this
23rd day of October, 1879.
G.
H. BUCKMAN, Notary Public.
J.
P. MAYFIELD’S AFFIDAVIT.
STATE OF KANSAS, )
Cowley County. )
ss.
J. P. Mayfield, after being duly sworn
upon his oath doth say, that I was one of the hands, and helped Robert Hudson
move the old post-office building from Dr. Mendenhall’s premises. I went there
with the tools and went to work, the first man on the building. Hudson and Jim
Kelly were present. Charles L. Harter came there and Kelly and he had some
words. Kelly ordered us to hurry up and pay no attention to anyone but him. We
did so, and we never stopped the building until we got it into the street.
Harter left and never got possession, or levied upon the building at all that
day, and the moving of the building went right along until we got it into the
street, where we had to stop, waiting for the cattle to pull it away, and as
soon as the cattle came we went ahead, and if Mr. Harter ever levied upon the
building his levy did not interfere with our business, and none of us ever knew
of it. It is certain he never took possession or attempted to do so. John E.
Allen to the contrary notwithstanding.
J.
P. MAYFIELD.
Subscribed and swore to before me, this
29th day of October, 1879.
W.
P. HACKNEY, Notary Public.
[FROM “BOOTHE”, VERNON TOWNSHIP RE
SHENNEMAN.]
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.
VERNON
TP., Oct. 28, 1879.
ED. COURIER: Since the combined energies
of the Democratic party have been concentrated to beat Mr. Shenneman, I have
several reasons why I think Mr. Shenneman should be elected.
In the first place, the office belongs to
the Republican party, and in justice to itself it can’t afford to let the
patronage of the office go to the help of the Democratic party in the future as
it has for the past two years.
Secondly, Mr. Shenneman was almost the
unanimous choice of the Republican convention, a fact in connection with his
peculiar fitness for the office, his experience in duties that especially
belong to the office and his record in the discharge of those duties, should
bring to him the hearty support of every Republican in Cowley County, assured
as they must be that they vote for one who will be thorough and faithful in his
duties, true to his own party, and gentlemanly to the people of the whole
county.
Thirdly, his election will be a fitting
rebuke to the lying spirit manifested in this county: a spirit that has sunk in
shameful defeat some of the best men of the county, and show Allison & Co.,
that the reward for lying is in a warmer country than Cowley County.
Fourthly, it will put the patronage of
the office in the hands of one who will disburse to the strengthening of sound
patriotic principles and not to the help of discord, disunion, and diabolism.
I was for Mr. Waite before the
convention, but influenced by the foregoing reasons, and many others, am for
Shenneman as heartily as I could have been for Mr. Waite had he been the
nominee. I know the bottom of every charge made against Shenneman. I knew them
before the convention. If they would hold water, I would have used them; but
convinced that there was no truth in them then, I would not belittle Mr.
Shenneman, the Republican party, and myself, by stooping to answer them now.
They have fallen into the hands of an unscrupulous defamer of character, who
for his own mercenary gains would caricature the Savior on the cross, and pervert
his sermon on the mount into a batch of vicious lies, would such touch a chord
in the popular heart and bring him bread and butter in the end.
Allison would as soon publish a lie as
the truth if it would answer his selfish purposes as well. I wonder that
gentlemen, in the face of these facts, sustain in any way, Allison’s
slander-mill, the Telegram. I have but little patience with such a man
as Allison in such a course, and hope ‘ere long to say “thank God, the dog is
(politically) dead.”
I have no word to say against Mr. Harter
nor any other gentleman on the democratic ticket because I know nothing
against them. If others do, it may be their duty to say so. I shall vote the
straight Republican ticket for mainly these two reasons, viz: First, I am a
Republican. Second, The Republican ticket loses nothing in comparison with the
democratic ticket either as a whole or individually to say the least. I know
that Shenneman is a terror to other criminals beside Allison. The records show
the many arrested and brought to justice by him, some of whom are today safe in
the penitentiary. Perhaps Mr. Harter has done as well, or better. I don’t know.
One thing I do know, the Republican party has been good to Charlie at the
expense of its own children. Republicans of Cowley County: is it not time to
stop this. We can stop it today; we may not be able to stop it two years hence.
Victory now gives strength and prestige then. Think of these things,
Republicans of Cowley, and you will have no regrets for your action next
Tuesday, as many now regret their action in the past.
Yours
respectfully, BOOTHE.
[CORRESPONDENCE FROM E. S. TORRANCE,
COUNTY ATTORNEY.]
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.
ED. COURIER: In response to your request
for my opinion in regard to the qualifications of persons working on the
railroads now being constructed in this county, to vote at the coming election
for county officers, I have to say: “That no person should be allowed to vote
who has not resided in the State for six months preceding the election, and in
the township or ward where he offers to vote for thirty days preceding the
election.
“The term residence means more than the presence
of a party in the state, township, or ward for the period specified in the
statute. He should be a permanent resident of the state, and an actual
resident of the township or ward, having come there for the purpose of making
it his home and not for some temporary purpose. A person coming
into the state, or a township, or a ward, on business or for the purpose of
doing a job of work, with the intention of going elsewhere when such business
or work is completed, is not a qualified elector. The fact of a man having his
family with him is not sufficient to entitle him to vote, unless he has
acquired a bona fide residence as above indicated.
“The question is not whether the person
offering his vote will lose the privilege of voting anywhere if his vote should
be rejected, but the real point to be decided by the election board is whether
such person has the legal right to vote in the township or ward where he
offers to vote, under the laws of the state.
“The judges of election have the right to
reject a vote, although the person offering it takes the statutory oath to the
effect that he is a legal voter, if in fact such person is not a legal voter.
“Hoping the officers upon whom the law
imposes the duty of receiving the votes to be cast at the approaching election
will have the official stamina to reject every illegal vote, if any should be
offered, I remain, Very truly yours, E. S. TORRANCE, County Attorney.
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.
One look at Harter’s face will convince
the most casual observer that he has given up all hope of another $5.80 grab at
a fourteen-cent tax-warrant. Deputy Finch is terribly exercised over the
knowledge that he is soon to lose his bread-and-butter position over the jail.
No help for it, Mr. Finch, you’ll have to step down and out after January 1st.
‘Tis sad to see the forlorn, sorrowful
look with which Charley Harter greets the little band of followers who still
affect to believe that he will be elected. Charley knows their mistake well
enough, and it is only too comical to see him nodding assent to their loud
boasts of democratic majorities, while his face is as long as a broom-stick.
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879.
While John Allen, that stalwart exponent
of democratic principles was on the road to Rock Monday evening, he met with an
accident that came near depriving the citizens of that place of the most
brilliant speech of the campaign. While crossing Dutch creek the buggy tipped
over, turning him out into two feet of mud and water. On coming to the surface,
John scrambled out, and after having duly sworn, made affidavit that this was a
fiendish Radical trick to prevent him filling his appointment, and thereby
electing Shenneman; and swore, ‘by gravy,’ that it should not be: if he had to
wade in mud up to his neck from there to Rock. It is needless to say that he
got there, but not until he had returned and changed his mud-begrimed garments
for cleaner and dryer ones.
The Winfield Courier was
relentless in its attacks: they were desirous of a Republican sweep and were
combating Democratic and other opposition newspapers.
Winfield Courier, October 30, 1879. One of the most prominent
of the ‘bread and butter brigade,’ who are making such agonizing efforts to
elect Harter, is Jim Finch. This is the valiant gentleman who holds the
position of Deputy United States Marshal and Deputy Sheriff of Cowley County,
and who, by virtue of that position, started to Topeka last summer with a
crooked whiskey man. He got along very well till they reached Newton, where he
left his man on the platform of the depot while he crossed over to a saloon to
get a drink, and on returning, found the prisoner had ‘sloped,’ leaving his
broken hand-cuffs as a keepsake for the brave officer. He returned to Winfield
alone and you may be sure said nothing about the matter until it happened to
leak out. This is the kind of a man we are to have for Deputy Sheriff if Harter
is elected. A man who can neglect his duty, and ‘cat crow’ with such evident
relish, can never receive anything from the hands of the people of Cowley
County.
Winfield Courier, November 6, 1879.
It appears that Harbaugh is elected
Commissioner in the second district by a very flattering majority, a result
that was not expected. [Note: He beat S. B. Adams. RKW]
Shenneman for Sheriff, has a majority of
about 300, notwithstanding that the most unscrupulous fight was made on him.
The balance of the Republican ticket is
elected by about 600 majority, notwithstanding the fact that a Democratic Mayor
and the executive force of the city, backed by six whiskey saloons and two
breweries, worked hard at the polls all day. They carried the city for Harter by
only 16 majority.
Glorious Dexter has proved herself ‘truly
loyal.’
Cresswell township has wheeled into the
line of stalwart Republicanism. It was claimed that this township would go
Democratic this year or at least a part of the ticket.
The Democrats made a great many votes for
Harter and against Shenneman by their system of trading off their other
candidates, their whiskey work, their railroad votes, and other corruptions;
but we do not think they made anything by their personal attack on Shenneman.
That was a boomerang which returned and scooped Harter.
The election on Tuesday was ‘red-hot.’ In
the city the omnibuses were out all day bringing in votes, and large crowds
were around the polls urging the claims of favorite candidates and tickets, but
there was no disorder or bad blood exhibited. In fact, it is remarkable that in
the heat of such a contest everything was peaceful. It seems that 125 of the
voters registered in the city failed to get their votes in. There were many
citizens who came to the polls to vote, having been voters here heretofore, but
were not allowed to vote because they had not registered. Quite a considerable
number of the electors of this city failed to register, and though there were
many registered who had not the right to vote, we doubt not that there were 650
voters in the city had they all registered.
Among the many who have contributed to
the glorious vote in this county, our young friend, Henry E. Asp, W. P.
Hackney, and J. B. Evans are worthy of special mention. They have been at work
early and late and their telling eloquence has been heard over the county.
Judge Coldwell, Frank Jennings, A. P. Johnson, and others have put in many
stalwart blows. Jarvis, Green, Chairman
Johnson, Torrance, and many others did efficient work; and though we may fail
to mention others equally praiseworthy in this hurried notice, we will not
neglect to state that our contemporary, the Semi-Weekly, has put a
stalwart shoulder to the wheel.
‘One of the meanest frauds practiced by
Democrats at the late election was to print a lot of Republican tickets
straight with the exception of C. L. Harter for Sheriff, and then procuring
pretended Republicans to peddle them among Republicans, assuring them that this
fraud was the straight Republican ticket. Harter probably obtained many votes
in this fraudulent way. The man that is mean enough to peddle such a fraud does
not belong to the Republican party. We have been told that John Hoenscheidt was
one of them.
Winfield Courier, November 20, 1879.
Last Sunday evening Mr. A. T. Shenneman
brought in Frank Shock, who did the carving at Frank Davis’ recently, and he is
now safely lodged in the county jail. Mr. Foster offered a reward of $50 for
his capture, and as none of the officers seemed to take any interest in the
matter, Mr. Shenneman offered to bring him in, and Sunday evening returned with
his man. He captured him in Chautauqua County while making tracks for the
Territory. Mr. Shenneman learned before starting that he had gone toward the
east, and also that he had friends in Chautauqua County, and immediately
started for that locality. Arriving there he played the land-agent dodge and
learned in a roundabout way that Shock had been there and had left for the
Territory a short time before. He started in pursuit and overtook his man
before he got out of the State. Mr. Shenneman would receive nothing for his
time while after the criminal, and only asked enough to cover his expenses,
which was cheerfully given.
A correspondent from Maple Township,
known as “Reflex,”who lived at Red Bud, wrote to the Courier December 6,
1879.
The action of our newly elected Sheriff
Shenneman, in arresting Shock, is highly commended by his friends, as showing
conclusively that we have the right man in the right place, and that evil doers
in the future may expect to be brought to justice.
Winfield Courier, December 25, 1879. Frank Shock, the young
man who carved Foster at Frank Davis’ recently, was admitted to bail last
Monday, and is now at liberty.
Winfield Courier, January 1, 1880.
Mr. Rhonimus, proprietor of the ‘North
end meat market,’ and a hired man, Henry, were arrested last week for stealing
cattle. It seems that these gentlemen, in order to make the meat business as
profitable as possible, have for some time been systematically stealing the
beeves that supplied their market. It has been known among the stock men of
this and Elk counties for some time that thieves were operating among their
herds, and the matter was placed in the hands of Sheriff-elect Shenneman, who
shadowed the above-named gentlemen, and at last caught them killing one of the
missing beeves near the fair ground and promptly arrested them. Mr. Jones, of
Windsor, has lost fourteen head of cattle by these depredations, and parties on
the line of Elk County have missed as many more. It seems that the gentlemen
were not partial as to the kind of meat taken, and sometimes stepped aside from
their regular line of business to gobble a hog or two, and sometimes three,
from the large herds of W. J. Hodges, at the stock yards, near the depot.
A preliminary trial was held before
Justice Buckman, last Friday, but the case was continued till this week, and
the prisoners remanded to jail in default of bail.
[The arrest of Rhonimus and subsequent
events had far-reaching consequences. Rhonimus had a sister, Mrs. McNeil, who
sued Payson, a local attorney, and Shenneman.
Her effect on the judicial system in Cowley County and the newspapers
was startling. Part of the story unfolds in the article on Judge W. P.
Campbell. MAW]
Winfield
Courier, January 15, 1880.
Last Saturday Sheriff Shenneman returned
from Missouri, bringing with him a horse and a mule stolen from Mr. Robinson,
of Floral, recently. He received news of the theft while traveling in the east
part of the county, and immediately started in pursuit. When A. T. goes for
stolen property, it generally comes.
Winfield Courier, January 22, 1880.
The Shock case proved to be a long-winded
affair. Over forty witnesses were examined, and the attorneys upon both sides
have sifted the case thoroughly.
Last Monday night Sheriff Shenneman
arrested one Marion Roe for the seduction under promise of marriage, of Ella
Onstott. He was brought before Justice Buckman, and his bail fixed at
$1,000. “Coming events cast their shadow
before.”
LATER: Roe was released from custody
Tuesday; and accompanied by the friends of the lady, repaired to the office of
Judge Gans, secured a marriage license, and when last seen the party were in
quest of a preacher.
Winfield Courier, January 29, 1880.
Mr. Frank Finch has been appointed to a
deputyship under Sheriff Shenneman.
Arkansas City Traveler, February 11, 1880.
A. T. Shenneman, Sheriff elect of Cowley
County, as an officer is giving universal satisfaction, and as a citizen his
character stands irreproachable. While in every community there is to be found
a certain class of individual ever ready to criticize the acts of our best
citizens and officials, it is a satisfaction to know that criticism from such a
source only adds to the popularity of the party in question. We predict for Mr.
Shenneman a bright and useful career as an official of this county, and for
evil doers and law breakers a hard road to travel.
Winfield Courier, February 12, 1880.
Last Wednesday, Dick Rhonimus, young
McMahon, and another prisoner effected their escape from the county jail in a
very mysterious manner. The next morning two horses were missing from Rev.
Henderson’s stable. Monday afternoon McMahon, one of the escaped prisoners, was
brought in, together with one of the stolen horses, by P. F. Haynes and J. B.
Splawn, of Silverdale township. The particulars of his capture are as follows.
Thursday morning a man stopped at the
house of Smith Winchel, in that township, and asked for his breakfast, stating
that he was hunting a man with a horse on which he had a chattel mortgage. Mr.
Winchel gave him something to eat, and went with him when he started to get his
horse. He noticed that the horse had neither saddle nor bridle and was being
ridden with a rope over his nose, which aroused his suspicions, and he called
in several of the neighbors and stated the circumstances, when it was decided
to go after the stranger and make him give an account of himself.
They came within sight of their man near
the state line, and had their suspicions confirmed by his putting whip to his
horse and making for Salt Fork. After following the thief for about a day, two
of the party turned back, leaving Splawn and Haynes to continue the pursuit. They followed the
trail until dark and on the following morning were again on the track,
determined to take him in if it took all summer. They followed the trail all
day Friday and Friday night and Saturday discovered the horse, which the thief
had abandoned while trying to get back into the state. They kept the trail by
learning from time to time where the thief had tried to get something to eat.
Sunday morning they rode into South Haven and found their man in a livery
stable. A warrant was procured and they started for home with the prisoner.
On the way up they came through Arkansas
City, where McMahon’s mother resides, and the prisoner was allowed an interview
with her. Mrs. McMahon is a respectable, hard-working woman, and her grief at
seeing her boy under such circumstances was heartrending. She sold a cow, the
only one she possessed, and purchased him a suit of clothes, the ones he had on
being in tatters.
On the way home McMahon conversed freely
with his captors, confessing the whole affair and stating that someone opened
the jail door and let them out, but refused to tell who the party was. Monday
afternoon the prisoner was turned over to Sheriff Shenneman by the captors, who
received the $50 reward offered for his return. The smile that illuminated our
Sheriff’s countenance, when told that one of his birds had come home to roost,
was a sight to behold. The most remarkable fact about the matter is that
McMahon’s time was almost out, and on the very day when he was returned to the
jail as a horse thief, his time would have expired.
Winfield Courier, February 19, 1880.
Last week Sheriff Shenneman got on the
track of Rhonimus, the escaped cattle thief.
Rhonimus had relatives in Elk City and dropped in to see them; but the
constable had been notified of his escape, and was on the lookout for him. As
soon as the constable learned of Rhonimus’ presence in the vicinity, he laid
his plans to capture him. Rhonimus, hearing that he was in a bad fix, made a
break for his horse, but was compelled to leave it and take to the timber on
foot. The constable telegraphed to Sheriff Shenneman, who started at 1 o’clock
Friday night and by Saturday was on the thief’s trail. After following for some
time, all trace of the thief was lost, and Mr. Shenneman returned home Sunday.
The horse, belonging to Mr. Henderson, was recovered; but was too lame to bring
along and was left at Elk City.
Winfield Courier, February 19, 1880.
The Commissioners met last week and made
arrangements to build an addition to the jail to be used by the sheriff as an
office, and rented the upper part of the jail from the city for $10 per month.
It will be occupied as heretofore by the jailer. An order was made to have four
more binding rods put in the courthouse.
Winfield Courier, March 4, 1880.
Sheriff Shenneman started to Leavenworth
with Reynolds, who was convicted of grand larceny at the last term of court and
sentenced to one year in the penitentiary.
Winfield Courier, March 4, 1880.
Sheriff Shenneman has notified all
persons against whom he holds tax warrants that the same were in his hands for
collection. Many have come in and settled, thereby saving mileage. He now
notifies those against whom he holds warrants that on and after the 9th inst.,
10 cents per mile will be added.
Winfield Courier, March 11, 1880.
Last Friday evening one Ollie Martin was
arrested by Sheriff Shenneman and turned over to Constable Wilson of Cedarvale.
Martin is charged with attempting to rape Mrs. Garrigus of that place, the
Tuesday preceding his arrest.
He will probably learn a trade at
Leavenworth, which is a smaller punishment than such villains deserve.
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1880.
Sheriff Shenneman, after a most diligent
pursuit, captured Moore, the second of the escaped prisoners, in Kansas City
last Friday. Moore had just got into a fight and been arrested by the police.
Winfield Courier, March 25, 1880.
The work of “bracing up”’ the courthouse
is progressing finely. Mr. Tansey, who has the job in hand, is making a clean
breast of it, and will leave it in first class condition. Four iron rods have
been put in beneath the floor of the second story, and four more will be put in
just below the upper ceiling. Six pillars, 8 x 8, have been put beneath the
girders of the roof on the partition walls of the first story, which are built
up solid to the second story. This allows the roof to rest upon the central
partitions of the building and relieves the pressure from the walls. It is to
be replastered and painted, and will be ready for the next term of court. The
commissioners are to be commended for taking action in the matter before it was
too late.
Winfield Courier, April 1, 1880.
Cap. Siverd is cleaning up the Courthouse
square and jail yard. The new office is about ready for Sheriff Shenneman’s
occupancy. Sheriff Shenneman is building a new barn on the Courthouse square.
Arkansas City Traveler, April 21, 1880.
Sheriff Shenneman has an efficient Deputy
in the person of his pleasant little wife, who assists him in the collection of
delinquent taxes, giving receipts, etc.
Winfield Courier, May 27, 1880.
Last week Mrs. McNeil replevied a gray
pony from Sheriff Shenneman, claiming that it was one which belonged to her
boy. Mr. Shenneman purchased the pony of a stranger some time ago, and was one
which the stranger had before sold to Dick Rhonimus on time, and had to take it
back because Rhonimus could not pay for it. Mrs. McNeil claims that while
Rhonimus owned the pony, he traded it to her son, and that the person who sold
it to Shenneman had no right to make such sale.
Winfield Courier, June 3, 1880.
A large brown horse, 16 hands high and
about 10 years old, with left hip knocked down, was sold at auction in Winfield
last Monday. The seller was a young man about 19 years old. Sheriff Shenneman asked him to stay with him
until the question of the title was settled, but he skipped out, leaving the
horse and the purchase money. Anyone who has lost such a horse will please
address A. T. SHENNEMAN, Winfield, Kansas.
Exchanges please notice.
[Note:
The civil case of McNeil vs. Shenneman was dismissed in district court May 5,
1881.]
Arkansas City Traveler, June 23, 1880.
Our efficient sheriff, A. T. Shenneman,
called on us last Sunday morning. He tried to brace up, but looked awfully
sleepy; and well he might, after having ridden all the previous night
distributing printed descriptions of the Augusta murderer and posting the men
along the border. We don’t want to be sheriff in “times like dot.”
A murder was committed at or near
Augusta, in Butler County, last Friday, wherein one Paulson was the victim.
From what we can gather, it would seem that a party of five, consisting of
three Pearson brothers, Andrew Paulson, and Harry Clark, had gone to Augusta
from Eldorado, and probably fearing that the constitutional amendment would
pass at the coming election and thus deprive them of their God-given right to
get drunk, they took advantage of the opportunities afforded by a free country
and ‘filled high the bowl with Samian wine’—or some of Butler County’s rot-gut
whiskey. On going home they got warmed up, and grew belligerent. In the row
that ensued Mr. Paulson was killed, it is supposed by Jack Pearson, who
immediately skipped out with Clark. One of the remaining Pearson boys was
arrested, but it is claimed the other one was not in the fight.
Sheriff A. T. Shenneman received the
following telegram from the sheriff of Butler County on Saturday afternoon, and
immediately had the same printed and circulated throughout the county.
AUGUSTA,
June 19, 1880.
Sheriff of Cowley County: Jack Pearson wanted on charge of murder;
is tall, spare, light complexion, sandy moustache and goatee; crooked finger on
right hand; was going south with another man, riding black and white ponies.
Two hundred dollars reward; hold till I come; put out patrol. W. H. DOUGLASS, Sheriff.
Winfield Courier, JULY 8, 1880.
Early Saturday morning Capt. Siverd, the
jailer, had a severe tussle with one of the prisoners, who was attempting to
escape. He went into the jail to carry the prisoners their breakfast, and while
stooping over, was struck from behind by Frank Wilson, one of the Hoenscheidt
horse stealers, with a stove leg. The blow staggered the Captain, but he
attempted to grapple with the prisoner, and received several more blows before
so doing. Hearing the scuffle, Mrs. Siverd came to the rescue; but being unable
to separate them, she called for help, and several men nearby took a hand in
the affray and soon succeeded in landing Wilson in his cell, where he was
decorated with a pair of cast-iron bracelets, and anklets with a ball and chain
attached. Mr. Siverd is able to be about, but his head resembles a sore thumb
all tied up. Had the prisoner been a little more accurate with his first blow,
Sheriff Shenneman would now be receiving applications for the position of
jailer. The Captain will hereafter keep his left eye open for these ‘quiet,
unoffensive fellows.’ Had he hesitated
in the least about grappling Wilson, he would undoubtedly have been killed.
Winfield Courier, August 5, 1880.
Last week Sheriff Shenneman took
possession of the Roland stock of hardware and carried the key in his pocket.
Last Monday Mr. Roland forced the lock, took possession, and put on a new lock.
The Sheriff again took forcible possession and ejected Mr. Roland. Mr. Boyer
than got in and the Sheriff ejected him; and in the tussle, tore his coat off.
Boyer is too much like Hancock to enter into a rough and tumble. Mr. Boyer was
in the hardware store as the attorney of Mr. Pugsley, the mortgagee, when he
had the collision with the Sheriff.
Winfield Courier, August 12, 1880.
NOTICE. If the people of the different
neighborhoods throughout the county will organize Stock Protection Associations
and forward the Captain’s Post Office address, I will take pleasure in
forwarding descriptions of criminals or stock wanted here or elsewhere, and do
all I can to aid them. A. T. SHENNEMAN.
Winfield Courier, May 19, 1881.
MR. EDITOR: Please allow me through your
paper to correct a little false report in regard to Sheriff Shenneman. It was
circulated through town some two or three weeks ago that he had acted
ungentlemanly in regard to allowing me to visit the prisoners at the jail. On
the contrary, he has always acted a perfect gentleman with me, and I must say I
think it would be a little difficult to find one who would act his part as well
as he does.
REV.
G. M. KELLY.
Winfield Courier, June 2, 1881.
Sheriff Shenneman captured two horse
thieves last week. They had stolen horses from Labette County, and Friday he
took them to Chetopa. After turning his prisoners over to the proper authorities,
he learned that the ‘Vigilantes’ were gathering, and intended to hang the
prisoners that night. He imparted this knowledge to the constable; but that
officer, not seeming to heed the warning, prompted Sheriff Shenneman to take
the prisoners around a back alley, get them into a hack, and he drove them to
Oswego without being interrupted. He afterwards learned that about twelve
o’clock that night, a large party of men surrounded the jail, and their cuss
words were long and loud when they found that their prey had flown.
Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.
The jail is about full of boarders since
Sheriff Shenneman brought in his forger. There are now six of the boys in limbo
with four months until court. Willie Fogg is in for horse stealing; Theodore
Miller for larceny; James Jackson for horse stealing; Jefferson McDade for
stealing money; Richard Oldham for threatening to assault and shoot one
Fullerlove, at Arkansas City; and Richard Lennix, alias Haywood and alias St.
Clair for forgery. The last is perhaps the most noted criminal ever brought in
to the state, having served several terms in the Illinois penitentiary, and has
operated all over the U. S. and Canada.
Winfield Courier, June 30, 1881.
Our readers will remember that several
weeks ago, Geo. Haywood, whose real name is Richard Lennix, was arrested in
Chicago, on the strength of a photograph sent there by Sheriff Shenneman, who
wanted him for passing forged paper on the Cowley County Bank, that Shenneman
went to Chicago, and through many difficulties, got his prisoner, and started
home with him; and that on the way, the prisoner jumped from the train in full
headway and escaped. Shenneman had taken from his pockets a letter written in a
female hand from Canton, Illinois, and signed ‘S.’ By means of this letter, he
found who ‘S’ was and concluded that sooner or later Lennix would visit this
‘S,’ who was his sister. So he employed the post master at Canton, the marshal
of Canton, and the sheriff of that county to watch for him.
Last week he got a telegram from the
sheriff informing him that the prisoner was caught. Shenneman answered at once to hold on to him
until he got there, and started for that place. Habeas Corpus
proceedings were instituted for procuring the prisoner’s discharge, and when
Shenneman arrived, the Habeas Corpus was being heard before the County
judge, who soon discharged the prisoner.
Shenneman grabbed him at once and there
was a row, the judge leading the mob and threatening due vengeance on
Shenneman. By rapid motions and strategic generalship, Shenneman got his
prisoner slipped into a wagon behind the fastest team that could be procured,
and putting the horses to their best speed, rushed through opposing crowds and
escaped, followed by many pursuers. He
beat them all in the race and got his prisoner to a station twenty miles
distant, put him on board, and sped back to Winfield, where he has his bird
safe within the walls of the Cowley County jail.
Mr. Shenneman is enthusiastic in his
praises of Sheriff D. J. Waggoner and other officers of Fulton County, Illinois:
Thos. Burleigh, City Marshal, and John Sutton, night watchman of Canton,
Illinois. They assisted in securing the prisoner and helping Shenneman to get
him away. He noted their unbending
integrity, for he knows positively that they were offered five hundred dollars
to allow Lennix to escape.
This Lennix proves to be one of the most
wily and successful counterfeiters in America.
He has victimized large numbers of businessmen in various parts of the
United States and Canada, has many smart accomplices who have aided him to
escape many times, and who still work to get him out of limbo. He has finally
got a sheriff after him who never gives up and will keep his eye on him to
prevent him from escaping again. The prisoner has plenty of money and his
accomplices have plenty more, so that everything will yet be done that can be
done to get him out.
Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.
A very funny incident happened at the
jail Tuesday. Sheriff Shenneman wanted Lennix, the forger, to allow his picture
to be taken. This Lennix refused to do, so the sheriff went for a blacksmith to
have his irons taken off, intending to take him to the gallery and have the
photo taken anyway. When the blacksmith arrived, he and the sheriff entered the
cell, when lo, and behold, they found Lennix minus his flowing burnsides and
clean shaven. Upon investigation it was found that he had broken the lamp
chimney and had shaved himself with the pieces of glass. Shenneman took his
picture anyway and got a fair likeness. The boys in the jail say that it made
him grunt when grinding off his whiskers with the lamp chimney.
Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881. A young man created a
matinee in the south part of town Sunday afternoon. He got hold of a quart of
whiskey and proceeded to fill his hide
full. The whiskey seemed to be of a quality known as ‘fightin’ liquor,’ and no
one else being present took it upon himself to lick his wife. In order to
escape she fled to a neighbor and the festive citizen followed. She beat him in
the race, and the neighbor objecting to any further proceedings on his part, he
returned to the house and began carrying out the furniture and jugging off the
children. Another neighbor came to the rescue, took the children away and
knocked him down three or four times. He then came off uptown where Sheriff
Shenneman arrested him and lodged him in the jail. Monday morning he was brought before justice
Tansey and fined $25. This is one of the most brutal and contemptible affairs
we have yet been called upon to chronicle. A week or more ago about the same
kind of a melee was engaged in, and as this is the second offense, we think it
about time, in the interest of the defenseless woman whom he abuses, that this
should be stopped.
Winfield Courier, July 28, 1881.
Sheriff Shenneman, of Cowley County,
arrived in this city on Thursday last from Water-town, Wisconsin, having in
charge Jacob Gross, who with Lennix was successful a year ago last April in
forging drafts, and getting them cashed, each for $500, at the Winfield Bank,
the Kohn Bros.’ Bank, Woodman’s Bank. Both were successful in getting away and
since that time Mr. Shenneman has been working the case up, and some time last
spring succeeded in arresting Lennix in Illinois: Chicago, we believe, but on
his way back, Lennix gave him the slip on the cars. A second time he was more
successful, and for some weeks, Lennix has been enjoying the hospitality of
Cowley County, and Gross has gone to keep him company.
The successful arrests have given Mr.
Shenneman a wide reputation as an efficient officer and a shrewd detective.
Each forgery constitutes a separate offense and a conviction on all would put
these ‘chevaliers d’on out of the way for some years.’ Wichita Beacon.
The Beacon is mistaken about the
forgers getting a $500 forged draft cashed at the Winfield Bank. Both of our
Banks here had tempting baits offered them, but they are a suspicious set and
would not bite.
In July 1881 the Telegram reported
that James Riely, a druggist of Arkansas City, was brought before United States
Commissioner Lovel Webb, charged with retailing liquor without Government
license. The Traveler commented: We think there is some spite work in
the above, and, from what we can learn, have serious doubts as to whether the
case can be made to stick against Mr. Reily.
Arkansas City Traveler, July 27, 1881. The trumped up charge of
unlawfully selling whiskey, preferred against Mr. J. Riely, a druggist of this
city, by Deputy U. S. Marshall Hess, was dismissed last week, there not being a
particle of evidence produced that in the slightest manner criminated Mr.
Riely. The whole transaction bore the evidence of its malicious origin upon its
face, and we congratulate Mr. Riely upon the result.
In August the Traveler stated that
James Riely, City Drug Store, had taken out a druggists’ license, and would
henceforth dispense wines, liquors, etc., when prescribed by a qualified M. D.
City Drug Store, a low, one-story frame
building, was located on West Summit Street, just south of the bakery in
Arkansas City.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 19, 1881.
On last Monday evening about half past 8
o’clock our city was the scene of one of the most outrageous and cold blooded
murders ever perpetrated, a deed of blood of the most damnable stripe, and
costing the life of James Riely, one of our merchants, at the hands of Thomas
J. Armstrong, a well, but not favorably known, loafer in these parts for the
past ten years.
The circumstances leading to the
committal of the tragedy, as near as can be ascertained, are as follows.
James Riely was the owner of a race
horse, and the stakes had been put up for a race to take place, somewhere south
of this city, on Monday last, which came off and resulted in Riely’s horse
losing the race. Considerable excitement prevailed among the parties attending,
and was in no wise abated by the liberal supplies of whiskey which was
evidently at the command of the crowd. A dispute occurred between Armstrong and
Riely during the day, and it is reported that the murderer threatened to shoot
his victim before sunset. However that may be, no serious disturbance
occurred, and a number of persons, more or less under the influence of liquor,
were gathered in the deceased’s drug store during the evening, discussing the
events of the day. Words ran high but no violence resulted until James Riely
announced his desire to close the store, to which some of those present, it
appears, objected and Riely pushed one or two from the store on the sidewalk,
then a sort of a free scuffle took place, in which Armstrong figured prominently,
and in the melee drew his six shooter and fired at Riely, who with the
ejaculation, ‘Boys, he has killed me,’ sank to the ground and almost instantly
expired. The body was carried by several of the witnesses of the tragedy into
the store, where an inquest was held and a verdict of murder against Armstrong
rendered.
Immediately after firing the fatal shot,
Armstrong darted into the darkness, and although large numbers of our citizens
turned out in search of him, he has succeeded, at this writing, in eluding his
pursuers. We understand that Mr. Riely is a married man, but has been living
apart from his wife for several years. The murderer, Armstrong, has lived in
this vicinity for years and is known as a quarrelsome fellow, especially when
under the influence of liquor, but no one gave him credit for being the ruffian
he has shown himself.
A. T. Shenneman came down from Winfield
yesterday morning and issued the following notice which has been widely
distributed.
ONE
HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD
will be paid for the arrest of Thomas J.
Armstrong, who killed James Riely, at Arkansas City, Kansas, on October 17th,
1881. Armstrong’s age is 30 to 35; height 5 feet 10 or 11 inches; weight 170
pounds; light or florid complected; bald on top of head; first finger of right
hand off at first joint and finger curled under; prominent upper teeth; has a
snaggle tooth mouth; slight scar on right cheek. Had on, when he left, a heavy
blue overcoat, broad rim white hat with black band, light pants, and a dark
under coat.
I will guarantee one hundred dollars and
endeavor to get the Governor to offer a State reward of $500. A. T. Shenneman,
Sheriff, Cowley County, Kansas.
LATEST.
A telegram from Hugh Riely, of Brimfield, Illinois, desires that the
body be held till he arrives, which cannot be until Thursday next upon which
day the funeral will probably be held.
Just before going to press, A. T.
Shenneman and posse arrived in town, bringing with them Armstrong, whom they
captured on Grouse, on the place of T. Robinson. When he saw himself
surrounded, the murderer gave himself up to the officers, who at once brought
him to the city where, after having taken a look at the victim, he was placed
in a buggy and by this time we presume is safe in the Winfield jail.
Arkansas City Traveler, October 26, 1881.
THE
LAST RITE.
The obsequies of the late James Riely
were held in the M. E. church, of this city, on last Thursday, October 20th,
1881, and were attended by a brother and niece of the deceased, from Brimfield,
Illinois, and a very large number of our citizens, who thus showed their
respect for and regret at the sad fate which had overtaken their young fellow
citizen in the hey-day of life. The sermon was preached by the Rev. Laverty and
was very impressively delivered. The interment was held in accordance with the
ritual of the Odd Fellows, of which society the deceased was a member, and the
cavalcade which followed the remains to their last resting place was
undoubtedly the largest that ever wended its mournful way toward the cemetery
from our city.
The Winfield papers described events
differently, stressing “whiskey and a horse race.” They stated: “Had James
Riely shown at all times a just regard for the laws of our State regarding the
sale of intoxicating liquor, he might not now be filling the early grave. The
liquor that was unlawfully dealt out over his counter was the same liquor that
made a devil of Armstrong and prompted him to do the deed that puts him in a
felon’s cell.”
Winfield Courier, October 20, 1881.
Our sheriff is making one of the
brightest records of any officer in the state. His reputation as a vigilant
officer is already passed beyond the bounds of our county and has become known
all over the state. His exploit of Tuesday adds another laurel to his crown. He
was notified of the killing of Riely about daylight on the morning of the 18th.
He immediately left for Arkansas City, where he went to work. Parties of
mounted men were scouring the country in every direction already. The Sheriff
set quickly to work gathering clues and taking his bearings, paying no
attention to the excited rumors floating around. This took some time and the
people began to get restless and wonder ‘why in thunder the Sheriff didn’t go
after him.’ Shenneman had thrown all his energy and ability into this chase,
and with a knowledge of the actions of criminals and the best mode of catching
them, was carefully weaving a chain about the case that was sure of success. He
meant that it should not be a ‘wild goose chase,’ and it wasn’t By eleven o’clock he had settled in his own
mind the direction the murderer had gone and about where he could be found. He
then quietly ate his dinner, fed his team, got his posse together, and started.
He didn’t fool around hunting through
brush piles and following old roads, but drove straight to the house of Tom
Robinson, on Grouse Creek; told Tom that Armstrong had been there that morning,
and was somewhere in the vicinity at that moment, scattered his posse out,
surrounded the nearest thicket, secured his man, and drove into Arkansas City
by four o’clock.
There wasn’t much foolishness, bluster,
or timidity displayed, but the whole job was done as a careful businessman
would plan out a speculation on ‘futures.’
Arkansas City Traveler, October 26, 1881.
The posse that captured Armstrong was
composed of Sheriff Shenneman, Deputy Geo. McIntire, Ed. Horn, Lew Sinnott,
Capt. Rarick, Lew Stanton, and Chas. Hawkins, of Silverdale township. The boys
say that when Hawkins first saw Armstrong he yelled like an Apache Indian. Ed. Horn was the first to get his six-shooter
on him and make him throw up his hands. Courier.
The Winfield Courier reported that
A. T. Shenneman had won his second term as Sheriff by a majority of 950.
In answer to a query, the Courier published
Nov. 10, 1881, the salary of county officers.
The salary of the county treasurer of
Cowley County during the present term, which terminates in October, 1882, is
$4,000 a year, out of which the treasurer pays $900 for clerk hire. This is based on the population of 1880, the
last numeration before the commencement of the term, which was in October 1880.
The salary of the treasurer just elected will depend upon the enumeration next
spring, if it shows 20,000 inhabitants the salary, including clerk hire, will
be $4,000 a year for the two years commencing October 1882, but if less than
20,000 inhabitants, the salary will be $3,000 per annum. It is probable,
however, that a change will be made in the law next winter.
The county clerk this year gets a salary
of only $2,000, including clerk hire. Should the enumeration exceed 20,000 next
spring, he will be entitled to $2,500 next year.
The county attorney now gets $1,200 a
year under an enumeration of over 18,000 and under 25,000. He also gets fees
which are taxed as costs in certain cases.
The school superintendent gets a salary
of $1,000, based upon a population of over 4,000 children of school age outside
of Winfield, which is the highest grade of salary.
The sheriff gets no salary, but only fees
at rates established by law. The income from such sources may reach $4,000 or
over; but he has to pay several deputies and pay other heavy expenses, so that
his net income is doubtless much smaller than is generally supposed.
The Register of Deeds receives only fees
established by law. Years when there is a large amount of conveyancing done, it
is probably as good an office for pay as there is in the county.
The Probate Judge gets only fees; and
therefore his pay depends upon the amount of his business. At present we
suppose he gets over $12,000. The commissioners may allow him a salary in
addition to his fees, but have not done so.
The Clerk of the District Court gets only
fees, which probably amount to over $1,000.
The County Commissioners get $3.00 per
day for their work, provided they shall not receive more than $100 each year.
The Coroner gets $3.00 a day and mileage.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 9, 1881. Mr. C. H. Holloway has
opened up the drug store owned by the late James Riely, and will conduct the
same in the future.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 16, 1881.
The Armstrong trial trails its slow
length along. The Jury was sworn on last Thursday, and one witness examined.
The witnesses for the most part have been placed under a rule to hold no
intercourse together during progress of the trial, and are excluded from the
courtroom excepting when called. This case will probably occupy this entire
week.
Winfield Courier, November 17, 1881.
The jury in the Armstrong murder case is
one of the best ever empaneled in this county.
If law and justice are not safe in the hands of twelve such men as Seth
Chase, Sam Watt, J. H. Land, W. O. Welfeldt, G. W. Sanderson, A. McNeil, T. L.
Thompson, John Radcliff, L. K. Bonnewell,
J. H. Lovey, J. S. Grimes, and E. F. Widner, we don’t know where you can
find safety.
Attorney Jennings and Mr. Asp on the one
side and Mr. Hackney and Joe Houston on the other are fighting the Armstrong
case step by step.
Winfield Courier, November 17, 1881.
The Sheriff should in some way fix a
criminal so that the audience in the court can place him. It is almost
impossible to distinguish between the prisoner and the attorneys.
Arkansas City Traveler, November 23, 1881.
The Armstrong murder case was terminated
by a verdict of ‘murder in the second degree,’ and Judge Torrance sentenced the
prisoner to fifteen years in the penitentiary.
Courant, November 24, 1881.
A smooth faced gentleman whom no one
knew, and who seemed to know no one, was in the city most of last week. He
stopped at the Brettun, and took particular pains to linger about the courtroom
when court was in session. He left immediately after Richard Lennix was convicted
of forgery, and it is thought by nearly everyone who noticed the gentleman that
he was a detective, perhaps from New York, where Lennix was wanted to answer to
a number of other charges of like character of that for which he was convicted
here. These detectives are shrewd chaps, but they don’t often get their work in
on the Cowley County officials.
Courant, November 24, 1881.
The motion for a new trial in both the
Armstrong and Lennix cases, which were argued Monday, were overruled, and
sentence was pronounced, and was that Thomas Armstrong be kept at hard labor in
the penitentiary for fifteen years and to pay the cost of prosecution; Richard Lennix,
convicted for forgery, ditto, seven years. J. McDade, grand larceny, one year.
Jas. Jackson, horse stealing, five years. Emil Harmon, stealing hogs, four
years. Joseph Rest will have an opportunity to ‘rest’ in the same place for
eighteen months.
Arkansas City Traveler, December 21, 1881.
FARM FOR SALE. The Thomas J. Armstrong
farm, in Bolton township, will be sold low if application is made at once to A.
H. Green, Winfield, Kansas.
As an officer Sheriff A. T. Shenneman was
without a peer. He was conceded by all his brother sheriffs to be one of the
most efficient and capable in the state. With untiring energy, courage, and
indifference to personal danger when duty called, he was more feared by the
criminal classes than any other Cowley County law officer.
Personally, Sheriff Shenneman was not one
of the “goody-goody” kind of men. What he had to say he said, and stuck to it.
He was firm in his convictions and assertions when in the right. To one who
understood his nature he was ever kind, generous, and a considerate friend.
Winfield Courier, January 18, 1883.
A constable in Jefferson County was shot
and almost instantly killed last week while attempting to arrest a young man by
the name of Chas. Cobb, who was wanted for promiscuously brandishing knife and
revolver at a country dance. Instead of surrendering, he whipped out one of
those deathly companions and used it with the above result. After the shooting
Cobb mounted a horse and rode off in a southwesterly direction. It was supposed
that he was making for Hunnewell, there to take the cattle trail for Texas.
Sheriff Shenneman received a telegram from the authorities, who were in
pursuit, that he would probably pass through or near Winfield, and to intercept
him if possible. Shenneman circulated cards giving the desperado’s description
and offering the usual reward for his capture, but Cobb carried a Winchester
rifle and numerous other weapons, and if anyone did see him, they deferred the
invitation to tackle a perambulating arsenal. A few cases like this would be
apt to lessen the candidates for a constableship.
Winfield Courier, January 25, 1883.
TERRIBLE
MURDER.
Sheriff
Shenneman Fatally Wounded While Attempting to Arrest a Murderer.
At two o’clock Tuesday the news was
flashed across the wire that Sheriff Shenneman had been fatally shot by a
murderer whom he was attempting to arrest, in Maple Township. As soon as the
news was received, a COURIER reporter was dispatched to the scene of the
tragedy with all possible haste to gather complete and accurate information. At
the depot a crowd of excited men were gathered, some seeking news, others bound
to go up and see and hear for themselves. Soon the train bore them on to
Seeley, where the first reliable informant was found in the person of the son
of the man at whose house the shooting occurred, and who had brought the
dispatches to the office. Even his account was vague and uncertain but was
eagerly devoured by the crowd of anxious listeners on the train. At Udall a lot
of farmers’ wagons were pressed into service and the physicians, the scribe,
and others took their way across the prairies six miles into Maple Township to
the residence of W. Jacobus, which was the scene of the terrible deed.
Arriving there we found the whole
neighborhood gathered, most of them guarding the prisoner, who was securely
bound. In a room just adjoining lay our Sheriff, with two bullets in his body,
both close together in the lower right hand side of his stomach. Drs. Emerson
and Green were bending over him, examining his wounds, while his heroic little
wife, calm and collected in the midst of her terrible affliction, tried to
cheer him up as much as possible.
Mrs. Ruth Jacobus gives the following
account.
“The prisoner came to our house on Monday
evening one week ago, and said he was hunting work, that he came up from Texas
with a herd of cattle to Dodge City, rode over here, and wanted work till
spring, when he would go home to Pennsylvania. He gave his name as Smith. We
told him we did not want help then, when he asked if he could stay a week until
he could look around, and would pay his board. We finally took him on these
terms, and he paid a week’s board. He brought with him a shot gun and we
noticed he always had a revolver and slept with it under his pillow. We thought
this simply his cowboy ways and let it pass.
“All went well until today. This morning
his week’s board was out and we hired him to work. As we were all sitting at
dinner, someone drove up and called my husband out. He soon came back and said
that Dr. Jones, of Udall, was out there and would stop for dinner. He then went
out and soon returned with a man whom he introduced to me as Dr. Jones, the
prisoner all this time sitting at the table. My husband and the man introduced
as Dr. Jones passed through the kitchen and I noticed the doctor look very
sharply at the prisoner. They went into the room and the stranger pulled off
his overcoat and threw it on a chair. About this time the prisoner got up from
the table, took his hat and gloves, and started toward the door. Mr. Shenneman
then sprang upon him from behind, when a scuffle ensued during which two shots
were fired. My husband then ran in and took the pistol away from the prisoner
and told him to give up or he’d kill him. The prisoner then cried out that he
would give up, not to kill him. Mr. Shenneman then said, ‘Hold him, he has
killed me,’ and went in and laid down on the bed. My husband and the school
teacher then tied the prisoner.”
Sheriff Shenneman, although suffering
terrible pain, was able to talk. He said to the reporter, “Do you think I’ll
pull through?” And then said that he looked at him and thought that he wouldn’t
pull a revolver on such a mere boy, but would catch him and hold him while the
other fellow disarmed him, but that he found after he got hold of him that he
was a regular Hercules in strength and he couldn’t handle him.
The prisoner is a boy about nineteen
years of age, low, heavy-set with light hair and smooth face and is not a bad
appearing lad. It is believed that he is the man who about three weeks ago
killed a constable in Jefferson County, who went to arrest him for
participating in a shooting scrape, and it is for this that Sheriff Shenneman
wanted him. On the night of the eleventh, he stopped overnight near El Dorado
and our Sheriff was notified that he was moving this way, so he got out posters
and put everyone on their guard. Monday evening he informed the writer that he
had located his man and in less than twenty-four hours would have him in hand.
We then cautioned him to be careful as the boy was evidently a desperate
character and would shoot to kill. He said he would go prepared and could shoot
as quick as anyone. Tuesday morning about nine o’clock he put his Winchester in
his buggy, strapped on his revolvers, and started out alone, went straight to
the house of W. Jacobus and made what is in all probability his last arrest.
Mr. Jacobus said: “When Shenneman jumped
on him, I followed up close and as soon as I could, I got hold of his revolver
and held it on him until he said he would give up. I then called the teacher
from the schoolhouse and we tied him.”
The following account of the Jefferson
County trouble appeared in last week’s COURIER:
A constable in Jefferson County was shot
and almost instantly killed last week while attempting to arrest a young man by
the name of Charles Cobbs, who was wanted for promiscuously brandishing knife
and revolver at a country dance. Instead of surrendering, he whipped out one of
those deathly companions and used it with the above result. After the shooting,
Cobbs mounted a horse and rode off in a southwesterly direction. It was
supposed that he was making for Hunnewell, there to take the cattle trail for
Texas. Sheriff Shenneman received a telegram, from the authorities who were in
pursuit, that he would probably pass through or near Winfield, and to intercept
him if possible. Shenneman circulated cards giving the desperado’s description
and offering the usual reward for his capture; but Cobbs carried a Winchester
rifle and numerous other weapons, and if anyone did see him they deferred the
invitation to tackle a perambulating arsenal. A few cases like this would be
apt to lessen the candidates for a constableship.
The doctors, after carefully examining
the wounds, decided that Sheriff Shenneman could not be moved that evening.
After the examination the doctors gave the reporter as their opinion that his
recovery was hardly probable and that he had less than one chance in ten.
Messrs. Asp and Jennings left there at ten o’clock Tuesday evening at which time
Mr. Shenneman was resting easy and sent word to the boys that he would be all
right in thirty days. He was under the influence of opiates.
The prisoner was brought to Winfield
overland by Deputies Taylor and McIntire in the Sheriff’s buggy and under his
orders. The reporter and other Winfield folks returned by way of Udall, where
the train was held for them. As the train pulled into the depot, an immense
crowd which had gathered there expecting the prisoner to be brought in that
way, made a rush for the coach and were with difficulty persuaded that the man
was not there. It was not a crowd of howling rabble but an organized body of
determined men who seemed bound to avenge the death of the brave officer to the
last drop of blood. They then marched up the Main streets of the city and
scattered guards out on the roads upon which they expected the prisoner to be
brought in. Others shaded the jail while hundreds congregated on the streets in
little knots and discussed plans for capturing the prisoner from the officers.
One more venturesome than the rest went about with a large rope on his arm and
blood in his eye. Thus the crowd surged too and fro until long after midnight
when they began to thin out and under the influence of more sober-minded
citizens give up their ideas of mob violence. About this time Deputies McIntire
and Taylor appeared on the street and the few remaining citizens seemed eager
to learn the whereabouts of the prisoner. But little was learned until morning
and even then his whereabouts were known to but a few. Wednesday forenoon our
reporter was informed of the prisoner’s whereabouts and had an interview with
him. Before the reporter went in, he copied the following description of the
Jefferson County murderer, which was telegraphed to the Sheriff about a week
ago.
“Charles Cobb, about nineteen or twenty
years old; light complexion; no whiskers or mustache; blue eyes; a scar over
eye or cheek, don’t know which; height five to five feet three inches; weight
125 to 130 pounds; had black slouch hat, dark brown clothes, and wore large
comforter; may have large white hat; was riding a black mare pony with roach
mane, and carried a Winchester rifle and two revolvers; had downcast look.”
The prisoner was found crouched in a
corner of a small room. After introducing himself, the reporter asked the
prisoner for his story of the trouble.
He said: “My name is George Smith, and I
am about eighteen years old. I came up to Dodge City from Texas with a herd of
cattle, in the employ of W. Wilson. Have been on the trail about a year. My
parents reside in Pennsylvania. I was paid sixty dollars when the cattle were
shipped. I then rode east, intending to work my way back, and on a week from
last Monday, it being too cold to ride, I stopped at Jacobus’ and tried to get
work or to board until I could look around. On Tuesday as I was eating dinner,
a man came in who was introduced as Dr. Jones. As I got up to go out, the
Doctor jumped on me without saying a word. My first impression was that it was
a conspiracy to rob me, and I wrestled to defend myself. I had a revolver on my
person because I was among strangers, had some money, and was used to keeping
it about me. If he had only told me he was an officer, and had put his gun on
me as he ought to have done if he believed I was the desperate character I am
credited with being, this business would never have happened. I am no criminal,
and I am not afraid if the law is allowed to take its course. If a mob attacks
me, all I ask is that the officers will do me the justice to allow me to defend
myself. If they will take off these irons and put a six-shooter in my hand, I
will take my chance against the kind of men who will come here to mob me. I am
guilty only of defending myself, and I ask the law either to defend me or accord
me the privilege of defending myself.”
In personal appearance the prisoner looks
to be a bright, healthy, smooth-faced boy, and has but few of the
characteristics of a desperado. He is a perfect picture of robust health,
muscular and compact as an athlete. His description tallies almost exactly with
that of the Jefferson County murderer given above—having a small scar above his
lip on the right corner, and above his eye. In talking he uses excellent
language, speaks grammatically, and shows evidence of good breeding.
LATER: The prisoner was taken to Wichita
this (Wednesday) afternoon by Deputy Finch that he might be out of the way of
violence in case of Sheriff Shenneman’s death. As he was being brought in
Tuesday evening, a lot of men in a wagon met them out about a mile from town,
but the buggy in which he was being taken was lighter and the team faster, and
the officers ran away from the pursuers. They came into town in a roundabout way and unloaded the prisoner just
back of D. A. Millington’s residence, ran him through the back yard into Rev.
Platter’s wood shed, where he was held by Deputy McIntire while the others
scouted around. At the time he was put in the wood shed, the jail was
surrounded by citizens, while others were patrolling the alleys in the
vicinity. Deputy McIntire says that during the time he held the prisoner in the
wood shed footsteps could be heard prowling around, and that the prisoner
wanted to be shackled to him, given a pistol, and he would go into the jail.
When he found George wouldn’t accede to that request, he hunted around and got
a smooth stick of stove-wood. As soon as the crowd around the jail could be
attracted to another part of town, the officers carried the prisoner over and
put him in jail, where he was kept very quietly until taken away on the train
Wednesday.
At ten o’clock today (Wednesday) Sheriff
Shenneman was resting easy, and friends were more hopeful than before. The
doctors, however, fail to give much encouragement.
If the shots prove fatal, Cowley County will
lose one of the bravest officers and truest men that has ever resided within
her borders. In the line of duty A. T. Shenneman never allowed his courage to
falter, or his zeal to abate. In protecting the life and property of our
citizens, and enforcing the laws of the state, he would go any length never
considering the question of personal danger. He was brave to a fault. The
evidence of true grit was his hanging on to his man until he was secured after
being shot.
Charlie Shenneman was called from his post
as guard at the penitentiary and arrived at his brother’s side a few hours
before he died. A brother from Michigan was also present.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
HANGED!
The
Sequel to the Tragedy is Sudden and Awful Death!
HUNG
FROM THE BRIDGE.
The sad sequel to the awful tragedy of
last week is enacted, and as we write young Cobb hangs stark and stiff from the
K. C., L. & S. railroad bridge. He was brought in from Wichita Wednesday
evening by Deputy Taylor and put in jail. Soon after Mrs. Shenneman went in and
talked to him for a few moments. As she looked into his eyes with her face
bathed in tears, the prisoner broke down completely and wept like a child. Soon
after the people began to gather and many citizens were allowed to see him.
About eleven o’clock he asked to see Mrs. Shenneman again, and when she went
in, confessed to her that he was Chas. Cobb and asked her to write to the wife
of the constable whom he had killed in Jefferson County and tell her he was
sorry he had killed him. He asked her to keep his revolver. Afterwards, to
Sheriff McIntire, he said he had been led off by reading the exploits of Jesse
James and other desperadoes.
About two o’clock in the morning
everything was quiet about the jail and on the streets. Soon some few late
pedestrians were startled by seeing a company of men, their faces covered with
black masks and thoroughly organized, marching down Ninth Avenue toward the
jail. They went on to Fuller Street, where the leader flashed a dark lantern.
Then they turned back, filed into the courthouse yard, then into the sheriff’s
office in front of the jail. Here a short scuffle ensued and soon four of the
black maskers came out with the prisoner between them.
The company then filed out, surrounded
the prisoner, and marched down Ninth Avenue to Main, thence north to 8th, then
out west to the railroad bridge. By this time quite a crowd had gathered and
were following. Two of the squad were detailed and sent back and with drawn
revolvers ordered the crowd to “keep their distance.” When they got to the
railroad bridge a rope, which had evidently been prepared beforehand, was
placed about his [Cobb’s] neck and tied
to the bridge beam. The moon was just up and several boys who had followed
along crept up in the brush on the river bank and saw the whole proceedings.
When the rope was tied, he [Cobb] was asked by the leader in a gruff voice to
say what he had to say quick. The boys in the brush heard him say, “Oh, don’t
boys!” and “Father have mercy on me!” Two of the maskers then took him up and
dropped him through between the bridge railings. He fell about ten feet and
rebounded half the distance. The black maskers then filed on across the bridge,
leaving two of their number to guard. These stood until the others had gone on
across, when they too retreated, and the crowd came up and looked at the
victim. As we write, he is still hanging to the bridge and the scene is being
visited by hundreds.
The Coroner is empaneling a jury, after
which the body will be taken down.
Thus ends the life of a more than
ordinarily bright, healthy, robust boy—one who might have done himself and his
country honor. Instead, he dies like a dog, without friend or sympathizer to
give him decent burial—his mind poisoned and his soul damned by the infernal thing
known as “fiction.” Let it be a lesson to all boys whose heroes live only
between the leaves of a yellow-covered novel.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
The
Dead at Rest!
Sheriff
Shenneman Buried Sunday Afternoon—Thousands Assisted in the Ceremonies.
THREE
SPECIAL TRAINS FROM OTHER TOWNS.
The burial services and interment of
Sheriff Shenneman, last Sunday, were the most impressive and imposing ever yet
held within the borders of our county. The arrangements were in the hands of
the Masonic fraternity, and the services were held at the Baptist Church at
1:30 p.m. Early in the morning the farmers from the surrounding country began
pouring in; and at eleven o’clock a special train from Arkansas City, bearing
the Masonic fraternity of that place and a large number of citizens, arrived.
This was followed by another special from Newton and Wichita, and soon another
from Wellington. By twelve o’clock the streets and hotels were thronged with
people; many gathered here and there in little knots, talking over the terrible
occurrences of the past week. Most noticeable among these groups were the
Sheriffs who had come in from other counties to pay a last tribute to their
brave comrade who had fallen in the line of duty. There was Sheriff Thralls, of
Sumner, with whom Sheriff Shenneman had traveled thousands of miles, and
through many dangerous ways in pursuit of criminals, and between whom there
existed a personal friendship as strong as brotherhood. Also Sheriff Shadley,
of Montgomery, who has the reputation of having handled more desperate
criminals than any other officer in the State, and who captured Tom Quarles.
Sheriff Watts, of Sedgwick, was precluded from being present by having the
prisoner in charge. Sheriff Douglass, of Butler, was present; also Sheriff
Thompson, of Elk, Sheriff Boyd, of Chautauqua, and Sheriff of _____.
At half-past twelve the church began
filling, and before one o’clock every seat, except those reserved for the
Fraternity, was filled, and the corridors, vestibules, and aisles were crowded.
At half-past one the coffin was carried up the aisle to the foot of the pulpit
by six sheriffs, who acted as pall-bearers, and escorted by the Masonic
Fraternities of Arkansas City, Wellington, Mulvane, Dexter, and Winfield, and
the Select Knights of United Workmen.
The services were opened by a grand
anthem from the choir, followed by Scriptural reading by Rev. Jones, and prayer
by Rev. Friedley. Rev. Platter then delivered the funeral address. His manner
was intensely earnest, and the immense audience seemed waiting to catch every
word as it fell from his lips. He referred to the universal desire for
vengeance on the murderer, and likened it to a higher law, which demanded that
each should suffer for his own sins. He then referred to the kind and generous
spirit of the dead Sheriff; how he would go almost any length, and imperil his
own life, to save even the most hardened criminal from harm, and himself from
shedding human blood; and how almost his last request was to protect his
murderer from violence. The minister then put the question squarely to the
people: Should they emulate the spirit and desire of their dead friend, or
allow the spirit of vengeance to overcome them and resort to violence toward
his murderer? The effect of the
discourse was powerful; and strong men, who had gone there determined that, as
soon as their honored friend was laid beneath the sod, his murderer should
expiate the crime with his life, went away feeling that it was better to let
the law takes its course.
At the conclusion of Rev. Platter’s
discourse, Rev. Canfield made a few remarks, and was followed by a prayer from
Rev. Bicknell, Editor of the Chicago Advocate. Rev. Cairns made the
closing prayer, after which the choir rendered that beautiful song, “In the
Sweet Bye and Bye.” The people then filed past the coffin and took a last look
at the familiar features of the dead officer.
The procession was then formed, with the
Masonic order leading. It was over a mile in length. At the grave the beautiful
Masonic burial ceremonies were observed, and the mortal remains of Sheriff
Shenneman were consigned to their final resting place amid the silent grief of
a multitude of friends and kindred.
Before closing, the writer desires to add
his personal tribute to the memory of a friend. Way back, in 1873, a mere
stripling of a boy, we were working in a brick-yard near Winfield, when we
first met A. T. Shenneman. The work then allotted to us was arduous, and more
than we were physically able to perform. He noticed this one day, and, with
that feeling for the welfare of others that always characterized him, induced
the foreman to relieve us with an easier position. From that time on there grew
up between us a bond of friendship which ended only with his death. Beneath
that rough exterior was a heart as tender as a woman’s, which went out in
sympathy to the oppressed everywhere. Well might it be said of him: “Were
everyone to whom he did some loving service to bring a blossom to his grave, he
would sleep tonight beneath a wilderness of sweet flowers.”
MORE
FACTS.
Since the excitement incident to the
tragedy has worn away, new facts regarding it come to light. It is now learned
that young Cobb was in Winfield during the forenoon of the Monday on which he
went to Jacobus’ house. He traveled up toward Udall, and was seen by a farmer
to stop near the corner of Mr. Worden’s farm in Vernon Township, and read the
posters and description of himself which Sheriff Shenneman had circulated, one
of which was posted there. He was afterwards met farther on, and it was
observed that he carried a gun enclosed in a case under his coat. In the
evening he turned up at Jacobus’ house. On the Sunday before the shooting he
was showing some boys his skill as a marksman, and would break bottles thrown
into the air with a ball from his revolver.
During the week the schoolmaster, who
boarded there, got one of the descriptions, and on Monday evening came down and
informed Mr. Shenneman of his suspicions. He was instructed to go back, observe
closely the marks on his face, and return by midnight, when the Sheriff
proposed to get a posse and go up and surround the house before daylight. The
schoolmaster did not return during the night, and Mr. Shenneman began to doubt
his being the man he wanted, so he concluded to go alone and reconnoitre. As
soon as he saw him sitting at the table, he knew he was right, and also saw
something in his eye that said he would shoot; so, a favorable opportunity
affording itself, he thought to catch and hold him until disarmed. In this he mistook
the strength of the boy, who proved to be a young tiger. The circumstances seem
to indicate that Cobb had hold of his pistol when he turned to go out. It also
seems that he fired the shots after both had fallen in the scuffle. Shenneman
held Cobb several minutes after he was shot. A rope was then put about Cobb’s
neck and he was choked down, but he continued to kick and fight until worn out.
Mr. Shenneman died at 9:45 on Thursday
evening, two days and a half after he received the shots. His wife, brother,
and other friends were present, together with Sheriff Thralls, of Sumner; Watt,
of Sedgwick; and Brown, of Jefferson Counties. The body was brought down Friday
morning, and was met at the depot by Masonic brothers who conveyed it to his
residence, where it lay in state until Sunday afternoon.
THE
MURDERER.
The night of the shooting young Cobb was
kept in jail here. The next afternoon he was taken to Sedgwick County and
confined in the Wichita jail. Thursday morning the Sheriff of Jefferson County,
accompanied by a farmer who lived near Cobb and knew him well, arrived and
identified the prisoner. Cobb feigned not to know his old neighbor, and still
stuck to his cowboy story. The people of Wichita were greatly excited, and said
that he should never go in any other direction than to Cowley County. Saturday
morning he was placed in a carriage and, in charge of Sheriffs Thralls and Watt
and Deputy Taylor, was brought to Winfield overland.
News was received here that he had left
Wichita in a carriage and parties on the train going north passed them between
Mulvane and Udall. This news greatly excited the people. In the evening about
two hundred determined men gathered at the crossing and boarded the incoming
train, thinking that perhaps he might have been put aboard at some way station,
but he was not found. They then repaired to the city and placed squads at each
bridge and on streets surrounding the jail.
The carriage with the prisoner arrived at
about eleven o’clock, but came by the ford and escaped the pickets. They drove
to the crossing of Fuller Street and Eleventh Avenue and Taylor was sent over
to the jail to see how the land lay. He arrived just after a squad had been
searching the jail in quest of the prisoner, and returned with the news that it
was certain death to put him there. Sheriff Thralls and Watt then took the
prisoner out of the carriage and started south on foot with him, while Taylor
was left to take the team out into the country. In going out of town he ran
across a squad of vigilanters who brought him into town. Then occurred a scene
that beggars description. From all parts of town men came running, wild with
excitement. They formed in a dense mass around the Deputy, clamoring to know
what had been done with the prisoner. As the crowd surged to and fro, it seemed
as if the very air was ladened with cries of vengeance. Soon someone cried,
“the Brettun,” and to a man the crowd started in a run for the hotel. Here they
found the door barred, but one of their number went inside and looked in Sheriff
Douglass’ room, and found nothing. The crowd then returned to Taylor and
demanded vociferously that he tell where the murderer was.
Soon a crowd went again to the jail and
searched it from top to bottom, then the Courthouse and outbuildings. The search
being fruitless, they returned exasperated, and for a few moments it looked as
if Taylor would be roughly used. He was finally compelled to tell where he had
left the Sheriffs with the prisoner, and a rush was made for that part of
town—Taylor being carried along to show the exact spot. Soon a vigorous search
of barns and outbuildings in the vicinity was made, which was kept up the
balance of the night.
During this time Sheriffs Thralls and
Watt, with the prisoner, had traveled out the Badger Creek road to William
Dunn’s, where they brought up at two o’clock. Here they tried to get a
conveyance to go to Douglass, but could not. They then went on and soon found a
team, in which Sheriff Watt took the prisoner again to Wichita by way of
Douglass, where he now is, and will probably remain for some time. Sheriff
Thralls returned to town and remained to the funeral.
This is the first popular outbreak of the
kind we have ever witnessed, and we hope never to see another. The passions of
men when they become aroused are as uncontrollable as a sea of tigers, and
appall themselves with their own fierceness. There is one thing we wish to say
right here, and that is this: Every citizen of Winfield may be thankful that
there were no open saloons in this city that evening. With the demoniac effect
of liquor added to the natural fierceness of unbridled passion, riot and ruin
might have followed in the wake of such an outburst.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
Biographical.
Albert Taylor Shenneman was 37 years of
age. He entered the army in the early days, joining Dan. Witt’s Co. “D,” 7th
Illinois Cavalry, while yet in his teens. He served with great credit in all
the campaigns of Sturgis and Grierson, on the Mississippi. He came to Kansas
and to Winfield in 1870 and was appointed City Marshal in 1875. He filled the
position during the rough pioneer times, and filled it well. He resigned in
1876. In 1875 and 1877 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Republican
nomination for sheriff. In 1879 he received the nomination and was elected,
getting over seven hundred majority. In 1881 he was renominated unanimously by
the Republican convention and elected by an overwhelming majority. As an
officer he was without a peer and is conceded by all his brother sheriffs to be
one of the most efficient and capable in the state. Of untiring energy,
courage, and indifference to personal danger when duty called, he has been more
dreaded by the criminal classes than any other. Personally, he was not one of
the “goody-goody” kind of men. What he had to say, he said, and stuck to it.
While his feelings were averse to injuring anyone, he was yet firm in his
convictions and assertions when in the right. To one who understood his nature,
he was ever a kind, generous, and considerate friend.
Winfield Courier, February 1, 1883.
A gentleman received a letter from Cobb’s
father last week in which he said he heard the boy was hung, and seemed
satisfied with the rumor, only wanting his body to be interred decently. His
family is highly connected, and it has been rumored that he is a nephew of
ex-Congressman Cobb.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
Sheriff
A. T. Shenneman.
Sheriff A. T. Shenneman, of Cowley
County, died at the residence of Walter Jacobus, where he was shot, last
Thursday evening. He was buried in Winfield on Sunday with Masonic honors.
His funeral brought together the largest
congregation of people ever seen on a like occasion in Southern Kansas. Trains
were run to Winfield from all neighboring counties and his home people turned
out en masse.
His funeral sermon was preached by Rev.
J. E. Platter in the Baptist Church, which did not hold more than a moiety of
the people present. The funeral procession required more than an hour to pass a
given point and a large part of it did not reach the cemetery until after the
services there were over.
These facts demonstrate the estimate
placed upon Mr. Shenneman by those who knew him best. In his private and social
life, he was a true and trustworthy friend, happy in his home, a man without
personal enemies and always ready to help those about him.
As an officer he was without a superior.
He was shrewd, always on the alert, and, in short, a natural detective. He was
the most noted horse-thief catcher in Kansas. He knew all about a horse and
never failed to identify a stolen animal months after he had read the
description of it. If he had a fault, it was that of absolute lack of fear and
a dread of killing. He had been constable, city marshal, and sheriff for years
and always did the bulk of the dangerous official work. He was much respected
by his fellow officers in surrounding counties for his ready and unselfish
cooperation at all times. In his untimely death Cowley County loses a most
valuable officer and the state one of its very best citizens.
Wellington Press.
Winfield Courier, February 8, 1883.
How
‘Twas Done!
The
Evidence Before the Coroner’s Jury and the Verdict.
TELEGRAM
FROM THE FATHER.
The investigation by the Coroner on the
body of young Cobb was commenced Thursday morning and lasted until Friday noon.
The courtroom was constantly thronged with people during the inquest. The
Coroner secured the services of Judge Tipton as attorney and David C. Beach as
clerk. Below we give a synopsis of the evidence.
The first witness put upon the stand was
Frank W. Finch, who knew nothing whatever of the occurrence until told in the
morning, when he notified the Coroner, and they together repaired to the scene
of the hanging.
Sheriff McIntire was the next witness
called. He stated that the deceased was brought in the evening before and
placed in his custody by Deputy Taylor. He made a bed and fixed him comfortably
for the night, leaving on one pair of shackles. Mrs. Shenneman and several
others were allowed to enter the jail and look at the prisoner. About ten
o’clock the crowd in the office were requested to retire, and they did so. Mr.
Wm. Shenneman and Deputy Taylor remained to assist the Sheriff, should anything
occur. Mr. Shenneman is a police officer in Bay City, Michigan, and though his
feelings were not of the kindest toward the prisoner, he said he would do all
in his power to protect him from violence.
The prisoner was taken from the jail
about half past two o’clock in the morning, when all fear of such a visit had
subsided, and Mr. Shenneman and Deputy Taylor had retired to the house, just
across the walk. Sheriff McIntire was sitting by the stove, where he had been
sitting for about a half an hour, when the front door was jimmied open and
twelve or fourteen men appeared outside. Four of them, with revolvers drawn,
rushed in and the leader ordered him to throw up his hands. The request was
instantaneously complied with. The leader then said to the other three: “Keep
your revolvers right on him! If he moves a hand, put a hole through him! Do
only as I order!” He then asked where the keys were, and on the Sheriff
hesitating to reply, said, “Blow him through if he don’t answer!” McIntire said
they were in his pocket, and the captain demanded their immediate delivery to
him. The Sheriff took down his hands, but was ordered to again raise one of
them; with the other, he took the keys out and handed them over. The captain
then stepped forward, threw the jail door open, and said, “No. 1, 2, and 3 to
your posts!” And three men came right in and walked into the jail. He then
ordered, “Reserve, guard the door!” The three men soon came out leading the
prisoner. The witness heard no words spoken in the jail.
The men in charge of the Sheriff and the
captain stayed at the office door for about five minutes. The captain demanded:
“Do you promise you won’t follow us?” No answer was immediately given, and the
captain shouted “Halt!” to the men on the sidewalk with the prisoner. He then
turned to the Sheriff again and said, “Now say you won’t follow us, and say it
d_____d quick!” The other three left, but he stayed in the door, with revolver
drawn, for a moment, when he again ordered, “Command halt! Send me two men!”
The men came and the leader left. The two men guarded the Sheriff about five
minutes, when they pulled the office door shut and left. The witness said the
office door was not locked when the men came in, and that the first thing he
heard on its being thrown open was, “Throw up your hands!” He made no
resistance; did not think it policy to do so, though he had a revolver on his
person. He was alarmed, for he had dispelled the expectation of any such visit
at that late hour. The leader gave his commands in a loud but distinct voice,
and the Sheriff could see the bullets in every revolver as it was pointed at him,
and he instantly concluded that the men holding them meant business. He could
not recognize a single man, black cloths being tied over their faces with only
eye-holes cut therein. There seemed to be no attempt at disguising their
clothing—some being dressed in dark and some light. He could not recognize the
voice of the leader—the only one who spoke—but said it was rather a deep,
coarse voice.
After the maskers had retired, Deputy
Taylor came in, and the Sheriff put on an overcoat and said they would follow
up if possible. The crowd with the prisoner was not visible in any direction
when they started, but they succeeded in finding the place where the victim was
hanging, but all was deathly stillness and not a living soul in any direction.
After ascertaining that the man’s life was entirely extinct, they returned to
the jail and went to bed about five o’clock.
The Sheriff stated that he did not have
the least apprehension when the prisoner was lodged in jail the evening before
of his being taken by lynchers, and intended to take him before a magistrate
the next morning for a preliminary examination.
Deputy Taylor took the stand at the
conclusion of Mr. McIntire’s testimony. He said he left Wichita with the
prisoner in a carriage about 8 o’clock p.m., Tuesday evening, arriving at the
jail in this city about the same hour Wednesday evening. The driver lost the
road near El Paso and they wandered around on the prairie for some time, but
struck the trail again and brought up at Mulvane just at daylight. His intention
was to reach Winfield about 4 o’clock Tuesday morning, but their losing the way
prevented it. Mr. Taylor’s understanding of the situation was that everything
had quieted down, and it was perfectly safe to bring him here. He had not the least intimation that a
lynching would occur Wednesday night until, while in the house, he heard a
noise and went out and discovered that the jail was being entered by masked
men. He walked around in front of the office and was suddenly “held up” by two
black maskers, who, with revolvers thrust in his face, ordered him to keep his
mouth shut, and said, “You beat us Saturday night, but you can’t do it this
time! We’re organized!” He offered no resistance, for he saw that they were
determined, and thought that they would even disable him to accomplish their
purpose. He had no idea as to the identity of the men who guarded him.
Marshal Herrod was next called, and
stated that he had no knowledge whatever of any intention to lynch the
prisoner, and knew nothing of his being hung until morning. He visited the jail
on the evening before and saw the prisoner, but everything seemed so quiet and
orderly that he went home about eleven o’clock and retired.
James A. Cairns then took the witness
stand. He testified that he did not know the prisoner would be hung that night,
but to satisfy his curiosity, stayed up with a number of others to see the
performance, if it came off at all. He, as all others, recognized none of the
maskers.
T. R. Timme, Joseph O’Hare, and John
Hudson were put on the witness stand, but were only a few of the many persons
who followed the procession as spectators, and their account of the affair was
substantially the same as that contained in the COURIER’s second edition last
week and which appears on the fourth page in this issue.
Geo. Emerson, John Nicholas, J. P. Short,
John Riley, and James Bethel were also called as witnesses, but were all
enjoying peaceful slumber at the time of the lynching, and were merely at the
jail to see the prisoner on the evening before.
The following is the verdict of the
Coroner’s jury.
“An investigation began at Winfield, in
Cowley County, Kansas, on the first day of February, 1883, and continued to
February second, before me, H. L. Wells, Coroner of said county, on the body of Charles Cobb, there
lying dead, by the jurors whose names are hereunto subscribed. The said jurors,
upon their oaths, do say, That the said Charles Cobb came to his death on the
morning of February first, 1883, by being hung by the neck from the R. R. bridge
of the K. C. L. and S. R. R. across the Walnut River, in Cowley County, Kansas,
at the hands of parties unknown to the jury. In testimony whereof the said
jurors have hereunto set their hands, this 2nd day of February, 1883. T. R.
Bryan, A. E. Baird, James A. Cooper, S. C. Smith, Henry Brown, A. D. Hendricks.
“Attest: H. L. Wells, Coroner.”
The following telegram was received from
Cobb’s father by Coroner Wells in answer to a message informing the father of
his son’s death.
VALLEY FALLS, KANSAS, February 2nd, 1883.
H. L. WELLS, Winfield, Kansas:
Will you box my son and send him by
express to this place? If not, hold him until I come. C. M. COBB.
The remains were placed in a casket and
sent to Valley Falls on the Santa Fe train Friday afternoon.
Deputy Taylor informs us that the
prisoner was quite talkative while he was being brought down from Wichita, and
exceedingly abusive. He said Shenneman was the fifth man he had killed, and he
was glad he had killed him. That he expected to get away, and wanted to kill
five more men before he died, mentioning Jacobus, the school teacher, Frank
Finch, and Taylor as four of them. He seemed to talk in the most cold blooded
manner of murder and revenge. When Taylor examined his shackles before taking
him from the Wichita jail, he found them cut, and put on two new pairs; but
left the old ones on, saying nothing about his discovery. Several times on the
road, the prisoner tried to get Taylor to take off the shackles on one pretext
and another, but the Deputy kept him heavily ironed just the same. He showed no
signs whatever of weakening during all his captivity until he made the
confession in the jail on Wednesday evening to Mrs. Shenneman.
[NOTE: ON PAGE FOUR THE ARTICLE FROM
PREVIOUS WEEK RE HANGING WAS REPEATED.]
Winfield Courier, February 15, 1883.
Deputy Taylor received a letter from
Cobb’s father last week in which he requested that his son’s pony and gun be
turned over to Mrs. Shenneman, to be disposed of as she saw fit. Cobb’s mother
is said to be very much prostrated.
Winfield Courier, March 22, 1883.
Mrs. Shenneman has purchased, in addition
to the Gridley property, another house and two lots on Ninth Avenue, for which
she paid fifteen hundred dollars.
Winfield Courier, August 30, 1883.
Mrs. A. T. Shenneman will soon begin the
erection of a two story brick building on Ninth Avenue. The second-hand store
will be removed to the Taggart building until the completion of the new brick.
Winfield Courier, November 29, 1883.
Died. Chester Van Meter, the young fellow
who shot at Sheriff Shenneman here once, was killed near Caldwell last week. He
had got into an altercation with his wife, beating her, and when her father
interposed, turned on him. The officers of Caldwell went out to arrest him. He
resisted and was killed. He was one of the “blood-and-thunder” kind of young
men, and while in jail here entertained the prisoners with the plaintive melody
of “The Outlaw’s Bride.” and kindred compositions. All such men end the same
way—beat their wives and die with their boots on.
Winfield Courier, February 28, 1884.
MARRIED. Mr. E. F. Blair and Mrs. Ella G.
Shenneman, of this city, were married Sunday, by Rev. William Brittain, Rector
of Grace Church. Both the bride and groom are old residents of Winfield and
their excellent qualities are too well known to need any comment from us. Mr.
and Mrs. Blair went to housekeeping immediately, with the congratulations of
many friends. E. F. was at one time a newspaper man himself and knows what they
like. He has our thanks for fine cigars, and our best wishes for the future
happiness of himself and bride.
Arkansas City Traveler, September 9, 1885.
Pardoned. Tom Armstrong, who figured as
principal in the shooting scrape whereby James Riely met his death in this city
four years ago, and who was sentenced to fifteen years in the state
penitentiary for the offense, has secured a pardon for good behavior and now
appears on our streets again. His conduct in prison is said to have been
exemplary, and he so won the confidence of the warden that that officer would
entrust his prisoner with the execution of outside business and allow him to
visit Leavenworth in citizen’s attire. This good behavior was ascribed to his
credit, and a numerously signed petition to the board asking his release, was
favorably considered, and Tom Armstrong is a free man again. It is to be hoped
that this painful experience will keep him from evil companions and bad habits
the remainder of his life.