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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.
