WALNUT VALLEY TIMES
[Beginning January 3, 1873. Ending February 20, 1874.]

ELDORADO, BUTLER COUNTY, KANSAS.
NOTE: AT THE END OF 1872...THE PAPER AS GIVEN TO THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY WAS FOR THE MOST PART, SCRAPS...VERY LITTLE LEFT!

THE ROLL CONTAINING MICROFILM STARTING WITH JANUARY 3, 1873, IS ALSO SCRAPS OF DIFFERENT EDITIONS...MAY NOT GET MUCH OUT OF THIS!

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, Friday, January 3, 1873.

AT HOME.
We arrived home last Sunday, after an absence of five weeks. T. B. MURDOCK.

[RAILROAD ACCIDENT: NEAR NEWTON.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 3, 1873.

RAILROAD ACCIDENT.
A passenger of the wrecked train furnished a report to the Kansas City Times of the following particulars of the accident.

"On Monday morning, about 4 o'clock, Train No. 4, regular passenger, left Newton coming west, on time. About thirteen miles from Newton the train struck a snow bank; the wind was blowing a perfect hurricane, and the snow flying so thick that the train men were unable to signal train No. 10, which was following them, the consequence being No. 10 ran into No. 4, demolishing the entire train, consisting of one coach, one freight car, and one baggage car. The wreck immediately took fire. The passengers all being asleep, just before the collision, were huddled together in one confused mass. Finally, Assistant Superintendent Kirk Johnson gained the presence of mind to force his exit through a window, jumping out into the snow in his stocking feet. The other passengers lost no time in following suit, some without coats and others without boots. Several were badly bruised, and two of them, Messrs. Kirk Johnson and G. K. Fitch, the latter of Dodd City, had their feet badly frozen. Out of the thirty-two passengers aboard, all escaped death except one. The body of the man burned had not been recognized up to the time of our informant's departure.

"Conductor J. M. Sprague, DeLas Rupert, news agent, and mail agent Campion were all in the baggage car. Campion escaped with very little clothing on his person. The other two perished. The conductor was undoubtedly struck by something falling in the car, as a pool of blood was found near the body. The body of the news agent was burnt to a crisp.

"As soon as an extra train could be dispatched to the scene of the disaster, it was done, taking the half frozen survivors back to Newton, where some remained, the others leaving yesterday morning. Nothing further could be learned last night. It is hard to tell who is really to blame, as there are conflicting reports in regard to the accident. One party claims that the brakeman could have signaled the approaching train if he had tried, while another claims that the blinding snow prevented even an attempt beyond that of swinging a red light to the top of the rear car.

"Our informer failed to learn whether anyone was hurt on train No. 10, as the wildest confusion prevailed until they were landed in Newton, and the excitement was at such a pitch that nothing definite could be obtained.

"Among the large number of passengers, there were fortunately no women. All the passengers lost their baggage, in fact, everything except what was on their persons."

[COMPLIMENT BY HUTCHINSON NEWS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 3, 1873.

The Walnut Valley Times has done more for the settling up of Butler County than all other agencies combined, including the Augusta Crescent, published by Putman & Perry at Augusta some two years since. Hutchinson News.

Thank you, gentlemen, for the compliment. Since our residence here we have always been found working for Butler County, and are thankful that our efforts are appreciated both at home and abroad.

[PORTIONS OF NOTICE BY EDITOR.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 3, 1873.

To Our Patrons.

We have been at great expense in fitting up our new building and in increasing our facilities for doing good work. We intend to improve the TIMES as the demands of the county require, giving to our subscribers a better county paper than they can hope to get in this portion of the state. We therefore ask those who are indebted to us to call and settle as soon as possible, as we are in need of money. We acknowledge that times are hard and money scarce, but at the same time it takes actual cash to run a newspaper. Therefore, we ask our friends to come and see us and aid us in this our time of great need.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 10, 1873.

CHANGED HANDS.
Maj. J. B. Davis has sold the Augusta Republican office to Messrs. Albin & Co.'s, who will continue the publication of the paper at Augusta. Good bye, Major, we are sorry to lose you.

The new proprietors of the Republican are both practical printers and will endeavor to make their paper worthy of the support and patronage of the people of the county. We wish them success.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 10, 1873.

We have conversed with several returning buffalo hunters within the week, and they generally entertain the belief that the stories of so many being frozen to death were greatly exaggerated. The cold was extreme, but parties generally went well provided with clothing and provisions.

Walnut Valley Times, January 10, 1873.

The county commissioners have ordered two elections in Cowley County on propositions to issue county bonds for the purpose of building county buildings and aiding in the construction of a railroad through the county north and south.

Walnut Valley Times, January 10, 1873.

Dr. H. D. Kellogg and M. C. Baker, _____, of Arkansas City, were in town last Tuesday.

Walnut Valley Times, Friday, January 10, 1873.

SAD. Some returning buffalo hunters who arrived at Wichita from the west, on Tuesday, brought with them the body of a man who had been frozen to death. The body was left here one day and was seen by many. The remains appeared to be those of a man fifty or sixty years of age, of short stature, robust form, and ruddy complexion. The body still retains its frozen rigidity, and was lying in a natural position, as that of sleep. It was said to be the body of a Mr. Thompson, whose home is in Butler County, near Eldorado. Further than the above we failed to elicit any particulars. Wichita Eagle.

Mr. Thompson was a resident of this place and was brought home to be buried last week.

Walnut Valley Times, Friday, January 10, 1873.

LOST ON THE PRAIRIES. The Wichita Beacon of January 1st, in speaking of Thomas Thompson, who perished on the plains in the late storm, says: "The dead body of Mr. Thomas Thompson, of Eldorado, was brought in on Tuesday by his companions and lay in a wagon box at the shop of Mr. Forry, on Water street, until a box was made for the remains. Mr. Thompson went out with a party of hunters from Eldorado about a week ago. . . .

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 17, 1873.

WITHDRAWN. We learn from the Arkansas Traveler that the County Commissioners of Cowley County, have in accordance with the legal advice of County Attorney Torrance, withdrawn the two bond propositions recently submitted to a vote of the citizens. It is claimed that if the bonds are passed, they cannot be legally issued.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 24, 1873.

The Winfield Courier is on our table. It is a neat paper, containing 32 columns, with good selections of reading matter, and shows ability in its editorial and local departments. It is edited by R. S. Waddel & Co. Success attend them.

Walnut Valley Times, January 24, 1873.

MARRIAGES IN BUTLER COUNTY. We have gathered the following interesting information regarding marriages in Butler County. There have been one hundred and eighty- five marriages in this county since its first settlement. The average ages of the males at the time of marriage was 27 years; the average ages of the females was 21 years. The oldest male applicant for matrimonial honors and duties was 60 years; the oldest female accepting a liege lord for better or for worse, 43 years, while the youngest groom tied in wedlock was 19, and the youngest female 14 years of age. The first marriage in Butler County was celebrated on the Whitewater in the Summer of 1869. Two couples were married at the same time and place with great pomp and dignity. All parties were barefooted, the gentlemen minus coats. The officiating clergyman was also aristocratic and demanded wolf skins instead of gold for the marriage fee. The first marriage on record was celebrated on Bird Creek, August 26, 1861.

Walnut Valley Times, January 24, 1873.

A correspondent asks us if there are many fish in the Walnut River. Not that we know of. We have only tried fishing here once or twice. One night we fished about three hours. Went to a deal of trouble, too, to have everything exactly right: Got regular cane fishing poles for ourselves and the little angel that went with us; got several kinds of bait; got bran span splinter new lines and hooksand borrowed old ones beside, some with corks and some withoutand carried wood to the banks with which to make a light and attract the fish. And for all our pains, we never got a bite, but lost our new pocket knifea very fine one; sprained our wrist in the vain attempt to pull up an elm stump to make a seat for the little angel; tore a frightful gap in a delicate part of our Sunday sparking pants; tore a sole off from one of our new boots; ran a splinter into our right knee, which, with a severe cold taken on the occasion, made us stiff and wheezy for a week. To wind up, we got the plainest mitten from that gal that ever you went anywhere to sit up, till twelve. No sir, no fish in the Walnut worth mentioning.

[DIED IN COWLEY COUNTY: MR. S. M. MORGAN.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 14, 1873.

DIED. On February 10th, near Antelope Springs in Cowley County, of lung fever, Mr. S. M. Morgan, aged 51 years.

Walnut Valley Times, February 21, 1873.

JUDGE H. G. WEBB.
The testimony in the case of the recent investigation of Judge H. G. Webb, who has resigned to avoid impeachment, is of a very damaging character. It shows that Webb sat as a judge in a case in which he had been previously employed as counsel for one of the parties, and that his rulings and decisions were all in favor of his former client; that he had improper communication with a juror in the case of Phillips vs. George in the Cherokee County district court; that in the cae of the State vs. Hopkins and Hopkins he drove a witness, Charles Butts, a Cincinnati detective who had been employed to work up the case, from the stand, telling said witness that he was a professional liar and hypocrite, and "you cannot testify in my court." That the books of one Wiggins, of Baxter Springs, contain entries proving that Wiggins paid him (Webb) $275 in money and goods for Mayor Boyd, of Baxter, who killed Taylor, the city marshal of that place, and who was acquitted before Webb when tried for the offense, etc.

[SOCIETY OF KENTUCKY.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 21, 1873.

SOCIETY OF KENTUCKY.
A large number of the citizens of Kansas, former residents of Kentucky, met in the Tefft House at Topeka, January 28th, for the purpose of organizing a society for social benefit and pleasure, and to perpetuate pleasant memories of this "dark and bloody ground."

Capt. Geo. M. Jackson, of Florence, was chosen president, and Capt. G. C. West, of Parsons, secretary.

Col. Hoblitzon offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted:

Resolved, That the chair appoint a committee of twenty from different parts of the State, whose duty it shall be to make all necessary arrangements for a social gathering at an early day, of former residents of Kentucky, now citizens of Kansas, and give notice of the time and place of such meeting.

The chair appointed the following as the committee.

Chief Justice S. A. Kingman, Topeka.

C. B. Bacheller, Emporia.

S. P. Pinkerton, Emporia.

Willard Davis, Parsons.

Major Thos. A. Harrow, Council Grove.

G. A. Hasselberger, Leavenworth.

Hewett Craik, Cottonwood Falls.

Judge W. P. Campbell, Eldorado.

A. G. Huffman, Peabody.

Hon. John M. Price, Atchison.

Gen. J. C. Stone, Leavenworth.

Charles Nelson, Fort Scott.

Dr. G. W. McMillon, Osage Mission.

Capt. James McDermott, Winfield.

W. P. Talbott, Neosho Falls.

I. M. Carter, Pawnee Rock.

Hon. W. H. Smallwood, Secretary of State, Topeka.

J. C. Blair, Council Grove.

Hon. B. O'Driscoll, Doniphan.

Col. Hoblitzon, Florence.

On motion, Capt. G. M. Jackson was appointed chairman, and Capt. G. C. West, secretary of said organization.

For the free interchange of opinion, etc., and a knowledge of the extent and scope of the society, it was unanimously agreed to issue a cordial invitation to all ladies and gentlemen now living in Kansas, former residents of Kentucky.

Those who married there, were born or ever lived in the State long enough to form any attachment for it, and have any pleasant recollections and reminiscences of their residence while there, who desire the promotion of friendly and social relations and the perpetuation of pleasant memories of their adopted home, are invited to join this society and participate in its exercises, festivities, and pleasures.

It is well known there are several thousand Kentuckians now living in this State and almost every day adds more to the number. . . .

"All those who are favorable to the objects herein named, and wish to take part in the same, will please send their names, postoffice address, and county to the Secretary at Topeka, during the session of the Legislature, or to Parsons, after the adjournment, that they may be recorded among the list of members."

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 21, 1873.

Superintendent Hoag, of Lawrence, has some specimens of salt from the Little Salt Plains, about 28 miles northeast of Camp Supply, and ten miles south of the Kansas line. The specimens are crystals of rock salt, white as snow, and apparently destitute of any impurity. Agent John D. Miles estimates these great natural salt works as covering sixteen square miles. The ground seems covered as with snow. Where Buffalo and Whirlwind Creeks join, there is a pond of brine, the bottom covered with rock salt that may be dug out in blocks as large as a man can lift.

[WITHOUT A RAILROAD.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 28, 1873.

WITHOUT A RAILROAD.
From the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad where it passes west through the counties of Chase and Marion to the South line of the State, is about seventy-eight miles. From Independence, in Montgomery county, to Wichita, is about ninety miles. The territory lying in the State south of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, and west of the Leavenworth, Lawrence, and Galveston Railway, including a portion of Montgomery and Woodson Counties, all of Butler and Cowley Counties, portions of Chase, Marion, Harvey, and Sedgwick Counties, and all of Sumner County, contains about eight thousand square miles.

These counties are as thickly populated as any other portion of Kansas. There are at least seventy-five thousand people residing within these boundaries today.

There is not a railway traversing any portion of this vast territory. Should a road be built from Fort Scott west on or near the line of the Fifth Standard Parallel, to Wichita, it would open up this vast country.

Should a road be built from Kansas City via Emporia and the Walnut Valley to the Arkansas River, it would secure the trade of this vast region.

There is enough territory included within this area to make seven States as large as that of Rhode Island.

Should it become as densely populated as Massachusetts, it would contain over two millions of people.

It seems to us that Railways ought to be built through this section of the State.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 28, 1873.

M. M. Murdock has introduced a bill in the Legislature which provides for a vote on the removal of the State capital.

Walnut Valley Times, February 28, 1873.

Henry Tisdale, superintendent of the Southwestern Stage Company, was in town last Monday, making quarterly settlements.

Walnut Valley Times, February 28, 1873.

The citizens of Harvey County are endeavoring to get a slice off of the counties of Butler and Marion. Have not learned how much they want from our county.

Walnut Valley Times, February 28, 1873.

Wild Bill, the Western character who figured so conspicuously as a scout in the army of the Southwest during the war, and more recently as an exterminator of long haired Texans in Kansas, came to grief in Galveston last week. He was shot by one of the friends of Cole, whom he killed in Abilene last summer, while acting in the capacity of marshal of that place.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 7, 1873.

DEFEATED.
The proposition submitted to the voters of Cowley County to take stock in the Kansas & Nebraska Railroad to the amount of $150,000 was defeated by a large vote last Saturday.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 7, 1873.

DIED. Mrs. E. C. Manning, wife of Col. Manning, died at her home in Winfield on the 20th of February.

Walnut Valley Times, March 14, 1873.

MORTGAGES EXEMPT.
The Legislature passed the following bill for the better protection of money lenders.

AN ACT to promote the improvement of real estate by exempting mortgages and other securities from taxation.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas:

SECTION 1. That all notes, bonds, judgments and evidences of debt secured by mortgage on real estate, as well as such mortgages, shall be exempt from taxes and taxation.

SECTION 2. That for the year 1873, and thereafter, no person, copartnership, corpora- tion, or association, shall be required to return on list for taxation, any of the securities mentioned in section 1 of this act, and no taxes shall hereafter be levied or collected thereon.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its publication in the Topeka Daily Commonwealth.

Approved March 5th, 1873. Published March 6th.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 14, 1873.

Dexter is the name of a new town down in Grouse Valley. With Grouse to feed upon, Dexter is bound to be a swift place, and will pass all the towns in Cowley County.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 21, 1873.

MORE GLORY.
The County Commissioners, at their last meeting, upon petition of certain citizens, organized a new township in the western portion of the county and named it Murdock Township. Adjoining this township on the south is Benton Township. Well all we have to say is this. If our County Commissioners want the TIMES on tickif they want us to send something aroundif they want us to leg for them at the next electionwe are at their service with all this and more, also the undivided support of the TIMES office.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 21, 1873.

The Leavenworth Times takes it as a sign of returning reason when Cowley County refuses to take stock in the Kansas & Nebraska railroad to the amount of $150,000.

Walnut Valley Times, March 21, 1873.

The Arkansas City Traveler says: "As spring opens our city assumes an air of improve-ment and progress. Several new houses are going up, and many others are under contract and in contemplation. Dr. Hughes' fine residence, and L. W. Currier's neat cottage are already enclosed, and the lumber for Mitchell's, Walton's, and many others is on the ground. Eastern capitalists are visiting us, and the Texas cattle men contemplate driving to this point during the fall and winter months, and our farmers are planting large quantities of wheat, corn, tobacco, potatoes, and other staple crops. Everything considered, the prospects of Arkansas City and Cowley County are more flattering than ever before."

[STATE NEWS AND NOTES.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 28, 1873.

STATE NEWS AND NOTES.
Thursday evening, March 13th, the citizens of Cowley County gave their honored Representative, James McDermott, a grand reception. James is a first class man.

Walnut Valley Times, March 28, 1873.

The Winfield Courier and the Winfield Telegram are not as affectionate as they might be.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, March 28, 1873.

Cowley County proposes to re-submit the proposition to take $150,000 stock in the Kansas & Nebraska Railroad.

Walnut Valley Times, March 28, 1873.

Our sister, Miss Ella Murdock, of Emporia, and our brother, R. P. Murdock, of the Wichita Eagle, will be here next Tuesday on a visit to their good looking brother.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, April 4, 1873.

CHANGED HANDS. The Winfield Courier has changed hands. James Kelly assumes editorial and business control of the paper. Mr. Kelly says he intends to publish a newspaper in Winfield in good earnest. We hope he will succeed.

[MARRIED IN COWLEY COUNTY.]

Walnut Valley Times, April 18, 1873.

MARRIED. At the residence of the bride's father in Cowley County, Kansas, on Sunday, April 13th, 1873, by Rev. L. S. Friend of Eldorado, MR. J. H. WHITTLESLEY, of Eldorado, and MISS CATHARINE EFFIE MARTINDALE, of Antelope Springs, Cowley County.

Mr. Whittlesley set the first column of type for the first issue of the TIMES, over three years ago, and has been with us as foreman of the TIMES office nearly the entire intervening time. He has at all times been faithful in the discharge of his duties. We extend to him and his fair bride our warmest congratulations and hope they may live long to enjoy the pleasures and happiness in store for them.

Augusta and Emporia papers please notice.

[THE MURDER ON THE CIMARRON: ARTICLE FROM TRAVELER.]

Walnut Valley Times, April 25, 1873. Front Page.

THE MURDER ON THE CIMARRON.
From the Arkansas City Traveler of the 11th inst., we learn that the relieving party of thirty-one persons arrived in town yesterday, bringing in the body of Mr. E. M. Deming, for burial. The bodies of the other three men were buried at the place of the murder.

All of Captain Darling's surveying parties have now come in. Carefully sifting all the evidence, we are satisfied that the deed was done by "Big Jake's" band of Cheyennes, on the 19th day of March; and that the object was to intimidate and frighten off the surveyors.

After the murder, parties of Cheyennes visited all the camps, told of what they had done, and ordered all to go eastward at once. The party of relief found the bodies of the four men slightly covered by scraping sand over them. Only the body of Mr. Deming was scalped. All were perforated with many wounds, by both arrows and bullets.

Mr. Reffer says that Whirlwind's band was some thirty miles distant at the time of the murder. All the bands are now moving southward.

Full evidence in the form of affidavits has been transmitted to Supt. Hoag: We presume that an effort will be made to bring the murderers to Justice.

The mangled body of Mr. Deming was buried here on the 7th March. Depression and grief is manifested by our people. The survey is suspended till troops arrive to protect the workers.

We see no reason to anticipate a general Indian war. It was rather one of those sporadic outrages which will continue to occur, so long as savage hunters roam over the great plains. The Indian chiefs, even when desirous to prevent them, are often unable to control the bloodthirsty instincts of the young warriors.

Captain Darling is now at Washington, claiming military protection for the surveyors, which will, we trust, be granted.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, April 25, 1873.

The Bonds for the Kansas & Nebraska Railroad ($150,000) were carried last week in Cowley County, by a large marjority.

Walnut Valley Times, May 16, 1873.

THE CHERRYVALE HORRORS.
A Den of Thieves and Murderers.
Eleven Bodies in All Found.
The Kansas City Times contains a lengthy, detailed account of the fiendish and sickening Cherryvale, Kansas, disclosures obtained from a reliable person just from the scene of the crime. We extract the following tragic particulars from the Times' report.

WILLIAM BENDER,
the eldest of the brothers, had a wife who was a spiritualist. The balance of the Benders called her a medium, the neighbors a she devil. She was forty-two, with iron gray hair, ragged at the ends and thin over the temples. Her eyes were steel-gray and hard. The light that came from them was sinister and forbidding. She had not a single prepossessing feature. Her form, angular and tall, seemed to lift itself up when the spiritual influences took possession of it, and to become not only gigantic in height, but supernatural as well. At times she dealt in incarnations and the boiling of herbs and roots that had charms and spells about them. Her will was indomitable. All the household feared her, dreaded her, obeyed her, and, as the sequel proves, did the devil's work for her beyond all the atrocious devil's work ever done in Kansas.

It would seem as if the visit of the Cherryvale party alarmed the Benders. William Bender, now that the terrible secrets have come to light, and now that the shallow graves have given up their ghastly and mutilated occupants, can be remembered as having acted very strangely. Twice he had come into Cherryvale and had been noticed, upon the occasion of each visit, to loiter upon the outside of crowds, seemingly having no business, but eagerly intent all the time in listening to everything that was said.

Time went slowly by, and a man riding in one day from the prairie saw no smoke arising from Bender's chimney. The windows were down, the doors were closed, there was no sign of life anywhere. These evidences of emigration did not even interest him. So absolute was the stupor over the disappearance of Dr. York that an awakening had to depend upon an absolute discovery. This man, however, in riding by a pen to the left of the house, saw a dead calf in the lot, and upon further investigation and with the practical eyes of a practical farmer, used to guessing the weight of live stock upon the hoof, he knew that the calf had died of starvation.

Then the truth came, as an overflow comes often to a Kansas creek, all of a sudden and overwhelming. Such a death suggested flight, flight meant guilt, and the nature of the guilt was surely murder. He galloped into Cherryvale and related what he had seen. The town aroused itself. A party was organized instantly and set out for the Bender mansion. Then it was remembered that about two weeks before thissay somewhere near the 24th of AprilWilliam Bender had sold to some persons either in or near Cherryvale, a watch, some clothing of fine character, two mules, and perhaps a shot gun or two and some pistols. How did he come by these?

If the dead could speak, the question might be readily answered.

The party from Cherryvale arrived at the house, (A) which is marked in the diagram as located directly upon the Osage Mission road, having the outhouse (B) in the rear and to the south of it.

DIAGRAM SHOWN.
OSAGE MISSION ROAD.North.
West B East

A
C
E E
E D

E E
E G G G

South
A - House.

B - Stable.

C - Garden.

D - York's Grave.

E - Unknown Graves.

E E - Double Grave.

G - Graves not yet opened.

In the rear, as we have said, was a garden. This, at first, was not examined. The front room of the house was next carefully searched, every crack and crevice being minutely looked into, and subjected to the application of rods and leavers to see if the flooring was either hollow or loose. Nothing came of it all. No blood spots appeared. The floor was solidthe walls were solid. If there were dead men about, they were not in the front room. Then came the back room. The beds were removed.

In his flight the elder Bender had left everything untouched. Not even the doors were locked, though such had been the reputation of the she devil that the premises stood as safe from intrusion as if protected by a devil in reality. After the beds had been removed, one of the party noticed a slight depression in the floor, which, upon closer examination, revealed a trap door upon hinges. This was immediately lifted up, and in the gloom a pit outlined itself, forbidding, cavernous, unknown. Lights were procured, and some of the men descended. They found themselves in an abyss shaped like a well, some six feet deep, and about five feet in diameter. Here and there little damp places could be seen as if water had come up from the bottom or had been poured down from above.

They groped about over these splotches and held up a handful to the light. The ooze smeared itself over their palms and dribbled through their fingers. It was bloodthick, foetid, clammy, sticking, bloodthat they had found groping there in the voidthe blood perhaps, of some poor, belated traveler who had laid himself down to dream of home and kindred, and who had died while dreaming of his loved ones.

The party had provided themselves with a long, sharp rod of iron, which they drove into the ground in every direction at the bottom of the pit, but nothing further rewarded the search, and they came away to examine the garden in the rear of the house, marked in the diagram (C). After boring, or prodding, as it were, for nearly an hour, the rod was driven down into the spot marked (D), and when it was withdrawn, something that looked like matter adhered to the point. Shovels were set at once to work, and in a few moments a corpse was uncovered. It had been buried upon its face. The flesh had dropped away from the legs. There was no coffin, no winding sheet, no preparation for the grave, nothing upon the body but an old shirt, torn in places and thick with damp and decay. The corpse was tenderly disinterred and laid upon its back in the full light of the soft April sun.

One look of horror into the ghastly face, festering and swollen, and a dozen voices cried out in terror: "MY GOD IT IS DR. YORK!" And it was. He had been buried in a shallow hole, with scarcely two feet of dirt over him.

Had he been murdered, and how? They examined him closely. Upon the back of the head and to the left and obliquely from his right ear, a terrible blow had been given with a hammer. The skull had been driven into the brain, and from the battered and broken crevices a dull stream of blood had oozed, plastering his hair with a kind of clammy paste and running down upon his shoulders. Strong men turned away from the sickening sight with a shudder. Others wept. Some even had to leave the garden and remain away from the shambles of the butchers.

It seemed as if the winds carried the tidings to Cherryvale. In an hour all the town was at the scene of the discovery. A coffin was procured for Dr. York's body, and his brother, utterly overwhelmed, sat by the ghastly remains as one upon whom the hand of death had been laid. He could not be comforted.

But the horrible work was not yet completed. The iron rod again put in requisition, until six more graves marked (E) were discovered, five of which contained each a corpse, and the sixth, that in the second row, (E), containing two, an old man and a little girl. Some were in the last stages of decomposition, and others, not so far gone, might have been identified if any among the crowd had known them in life. The scene was horrible beyond description. The daylight fled from the prairies, but the search went on with unabated vigor.

A fascination impossible to define held the spectators to the spot. The spirit of murder was there, and it kept them in spite of the night and the horror of the surroundings. The crowd increased instead of diminishing. Coffins were provided for all, and again was the search renewed. It was past midnight when our informant left, but three more graves (marked G) had been discovered, each supposed to contain a corpse, although they had not been opened.

The whole country is aroused. Couriers and telegrams have been sent in every direction with descriptions of the Benders, and it is not thought possible that they can escape. With the crowd at the grave was a man called Brockman, who was supposed to know something about the murders. Furious men laid hold upon him at once and strung him up to a beam in the house. His contortions were fearful. His eyes started from their sockets, and a livid hue came to his face that was appalling. Death was in reach of him when he was cut down.

"Confess! Confess!" they yelled, but he said nothing. Again he was jerked from his feet, and again was the strong body convulsed with the death throes.

Again resuscitated, he once more refused to open his mouth. He did not appear to understand what was wanted of him. The yelling crowd, the mutilated and butchered dead, the flickering and swirling torches splattering in the night wind, the stern, set faces of his executioners, all, all passed before him as a dreadful phantasmagoria which dazed him and then struck him speechless. For the third time they swung him up, and then his heart could not be felt to beat, and there was no pulse at the wrists. "He is dead," they said. But he was not dead. The night air revived him at last, and he was permitted to stagger away in the darkness, as one who was drunken or deranged.

Six butchered human beings were brought forth from their bloody graves, and three others are to be uncovered. It is thought that more graves will yet be discovered. The pit under the trap door was made to receive the body when first struck down by the murderer's hammer. All the skulls were crushed in, and all at nearly the same place. One of the corpses was so horribly mutilated as to make the sex even a matter of doubt.

The little girl was probably eight years of age, and had long, sunny hair, and some traces of beauty on a countenance that was not yet entirely disfigured by decay. One arm was broken. The breast bone had been driven in. The right knee had been wrenched from its socket and the leg doubled up under the body. Nothing like this sickening series of crimes had ever been recorded in the whole history of the country. People for hundreds of miles are flocking into Cherryvale, and enormous rewards are to be offered for the arrest of the murderers. It is supposed that they have been following their horrible work for years. Plunder is the accepted cause. Dr. York, it is said, had a large sum of money on his person, and that he stopped at the house either to feed his horse or get a drink of water. While halting for either, he was dealt the blow which killed him in an instant. Everyone who knew him liked him.

Seven more bodies have been taken up, besides that of Dr. York, with three graves yet untouched. H. Longchos and child, eighteen months old, was identified by his father-in-law. The body of W. F. McCarthy has already been identified. He was born in 1843, and served during the war in company D, 123d Illinois volunteer infantry. Some men from Howard County identified the body of D. Brown. He had a silver ring on the little finger of his left hand, with the initials of his name engraved thereon. The body of John Geary was identified by his wife from Howard County, whose terrible grief over the mutilated remains of her husband was heart-rending. All had been killed by blows on the back of the head with a hammer.

The throats of all had been cut except that of the little girl. The whole ground will be dug up to find more graves. The excitement is increasing hourly. Some suspected parties will be arrested tonight. I will return to the scene of the murder tomorrow, and will send a full account of everything new that is developed.

The whole country is aroused, and the good name of the State is enlisted in the determination to secure the murderers if they have to be followed to the ends of the earth. The scene at the graves surpasses everything in horror that could possibly be imagined.

Walnut Valley Times, May 16, 1873.

THE CHERRYVALE MURDERS.
Dispatches from Parsons dated May 12, report that three more graves were discovered on the Bender place on the 11th. Over three thousand people were on the ground, and a special train had just arrived with seven cars filled with people. There was intense excitement all over the country, and a firm determination to ferret out the parties engaged in the murders. It is understood that large rewards will be offered for the arrest of the assassins. Nearly all the bodies of the dead were indecently mutilated. It is considered certain that the little girl was thrown alive into the grave with her father as no marks of violence were found on her body.

This makes twelve bodies in all that have been found.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, May 16, 1873.

Alice Murdock, daughter of the editor, is dangerously ill at Emporia with Hectic Fever. Mr. Murdock started to Emporia this morning.

[STATE NEWS AND NOTES.]

Walnut Valley Times, May 23, 1873.

The Bender fiends are reported to have been arrested in Texas, twelve miles from Dallas.

[BLOODY BENDERS.]

Walnut Valley Times, May 23, 1873.

BLOODY BENDERS.
Mr. Thomas Beers, the Kansas Detective, who has been in the city several days endeavoring to trace the Bender family, upon whom the Cherryvale murders have been fastened, received a telegram last night saying:

"Go to Denison. Will meet you there. C. J. PECKHAM."

Beers and Peckham have been working upon the case under the immediate commission of Gov. Osborn, and the detective assured the reporter of the Times that he had not a doubt but that the Benders had been arrested. Beers left for Denison on the first train after he received the dispatch.

One of the reasons for believing that the Benders had come this way in their flight lay in the fact that about three years ago the whole family lived in the northern part of this city, near Hyde Park. They had some friends or relatives living near Lafayette Park, and since going to Kansas, the young woman has carried on a correspondence with these friends.

The younger man went to Kansas first and settled on a claim, and the others soon followed. It is believed that they have been supporting themselves by plunder almost ever since their first advent in that State. The description of the family is as follows:

John Bender, between fifty and sixty years of age, five feet and eight or nine inches in height, German, speaks but little English, has dark complexion, no whiskers, and is sparely built.

Mrs. Bender, fifty years of age, rather heavy set, has blue eyes and brown hair, German, speaks some English.

John Bender, Jr., five feet and eight or nine inches in height, stoutly built, gray eyes with brownish tint, brown hair, light mustache, no whiskers, teeth very white, forces a laugh, twenty-five years old, speaks English with a German accent.

Kate Bender, dark hair and eyes, good looking, well formed, rather bold in appearance, fluent talker, speaks good English with very little German accent.

The amount offered as a reward for the arrest of the Benders has reached $5,000.

St. Louis Times.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, May 30, 1873.

SALT. They are making salt at Arkansas City in Cowley County, and have so far been successful. Thirty barrels a week is the average.

[STATE NEWS AND NOTES.]

Walnut Valley Times, June 6, 1873.

Gen. Custer reports that there will be 5,000 hostile Indians on the war path, this summer, about the upper Missouri.

[JOHN BENDER CAPTURED.]

Walnut Valley Times, June 6, 1873.

JOHN BENDER CAPTURED.
The Benders have been arrested by telegraph, at many different places, but examination has failed to confirm the rumor. The following special to the Chicago Inter Ocean, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, looks as if one of the fiends had been caught.

"Great excitement was occasioned on our streets on the night of the 25th, by the arrest of John Bender, or `old man Bender,' of Independence, Kansas, murder fame. It seems that on Saturday night Bender was hanging around the depot at Ely Station, on the Burlington, Cedar Rapids, and Minnesota railway, and caused suspicions. Mr. Devault, who had just been reading a minute description of each one of the Bender family, soon discovered that this man answered the description in every particular.

He telegraphed here for an officer, and then got some citizens together and put the suspected man in a box car, and kept him there until three officers from this place arrived at Ely and arrested him. He admits having lived near Independence, Kansas, and had an orchard there. He also speaks of a daughter, Kate, whom, he said, had $4,000 in her possession, only giving him a small proportion of it. Parties in the city, who knew Bender in 1866, say that they recognize him, but that he seems to be fatter than he was seven years ago.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, June 6, 1873.

W. P. Hackney and wife, of Wellington, are in the city.

We were pleased to meet yesterday Mr. J. B. Fairbanks of Winfield, who is in town in attendance upon district court. Mr. Fairbanks is one of the leading lawyers of this district.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, June 13, 1873.

THE KAWS. The Kaw Indian Nation, numbering over 500, passed through town this week, on their way to the Indian Territory. They gave us a war dance on Thursday night, which was attended by almost every man, woman, and child on the townsite.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, June 20, 1873.

The Kickapoos formerly lived in the United States, but crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico in order thence to raid into Texas with the protection of international law. Mackenzie has at length disappointed them. An effort is now being made to bring the valuable Kickapoos back into the U. S. domain, that they may be better taken care of. Great caution should be used not to take in the Kickapoos and their Mexican grounds besides, as that would shock the fine moral sense of some of the Democratic party.

Walnut Valley Times, June 20, 1873.

Mrs. Robert E. Lee seeks indemnity for the Arlington estate, which was sold for taxes and bought by the government. She states that at the sale bids made in her behalf were refused; that her father, George Washington Parke Custis, bequeathed to her the entire Arlington estate; and that General Lee had to do with it solely as the executor. As it is now a soldiers' cemetery, it cannot be restored, nor does she ask restoration, but to be paid the value of it. All the facts will more clearly appear when the case shall be brought before Congress.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, June 20, 1873.

Winfield proposes to celebrate the 4th of July.

Walnut Valley Times, June 20, 1873.

Prof. L. B. Kellogg, of Arkansas City, called in to see us last Tuesday.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, July 18, 1873.

Fifty Kansas newspapers have published the following very important item within the past week:

"T. B. Murdock, of the WALNUT VALLEY TIMES, it is said, is an aspirant for the position of Consul at Copenhagen, in Denmark."

T. B. Murdock, of the WALNUT VALLEY TIMES, has lived to be thirty-one years old, and has never been an applicant or candidate for any office, either by appointment or election. Further than this, he knows nothing of Copenhagen or Denmark. He has also remarked in a very emphatic way, he hoped to live long enough to write the obituary notice of the editor who started the story.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, July 25, 1873.

ENLARGED. The Wichita Eagle has been enlarged to a nine-column paper and otherwise improved. R. P. Murdock has been taken into the concern as business manager. The Wichita Murdocks are spreading themselves over a great deal of territory.

Walnut Valley Times, July 25, 1873.

T. B. Murdock, of the WALNUT VALLEY TIMES, it is said, is an aspirant for the position of consul at Copenhagen, in Denmark. Lawrence Tribune.

Oh Lord! Bring us the camphor bottle. Arkansas City Traveler.

You will see campfire or hellfire soon enough for publishing that outlandish report.

[Report Referred To.]
And now comes the editor of the WALNUT VALLEY TIMES, who wants to be recompensed for assessment rolls furnished the county in 1870. It would seem that Bent ought to read that great and good book (the Statutes of Kansas) enough to know that, to be paid, all bills against a county should be presented within two years from the time of contracting the samepossibly he was waiting for our new county to get a start before presenting his little bill. We think she has got the startof him. Cor. Arkansas City Traveler.

We printed the assessment rolls for Cowley County, in 1870, and have waited all these years for our pay and have sent our account to the Commissioners about a dozen times. We learn now that they have repudiated our account. In other words, they have taken the advantage of the Statute of limitation.

[SEARCHING FOR BENDERS.]

Walnut Valley Times, August 8, 1873. Front Page.

SEARCHING THE WORLD FOR THE KANSAS MURDERERS.
An agent of the Special Detective Agency of New York is now in Paris in pursuit of the Bender family, who are charged with being the authors of the wholesale murders lately discovered at Cherryvale, Kansas. Detectives from the same agency have been sent to London and all the leading European cities. One of the accused, Johanna, or, as she is commonly known, Kate Bender, is quite young, has red hair, and is a person of rather repulsive appearance.

The other woman is forty-two years of age, and has marked features, with a furtive and distrustful expression. She was seen on a steamer which left New York for Havre, and it is supposed that the whole family are at present concealed in the French capital or its environs. Kate Bender is possessed of some education, and is said to be able to speak a little French. If they are really in France, now that the police are on their tracks, it will be impossible for them long to escape detection. It appears that the world is to be ransacked that these murderers may be caught. It is most singular that with the strongly marked characteristics of all four of the members of this infamous family, they have escaped detection so long.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, August 22, 1873.

Prof. Norton, of the State Normal School at Emporia, is in attendance at our Institute. The professor is loved and beloved by the teachers and educators of Butler County.

Prof. Norton will lecture tonight at the Academy Hall on the subject of Genesis and Geology. It will undoubtedly be a good one. Turn out.

Walnut Valley Times, August 22, 1873.

CONCORD GRAPES. Max Fawcett, Esq., of Arkansas City, sent us this week by Mr. T. C. Arnet, a box of the finest Concord grapes we have seen this season. We learn that Max has nearly three tons of grapes this season in his fine vineyard. Mr. Fawcett is engaged largely in fruit culture. He has a large nursery and vineyard and knows how to take care of them. Max is an old time friend, and we return our heatfelt thanks to him for the delicious feast.

PROF. NORTON'S LECTURE.
Walnut Valley Times, August 29, 1873.

On Wednesday evening, Prof. Norton lectured upon "The Great Republic." The lecturer discussed various evils affecting modern society, including war, the diversity of languages, restraints upon commerce, our imperfect system of weights, measures, and coinage, and the discordant relations between labor and capital. He then spoke of the remedies which may be applied to these evils. The British Parliament is moving in behalf of international high court, which shall arbitrate between nations, and make an end of war. The Japanese are now likely to adopt an improved form of the English language, with a phonetic alphabet and regularized verbs, which is likely to become universal in the far east and ultimately all over the world. The tendency of the times is towards free trade, cooperation between capital and labor, and to universal adoption of the French Metric System and a uniform coinage all over the world. The lecturer showed that this would practically change the world into one Great Republic and pictured the grand effect of this harmonious union upon human progress.

Upon Friday evening he lectured upon "The Nebular Hypothesis," analyzing the structure of the universe, its method of growth, and the complete harmony between Genesis and geological science.

[QUERY ABOUT MURDOCKS.]

Walnut Valley Times, August 29, 1873.

NOTE: T. B. MURDOCK RETURNED RECENTLY FROM A TRIP BACK EAST TO MARYLAND, ETC.

M. M. Murdock, of the Wichita Eagle, is out in Colorado, traveling for his health. His brother, T. B. Murdock, of the Eldorado TIMES, is sailing around Washington, Baltimore, and the Chesapeake Bay. It is curious how some editors can travel and others can't.

Paola Spirit.

Editors, as well as other people, can travel if they have money. The way to make money is to work for it.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, August 29, 1873.

FOUND. We have in our possession an excelsior Diary belonging to A. W. Stubbs of the Kaw Agency, Indian Territory. The book contains some valuable papers. The daily record shows that Mr. Stubbs was on his way north from Eldorado on Saturday, the 23rd day of August, and that he took dinner at Sycamore Springs on that day. Mr. M. Randall, of this county, left the above described diary in our possession. The owner can have it if he will only let us know where he is.

Emporia News, Arkansas City Traveler, and Council Grove papers take notice.

[GRAPE CULTURE IN THE ARKANSAS VALLEY.]

Walnut Valley Times, September 12, 1873. Front Page.

There is a narrow belt of hilly land from two to four miles wide bordering the Arkansas River, that seems peculiarly adapted to the culture of the grape for early market. It is a deep, rich, sandy loam, and in places underlaid with limestone. Here, near the line of the Indian Territory, the grape ripens from two to three weeks earlier than in the Neosho, and other more northern valleys of this state.

This year we marked our first ripe grapes on the 28th of July, and finished marketing the Concords and Catawbas on the 29th of August. We have vines of the Concord, Catawba, Hartford, Prolific, Aerbemont, Diana, Norton's Virginia, Ives Madeira, Deleware, Burgunda, Taylor's Bullitt, and Perkins, that have borne their second crop. With the exception of Taylor's Bullitt, they promise exceedingly well. Last year we had Catawbas ripen on vines lying flat on the ground. The Deleware seems to do best on ground sloping east.

The Concord here ripens more thoroughly and is much richer and sweeter than at the north. It is really delicious, and until we find, by experience, a variety of better flavor equally suited to our locality, I would advise those planting for home use or for market, to plant more of this than of any other variety. It is good and sure.

This year we shipped grapes to Wichita, Eldorado, and other towns north of us, and received an average of 20 cents per pound for them. We were first in market. As soon as we have railroad communication with the cities and towns north and west of us, grape culture will be very profitable here. MAX FAWCETT.

Arkansas City, Aug. 30.

[CUSTER.]

Walnut Valley Times, September 12, 1873.

General Custer's official report of his recent skirmishes with the Indians up the Yellowstone is published, and exhibits a course of conduct highly creditable to him. He outwitted the Indians in their attempts at fighting in ambush, and in a square, open fight, put them to flight with considerable slaughter. It is evident that Custer is the right man in the right place, and it is hoped the Government will permit him to deal with the treacherous red- skins as he deems best, until they have been made to fear the power which feeds them.

[MARRIAGE CEREMONIES.]

Walnut Valley Times, September 26, 1873.

A justice of the peace performs marriage ceremonies at twenty-five cents each, at Arkansas City. Exchange.

We can discount Arkansas City, for we have a justice who publicly states that he will marry couples for nothing; and, in extreme cases he will date the papers back, all "free gratis for nothing." Holton Express.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, September 26, 1873.

IN TOWN. Col. Donaldson, county attorney of Howard County; Dan. Watson, E. W. Fay, and Mr. Elcook, of Peru; R. R. Nichols and Mr. Blake of Elk Falls, and Mr. Nix, County Commissioner of Howard County, were all in town before Judge Campbell this week on matters relating to the late county seat election in that county.

[REMARKS ABOUT McDERMOTT OF COWLEY COUNTY.]

Walnut Valley Times, October 10, 1873.

We notice that the preliminaries are being arranged, in a newspaper way, to bring out the notorious Dan Adams, of Shawnee, and a man named McDermott from one of the southern counties as candidates for the legislature. Both of these men were wide-mouthed advocates of Pomeroy, last winter. Their return to the legislature would be an endorsement of their course in supporting a bribe-giver. We shall see how much honesty is left in their districts. Junction City Union.

Yes sir! Mr. McDermott, of Cowley County, voted for S. C. Pomeroy last winter and will do it again this winter if he wants to. Not only is he being brought out in a newspaper way, but he has already received the nomination by the dear people and will be elected. If the editor of the Union will go down to Topeka next winter, he will find Mr. McDermott on the floor of the house fighting all grabs, steals, back-salaries, and illegal appropriations that may be introduced. He will find Mr. McDermott to be an honest, honorable man. He is a thousand times more honorable than the paid galoots who worked with York to secure Pomeroy's overthrow. The Junction City Union wants to keep its nose out of our ram pasture. You can say what you please about Dan Adams, but you must let our man alone, or we will send up a man to start a sorghum molasses manufactory in your print shop.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, October 10, 1873.

W. P. Hackney, of Sumner County, is a candidate for Representative to the Legislature.

Walnut Valley Times, October 10, 1873.

Howard County nominates a division ticket and passes resolutions in favor of dividing the County.

Walnut Valley Times, October 10, 1873.

The following gentlemen were nominated at the Republican Convention in Cowley County last week for the offices named: Representative, James McDermott; County Clerk, M. G. Troupe; Treasurer, E. B. Kager; Register of Deeds, N. C. McCulloch; Sheriff, R. L. Walker; Coroner, Sim Moore; Surveyor, W. W. Walton; Commissioners, Messrs. L. E. Manley, J. G. Titus, and R. F. Burden.

Walnut Valley Times, October 1, 1873. Front Page.

[From the Arkansas City Traveler.]
CATTLE STEAL.
Two weeks from last Saturday, 187 head of fat beef cattle were stolen from a herd near Coffeyville, and driven west. The particulars, as we learn them from W. J. Keffer, are as follows.

The cattle consisting of about 3,000 head, belonged to Kingsbury & Holmes, of Texas, and were driven to this State by Mr. Forehand, who was foreman. A plan was made by three of the herders to run off the cattle, and during the absence of the remainder of the hands, who were sent to look after some strays, the whole herd was scattered and 187 head cut out and run off. When the herders returned they found the cattle scattered, but did not suspicion any stealing, and the cattle would have probably been sold had it not been for one of the hands who accompanied the thieves as far as the 96th meridian, when he learned that he was only to receive his regular wages and not to share the spoils, when he turned back and reported the steal, plans and all.

Mr. Forehand and Austin then started in pursuit, and arriving at this place, employed Reed, McFadden, Wm. Wilson, and W. J. Keffer to hunt them.

Wilson and Keffer were sent on the east side of the Arkansas, and Reed and McFadden on the west; the latter two coming on the cattle quietly grazing near Lone Mound, about ten miles east of this place.

Word was sent to Forehand and Austin, who came down from Wichita, where they were waiting, and all went to the place where the cattle had last been seen and found they were gone.

The trail was then followed and the cattle and two of the three thieves captured. On returning home, Mr. McFadden found the missing thief in possession of his wife, who knew of the stealing, and captured him when he came to the house for something to eat, by leveling a gun at him and commanding him to surrender.

The cattle were left in the care of Mr. McFadden, and the thieves started for Coffeyville; but as they have to pass Elgin and the elm tree is at that place, the probabilities are they will "hang out" there.

[SENATOR POMEROY SHOT.]

Walnut Valley Times, October 17, 1873.

Dispatches from Washington of the 11th, state that Ex-senator Pomeroy, of Kansas, was shot on the afternoon of the 11th, by Ex-Representative M. F. Conway, of Kansas.

Pomeroy was walking up New York Avenue, when near the corner of 14th Street he met Ex-Representative Conway, who drew a large revolver, and when within six feet of Pomeroy, fired three shots at him, one of which took effect in the right breast just below the nipple. Conway then put up his pistol and started to walk away, when two gentlemen, J. B. Stillson and a man named Addison, who witnessed the shooting, immediately stopped him. Addison exclaimed, "Stop, sir, you have shot a man, and you must give your reason for so doing." Conway replied: "He ruined myself and family." He then surrendered his pistol to Stillson, and accompanied that gentleman to the station house.

Pomeroy had fallen to the pavement, and was assisted to a carriage and driven to his house in K street, where physicians were immediately summoned. Drs. S. Biles and Merdi made an examination of his wounds, and pronounced it simply an abrasion. The ball passed through the two thicknesses of Pomeroy's coat, and also his vest and shirt, and its force was so far spent after penetrating the skin, it was thrown off by the cartilage of the ribs, near the end of which it struck. This wound has bled but very little, and will cause no inconvenience. One of the shots fired by Conway passed through Pomeroy's hat, closely grazing his head, and another missed him altogether, although fired within a few feet of him.

Pomeroy says he never had any conversation with Conway, and has not the remotest idea why he was shot.

Ex-Senator Pomeroy says Conway saw him a few days ago, for the first time in about two years, and said abruptly: "I am out of money." To which he replied: "I know then how to appreciate your situation, for I am nearly in that condition myself." This was all that passed between them, and today not a word was spoken before Conway commenced firing. It surprised Pomeroy more than anything that happened to him before.

Pomeroy is positive in stating that he has never had any controversy or ground for difficulty with Conway. On the contrary, he says that about three years ago, he and Senator Sumner got Conway's wife a clerkship in the Treasury Department, on her representation that her husband would not support her. Subsequently, says Pomeroy, Conway tried to draw her wages at the Treasury Department, but failed to accomplish it, but he, Pomeroy, had no controversy with him on that subject or any other.

Conway is at police headquarters in the custody of the authorities. Excepting the remark he made when he was stopped in the street by Stillson, that Pomeroy had injured him and his family, Conway has been entirely reticent and has not alluded to the affair.

As the wounds of Pomeroy are not of serious nature, Conway will be detained till Monday, when he will be arraigned before the police justice. The weapon was a six shooter, three barrels of which were discharged. After the shooting he was very excited, and on the first remark made to him by Stillson, "What have you done?" he replied, "I don't know, or I hardly know what I am doing."

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, October 31, 1873.

Thomas Murdock, of Emporia, father of all the Murdocks in this section, called to see us last Wednesday. He was on his way to the Indian Territory.

[SALT: REMANTO SPRINGS, SUMNER COUNTY.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 7, 1873.

Prof. Mudge pronounces the salt made at the Remanto Springs, Sumner County, to be the purest and best for every purpose of any manufactured in the United States.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 7, 1873.

The Salt River boat starts today with a full load.

Walnut Valley Times, November 7, 1873.

B. F. Adams, of this place, brought us a very fine specimen of gypsum from the Indian Territory last Tuesday. It is the finest specimen we ever saw, about six inches square, a half inch thick, solid and transparent.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 14, 1873.

W. P. Hackney was elected Representative in Sumner County by 540 majority.

Walnut Valley Times, November 14, 1873.

William Martin was elected Representative over McDermott, in Cowley County, by a small majority.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 21, 1873.

A PERSONAL WORD.
T. B. Murdock, the editor of this paper, is suffering from an attack of Typho-Malarial Fever, and has been incapacitated for business for the past week. The probability is that he will not be able to perform any of his duties whatever for some time to come. The TIMES will be issued as usual, but perhaps will not contain as much original matter. We hope our readers will look over all seeming neglect.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 21, 1873.

Prof. Wilson and Mr. A. N. Deming of Arkansas City were in Eldorado this week.

Walnut Valley Times, November 21, 1873.

The Kickapoo Indians arrived at Arkansas City a few days since on their way to their reserve twenty miles south of that place.

[EDITORIAL PAGE.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 28, 1873.

ALL RIGHT AGAIN.
The editor of the TIMES is no longer an invalid. He is not afflicted with the Typho-malarial Fever now. Persons desiring to pay the necessary two dollars on subscription can still do so and get a receipt in full. Come and see us.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, November 28, 1873.

Born. To the house of Murdock, of Wichita, last week, a little Granger. It was a girl. Owing to the alkali over there, the Wichita babies are all girls. Call it Pomona.

Walnut Valley Times, November 28, 1873.

Mrs. Murdock, of Emporia (our mother) and R. P. Murdock, of Wichita (our brother) came over last week to see us "peg out." The Doctor concluded it would be well enough to postpone the affair until some future time.

[INDIAN OUTRAGE: BOY SCALPED AND BURNED NEAR CAMP SUPPLY.]

Walnut Valley Times, December 19, 1873. Front Page.

[From the St. Louis Globe.]
INDIAN OUTRAGE.
A Boy Scalped and Burned to Death Near Camp Supply.
A most horrible outrage occurred near Camp Supply, about sixty miles from Fort Dodge, one day last week, that for brutality and cruelty, has not been equalled since the days of Crawford and the early Indian troubles. The perpetrators, of the fiendish act, were Kiowas, who, for some time past, have been causing considerable trouble in and around their reservation.

It seems that a party of English tourists arrived at Camp Supply a few days ago for the purpose of engaging in a buffalo hunt. At Camp Supply they purchased a complete outfit necessary to carry on the hunt for several days, and hired a wagon and team, with a boy about seventeen years old as driver. After being out several days, their provisions gave out and they dispatched the boy and team back to town for another supply, expecting he would easily make the trip in three or four days, at the furthest, the distance being about thirty miles. The allotted time passed, and a day longer, when the hunters, becoming uneasy at his extended absence, started back for Camp Supply. Here nothing had been seen or heard of him, since the departure of the party.

A party of hunters and scouts were immediately organized and sent out in search of him, taking the trail towards the hunting grounds. The second day out they suddenly came upon the boy. He had been captured by a band of Kiowas, the wagon taken apart and piled in a heap, the boy tied to a stake, and, probably, burned alive. He had also been scalped by the brutal cowards, and his charred remains left on the ground, with all the proof of how the devilish act had been committed. The horses, of course, were stolen.

The excitement in and around Fort Dodge is intense, and the old hunters and trappers in that vicinity vow that if the Government does not inflict summary punishment upon the incarnate fiends, they will take the matter into their own hands and commence a war of extermination.

Colonel Bristol, in command at the Fort, says he has the Fifth Infantry and two companies of cavalry in readiness and is only awaiting orders from the War Department. The Kiowas have about two thousand warriors on their reservation.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 2, 1874.

Capt. L. F. Johnson, as gallant and true a soul as ever wore the blue, or stood by a friend in distress, made his bow to "ye Devil," while en route to his farm on the Arkansas in Cowley County.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 16, 1874.

The Red River raft has all been removed.

Walnut Valley Times, January 16, 1874.

Winfield has a Grangers' Saloon, where the "horny handed" can get their tangle foot at reduced rates.

Walnut Valley Times, January 16, 1874.

VIGILANTES. On Friday night of last week, some five or six men from Butler County, accompanied by several of Grouse Creek, came to the house of W. D. Show, at about 12 o'clock at night, and enquired for Kige Beemis, who was stopping with Mr. Show for the purpose of hunting. Mr. Beemis stepped out of the house, when he was surrounded and taken to the timber, a short distance, a rope placed around his neck, and thrown over the limb of a tree. The vigilanters then told him to tell all he knew about horse stealing. He told them that he "knew nothing about it," and they let him go. Mr. Beemis had been arrested in Butler County on suspicion, had a trial, and was acquitted, and the parties not satisfied with the result, took the above mode to see if they could not make him confess.

Arkansas City Traveler.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 23, 1874.

The Winfield Courier has imbibed a generous portion of that "pint," we judge, from the following.

"Some nincompoop among the sand burrs of the west bank of the Arkansas River is agitating the matter of cutting a strip off the west side of Cowley County and one off the east side of Sumner County, making a new county thereof, with Oxford or some other ford for county seat. Well that is pretty thin. Please don't, gentlemen! Father Martin won't support any such proposition, neither will Hackney. But if Mr. Martin should take such a notion into his head, he could not accomplish it."

[TROUBLE IN HOWARD COUNTY.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 30, 1874.

TROUBLE IN HOWARD COUNTY.
"At half past eleven o'clock this morning, while our citizens were pursuing their usual avocations, the town was entered by twenty-four wagons, accompanied by about one hundred and fifty men from Boston and vicinity, armed with guns, sabres, and revolvers, who immediately drove up in front of the various county offices and commenced to load up the books, papers, etc. They were not longer than twenty minutes at the work, when they fell into line, gave three cheers, and departed for Boston.

"Deputy County Attorney, Watson, is the only official who left with them. The Treasurer is absent at Topeka, and they forced their way into his offfice and took the books therefrom.

"What the final result will be it is not easy to determine. We are bitterly opposed to acts of violence of whatever nature, and think Boston certainly acted a very unwise part in thus taking the law into her own hands, even though her friends may have deemed that she was entitled to the county seat, and that it was wrongfully kept from her.

"It would undoubtedly have been better policy in the friends of Boston to have waited until they could have received a hearing before the courts, when they may have gained the full benefit of the law, without resort to violent measures. As it is at present, Boston, in the end will be the sufferer, in the loss of time and money, trouble, and the good feelings of law- abiding citizens all over the county.

"We await developments, and will apprise our readers of any interesting (or uninterest ing) features which the course of action inaugurated today may bring about.

"The undersigned County Officers of Howard County, Kansas, respectfully inform all persons having business in their respective offices, that, although the desks, papers, and furniture have been removed by force to the town of Boston, they are, and will remain, at the town of Elk Falls, the present county seat of Howard County, prepared to do all business pertaining to their respective offices.

GEO. F. GRAHAM, Probate Judge;

DAN. CARR, Clerk, District Court;

FRANK OSBORN, Register of Deeds;

E. D. CUSTER, Treasurer;

By C. W. MOORE, Deputy;

ELI TITUS, Sheriff,

By J. W. VANNOY, Under Sheriff.

Elk Falls Journal, Jan. 20th.

"On a motion to vacate the Injunction restraining the officers of Howard County from moving their offices to Boston, Judge Campbell was like a western Justice, who after hearing argument on both sides, decided the case upon the grounds neither party had touched, and decided `the election of the 11th of November uncalled for.' M. G. Miller, the attorney for Boston, took exceptions; and the Judge promised to send his order immediately to the District Clerk of Howard County. Two weeks have elapsed and no order yet. Either the immaculate Judge Campbell is withholding his order or some wily Elk Falls man has `gobbled it up,' for the purpose of keeping it out of the January term of the Supreme Court. In either case it is calculated to defraud the people of Howard County of their expressed rights! Howard County Messenger."

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, January 30, 1874.

"Armed men captured the records of Howard County from Elk Falls, the recognized county seat, and took them to the town of Boston. The Sheriff with a posse started to take them, but were threatened with their lives if they tried it."

The Howard County Messenger says: We understand from reliable authority, that the Elk Falls people are getting hold of all the remonstrances signed, Against the division of Howard County, and attaching them to Petitions for division. If Howard County is divided, it will be through instrumentality of Elk Falls men and her satellites.

MUCH WAS SAID BY THE EDITOR, OTHERS, OVER A MOVEMENT BY THE AUGUSTA PEOPLE TO DIVIDE BUTLER COUNTY: THIS TIME BY SPLIT- TING BUTLER COUNTY IN TWO IN THE MIDDLE...ANOTHER BILL WAS ALSO INTRODUCED TO TAKE OFF TWO TOWNSHIPS FROM THE NORTH WEST OF THE COUNTY. T. B. MURDOCK WAS FURIOUS! THEY WANTED TO CALL THE NEW COUNTY "YATES"AND HAD ALREADY INTRODUCED THE FOLLOWING.

"HOUSE BILL NO. 118. AN ACT CREATING AND PROVIDING FOR THE COUNTY OF YATES, AND TO AMEND SECTION 9 OF AN ACT ENTITLED `AN ACT DEFINING THE BOUNDARIES OF COUNTIES,' APPROVED MARCH 3, 1873."

THE EDITOR BLASTED AWAY ABOUT THIS LATEST MOVEMENT IN THE FEBRUARY 6, 1874, EDITION OF THE WALNUT VALLEY TIMES.

[CAUGHT AT LAST: REUBEN BLOOMFIELD.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 6, 1874.

CAUGHT AT LAST.
Chas. G. Brooks, a Labette County detective, arrested at Danville, Illinois, sometime in the middle of January a man named Reuben Bloomfield, charged with a number of crimes, the principal one being the murder of Henry Route in this (Cowley) County about two years ago. Word was received at this place by acting County Attorney Fairbanks to the effect that Bloomfield was in custody and wishing to know if he was wanted here, and if he was not, he would be tried for some minor offense with which he was charged. Mr. Fairbanks told them to bring him along, but in a short time he received notice that he had committed suicide by taking strychnine shortly after his arrest. . . .

[QUANTRELL.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 13, 1874. Front Page.

QUANTRELL.
While seated in the office of the Eldridge House, Sunday evening, we entered into conversation with a gentleman from New York, connected with a large dry goods house there, whom we have known for the past six years. Among other topics the Quantrell massacre was brought up, when our friend remarked that he had personal acquaintance with Quantrell, knew his antecedents, early history, etc., and the circumstances connected with his death.

At our request, he made the following statement.

"Quantrell's name was William Charles Quantrell, son of Thomas H. Quantrell. He was born in Hagerstown, Maryland, or very near there. When he was about two years old, his father with his family moved to Canaldover P. O. (village of Dover), Tuscarawas County, Ohio. I was living in Dover in 1843 and became acquainted with the family, who traded at my store. The Grandfather of William lived in Washington and was a professional gambler. He died in New York about six years ago. His uncle was sentenced to the Maryland penitentiary for twenty years for stealing. His father was a coppersmith by trade, a man of fine appearance and good education. He abandoned his trade later in life and took to school teaching, and at the time of his death (1854) was Superintendent of the Union School at Dover. His father published a book called "Mechanic Arts," and purchased the first patent right for the practice of the Daguearean art. He died poor. His mother was a very ordinary woman, both in education and personal appearance. Her maiden name was Hart. There were four children, of whom our Quantrell was the oldest. His sister Mary died about one year ago. The other two children are boys and still live with the old lady in Doverone is a cripple.

Will Quantrell left his home in August, 1854, the same year his father died, and ultimately came to Kansas with other people from Dover, including Colonel Harry Torry, once of Paola, and several young men. In the course of a year the young men returned home and gave a bad account of Will, stating he was a hard case and was stealing and pillaging half his time. This report surprised his friends very much, for he had left with the best wishes of all his acquaintances and high hopes were entertained of his life in the West."

Our informant then went on to say that some time ago he became acquainted in New York with a man named White, who said he had not only known Quantrell, but at one time was a member of his band. He said Quantrell first collected five men together and told them of a rich man living near Kansas City, who had stock and money which they could easily rob him of. He got them to follow him there, and when they reached the confines of the farm, he told them to wait while he went ahead to reconnoiter. He went to the house and informed the proprietor of the men outside his farm, told him their object, and arranged an ambuscade, into which he afterwards led his followers and everyone was killed. For this treachery Quantrell got a certain sum of money and a fine mare.

White once asked Quantrell why he sacrificed his comrades in Kansas City, and Quantrell replied that they had belonged to Jennison's Jayhawkers and had killed two of his brothers; he was after revenge. This story was of course untrue.

White states that whenever Quantrell was hard pushed by his pursuers he would flee to the house of a friend at Paola, where he would sometimes remain concealed for several days. The last time he was there he had gone to bed when his friend came to his bed and aroused him, for "they were after him." Quantrell jumped out of the window, reached and mounted his mare, and fled rapidly out of town. This is the last time he was known to be at Paola. White left the band in a short time, or as soon as he found out how desperate and lawless a crew he was associated with, and went to Texas. When White was in St. Louis a year or so ago, he met a woman there who was keeping a house of prostitution whom he recognized as Quantrell's old mistress. He called to see her and learned from her lips the sequel of Quantrell's life.

After Quantrell sacked Lawrence he fled across Missouri into Kentucky without molestation, but at Columbus or Fort Pillow, Kentucky, the band had a skirmish with a small body of Union troops, in which Quantrell was wounded in the knee. He was taken to Lexington, Kentucky, placed in the Sisters of Charities hospital, where he died. Before his death he sent for a Catholic priest to whom he confessed all. He had $5,600 in cash about his person, one-half of which he gave the priest for charitable purposes and the balance he gave to his mistress, with which she purchased furniture and started a house of ill-fame; which at last accounts she was keeping in St. Louis. Lawrence Journal.

[HOUSE BILLS TO CREATE YATES COUNTY/ DIVIDE HOWARD COUNTY.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 13, 1874.

House Bill No. 118 to divide Butler County and create the county of Yates, and house bill No. 130, to divide Howard County and create the county of Elk, were both referred to the committee on county lines and county seats. But as these bills provide for new counties, and propose to adjust the legal questions necessarily arising by reason of the division of old counties, they ought to be considered by the judiciary committee. The bills have the same object and purpose, and yet are very unlike, and it is doubtful if either will secure a proper adjustment of the rights and equities of the old and new county, in case of a division.

Commonwealth.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 13, 1874.

The Augusta Republican insinuates that Eldorado imports voters from Cowley County and pays them in whiskey. That's rough on Cowley. Eureka Herald.

Walnut Valley Times, February 13, 1874.

The Winfield Courier says that a man walked into the Probate Judge's office the other day and asked for papers for "night herding." He wanted a marriage license.

Walnut Valley Times, February 13, 1874.

The worst "job" that has come up in the Legislature as yet is from Butler County. That county has been in a turmoil for years over local questions, and all manner of outrages have been committed. Eldorado is the county seat, and Augusta the town that would like to be the county seat. As Augusta has everything to gain and nothing to lose, she has resorted to the worst kind of sculduggery to make herself a county seat, but the county seat is decidedly obstinate and still remains at Eldorado. Augusta has the worst lot of shysters of any town in the State, and nothing is too low for them to resort to.

Last fall an Augusta man was elected to the Legislature after pledging himself in every mannerpublic and privateto oppose the division of the county. His name was Hill, and he was elected as a reformer.

Instead of tending strictly to reforming, he introduced a bill to divide Butler County, make Augusta the county seat, and to compel Butler County to refund the money paid for taxes since 1869 from the territory out of which the new county was to be formed.

The "job" was well worked up, but it was discovered by the people of Eldorado just in time to squelch it, and the double dealing of Hill was exposed. The Legislature has not taken action on the matter yet, but Hill's bill will be defeated, and Augusta will not be the county seat. Hill is not looked upon as a reformer as much as he was, but is most effectually "snowed under." Alas, poor Hill! Solomon City Newspaper.

Walnut Valley Times, February 13, 1874.

"Latest reports from Howard County say that the Boston people have concluded to return the books and papers, and await the course of the law. Meanwhile, more complications have arisen. The county safe was by some parties injured so that it cannot be opened. The deputy treasurer swears that there are $8,000 in school bonds, warrants, and cash in the office at Elk Falls, and that all of it was taken by the Boston men. This affair will cost Howard County many thousand dollars, and all because a few individuals have town lots to sell.

Eureka Herald."

[EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
TOPEKA, KANSAS, February 17th, 1874.

DEAR READERS: We find ourselves still at the State Capitol, in the interest of "non- division of Butler County." We succeeded last week in getting a second hearing before the Committee on County Seats and County Lines, but notwithstanding all this, the Committee is against us. We presented a remonstrance, containing, we believe, over seventeen hundred names, against the division of our county. We also proved to the Committee that Dr. Hill was elected as an anti-division candidate; that he made anti-division speeches all over the county, and that it was understood everywhere that he was opposed to division.

But then the Committee was against us in the start.

Edson, member of the House, and Chairman of the Committee on County Seats and County Lines, says he is clearly of the opinion that the bill ought not to pass; but four of the Committee are against him.

Richardson, member from Harvey County, and a member of the Committee, is "red hot" for division. He wants two of our townships off the north-west, and thinks he can get them,

provided, the twenty-mile strip is cut off.

A large delegation is here from Harvey County, working hard for the division of our county.

The delegation from Augusta are unremitting in their efforts and have left no stone unturned, to secure the passage of Dr. Hill's bill.

The Senator from Chase County will attach an amendment to the bill, if it comes into the Senate, providing for the taking off of a portion of Butler County and attaching it to Chase County, on the north.

It will thus be seen that our county is assailed on three sides.

They all want a slice off of Butler County.

We are opposing every effort to change our county lines in any way, shape, or form. We are for Butler County as it is.

We are of the opinion that two-thirds of the people of Butler County would prefer to have our lines remain as they are. We will have a hard fight to get through the House, and a harder one to get through the Senate.

The bill to divide Howard County passed the House last week, and is now before the Senate Committee on County Seats and County Lines, and will be reported on this week.

We are satisfied that the people of Butler County see now how the people of Augusta stand on the county lines question. We have always claimed that if we give Augusta a chance, she would cut our county in two. We are rather of the opinion our people are getting their eyes open, and have learned a thing or two since the last election. But then we will not moralize.

Our opinion is that Butler County will not be cut in two, this Winter. But then we may be mistaken.

The Legislature, thus far, has only passed three billsthe most important one being the bill allowing them to draw their pay.

We will endeavor to keep our readers posted on the county line question.

Yours truly, T. B. MURDOCK.
[IMPORTANT BILL: INTRODUCED BY SENATOR INGALLS.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

IMPORTANT BILL.
On Tuesday last, Senator Ingalls introduced a bill of great importance to this State. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to appoint commissioners to locate and open a road for military, postal, and commercial purposes, across the Indian Territory, from the mouth of the main Cache River, in Texas, via Fort Cobb, Fort Sill, and the Wichita Agency, to the mouth of the Walnut River, in Kansas, the said road including a belt of country one and a half miles in breadth; to be kept open to driving and transit of merchandise free from any charge forever. The bill was referred to the appropriate committee.

[SENSIBLE DECISION: DISPOSITION OF RESOLUTION RE POMEROY.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

SENSIBLE.
The State Senate on Wednesday very unceremoniously disposed of the buncombe resolution of the House calling on the County Attorney of Shawnee County to bring Mr. Pomeroy to a speedy trial. This shallow piece of buncombe was indefinitely postponed, by a vote of 15 to 7. Which means that it was kicked out of doors, as it should have been. No more discreditable and impertinent resolution than this was ever before introduced in a legislative body, and the adoption of it by the House was the silliest nonsense representatives were ever guilty of.

[REPORTS: INDIAN WAR.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

The reports which we hear from the western frontier are indicative of a general Indian war. It is said that the Representatives in Congress from the extreme western States are organizing in opposition to the entire Peace Policy system of managing the Indians.

[PERSONALS.]

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

Harvey County has issued nearly $3,000 more of county orders than the law entitles her to.

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

The Senate amended the House bill postponing the tax penalty in a manner that virtually kills the bill, by a vote of 17 to 10.

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

The Coffeyville Courier says that last Sunday morning Rev. Adams, a full blooded Delaware Indian, preached to a crowded house.

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

The bill to change the boundaries of Howard County, and to create the county of Elk, passed the House by a vote of 72 to 37, with an amendment to the effect that the Governor shall select a temporary county seat for Howard County. An amendment requiring the matters embraced in the bill to be submitted to a vote of the people of Howard County, was voted down. This bill was defeated in the Senate.

Walnut Valley Times, February 20, 1874.

Eldorado and Augusta are having a big fight on county lines. Augusta has a bill before the legislature to cut the county in two, three, or four miles south of Eldorado. The bill calls the new county Yates, and locates the county seat at Augusta. This would probably be a good thing for Augusta, and we don't blame her for trying to get the bill through. But Eldorado don't want it and as it is a hard matter to change county lines if there is any considerable opposition, we conclude the bill will fail.

[NOTE: FEBRUARY 20, 1874, WAS THE LAST ISSUE ON THIS ROLL OF MICRO FILM...E275.]