The Lecompton Sun from Lecompton, Kansas • Page 1

The mm VOLUME XXXII LECOMPTON, KANSAS, THURSDAY, MAY 17, 1923 NO. 23 someone had to volunteer to bring the "Atchison's men were at breakfast, PIONEER RELATES STORIES OF BORDER WAR IN KANSAS THE AMERICAN LEGION What "The Boys" Are Dolnj Over the State and Elsewhere gun was also the cap of a sh 11 which had been Bhot. These facts, together with little bits of evidence picked up here and there, seems to give sufficient proof that some individual unknown had committed the deed. Naturally the question has been asked time and again, what was the motive? It is a question that perhaps will never be satisfactorily answered to all. There are many rumors going around, but none of sufficient importance to Justify such an act by any sane person.

It was reported that a stranger had been In the Merlden vicinity on Monday, inquiring the way to the Hurley home and as Miss Hurley was the possessor of some valuable diamonds, robbery may have been the cause. The explosion of a gasoline lamp, which set fire to the house, is A. 8. Fish, 87, Was Soldier In Lane's Army "Topeka In 1857 was a small town a kind of a cross-roads town but there was one building that I remember distinctly. It was called Constitution hall.

This building was located opposite the present Topeka post office." Thus spoke A. S. Fish, of Ottumwa, at the Throop hotel yesterday. He came to Shawnee county In 1857 and located at Brownsville on the Waka-rusa, which Is now known as Auburn. Pish, who is 87 years old, said he was 21 when he came to Kansas.

Speaking of the early days, he remarked: "In the early days there was a contest on between slavery and freedom in Kansas. Missourians, Georgians and other southerners were overrunning the territory In different places, trying to make It a slave state, ivlany men from the East came to Kansas and took land claims with the Intention of growing up with the state. I came here also from Ohio, stopping off In Iowa for awhile. "Shortly after I came to Kansas I joined the army of James A. Lane.

I with this army and did what I could to establish freeflow! lit' (dead of slavery In Kansas. "Among the men I remember "well as my friends and comrades were John A. Cook, John A. Kegel, killed at Harper's Ferry; S. M.

Wood, John Ritchie, James H. Lane, Henry Fox, the Wakefield brothers, the Whitings, who were hotel keepers at Lawrence, and the Thompson brothers. "Some history was made before I arrived. James Buchanan and the administration, in Washington were aid-ins the South to plant slavery In Kansas. The United States troops would breiik up our forces and tell us to go horn.

"The border ruffians burned a large number of claim houses and 1 Temom- Iw'rare a stretch of 30 miles where thrre was nothing but ashes. The pqople who lived in these houses were and on getting this message and seeing us approaching, they fled, leaving their rifles stacked, bo Lane took the guns as he said he would. "I never was with John Brown. He lived at Oswatomle and we never knew much about him. He never came out among ub.

Lane once invited him to a conference and Brown's reply was, 'I obey no order, but "I never saw Brown. He was the only man who did any fighting during the border ruffian war. "The forces of the Free Staters and the border ruffians never killed a man. Instead of sleeping in the roadway we slept In the brush like wolves. "Out north of Topeka, at a spot known as Grasshopper Falls, (now Valley Falls), several border ruffians once were captured In a log cabin.

At Franklin we once unhitched a team of horses that was drawing a hay wagon, set the hay on fire and smoked out some border ruffians that were in a log cabin. "Prohibition was also advocated in the early days. John Ritchie, bf Topeka, was an early prohibitionist and once went into a small grocery store In Topeka with an ax and destroyed several barrels of whiskey. Ritchie also was a Free Stater, and I remem ber when he was arrested once and kept In Jail at Lecompton for six months by the border ruffians, "He put In most of his time in prison beating on an old tin plate with a stick, for company. I also remember once a deputy marshal named Arms had a writ out for Ritchie's arrest and the deputy was warned not to attempt to arrest Ritchie, because the men who went after Ritchie would be killed.

This proved to be the case because Arms, In attempting to arrest Ritchie, was shot in the neck and killed. "Charles Montgomery, another ac tive Free Stater was out plowing when an attempt was made to iterve a writ on him. Montgomery Invited the server of the writ to his home, asked permission to wash and change his clothes before to Leavenworth and then entering by another door. pointed a gun at the man, received all the writs and destroyed them." Fish, who Is now traveling in the interest of an accounting system, left Kansas in the early sixties, returning to Iowa. Topeka Daily Capitol, May 7.

FATHER, RKOTIIEK AMI SISTER All Three Members of T. A. Hiirlrj Kimiily Die In Fire The T. A. Hurley home, eight miles northwest of Perry, was destroyed by lire ehrly Monday evening and thive members of the family lost their liveJL The dead are: T.

A. Hurley, age Sa. Genevieve Hurley, II. Krnest Hurley, age 28. The fiTe was discovered by neighbors about 7:45 o'clock and when they reached the building, It was a roaring mass of flumes, and Bearch was made Immediately for the occupants.

When the fire hud cooled down, what was thought to be the bodies of the Hurleys, could be seen, the charred remains of ti.o father lying on the springs of the bed and that of his son on a sanitary couch, while (he remains of the duughter were found in the rubbish of another room. People at once 'became suspicious and everything pointed to foul Play, for why should a fire start that early In the evening and none of the occupants be able to escape? As booh as the fire had cooled sufficiently, what was left of the bodies were carefully examined and it was found that all three were fully dressed before the fire and the strongest evidence available that murder had been committed was the fact that a part of the clothing worn by the Senior Hurley, and which had been protected by the body, was blood soaked. Further Bearch revealed a double barrel shotgun near the re- tickets to Topeka. Death was the pen alty for anyone found with these documents, but despite this, I volunteered to bring the tickets to Topeka. I started on foot and thought I could dodge thru the hills and get the tickets and I had my lunch basket with me, but I was so afraid of being caught that I did not stop to eat, but throw my lunch basket away, "We voted, all right.

We held a legislature that year in the timber and it was called as a mass convention to elect a delegation to congress. Jim Lane, Mark Parrott, Miles Moore, John Ritchie and Gov. Charles Robinson were elected to represent the Free State government. "The Free State legislature assembled again In Constitution hall, and we were here to protect the free state Interest and were considering whether to-fight the troops or let the legislature be dispersed. There was between 8,000 and 10,000 men In the woods near Topeka.

"We discussed matters down there In the woods and proposed delegates to congress- Jim Lane said: 'No I do not want to go yet. After a while, when we are admitted to the Union as a state maybe I might whisper In your ears that I will go to the United States senate then I will be on an equal routing with Stephen A. Douglas and I will challenge him to debate the slavery question." "A shout went up from the woods In answer. 'We will send "At night, I remember that we would come to Topeka and make speeches from the porch of Constitution hall. However, we established a policy not to fight the United States troops, as we knew that our cause would be lost If we committed treason by fighting them.

"We had at this time a leader named Charles Lenhart, who had been un der Indictment In Germany. Lenhart came to Kansas and Joined us and wanted to fight the United States troops and he got up on a platform at Constitutional hall and made a speech advocating fighting the troops there, but we were fortified on Mount Oread, where Kansas University now stands. "We had a zig-zag fortification built to keep them out of Lawrence. The leaders of the opposing forces met half way, and Atchison Bald to Lane. 'Colonel, I want you to surrender.

I have 3,000 men back on the Lane then pointed to the hill and said, 'Do you see the 4,500 men bufldlng a fort on that hill? There Is not a man among them who would sooner sur- render father, mother, wife nnd before he would surrender the most worthless piece of his rifle!" "Atchison retired at this answer. "Later Atchison came again, bnt further south. Lane took his forces and started after him. Few men knew Lane, as he headed his command, dressed In rags. Georgia had offered a reward of $100,000 for him, dead or alive.

All the men were without guns i and Parrot, one of Lane's aids, notlc- log this, asked, 'What are you going to do without Lane's answer was, 'Take them' from the "A march of forty miles was made during a day and a night and on getting close to Atchison's camp, we marched and countermarched so us to make our numbers appear larger. Dan Doniphan, who was scouting for Atchison, was said to have watched The national commander of the American Legion, Alvln Owsley, paid his first official visit to Kansas since the beginning of his administration lost October. The commander was met at the Kansas Colorado state line by a great delegation of Legion officials of the fetate and the executive committeemen from the first district. The reception committee and the Legion commander then left for HuUhtnson where a program had been arranged. The commander then delivered hi address and well upheld his reputation as the "silver tonglied orator." The next stop in the state waa at Topeka but here he only stayed an hour delivering a speech at the State Industrial school for boys.

Here a banquet was served in honor of the Legion commander. The party then left for Kansas City, the last stop In the ftnte for the commander. Extensive plans had been made for the entertainment of the Legion dignitary and an evening of royal entertainment was en-Joyed. The commander here delivered another speech to a large assemblage of Legion members. The colors of the American Legion and Auxiliary headed the march of the Daughters of the American Revo lution when the delegntes to Its re cent triennial convention dade their prilgrimage to the tomb of George Washington at Mount Vernon.

Dr. Kate Waller Barrett, national president of the Auxiliary presided at the tomb. When the standards of the ex-service organizations were brought forward they received hearty applause. Protection for the purchasers of the Memorial Day poppy which will be on salo by the American Legion and Its Auxiliary on and before Memorial Day has been secured by the adoption of the plun to accompany each ponpy with the official Legion emblem. This plan insures the purchaser against the victimization of the sale by irresponsible agents who would take advantage of the public on this occasion.

Ex-service men in the State Tubercular Hospital at Norton have been busy making poppies for some "mo and have completed alout according to Dr. Grace G. Tlnney, member of the state executive committee of the Auxiliary. Many units of the Auxiliary engaged in tbe snlo of these popples will ue the proceeds for work among hospitals and welfare organizations nnd for work among ex-servlco men In their own communities. Plans for a real demonstration this year on Legion Iay huve been drawn up by the Harry K.

Everett post of the Legion at Mankato as a result of the meeting of the post held recently. The day will be one of the finest ever enjoyed by the people in Norton. Com mitteos have been appointed and are nt work on arrangements for the day and an event Is assured tluit will surpass the one last year which the bent one day celebration ever held In Mankato. Aside from the Legion's port in the celebration the merchants have pledged their support to give the community the biggest demonstration ever witnessed. A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Kansas Department of The American Legion was held in Hutch.

Inson last Friday, May 11th. Tbe meeting was in charge of W. P. Mac-Lean, state commander and Frank E. Samuel, state adjutant.

Plans for the Legion Home for orphaned children of the ex-service men at Independence were discussed. Also the qualifications for eligibility of Leglon-alres for Executive Committeemen were defined so that no one may bohl this appointment who has not been an officer in his local post and active In Legion circles. tujrned out to seek shelter In the Kaw I We gagged him and choked him down, timber and were forced to' live on and then he deserted us. rocbts, game and Huh until cared for "When the Civil war came and Lnw-hy 'friends. 'Tence was sacked, men personnlly ac- "In 1856, there a government was i qualnted with Lenhart told me that elected, held its session near West- Charles Lenhart was Quantrell.

Len-port. took the statutes of Missouri hart or Qunntrell "killed a good many and decreed that the laws of that state of his former companions, but Jim should govern the laws of Kansas. Lane got away by hiding In a corn whirever the name of Missouri ap-i field. pc)ed it being changed to Kansas. "At different times the forces from 'Later a constitution known as the Missouri, led by Col.

David Atchison, Lecompton constitution was establish- would come across and try to get us. ed, and we were asked to pay taxes to He appeared once on the Wnkamsa, support the bogus government. We just east of Lawrence, and fortified Lftnother rumor, and a quarrel between members of the family which ended in a tragedy, may have been another reason. These are all rumors and one person's guess Is as good as another. Since the death of Mrs.

Hurley, some nine years ago, the sister and brothers had remained with their father, looking after him in his declining years and the three lived together In perfect harmony until a short time ago. The division of property last fall and the marriage of the brother about two months ago, seems to be the opening wedge that brought about some dis- cord In the home. The wife of Ernest Hurley, who Ib the daughter of Charles Cook, a highly respected farmer of Rock Creek, and Who is teaching in the Florence, Kansas, schools, spent Saturday and Sunday at the Hurley home with her husband and everything pointed to the healing of old family wounds and all were happy and looking forward to tho short time when all would be in their respective homes and happy. Miss Genevieve was to have been mar ried to Mr. A.

F. Myers, a prominent farmer, north of Thompsonyllle, about the middle of Jund! I The Hurley family have been residents of Jefferson county for more than forty years and have been highly respected. Miss Genevieve taught In the schools at Merlden and Oskuloosa for several years and also at Kansas City. She also took an active Inter est In the work of the Woman's Rural Hope Club and also in the Thompson-vlllo Methodist church. Her brother Ernest, was a young man admired by all who knew him for his splendid luiblts, his devotion to his futlier and sister and for his willingness to take an active part In church and social affairs or for anything of benefit to the community at large.

He was a thirty-second degree Mason, with memberships Merlden and Topeka. An Inquest wiib held Tuosduy tnort'-Ing by Coroner Murks of Valley Falls, and the Jury, after hearing all the returned a verdict that death was due to an unknown cause. The father enme to the United States from Cork, Ireland, when a lud of 16. He settled on the farm near Merlden in 1S67. His wife died nine years ago.

There were six sons and seven daughters In the Hurley family. The living of these are: Andrew J. Hurley, Grnntvllle; George W. Hurley, Steamboat. Colorado: Ell M.

Hurley, Abilene; Thomas J. Hurley, Newton; William H. Hurley, Gary, Mrs. B. Bowlby, Topeka; Mrs.

D. W. Popper, Dodge City; Kate Baker, Maple Hill; Mrs. Elizabeth Belseekcr, Wll-llamstown; Mrs. Nora Baker, Lecompton, and Mrs.

Nellie Pngh, Mount Ran-1er, Md. Funeral services will be held at the Merlden Methodist church, Thursday afternoon at" 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. M. M. Thome of Perry, and burial will be made at Merlden.

LECOMPTON DEFEATS PERKY The Lecompton base ball team defeated Perry by a score of 12 to 4, In a game of ball played on the Perry diamond Sunday afternoon. A small crowd was In attendance, but all report it was a good game. The batteries: Lecompton McCall, Dryer and Hoag. Perry Welter, Stallard and Hun- would not do it. The tax collector, I remember, once came to Lawrence anil a sheriff by the name of Jones helped hm collect the taxes TMs tax col'ector went Into the office of Sam Wood.

Hanging all around Wood's office were short rifles. His office wa really an arsenal and In the room we-e 10,000 cartridges. VMy property Is on the wall and mjl currency Is on the was the anlwer Wood gave. So the sheriff wejt back without any funds. Later Joi'es returned to Lawrence, brought a nnnon and shot down part of the Elrifdge house but the free staters still refused to pay taxes.

"Ve, the Free Staters, then organized a state government, called it the Toeka constitution and elected a leg-Isliture. This legislature met In the To-eka Constitution hall to enact la's. President Buchanan ordered th troops at Fort Leavenworth to diperse the legislature. So Colonel Sunner came up to Topeka and com-mhded the legislature to disperse, an they did. All we asked was a fair election.

Tb border ruffians had come over an driven in claim stakes and had jut put their names on the stakes an then the men whose names were on the stakes would come over and va and we free staters were unable toote. In June, 18.57, we concluded to hold aielectlon. We had a red headed ed-ltr in Topeka, who was to print our tkets' and the day before the election awhile and then he was said to have mains of Miss Hurley, with tho cap returned to the Atchison camp and to of a shell still In the barrel, but hav-have reported. Lane's men are not ing been discharged. A Winchester coming by hundreds; they are coming repeating gun was also found near everyone to The reformer wants help hhn do the job.

by tle body of Ernest Hurley. In thli(ter.