The Chautauqua Journal

March 30, 1883

FRANK BROWN KILLED

On Sunday night last, in the Cunningham school house, which is located on the state road between this place and Independence, in Washington Township, there was enacted a tragedy, the details of wich are more than usually exciting. Frank M. Brown was shot and killed by William Neal; and the time of the occurrence was Sunday evening, just after religious services had been concluded, and before a majority of those present had reached the outside. We can give only a brief statement of the occurrence and some of the causes which led thereto as they were related to us by a gentleman who is well informed on the subject.

The deceased was not only well known in his immediate neighborhood, but there is scarely a resident of the county now but has at some time or other heard of Frank Brown. Those who resided here there or found years ago distinctly remember that he practically escaped punishment for murdering one of his neighbor by the name of Goodin, and it was that act and subsequent proceedings against him which first brought his name and reputation conspicuously before the public.

From that time until his death he has been regarded as a dangerous man with whom to have a disagreement; passionate, vindictive, quarrelsome, and a terror to the entire neighborhood. Wm. Neal is not so well but much more favorably known. He has resided in the county several years, and has led the life of a peaceable, upright citizen, who made and retained many warm friends.

During Brown’s trial for the murder of Goodin, Neal was one if his bondsmen, and his wife who is related by marriage to the Brown’s. Subsequent to the termination of the case against Brown, a disagreement arose between the two men as to which one of a pair of horses Neal had consented to accept from Brown in exchange for either a reaper or mower. This was the starting point of their trouble, and brown’s subsequent behavior towards Neal only served to deepen and widen the breach, until, by reason of threats and menacing looks and behavior, the latter became fixed in the opinion that his life was danger, and realizing which whom he had to deal, prudently went armed, but sought, whenever possible to avoid meeting his enemy.

Many things occurred which will probably be n evidence in the legal proceedings to follow, which justified Neal in the belief that his life was unsafe, which it is perhaps not now necessary or prudent to relate. Suflice it to say that his appearance at church on the evening in question was for the principal reason due to the fact, that a man who lived within a few hundred yards of Brown’s house, had made him an offer for a pair of colts, and he would be there likely to see someone by whom he could send word to the party, accepting the price offered for the colts. He went to the school house, and during services occupied a seta on the north side of the room, about half way the length of the building. Brown and his wife came in later; he taking a seat on the middle tier, a little forward of Neal. Nothing occurred the services to excite suspicion, except tat Brown at various times turned on his east to scowl at Neal, which the latter and two or three of his friends noticed.

When the congregation was standing to receive the benediction, Neal; placed one foot on the end of a seat, leaned forward on his knee, placed his right hand on his pistol, and in that position watched Brown’s every movement. After the congregation was dismissed, Brown put his overcoat, buttoned it, went forward nearly to the door, immediately turned around unbuttoned his overcoat, reached toward his hip pocket, and by this time he was directly facing Neal (who had not changed his position) and there was only the length of an ordinary school desk between them. Neal then drew his revolver and commenced firing, inflicting five wounds one in the head, another in the spine, one through the hand and one through each leg. It is supposed that wound in the hand and one leg were made by a single ball. Not a word was spoken by either party, and Brown’s death was instantaneous. When the firing ceased Mrs. Brown went to the body, and a scene of confusion and excitement followed which is beyond description. A number of persons remained at the school house with the body all night. Neal immediately came to town and voluntarily surrendered himself to the authorities. On Wednesday Wm A. Meadows, step-son of the deceased, filed a complain against Neal, and his preliminary examination will be had on next Tuesday before Judge Thompkins.

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Cedar Vale Commercial

August 28, 1896

 

Murder at Wauneta

J. B. Byrnes Killed by a Drunken Assassin

One of the most dastardly, cold blooded, unprovoked murders it has been the unpleasant task of the Commercial to record for many year, took place in Wauneta Tuesday afternoon about three o’clock. J. W. Walker, one of the blacksmiths over there after turning up his courage with several whiffs of the ardent, got his revolver into his belt and went over to the shop of his competitor, Mr. J. B. Byrnes, and asked him for some more whiskey, where upon Mr. Byrnes replied that he had none. This apparently enraged Walker and he called Byrnes a d__n liar. Mr. Byrnes again insisted that he hadn’t a drop about the place and then went on with work.

He passed out the side door of the shop to get some fuel for hearing wagon tires, which he was setting. Walker came out at the front door, went around to the side and on meeting Mr. Byrnes, began firing at him without exchanging another word. He fired three shots in succession, two of the balls passing through his body, either of which alone would have proven fatal. The third shot missed, but the result was all the same. In less than two minutes after the first shot was fired Mr. Byrnes lay prostate on the ground, gasping his last breath, killed without warning or provocation more than before mentioned.

The murderer reloaded his gun and started for home, but giving everybody solemn warning to keep their distance. As there were no firearms in town, no one interfered or attempted to arrest him. He went home, made his wife get his horse and then started south, went down in where Winchell and Smith were making hay. He took on of Mr. Smith’s horses and ordered Bob Hibbard to go with him and pilot him to the territory. Bob at first remonstrated but soon obeyed orders under the persuasive index of a six shooter. He warned Bob not to take him through any town or where they would be apt to meet more than he could stand off alone, warning him with the penalty of his life fie he disobeyed.

They went down through the Leggett farm east of Hewins where there were some haymakers at work. While fooling with his gun there, Walker accidentally shot his own horse, but he picked the best in the bunch there and ordered it unhitched from the rake. From there he went south by Harts’ Mill and met Squire Land whom he noticed was riding a better saddle than he himself had. He soon affected an exchange with the Squire, his pistol again being the moderator. When he got to the territory line he discharged Hibbard, saying he could go it alone the remainder of the day. Deputy Sheriff Mart Boyer and Sheriff Kiser were each notified that evening and the next morning started in pursuit, but up to the time of going to press he had not been captured.

Little is known of Walker’s history in this count as he has not been here long. When sober, he is quiet, inoffensive citizen, but exhibit’s a mania to use his gun and dirk knife when drunk. He is reported to be an expert with each and there were suspicions from words he has dropped when intoxicated that his is not his first murder. Personally he and Mr. Byrnes had always been on speaking terms, though rivals in business and experienced the little unpleasantness that happens under such circumstances.

The funeral for Mr. Byrnes was held Wednesday at one o’clock under the auspices of the Odd Fellows, an order of which he had been a long and worthy member. Although the time of notification was short, a large concourse turned out to show their last tribute of respect to the deceased.

 

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Notes From The Sedan Lance

June 1, 1899

A Man Killed in Resisting Arrest in Elgin

Always towns that have stood in the first rank as shipping points for wild range cattle have also stood in first rank for the number of lives taken by a six shooter. Elgin is no exception to the rule.

Last Friday night George Thomason, a man who has generally been known as a tough character, was shot by Bat Pugh, the constable at Elgin. Thomason was drinking and apparently hunting trouble and resisted arrest.

George Thomason has figured in several scrapes at Elgin. Only recently he and Dr. Enger of Hewins had trouble in which he hit Enger over the eye with a revolver and Enger came near shooting him. In a fight several years ago Thomason had one of his ears bit off. He gambled and drank and prided himself on being a bad man.

The constable, Bat Pugh, had been having some trouble to keep Thomason quiet and Thomason had made some very severe threats against Pugh. ON Monday night previous, Thomason yelled in the street and Pugh told him if he yelled anymore he would arrest him. Thomason replied that Pugh could not arrest him. Pugh said, ”you just yell again and see,” or similar language.

Thomason lived in the territory and came to Elgin on Friday. He rode through the streets with a Winchester and rode on the sidewalks. He tried to trade his Winchester for a revolver. It is also stated that he said he would kill Pugh before sunrise the next day.

There was a dance in Elgin that night in Beauchamp’s auditorium east of Rothrock’s store. Thomason was around there making his threats and trouble was expected. About twelve o’clock Thomason gave a few whoops in front of or near the auditorium. Pugh told Thomason to keep still or he would have to arrest him. Thomason said something about Pugh not being able to arrest him and grabbed Pugh by each arm near the shoulders and shoved him back up against the wall. They had quite a tussel but Pugh jerked himself loose. It is stated that Thomason then reached his hand in behind himself as though he was reaching for a gun and Pugh shot. The bullet went through the left forearm and through the abdomen, lodging under the skin on the opposite side of the body.

Thomason ran west and turned the corner to the left around Rothrock’s store. Pugh fired a few shots at him as he ran. Thomason entered the auditorium from the rear, smeared the girls white dresses from his bloody arm and went into Beauchamp’s Restaurant. Doctors were called and dressed his wounds but they could do little or nothing for him.

The constable reported the case at Sedan and County Attorney Sproul, Under Sheriff Buckles and doctors Goss and Courtwright went to Elgin early next morning.

Thomason died about ten o’clock Saturday morning. Doctors Goss, Courtwright and Thume held an autopsy on the body and found that death came from internal hemorrhage, and that there were five bullet home in the large intestine.

A court of inquiry was held by Squire Wait by order of the Coroner who was unable to be there. The verdict of the jury empaneled was that the deceased came to his death from the shot of a pistol in the hands of Bat Pugh in his official duty and in self defense. The remains were buried Sunday.

Thomason was about 35 years of age and married but he and his wife had not been living together lately. He followed farming and freighting some.

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The Sedan Lance

September 7, 1899

CITY MARSHAL WILSON MURDERED!

Also the Sheriff' Wounded by the Darnall Boys.

 

The Murderers Captured After a Chase and Now in Custody,---Lynching Very Strongly Threatened.

One of the most dastardly crimes ever committed anywhere was the cold blooded, brurtial murder of A. A. Wilson, marshal of Sedan. This with the train of excitment that has followed will probadly make one of the most turbulent pages of the history of Sedan.

Last Thursday, August 31st, 1899, between four and five o'clock, the citizens of Sedan were aroused from their usual quiet by the firing of three shots near the jail. It was found that city marshal, A. A. Wilson, was fatally shot and that Sheriff Kizer was seriously wounded by two desperate characters known as the Darnell boys.

The marshal had attempted to arrest the boys on a warrant sent here from Missouri and as the boys were prepared and apparently came here for that purpose, they drew pistols and fired with dissastrous results to the officers. The Sedan people, though considerably excited, were soon all busy, some of them securing guns and joining the posse in the chase after the fugitive criminals, and others, helping care for the wounded.

The two persons who are responsible for this dastardily crime are Clem Darnell and Marcus Darnell. They are cousins and thier parents both live near Jonesburg. Clem Darnell is about 24 years of age and is the son of Bent Darnell who, we understand has been a law abiding citizen. Marcus Darnell is about 17 years of age, and is the son of John Darnell, who has been under arrest several times for such offences as selling whisky and passing counterfeit money.

These two fellows have been holding high carnival lately between Jonesburg and varius points in the Territory. Such offences as peddling whisky in the Territory and other offences have been laid against them. Clem Darnell has been known to visit Peru with a Winchester strapped on each side of his saddle, a couple large six-shooters on his belt, and a small twenty-two pistol tied on his bridle for an ornament.

The day on which they did this killing, they drove to Peru about noon and took their dinner at Mr. Green's restaurant. They wanted beef steak and eggs which they were given and paid their bill. To the landlords invitation as they went out they said they would call again. At Peru they also bought all the cartridges Charles Veal had in his hardware store, of the calibre they used. We also understand they made some remarks in Peru to the effect that they were going to Sedan to see what kind of metal the officers were made of.

There has been a warrant in the hands of some of the officers of this county for some time for the arrest of Clem Darnell, sent from Missouri. The charge against him in Missouri is horse stealing. We understand that Joe Dixon, constable of Peru, went out to Jonesburg once to arrest him on this charge. Clem asked an excuse to go in the other room after his coat and on coming out of the room he had a revolver in his hand and invited Dixon to go. Accompaning the Missouri warrant there was a reward of $20 or $25 for effecting the arrest.

In Sedan the two Darnells drove into the alley in the rear of Ed Rowland's livery barn. They got Nelson Davis, who works at the stable to go up to the jail and tell Sheriff Kizer that they were there in the alley and they would like to have Mr. Kizer come down and see them at the stable. Clem said he wanted to see Mr. Kizer privately and find out whether he had a warrant for him. Davis went up to the jail and told Mr. Kizer what Darnell said, and as Mr. Kizer had been sick several days, he told Davis to tell them he was not able to walk down to the stable and that if Clem wanted to see him to come up to the jail. Davis went back and told told the Darnells what Kizer said.

The Darnell boys were in a buggy. They then drove up right in front of the jail by the gate. Kizer went out and talked to them and he says he was there talking to them 25 or 30 minutes. Clem asked Kizer if he had a warrant for his arrest. Kizer replied that he had no warrant, but he knew a man who had, but wouldn't tell Darnell who it was. Darnell said he was not guilty of that charge and he could beat the case. Kizer advised him then to give up. Kizer said he would go over to Missouri with him in a few days if he would give up.

Kizer stood right beside the buggy talking to them and kept arguing with Clem that he had better give up. Clem finally said he believed he would do that and that he would come back in a few days when Kizer got well and they would go over to Missouri and that he could beat the case and come clear.

According to what we learn from Mr. Kizer, Clem then hit one of the horses with the line and spoke to them to get up, but just at that monent, Bud Wilson, whom he had noticed before stepped right around from behind him and up in front of the front wheel of the buggy and demanded of the Darnells to give him those Winchesters. Each Darnell then reached under neath himself and drew out revolvers. Clem fired at Wilson hitting him in the right breast, the ball going entirely through his body. Marcus Darnell also fired at Wilson striking him in the flesh where the neck joins the shoulder on the right side.

The younger Darnell, Marcus then placed his pistol at Kizer's breast, but Kizer grabbed it right over the barrell and gave the pistol a wrench. As he did so, the pistol discharged, the bullet entering his wrist and following down the arm to the elbow.

Kizer then retreated down the street towards the court house. Some way in jerking the lines or the whip, one of the Winchesters belonging to the Darnells fell to the ground just as they started and Clem jumped out and picked up the gun. They then drove east out on the Independence road past the Sedan high school building as fast as they could make their worn out team travel. One of them stood up in the buggy and used the whip with all his might and then the team would hardly run as they stopped to walk over the crossing by the Methodist church.

The wounded men were taken the best care of possible. Wilson was taken inside the court house yard and laid on a cot and doctors Courtwright and Evans dressed his wounds. Later in the evening he was moved to the residence of his brother-in-law, Wm. Johnson, about a block away where he died about nine o'clock that evening. Mr. Kizer walked down town and his arm was dressed by Dr. Pleasants.

Just as quick as possible after the shooting, men started in pursuit of the criminals. Charles Gilman was in the lead out on the road. He was horseback and was followed by Bill Taylor on horseback and W. H. Dennis and Warren Strong in a buggy. When they got out on the hill where one road goes down the hill to cross Wolf creek and another goes out toward the cemetery, they halted. About that time a man with a wagon came up the Wolf creek hill on the Independence road from the east. He had not seen the men nor the buggy. The posse then started down the road south-east toward the cemetery. Charles Gilman went a piece down this road, but as he could see no significant tracks, he turned back and went down the Wolf creek hill. He saw some tracks there that he thought were made by the fugatives team and noticed them till he got about half way down the hill where the road turns and then did not see them any more. He stopped and looked around and happened to see the team and buggy out in the black jacks opposite the bend in the road.

After discovering the team and buggy he rode back and informed the others of his find. By this time a great many men with guns were on the move out the road. It was understood that the fugitives would want to go south towards their home and towards the nation. The plan then adopted was to patrol the Peru road and not let them get across it.

The fugitives started down Wolf creek on foot. They were seen by Mr. Garner, passing by his field. They were also seen by some children who were picnicing on Wolf creek. The children didn't know what was up, but were affraid of thee armed men. They crossed the Peru road east of Sam Loy's house about three miles from where they adandoned their buggy. The posse thought they had them corralled in the black jacks on the north side of the road till they were seen by the section men crossing the railroad track. They were also seen by some of the posse a little later at considerable distance going though the field headed south.

A party consisting of E. E. Stafford and Albert Warmbrodt in a buggy and Bud Holbrook and a Burden boy in another buggy drove south and crossed the river at Bowers ford and drove past John Roger's house. The fugitives had passed John Roger's house about half an hour before this party got there. The party held a consutation and as they only had one Winchester in the crowd they decided to go to Peru to get help. They went to Peru and got their supper but could only recruit one Peru man, Mr. Seybold, who is clerking for Veal. But later Walter Rowland, Los Ellis, and Dibble were found in Peru and enlisted in the party. This party of eight then started for Jonesburg.

It was known by some that Clem Darnell had been making headquarters at the home of Widow Thompson in the Jonesburg neighborhood and was on intimate relations with her daughter. Those who were acquainted with the circumstances thought the fugitives would make for Mrs. Thompson's and they guessed about right.

Later in the evening a party was made up in Sedan to go down to Mrs. Thompson's house, consiting of Sam Hartzell, George Ed Tinker, Tip Buckles, Henry Wilson and Harve Moser.

Hartzell, Tinker and party surrounded the Widow Thompson house. The dog made a terrible fuss and the widow's son, George Wooden, went out and stood up on the stone fence. It happened that Henry Wilson was hid behind the stone fence almost at that point. Henry demanded, "throw up ypour dukes," and the young man very willingly complied. Mrs. Thompson called from the house and asked what was the matter. The son told her he was held up there. The woman then asked that they should not hurt her son and invited them to search the premises.

No game was captured but the boy finally admitted that the two fugitives had been there early in the evening, and gone on a foot.

The fact of the matter was as fould out from the prisoners afterwards, they had just left the house a few minutes before these men came up and were at that time laying in a coclke burr patch close enought to hear what was said.

Ed Tinker knew about where the boys staid when they were in the Territory, and as it was thought that the two fellows would naturally pull for the Territory, Ed Tinker and Sam Hartzell then left for the south. The others came back to Sedan. Tinker and Hartzell made quite a trip down in the Territory and did not get back till Sunday. If the boys had kept up their nerve and tried to get away they would naturally went down in the Territory and in that case, Tinker and Hartzell would very likely have intercepted them.

It was said that Clem Darnell was addicted to the constant use of whisky, and he said himself that he had not drawn a sober breath since the Fourth of July. They were drunk when they committed the deed but the long walk from Sedan to Jonesburg had sobered them up and Clem was completely exhausted, so they said aftewards, and not able to get away. He was a total physical wreck as well as otherwise.

Bill Taylor went to Elgin Thursday evening. He went out from there with a posse of men consisting of Henry Powell, Mr. Robecker, Sam Magee and Harry Craft. They went out Friday and scouted the coutry in the neighborhood of the Thompson house and surrounded the house Friday night, Clem Darnell went to the Thompson house Friday night and this party then had him in a trap. Henry Powell came to Sedan Saturday and reported to the officers here. A party of six or seven was deputized by the under sheriff to go out and help bring him in.

Clem Darnell gave himself up to those who had him surrounded, consisting of the five who went out from Elgin, with the understanding that when he was brought to Sedan he should be protected from mob violence. As the house was in such a position that he could likely have killed some of those who were trying to capture him before they could have captured him, they thought it best to agree to protect him if he would give up peaceably. The crowd who went out from Sedan Saturday to help bring him in met Bill Taylor and his crowd at Jerry Ellexson's with Clem Darnell in custody.

It was nearly six o'clock that evening when the posse and prisoner arrived in town. As this was Saturday evening there was lots of people on the roads and streets. A crowd of officers preceded the others with the prisoner and drove through Main street and up Chautauqua street to the courthouse. They there stationed themselves with Winchesters to keep the crowd from going up Chautauqua street to the jail. This gathered the crowd and excited them considerably.

It was probably five minutes before they came around the block from the east by the Methodist church to the jail with the prisoner. The crowd at the court house then broke past the officers and dashed madly up to the jail but were held in check sufficiently by those who were guarding the prisoner to allow him to be placed behind the bars.

There was considerable excitment around the jail for a while. The crowd was all more or less excited and especially the relatives of the murdered man were very demonstrative. Outside of the relatives and a very few others no serious trheats of lynching were made. There was no mob organization, and the majority of the people gathered there were there through curoisity, and to witness what was going on. Those who were protecting the prisoner did so, not on the account of their sympathy for him, but protected him on the account of the condition of his surrender and respect of the law.

The prisoner was guarded that night and the next day at noon he was slipped out of the jail, taken in a cab to the crossing a half mile west of the depot, arrangements being made for the train to stop there, and he was taken to Winfield and there lodged in jail.

The county commissioners were called in and they met in Sedan Saturday morning and offered a reward of $55 for the capture of each of the murderers of the marshal, A. A. Wilson. The citizens of Sedan had also made up a purse of about $200 to offer as a reward. An offer of a reward by the state was attempted to be secured but thus probably was not secured as the men were captured before the state could act.

The same posse of five who captured Clem Darnell secured some information from him and started out Sunday moring to get the other fugitive, Marcus Darnell. John Darnell, father of Marcus, was in Sedan Saturday and learned the situation. It seems he thought the best thing would be to place his boy in the hands of the law so he got ahead of the posse and went and captured the boy himself and brought him to Sedan arriving here about four o'clock Monday morning. The boy, Marcus was at once started by team to Independence where he was safely lodged in jail.

We understand John Darnell will not claim the reward offered for his boy for bringing him in. He said he has a good many children and it was hard work to feed them, but he didn't have any children to sell. We understand that Benton Darnell co-operated to some extent with the officers for the capture of his son.

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The Weekly Times Star, Sedan, Kansas

Thursday , April 3, 1903

ALONZO HAMON KILLED

Shot by constable Robinson

Shot at 2 A. M. Thursday

Was Ordered to Halt and Refused to Do So - History of Case

Alonzo Hamon, aged 25, was shot and killed by Constable W. E. Robinson at 2:10 o’clock Thursday morning. The shooting took place in front of Cass & Co.’s drug store. Hamon lived only a few minutes after being shot. The weapon used was a Winchester shot gun and the load entered Hamon’s body a little above the heart.

The body was left lying on the pavement until the arrival of Corner Jack. It was then removed to Loomis undertaking rooms and prepared for burial. A corner’s jury consisting of R. H. Bradley, J. P. Gilman, C. H. Inglefield, William Johnson, W. H. Dennis and J. H. Edwards was summoned. The inquest will be held next Tuesday at 10 a.m.

Young Hamon came to Sedan about two weeks ago, staying only a day or two. He returned Wednesday evening at 8 p.m. driving in from Chautauqua with J. M. Scott, a traveling man of Independence. He put the team in Casteel’s barn and registered at the Bryan hotel. He went to bed sometime before midnight and later got up.

It seems that Hamon had threatened at various times to do violence to Otto D. and Orb Stallard on account of an old trouble which had been settled at the time. Since then he has been going from bad to worse and seemed to have the idea that justice had not bee done him. He brooded over this and had become desperate. He had told several parties, it is alleged, that he could yet "get" Otto and Orb Stallard and also the Savings bank of which Otto Stallard was cashier. Jake Hamon, his brother, had sent word here to the Stallard to look out for Alonzo as he was desperate and would do them harm if possible.

When he came here Wednesday evening the officers notified the Stallard boys to watch out for him. Otto Stallard was afraid of the bank being broken into and between 12 and 1 o’clock Thursday morning sent to the house of Constable Robinson and asked him to come down and guard the bank. He also had his brother Orb on guard.

They took a position in the open stairway leading up to Mertz and Rathbun’s law offices. At 2:10 a.m. Hamon approached, going in the direction of the bank. Constable Robinson undertook to arrest him. He resisted and showed violence, after which it became necessary for Mr. Robinson to shoot.

The shot entered the body over the heart and Hamon fell on the outside of the walk near the sign post. Constable Robinson went at once for Sheriff Taylor and then notified the corner. A crowd soon gathered and when Dr. Jack arrived from Chautauqua the body was carried to the undertaker’s. It was examined early the next morning in the presence of the corner’s jury by several local doctors.

Hamon carried a 38 calibre Smith and Wesson revolver and had three or four large rocks with which it is supposed he had intended to break the bank windows.

Alonzo Hamon was born about 25 yeas ago at Burden, In Cowley county, and was the son of Frank Hamon and a nephew of "Uncle" Arch Hamon of Sedan. The greater part of his life was spent here where he lived until a few years ago. While here he attended the city schools and studied medicine under Dr. Courtwright. After leaving here he went to a medical school at Chicago. Then it seems he returned to Cowley county where he has been living on a farm part of the time since. His father died here several years ago under peculiar circumstances, after having been struck on the head. A man was tired for his murder and acquitted.

There are the facts as near as they can be learned until the inquest next Tuesday.