| The Atchison County [Missouri] Mail Abstracted Index | ||||||||||||
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| by Pat Combs O'Dell: genpat@netins.net | ||||||||||||
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| THE ATCHISON
COUNTY MAIL Aug 3, 1882 Chas Whittier, of College Springs, Iowa, formerly a Rock Porter, is in the city, visiting his old friends. It seems we were a little previous last week in making the statement that Dr Hamilton had purchased the old Lee Sanders property. It appears that Harry Moses had a refusal of it up to a certain date and took it in, hence he was the purchaser in place of Dr Hamilton. The initial number of the Westboro CHIEF reached our table last week. It is a five column folio, and bears the earmarks of a being a good local paper. J.G. Scott, former editor of the Tarkio BLADE, is editor and proprietor. It is Independent in politics. We wish it all the success it may justly merit. A TERRIBLE OUTRAGE - One of the most daring and devilish deeds ever committed in this county is told by one Joseph L. Smith (who is a perfect stranger to every one here), the victim in this case. The story, however, is a plausible one, and we are inclined to believe that the story as told by him is true. On last Tuesday, about noon, a MAIL reporter was dispatched towards upper Main street to gain the particulars of the damnable deed committed on Monday night between eight and nine o'clock. It appears that Mr Smith, the victim, whose home is in Wyandotte, Kansas, had been employed on the Wabash railroad, on what is known as the Humeston branch, as a bridge builder and carpenter. He had just been paid off and had started from Westboro to Watson to see a friend by the name of O'Hara, who at one time was section boss on the Kansas City road, and as he supposed was still working there. It was Smith's intention after calling on his friend at Watson to return home. But when about four miles west of Westboro, near the red school house, he saw three men coming from the north, well mounted on good horses, and when they came dashing up behind him, he stepped out of the road to let them pass, when one of them says, "Hold up your hands, you d---d son of a b----h," which he was a little slow to do, when one of them fired at him, the ball striking him on the left side of the neck, merely breaking the skin. Smith replied, "If it is money you want here it is," and handed over his pocket-book, which contained about $65. After taking the money out they handed the pocket-book back to him, and during the interim two of them had dismounted and commenced a vigorous search of his person, upon which they found a good gold watch and several other trinkets of but little value except to him who carried them. The robbers then made the modest request that he change clothes with one of them. Smith acquiesced and the change was soon made, taking everything but his shirt and leaving the clothes of one of them, which was very poor ones. The boots they could not get on so they tossed them back to him. After the highwaymen had mounted again, one of them, the leader, made the remark to Smith that "he had better be killed, a dead man tells no tales." Mr Smith then seeing the position he was in started to run, when one of them fired a shot, the ball taking effect in the fleshy part of the left arm above the elbow, going through the arm and again entering his left hand near the butt of the thumb and coming out at the second joint. About this time he caught his foot in some weeds and fell, they firing two shots after he was down without effect. The robbers then rode off, doubtless thinking they had killed him. After the bandits had got out of hearing Mr Smith resumed his weary march westward, stopping at each house as he went along to stay all night. One place he went they would not keep him at all, and at aother the rabid dogs frightened him off, until he traveled about three miles after he had been shot. However, at last he found a place to stay, and the next morning (Tuesday) he came to Linden, where Dr Havens dressed his wounds and he was well cared for. Through the kindness of C.O. Porter, he was brought to this city about noon, where, together with what money had been given him at Linden, he was sent on to his home. Mr Smith gave the description of the outlaws about as follows: One was about six foot tall, dark complexion, rather slim, and riding a large dark horse. One was a small man, about five and a half feet high, light complexion, riding a small horse, or pony. The other was a stout, broad shouldered man, heavier than either of the others, light complexion, light mustache and chin whiskers, and should judge would weigh about 220 pounds. Nishna News - Prof West, of Kansas City, has been stopping in these parts for several days. He visited all the stone quarries and coal leads of the adjacent hills, in the interest of the Scientific Association of Kansas City....Geo Lahue and lady sailed, a few days ago, for Hamburg, Germany....When are they going to dike the river again? How long will it stand and what will it cost. Of course, if we dike some we ought to dike all of the low lands, and then take care of Mill Creek. How would it do for the County Court to see the officials of the Kansas City railroad and arrange to take down that bridge on the Nishna and put in a fill, thus separating the two rivers. Then let old Nishna run her own water, and she will never damage any one after the low places are leveled. We will offer the court a petition to that effect. There is not one man in this section that does not want the Nishna turned through. But we want the Missouri shut out. Any man that will stand at the mouth of the Nishna and follow it up, can see how it cleaned its old bed out will see that it should have a current at all times....A few copies of the Platte City LANDMARK found their way to this place. Dissolution Notice - W.J. Harrington and Calliway Millsaps under the firm name of Harrington & Millsaps, dissolved by mutual consent, W.J. Harrington retiring from said firm. The business will be continued by Calliway Millsaps & Son. |
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