Prairie Tales

1872-13:  This exciting episode provides a glimpse into the turbulent early history of Newton, Kansas, focusing on several true, violent incidents and the town’s struggle for order.  We document the fatal shooting of A. M. Sweet by “Rowdy Joe,” who was acquitted based on self-defense, and the killing of “Cherokee Dan” Hicks by saloon keeper Harry Lovett, also deemed justified, which citizens celebrated.  We also highlight the town’s incorporation as a city and its aspirations for peace and lawfulness, despite ongoing issues with crime, including suspected counterfeiters and dangerous encounters with Native American tribes.

A very sad and peculiar incident involving an unidentified “Plug Hat Guest” shot for his attire after he got off the train for a short break in the famous town of Newton, illustrates the frontier town’s volatile atmosphere.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

THE CITIZEN’S STATE BANK

Newton, Moundridge, Hesston, Goessel, McPherson, Kansas

www.thecsb.com

1872-12:  This episode compiles real-life newspaper accounts detailing multiple violent incidents occurring in central Kansas during early 1872. It documents several cases, including the “Ward & Keener” shooting where a fatal altercation involving a stagecoach employee, a man named Taylor, and an innocent bystander named Merrill resulted in two deaths. We also recount the “Joseph Grisel” shooting, a case of domestic violence or jealousy where Joseph Grisel was severely injured, and the “Mrs. Lebigre” accidental shooting in a Newton hardware store.

Finally, we include a cautionary notice called “ABOUT ALLEGRO (E.J. Harrington)”, a newspaper correspondent accused of blackmail, revealing concerns about public trust and journalistic integrity in the burgeoning American West.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

CY’S HOOF & HORN STEAKHOUSE

Sedgwick, Kansas

www.cyshoofandhorn.com

1871-11  These newspaper articles  paint a vivid picture of frontier justice and the notorious reputation of Newton, Kansas, in the 1870s. The text details the stark reality of capital punishment by hanging, emphasizing the grim finality and public spectacle of such events, as well as the immediate, visceral reactions of both the condemned and the onlookers.

Beyond formal executions, this episode also highlights instances of vigilante justice and extreme violence, showcasing the brutal capture and lynching of a murderer. Throughout, the pervasive theme is Newton’s struggle with its image as a “rough town” rife with vice, lawlessness, and frequent deaths, despite efforts by local authorities to downplay these reports.

The excerpts collectively portray a volatile period where public order was precarious, and the frontier environment fostered both formal and informal methods of dealing with crime and maintaining a semblance of control.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

HARVEY COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE (Sheriff Chad Gay)

Newton, Kansas

www.HarveyCounty.gov/Sheriff

1871-09:  These newspaper excerpts from 1871-1878 chronicle several violent incidents in Newton, Kansas. We first look at a domestic dispute where Bill Dow was shot by Lottie Foster. Separate reports document suicide attempts, one by a German woman using chloroform and another by two women at a dance house who took poison. Most extensively, multiple sources recount the murder of Assistant City Marshal Carlos King by Thomas Edwards at a dance hall in September 1871. Later articles reveal the posthumous controversy surrounding King’s death, with his widow and attorney facing arrest for allegedly defrauding the government by claiming his death was service-related to secure a pension.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

NORM’S COFFEE BAR (Tami Lakey)

613 N Main Street – Newton, Kansas 67114

www.NormsCoffeeBar.net

1871-08: This episode, taken from actual newspaper articles from the day, paints a vivid picture of Newton, Kansas, in 1871, portraying it as a raw and wild frontier town with a reputation for lawlessness and vice. The articles highlight instances of swift, extralegal justice like the hanging of a horse thief, as well as the thriving gambling culture, especially centered around the “Gold Rooms.” Contrasting views are presented, with some publications condemning Newton’s lack of morality while others, writing from Newton itself, embrace its “wickedest city” moniker as a source of identity and even prosperity, fueled by the excitement of the Chisholm Trail and the influx of diverse characters seeking fortune and adventure. The tragic story of Annie Glinn also reveals the harsh realities faced by some inhabitants, particularly women, in this unforgiving environment.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

ENDURING LOVE MEMORIALS

325 N. Meridian – Newton, Kansas

www.EnduringLoveMemorialsInc.com

1871-07:  This episode details the violent events in Newton, Kansas during August 1871, highlighting the town’s lawlessness and the lack of established government. Several sources describe the initial killing of Bill Bailey by William McCluskie, who had both been appointed as special policemen to oversee the election over a railroad extension to Wichita.  Bailey & McCluskie were both drinking at the saloon, when Bailey became abusive, leading to a feud between Texans and railroad men. This culminated in a mass shooting at a dance house where McCluskie and multiple others were killed and wounded, an event referred to as the “Newton Massacre” or “Newton Tragedy.” The articles also discuss the urgent need for law and order in the town, which lacked basic institutions like a police force or a Church, leading to citizen meetings and steps towards establishing a municipal government to curb the violence.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

SMITH HOME IMPROVEMENTS

200 N McPherson – PO Box 524 – Burrton Kansas

www.SmithQuality.com

1871-06:  This episode describe several violent incidents occurring in Newton, Kansas, in August 1871, focusing on the deaths of J.H. Lee and Bill Bailey (also known as William Wilson), as reported by contemporary newspapers and later historical accounts. The sources highlight the volatile atmosphere in the booming frontier town, particularly involving conflicts between locals and Texan drovers. Details are given regarding the circumstances of these killings, the lack of immediate legal repercussions, and the overall absence of established law and order, even noting the difficulty in finding someone to offer a prayer at a burial. The accounts paint a picture of a town struggling with rapid growth and a dangerous mix of transient populations, where violence was commonplace and often went unpunished.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

SMITH HOME IMPROVEMENTS

200 N McPherson – PO Box 524 – Burrton Kansas

www.SmithQuality.com

This episode paints a vivid picture of life in Kansas cattle towns during the early 1870s, highlighting the danger and lawlessness that often accompanied the arrival of the railroad and the cattle trade. From actual newspaper accounts, we describe violent incidents, such as the fatal shooting sparked by a cornfield dispute and mandatory jury duty at gunpoint, alongside the boisterous and sometimes morally questionable atmosphere of establishments catering to cowboys and gamblers. The accounts, including one from “Buffalo Bill” Cody, emphasize the reputation of towns like Newton as wild and unruly places where strict rules about what you wore and how you acted, was more important than what you actually did.  A joyful day resulted from seeing the Santa Fe locomotive finally pull into Newton – but the town wasn’t ready to calm down yet…

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This Episode Sponsored By

HALSTEAD CHIROPRACTIC (Dr. Brandon Ward)

200 Main St – Halstead, Kansas 67056

www.HalsteadChiropractic.com / www.WardChiropractic.net

These historical excerpts provide insights into the early days of Newton, Kansas, highlighting its rapid growth driven by the arrival of the railroad and its intersection with the Texas cattle trail.  The town quickly gained a reputation for lawlessness and violence, evidenced by accounts of shootings, including accidental and intentional deaths, as well as disturbances caused by celebrating cowboys and the presence of individuals described as loose characters.

This episode also illustrate the transient nature of some residents and the social dynamics of the frontier town, including the establishment of businesses like saloons and dance houses.

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This Episode Is Sponsored By:

Harvey County NOW

423 N Main – PO Box 825 – Newton, KS 67114

www.harveycountynow.com