Pratt County Republican, 7 Jan 1892, page 1
SHERIFF S. W. DUNN KILLED
Tuesday morning at daybreak at the mouth of a canyon, near Springfield, Seward County, Kansas---A mob of 30 men open fire on the sheriff and 6 deputies while they are on their way to protect Judge BOTKIN, and the brave sheriff is killed while standing between the angry mob and the Judge--Some of the particulars of the massacre.
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Attorney General IVES telegraphed J.K. BEAUCHAMP, county attorney of Seward County for particulars of the murder and received the following reply:
Arkalon, Kansas, January 5
Jno. N. IVES, Attornry General
Information reached Judge BOTKIN 3 weeks ago that he was to be killed this morning on the road from home to to the courthouse at Springfield. He laid the matter before a number of the best citizens, but the story seemed so preposterous that nobody believed it. On January 3 the information from a different source came again to Judge BOTKIN. He ordered the informant brought before him, which was done Saturday night. The different stories were so uniform that he decided to take extra precautions. After a consultation with Sheriff DUNN the plan was decided upon to have the sheriff with a posse scout the country between the Judge's house and Springfield. Early this morning the 6 deputies for that purpose met at Judge T. BOTKIN's house and remained until 3:20 this morning, when they left to take up a position at the head of a canyon where it was said the ambush laid for the Judge was to be formed this morning. The sheriff's posse went on foot from the Judge's house, 2 1/2 miles from the canyon, when about 40 men, said to be from Woodsdale and Springfield marched in upon them. At break of day the battle opened and lasted until about sunrise. Sheriff DUNN was wounded and then riddled with bullets. Sheriff Elect Roy GUYMAN was seen to fall and was reported killed but was not hurt. His fall was occasioned by a cramp in the leg to which he is subject. The mob hunted for half an hour but failed to find him. He is now en route to Liberal. Deputy Sheriff NIXON is safe. So are the other 3 deputies. The Woodsdale gang left for home this forenoon. Warrents are out for the arrest of the murderers. The under-sheriff must have help at once. Court must begin tomorrow and Judge BOTKIN will be there unless killed on the road.
Jas. K. BEAEUCHAMP
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The above account of Mr. BEAUCHAMP gives most of the particulars of the Seward County massacre. The body of Sheriff DUNN was taken care of by Mr. BEAUCHAMP and will arrive in Pratt on the 7 o'clock train tonight from the west, being accompanied by Judge ELLIS of this place and Judge BOTKIN. The funeral will be held at the M. E. church tomorrow afternoon at half past 2 o'clock, Rev. E. C. BEACH, officiating. Sam DUNN was known all over this county as a fearless and brave officer, and was for a long time, city marshall of Pratt, and has many warm friends. Mrs. DUNN and her family have the sympathy of the entire community in their sad bereavement.
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JUDGE BOTKIN'S LETTER TO MRS. DUNN
Judge BOTKIN while surrounded by a body guard at Arkalan, Tuesday, sent the following touching letter to Mrs. DUNN, of this place.
"Dear Mrs. DUNN--- The arrow that has so cruelly pierced your heart also entered mine. Your late husband was my true and often tried and trusted friend. He laid down his life to protect my own and to save my wife and children the heartrending fate that has now befallen you and yours. Alone with his 2 companions, after his other deputies were thought to be either killed or driven away, he calmly and smilingly faced the whole mob of nearly 30 men and fought until hit in the right shoulder. Then turning to Joe LARABEE he smiled and said: "Joe, they have hit me," and then, firing again at his murderers, he said to Joe and Mr. H. P. LARABEE, under-sheriff, "Boys, that bullet will kill me in half a minute. Get out of here if you can and tell the Judge "Tis sweet to die for one's friends." If word of mine could console you I would gladly say it, but in this hour of gloom and grief words are empty baubles and the fewer perhaps the better. Accept for yourself and children my heartfelt sympathy. Your husband's many, very many, friends here join me in these feelings. A noble man has fallen, but he fell doing his duty, he died like a hero. No sign or word of fear escaped him, but he faced death with a smile and his last word sounds like an echo from glorified ones of antiquity. We will bring him home to you tomorrow.
Your friend and companion in sorrow,
Theodore BOTKIN."
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ARKALON NEWS - 7 Jan 1892 - Page 1
Sheriff DUNN who was killed in the opening skirmish in Seward county is quite well known to many of our citizens, many of whom recollect him in connection with the early history of the county and this city.
He is spoken of as having been an honorable and brave man, a soldier of the late war and a valuable man. "Such deliberate murder of innocent men should be punished in a summary manner." is the expression of many of DUNN's most intimate friends here. ----- Hutchinson NEWS.
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PRATT COUNTY REPUBLICAN - 14 Jan 1892 - Page 1
The Dunn Funeral
The funeral of Sheriff S. W. DUNN at the M. E. church last Thursday called so large a crowd together that the church could not begin to contain it. Rev. E. C. BEACH preached the sermon, and it was one of his best. At the close he invited Judge BODKIN to talk and the latter responded in a very touching manner.
When referring to Mr. DUNN's bravery and self-sacrifice in standing between the angry mob and the Judge and his family, Mr. BODKIN broke down completely with grief, and there were few dry eyes in the vast audiance.
His short address made a good impression, because it exhibited gratitude and appreciation toward Sheriff DUNN, and was an eloquent tribute to his memory.
Brothers of the deceased were here from Iowa and will remain a few days.