The Falls City [Nebraska] News
Friday, February 4, 1898
ISAAC RHINE KILLED
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ASSASSINATED AT HIS OWN DOOR AT MIDNIGHT.
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Called From His Bed And Shot By a Neighbor.
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The many acquaintances of Isaac Rhine in this city were shocked yesterday morning by the news that he had been shot and killed at his home near Guthrie, Ok. The following dispatch to the Kansas City Times of Thursday gives the details of the killing.
“Isaac G. Rhine, postmaster of Wellston, and a well-known republican politician of Eastern Oklahoma, was shot and killed at 2 o’clock this morning in his dwelling. He was called to the door and without one word of warning, was fired upon by a man from outside the door. The assassin used a double-barrel shotgun, and both charges entered the right side tearing away at the abdomen.
The assassin called at the store of Postmaster Rhine, and by knocking on the door of the store aroused Miss Rhine, who occupied a room over the store, directly over the porch. She looked out the window and inquired what was wanted. The man replied that his wife was sick and he wanted some medicine.
Miss Rhine called her father, and he pulled on his trousers, without putting his shirt and coat on, and, taking the light in his hand, went downstairs. The stairs led to the living rooms upstairs from the front end of the store.
When Mr. Rhine reached the foot of the stairs and started to open the door the assassin fired the loads from both barrels of a shotgun through the glass door. The shot struck Postmaster Rhine in the right side, just below the ribs.
James Taylor, a neighbor, who bore a hatred toward Rhine, has disappeared, and suspicion points to him as the assassin. Sheriff Gebke and posse are now hunting Taylor. The tragedy has created intense excitement.”
The murdered man was the son of Mrs. Sarah Rhine, now of Gove City, Kan., and for years lived in this county. He left Nebraska about 14 years ago. Isaac Rhine was a peaceable, upright man, and his untimely death was a sad blow to all who knew him.
Mrs. Rhine was on her way to this city when she learned of her son’s death.
The Falls City [Nebraska] Journal
Friday, February 11, 1898
THE RHINE MURDER.
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SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS IN THE CASE.
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Causes That Led to the Tragedy. The Life and Character of the Murdered Man. The Funeral Services.
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The body of Isaac G. Rhine, the murdered postmaster of Wellston, Oklahoma was brought to this city Saturday night. The remains were accompanied by Mrs. Rhine, mother of the deceased. In an interview with Mrs. Rhine a JOURNAL reporter learned the following facts in regard to the terrible tragedy of which her son was the victim.
Mr. Rhine was a prominent politician and a leading citizen of Wellston and being a public spirited man he was always prominently identified with all enterprises tending toward the upbuilding of the town. Across the river and about a mile distant from Wellston, is located the town of Ingalls and between these two towns a spirit of rivalry has always existed. When the first railroad was being built through this section of the new territory it was a question as to wheather [sic] or not it would go by way of Wellston or Ingalls, and it was due to Mr. Rhine’s influence that the depot and postoffice were finally located at Wellston. It was by this action that Mr. Rhine incurred the enmity of the citizens of Ingalls many of whom swore vengeance against him. Of course what Wellston gained by the railroad, Ingalls lost and when there was talk of discontinuing the postoffice at Ingalls, the citizens became more and more inflamed against Mr. Rhine and at two o’clock last Wednesday morning the threats of vengeance were carried out. As is often the case in small western towns, Mr. Rhine ran a drug store in connection with the postoffice, he and his family occupying the rooms on the second floor of the building. About two o’clock on that fatal morning a man came to the store and by knocking on the door, aroused Miss Rhine, the murdered man’s daughter. She at once went to the window and asked what was wanted. The man below informed her that his wife was sick and that he wished to get some medicine, Miss Rhine then called her father who arose and having hastily dressed went down into the store. He went to the front door and was about to unlock it when the man outside fired both barrels of a shot gun through the glass. The shot struck Mr. Rhine just below the ribs and as he fell to the floor, the murderer disappeared in the darkness. A man by the name of Taylor, who had repeatedly threatened Mr. Rhine was at once suspected but when officers went in search of him it was found that he had disappeared. A posse was organized at once and pursuit began. A telegram received by Mrs. Rhine the first of the week announced that the fugitive was surrounded, that it was only a question of time when he could be captured.
The body was at once prepared for burial and sent to this city. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist church and were under the auspices of the A. O. U. W. of which organization the deceased was a member. The church was filled with old friends and acquaintances of Mr. Rhine, who came to express their deep grief at his untimely death.
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Isaac G. Rhine was born in Blackford county Indiana, July 18, 1850. In 1860 he came west with his parents and located on a farm a mile north of Falls City. He was married August 18, 1875 to Miss Mary Martin. In 1868 Mr. Rhine united with the Methodist church and remained firm in the faith until the hour of his death. In 1884, he removed to Oxford, Kansas and from thence to the Indian Territory, at the time of the opening of the Kickapoo strip. He lived at various points but finally located at Wellston. As Mr. Rhine was known in this community, so also, he was known in the new country of his adoption. A conscientious Christian gentleman, a public spirited citizen and a man whose life was well spent in the doing of good. The fact that such a life should be cut short by the hand of the assassin is lamentable indeed. To the family whose home has been stained by the innocent blood of husband and father, their many friends extend heartfelt sympathy.
Contributor: Peter Martin (49393837)
The Falls City [Nebraska] News
Friday, February 4, 1898
ISAAC RHINE KILLED
–––––––––
ASSASSINATED AT HIS OWN DOOR AT MIDNIGHT.
–––––––––
Called From His Bed And Shot By a Neighbor.
–––––––––
The many acquaintances of Isaac Rhine in this city were shocked yesterday morning by the news that he had been shot and killed at his home near Guthrie, Ok. The following dispatch to the Kansas City Times of Thursday gives the details of the killing.
“Isaac G. Rhine, postmaster of Wellston, and a well-known republican politician of Eastern Oklahoma, was shot and killed at 2 o’clock this morning in his dwelling. He was called to the door and without one word of warning, was fired upon by a man from outside the door. The assassin used a double-barrel shotgun, and both charges entered the right side tearing away at the abdomen.
The assassin called at the store of Postmaster Rhine, and by knocking on the door of the store aroused Miss Rhine, who occupied a room over the store, directly over the porch. She looked out the window and inquired what was wanted. The man replied that his wife was sick and he wanted some medicine.
Miss Rhine called her father, and he pulled on his trousers, without putting his shirt and coat on, and, taking the light in his hand, went downstairs. The stairs led to the living rooms upstairs from the front end of the store.
When Mr. Rhine reached the foot of the stairs and started to open the door the assassin fired the loads from both barrels of a shotgun through the glass door. The shot struck Postmaster Rhine in the right side, just below the ribs.
James Taylor, a neighbor, who bore a hatred toward Rhine, has disappeared, and suspicion points to him as the assassin. Sheriff Gebke and posse are now hunting Taylor. The tragedy has created intense excitement.”
The murdered man was the son of Mrs. Sarah Rhine, now of Gove City, Kan., and for years lived in this county. He left Nebraska about 14 years ago. Isaac Rhine was a peaceable, upright man, and his untimely death was a sad blow to all who knew him.
Mrs. Rhine was on her way to this city when she learned of her son’s death.
The Falls City [Nebraska] Journal
Friday, February 11, 1898
THE RHINE MURDER.
–––––––––
SOME ADDITIONAL FACTS IN THE CASE.
–––––––––
Causes That Led to the Tragedy. The Life and Character of the Murdered Man. The Funeral Services.
–––––––––
The body of Isaac G. Rhine, the murdered postmaster of Wellston, Oklahoma was brought to this city Saturday night. The remains were accompanied by Mrs. Rhine, mother of the deceased. In an interview with Mrs. Rhine a JOURNAL reporter learned the following facts in regard to the terrible tragedy of which her son was the victim.
Mr. Rhine was a prominent politician and a leading citizen of Wellston and being a public spirited man he was always prominently identified with all enterprises tending toward the upbuilding of the town. Across the river and about a mile distant from Wellston, is located the town of Ingalls and between these two towns a spirit of rivalry has always existed. When the first railroad was being built through this section of the new territory it was a question as to wheather [sic] or not it would go by way of Wellston or Ingalls, and it was due to Mr. Rhine’s influence that the depot and postoffice were finally located at Wellston. It was by this action that Mr. Rhine incurred the enmity of the citizens of Ingalls many of whom swore vengeance against him. Of course what Wellston gained by the railroad, Ingalls lost and when there was talk of discontinuing the postoffice at Ingalls, the citizens became more and more inflamed against Mr. Rhine and at two o’clock last Wednesday morning the threats of vengeance were carried out. As is often the case in small western towns, Mr. Rhine ran a drug store in connection with the postoffice, he and his family occupying the rooms on the second floor of the building. About two o’clock on that fatal morning a man came to the store and by knocking on the door, aroused Miss Rhine, the murdered man’s daughter. She at once went to the window and asked what was wanted. The man below informed her that his wife was sick and that he wished to get some medicine, Miss Rhine then called her father who arose and having hastily dressed went down into the store. He went to the front door and was about to unlock it when the man outside fired both barrels of a shot gun through the glass. The shot struck Mr. Rhine just below the ribs and as he fell to the floor, the murderer disappeared in the darkness. A man by the name of Taylor, who had repeatedly threatened Mr. Rhine was at once suspected but when officers went in search of him it was found that he had disappeared. A posse was organized at once and pursuit began. A telegram received by Mrs. Rhine the first of the week announced that the fugitive was surrounded, that it was only a question of time when he could be captured.
The body was at once prepared for burial and sent to this city. The funeral services were held Sunday afternoon from the Methodist church and were under the auspices of the A. O. U. W. of which organization the deceased was a member. The church was filled with old friends and acquaintances of Mr. Rhine, who came to express their deep grief at his untimely death.
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Isaac G. Rhine was born in Blackford county Indiana, July 18, 1850. In 1860 he came west with his parents and located on a farm a mile north of Falls City. He was married August 18, 1875 to Miss Mary Martin. In 1868 Mr. Rhine united with the Methodist church and remained firm in the faith until the hour of his death. In 1884, he removed to Oxford, Kansas and from thence to the Indian Territory, at the time of the opening of the Kickapoo strip. He lived at various points but finally located at Wellston. As Mr. Rhine was known in this community, so also, he was known in the new country of his adoption. A conscientious Christian gentleman, a public spirited citizen and a man whose life was well spent in the doing of good. The fact that such a life should be cut short by the hand of the assassin is lamentable indeed. To the family whose home has been stained by the innocent blood of husband and father, their many friends extend heartfelt sympathy.
Contributor: Peter Martin (49393837)
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