________________ Sheriff Lard Killed A Cold Blooded Murder on Main Street (Webmaster's Note) - It was on October 20, 1897, when Riley County Sheriff Seldon Lard was shot and killed on the main street of Leonardville by Ike Warren. The editor of the Monitor, M.S. Amos, summed it up this way: "It will be remembered that on the morning of October 20th last (1897), Sheriff Lard, Deputy Basham, and County Attorney Irish came to town in answer to a telegram and letters. They proceeded to close a joint run by Ike Warren, and his family. The liquors were seized and Warren and the contents of the place put in temporary charge of under Sheriff Basham, who, during the day got drunk and Warren secured his pistols and shot the Sheriff on the street. "Ike Warren a few years ago was a trustee of Bala township for two or three terms, and he was a good officer and a trusty man. Afterwards, he took to drink and became dissolute, served time in jail for selling liquor, and recently boasted that he would never be taken alive again. He said that he would either kill the officers, or they would kill him. The sequel is before us and it can all be traced to the use of whiskey." Warren was tried in March 1898. He was found guilty and spent the rest of his life in the state prison at Lansing. Read all about it... (Published in The Leonardville Monitor, Thursday, October 21, 1897) M.S. Amos, Editor SHERIFF LARD KILLED Shot Down in the Street by Ike Warren in this City Yesterday afternoon At 2 O'clock Between Burk's Livery Barn and City Hotel. A Cold Blooded Murderer. He was captured and almost Mobbed. Is Placed Safely in Jail at Manhattan. On yesterday morning, county attorney Irish, sheriff Lard and deputy sheriff Basham came into town in answer to requests made by some of our citizens during the forepart of the week. It seems that Warren had been making threats of killing and was creating trouble generally insomuch that the town was all excitement. Warren's wife being in hiding and others of the connection in terror lest they should meet with violence at his hands. Warren was bowled up all this time and acting very ugly. On Wednesday morning Mrs. Warren swore out a peace warrant before Justice Srack for his arrest and the same was given sheriff Lard to serve. Warren seems to have known of this and procured two revolvers, one a 44 calibre. About 2 o'clock p.m., Warren walked down Erpelding Ave. to Burk's livery barn where he met the sheriff and after a moments conversation, which no one seems to have heard, drew the two revolvers, flourished them in the sheriff's face striking him with one of them across the nose, which subsequently was found to have been broken. Lard caught him by the wrists trying to disarm him, when Ike threw him, from him, being much the stronger man, and commenced firing with the pistol in his right hand, the weapon snapped or missed fired two or three times, he then changed pistols and fired three or four shots from it, only one taking effect. The ball passed through the fleshy part of the right arm and entered the body near the armpit. At this time Lard was attempting to draw his weapon which he did and fired two shots neither of which hit Warren. Lard fell and expired instantly. This all transpired in a very brief time. Warren then turned and fled around the south and east end of the livery barn, over to the east part of town, and attempted to go into Mr. Bredberg's house whose wife was standing in th door. When she recognized Warren she quickly shut and locked the door, failing to get in he ran to a side door but Mrs. B. was too quick for him and shut him out. He then ran into an outhouse in the yard. During the shooting between Lard and Warren, a number of citizens had procured pistols, shot guns and Winchesters, and as Warren started from the prostrate body of the sheriff, a bullet or two from a winchester cut close to his body which hastened his flight as above described. Several other shots followed him and he ran, one of which grazed his neck and brought the blood, another shot struck the casing of Bredberg's front door passing through a lounge and entering the wall. This gave Mrs. B. a close call. The people, terror stricken and dumb with astonishment at the dastardly act soon filled the streets. Dr. Thomas examined the body and pronouncing death almost instantaneous. The body was carried into the sample room of the City Hotel where it was laid to await the action of a jury. County Attorney Irish then wired coroner Jones at Cleburne. During this time a posse had pursued Warren and surrounded the building in which had had taken refuge and demanded his surrender. He was still armed and for a time refused to do so, but after a short parley and an assurance on the part of those deputized to capture him, that he would be protected, he surrendered and gave up his pistols. After threats of lynching and considerable of a struggle, he was handcuffed and taken to the county jail at Manhattan, in the custody of P.J. Stafford, W. Karrigan and E. Westling who succeeded in running the gauntlet at Manhattan, and landed him in a cell, where he awaits a preliminary trial. Coroner Jones arrived late last night and at 8:30 this morning a jury was empaneled and found from the evidence that sheriff Lard came to his death by a pistolball fired from a pistol in the hands of one Isaac Warren, who maliciously, feloniously and with malice aforethought did shoot and kill Seldon B. Lard. The family, consisting of a wife and two children, at Manhattan, and three sons, two of whom are married, and live on farms near Peach Grove were notified and they gave directions to have the body sent to the home on the farm from which place he will be buried tomorrow. We are unable to procure many particulars as we did not get to see any of the family before going to press; but we will say he as appointed by Governor Leedy to fill the unexpired term of sheriff Lock who died last winter, and was a candidate for the office at the coming November election. He made a faithful industrious officer, and his friends and family have the unbounded sympathy of the people of the entire county in their sudden affliction and his tragic end. Ike Warren a few years ago filled the office of trustee of this, Bala township two or three terms and was a good officer and a trusty man. He afterward took to drink and became dissolute, served time in jail for selling liquor, and recently boasted that he would never be taken alive again, that he would either kill the officers or they would kill him. The sequel is before us and it can all be traced to use of whiskey. ________________ The jury of inquest over the dead body of sheriff Lard, composed of the following citizens, Frank Erpelding, Charles Brackett, S. Thompson, E.C. Sikes, C.A. Christensen and M.S. Amos, found that be came to his death from a pistol shot in the hands of one Isaac Warren, and that it was malicious, felonious and with malice aforethought. _______________ _______________ Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial In 1984, the Kansas Legislature established the Kansas Law Enforcement Officers Memorial. The memorial, located on the grounds of the state capitol in Topeka, is tribute to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty while in service to the state. _______________ Added to Memorial in 1987 was: Seldon B. Lard Sheriff of Riley County (Kansas) Death Date: October 20, 1897 Circumstances of Death: Sheriff Lard, accompanied by a deputy and the county attorney, was attempting to serve a warrant for disturbing the peace and violation of the prohibitory law on Ike Warren and his wife in Leonardville. The officers took possession of Warren's café. Later, as Sheriff Lard approached Warren on the street, words were exchanged and Warren shot and killed the sheriff. The offender was pursued and captured by citizens of Leonardville. _______________ _______________ | ________________
Trial of Ike Warren Trial of the Accused in the murder of Sheriff Lard (Webmaster's Note) - This is the follow-up of the article "Sheriff Lard Killed" and tells about the trial of the accused, Ike Warren. The trail was held in Clay Center starting on March 8, 1898 and continuing through March 12. Ike Warren had shot the Riley County Sheriff Seldon B. Lard on October 20, 1897 on the main street of Leonardville. This is the story of the trial. Read all about it... (Taken from The Leonardville Monitor, Thursday, March 10, 1898) M.S. Amos, Editor The Trial of Ike Warren It will be remembered that on the morning of October 20th last (1897), Sheriff Lard, Deputy Basham, and County Attorney Irish came to town in answer to a telegram and letters. They proceeded to close a joint run by Ike Warren, and his family. The liquors were seized and Warren and the contents of the place put in temporary charge of under Sheriff Basham, who, during the day got drunk and Warren secured his pistols and shot the Sheriff on the street. Warren, after a desperate struggle was overpowered and lodged in jail at Manhattan, where his preliminary trial was held a week later at Manhattan, and he was remanded to jail without bail to await the January term. Upon the opening of the court Warren, asked, and was granted a change of venue and was sent to Clay County this week for trial. The trial being set for last Tuesday Warren was taken from Manhattan jail to Clay Center by Sheriff Houghton and Under Sheriff Finney, and placed in custody of the Sheriff of Clay County. The prisoner is looking well, somewhat bleached by his confinement, however. County Attorney Irish, R.J. Brock, assisted by County Attorney Otis, of Clay County, are conducting the prosecution. John E. Hessin and Geo. Wilder for the defense. An extra panel of jurors had been summoned and numbering 38. All the forenoon of Tuesday was taken up examining jurors, and nine competent ones secured, the panel being exhausted, a special venire of eighteen was issued, and a recess taken, until Wednesday morning, when the remaining three were readily secured. The jury being duly sworn, county Attorney Irish stated the case to the jury, and the taking of testimony began. J.T. Smythe, a commercial man of Kansas City, was called, and being duly sworn, testified substantially as follows: "I was in Leonardville on the day of the shooting; I saw it from the sidewalk in front of the City Hotel where I was standing when the prisoner and the sheriff met at the livery barn opposite the hotel. Exchanged a few words, Warren, then drew two revolvers struck the sheriff in the face with one of them. Sheriff stepped backward when Warren began firing at him. Sheriff continued to step backwards, trying to draw his revolver, which he finally succeeded in doing, after Warren had shot three or four times. Thought the fifth or sixth shot hit the Sheriff. Sheriff shot twice, once before he was hit, and again as he was going down." Chas. Kliner was next called and testified that he saw Warren pass down the street, met Lard in front of the livery barn. He also stated that Warren had a cane, which he dropped as the approached Lard. Saw Warren draw two revolvers and display them to Lard. Lard grasped Warren's wrists; Warren broke loose and struck Lard in the face with one of the pistols. Lard then began backing off and Warren opened fire, shooting first when about five or six feet from Lard. Warren shot three times before Lard got his revolver out, Lard shot twice, the second time as he was falling. They were then about sixteen feet apart. The witness was standing in front of the post office during the time of the shooting. W.W. Jones, then coroner of Riley County, was called, and testified as to the inquest held on the body of the Sheriff the following day. He testified as to the wound on the face, that the nose was broken; the gun shot wound in the body, that the ball passed through the biceps muscle on the right arm, and into the body at the fifth rib. He was of the opinion that the face wound might have caused death, but it was probably the gun shot wound that produced it. He did not probe wound nor hold a post mortem examination, and could not say positively that the wound caused death. Chas. Lind, who was next called, saw Under-Sheriff Basham pass his store after dinner, the day of the murder. He saw him go over to Warren's place of business, which he entered by a side door. Soon after he saw Warren passing down the street, stopping a moment in front of witness' store and spoke to Ed Helms. Heard Warren say to Helms: "I've got 'em both." Witness saw a pistol in Warren's hip pocket. Did not see the shooting as he was in his store at the time. Being crossed examined, testified that he thought Under-Sheriff Basham was drunk when he saw him; further cross examination did not bring out anything different from his direct testimony. Undertaker Murdock was next called and testified that he prepared the body of Sheriff Lard for burial; told of the broken nose; the gun shot wound in the arm and side. Undertaker Chas. Rose of Clay Center, was present while witness was preparing the body. Henry Diefendorf, U.P. agent, next testified to the sending of a telegram by Mrs. Warren to County Attorney Irish, at Manhattan, on the 19th of October, in relation to the arrest of Warren. Did not see the shooting. Geo. W. Peterson was then called and testified to the shooting as he saw it from the door of his grain elevator. Saw Warren come down the street and the meeting of the two men in front of the livery barn; thought that Warren shot six times in all, three or four times before Lard shot. Lard shot twice. After the shooting Lard lay near the center of the street between the hotel and livery barn; nearer the barn that hotel. In his judgment they were about thirty feet apart when Lard fell. Adjourned for dinner until 1:30. After dinner, bank cashier, William Karrigan, was the first witness called and testified that he was standing in front of the bank when the prisoner and Lard met in front of the livery barn; here they appeared to be in conversation; did not hear what they said; showed the position of the two men when shooting began; Warren shot three times at Lard, when witness went in the bank for his Winchester. On his return the two men had changed position and four or five more shots had been fired; in all, he thought eight shots, saw Lard fall, witness fired four shots at Warren from his Winchester before he passed around the rear of the barn. Here a cartridge from his Winchester was shown. Witness testified that his gun was a 40-82 calibre. Witness, with Marshall Youngblood, P.J. Stafford, Will Talkington, Myers and others pursued Warren, when the took refuge in an out house in the Bredberg yard, where he surrendered and gave up the two pistols to P.J. Stafford. Here the pistols were shown, one a 38, 5-shot, the other a 32, 6-shot. Witness then rehearsed the conversation with Warren on the night of October 18. Warren said, "I will kill that sheriff before I will go back to jail." This seemed to be in anticipation of what came later. Witness testified as to who took Warren to Manhattan jail. Was accompanied by P.J. Stafford and E. Westling. Witness here related at part of a conversation with prisoner on the way. Warren said: "I killed the sheriff and am glad of it; Sorry I did not kill the deputy," meaning Basham. Cross examined by Mr. Hessin for the defense. Witness said he saw Lard walk across the street from the hotel and stop at the barn. Warren came down the street, met Lard in front of the barn and seemed to be in conversation. Did not hear what was said. Saw Mrs. Dr. Morton and others in front of the hotel. Time was very brief after Warren and Lard met, until Lard fell in the street. Would say they were ten or twelve feet apart when Lard fell. Witness then showed position of the two men when shooting commenced, and when Lard fell. Here Mr. Hessin asked witness if he was not excited, and did not know exactly where he was shooting. "You were pumping them in pretty fast, weren't you?" The cross examination did not elicit anything new or different from the direct testimony. P.J. Stafford, the next witness, testified as to the identity of the two revolvers, surrendered to witness by Warren, at the out house on the day of the shooting. Witness had had the custody of the two weapons since the day of the shooting. Did not see the shooting. Dr. H.B. Morton was then called and testified as to the post mortem held on the exhumed body of Sheriff Lard. Witness, assisted by Dr. Willard, of Manhattan, went to the grave, exhumed the body, laid open the chest and found the course of the bullet to have entered the body at the fifth rib on the right side, passing through it and both lungs, and having a slightly downward course, passed through the lower part of the heart and into the flesh on the left side; had turned slightly downward, where the bullet was found near the skin. Here witness produced bullet, to which the defense objected, objection over-ruled, and the bullet was put in testimony. Witness testified as to calibre, a 32. The bullet had not been out the witness' custody since found. Found no other injury except the nose bone fracture, not a fatal injury. Here witness projected a drawing or diagram of the course of the bullet, objected to by the defense, objection over-ruled, and drawing filed as testimony. Cross examination, witness testified that the body had been exhumed and the post mortem held on Wednesday, March 2, that the body had been embalmed and was in good preservation under the clothing. Asked if he was a graduate of a medical college; testified that he was a graduate of a St. Louis Medical College. Did not see the shooting. Elivan Tobias, clerk for Stafford & Lee of Riley, was next examined. Testified that Warren came to the hardware store on Monday or Tuesday before the shooting and wanted to buy a revolver. Witness would not sell it to him. Said it was dangerous, that it was Mr. Lee's private property. Said that Warren was intoxicated and not in a condition to handle a pistol. Thought it was about three o'clock in the afternoon. Ed Daniels, who works in the livery barn, near where the shooting occurred, took the stand. First, saw Warren shortly before the shooting, in front of Lind's store. Next saw him in front of the barn, where he met Lard. Warren had a pistol in each hand; struck Lard across the face with one of them. Saw him shoot at Lard. Lard said, "Don't shoot." Warren replied "I will." Warren fired four times. Lard twice. Did not see Warren pull the pistols. Saw Ed Helms and Will Warren, Warren's son, standing near. Cross examination. Witness stood near the bank tying a team; thought about 150 feet away. Lard was in the barn two or three minutes before witness left. Lard stood to the north of Warren. Witness was sure he heard Lard say, "Don't shoot," and Warren say, "I will." Lard was not in the act of drawing his pistol until Warren had shot once. Thought Warren fired four shots and Lard two. The testimony for the prosecution is about finished, and it is expected that the defense would begin this fore-noon and likely get through today. As we go to press we learn that the testimony is all in and that tomorrow morning the argument will begin, and the case go to the jury. We expect to give the balance of the testimony and the result, next week. ________________ The Jury is composed of farmers, viz: E. Haynes, Mulberry; W. Bumstead, Blaine; S.D. Brown, Bloom; Fred Miller, Republican; C.J. Sturtz, Grant; Richard Cawcutt, Republican; Wm. McCadden, Mulberry; Peter Sanneman, Goshen; Thos. Wilson, Garfield; L.J. Keen, Union; A.W. Drury, Baline; M.R. Green, Athelstane. ________________ (Taken from The Leonardville Monitor, Thursday, March 10, 1898) M.S. Amos, Editor (Continued from last week) Emil Burk next testified as to a conversation with Warren in Thompson's store a day for two before the shooting. Warren said to witness, "Let's have a smoke. I am left all alone. Come and go home with me." Witness went home with him. Warren said, "Nobody recognized or cares for me." Said his wife treated him like a dog. Expected to be arrested, and added that he would never go to jail; would shoot the man that cam after him. Will Talkington was called and said that he had talked with Warren a day or two before the shooting, at his place of business. Warren spoke of his trouble with his wife; expected to be arrested, and said he would kill the man who came after him. At the barn after the shooting, Warren said, "Well I killed the top sheriff, anyway." Marshall Youngblood next testified that he was near the bank door. Saw Warren pass down the street on the opposite side; thought he had a cane. Saw him meet the Sheriff in front of the barn; they seemed to be talking; could not hear what was said. Saw sheriff grab Warren by the wrists. Warren had a pistol in each hand. Thought that eight shots were fired. Saw Lard fall about sixteen feet from Warren. Cross examination: Saw the men approach each other. Seemed to be talking; did not hear what was said. Lard was facing east, Warren west. Warren flourished a revolver in each hand. Hit Lard across the face, then commenced firing. Thought Lard was trying to pull his pistol. Lard fired two shots, one after he was going down. Could not tell exactly, but thought Warren fired four times, and Lard twice. Saw Lard fall. Mrs. Lind was next called to the stand, and testified. Knew the prisoner Isaac Warren; he was at her house on the day of the shooting, between one and two o'clock in the afternoon, or about one hour before the shooting. Warren spoke of his wife. Said the officers had taken charge of him, he didn't know why. Told witness that the deputy was drunk. Said they had searched him for revolvers, but he had none, but that Basham was drunk on the old lady's cider, and he may have one or both of his before night. Witness said, "don't make any trouble." He said, "O, certainly not." Did not see him any more until after the shooting. Saw Basham try to get in to Warren's place of business by the front door, and then pass around and go in at a side door. Dr. Willard was called to the stand and fully corroborated the testimony of Dr. Morton in the post mortem examination. J.E. Srack, Justice of peace, was called to identify the criminal docket and warrant issued for Warren's arrest. Defense objected; objection over-ruled. Witness thought it was about half past 12 o'clock as near as he could remember. The warrant was introduced. Defense objected; objection over-ruled. Court then adjourned until 9 o'clock Thursday morning. Court convened Thursday morning at 9 o'clock. The state soon rested the case and the prisoner took the stand in his own behalf, going through a rigid examination and cross examination, in which nothing of much importance was developed. The other witnesses for the defense were Ed Helms, Mr. Underwood, and the prisoner's son Will. The rest of the day and Friday was taken up by charging the jury and the pleas. Robt. Brock opened the case with a very weighty argument for the state. He was followed by Geo. C. Wilder and John Hessin, who made elegant pleas in behalf of the prisoner. Mr. Hessin, it is said by his friends, made the best pleas for the prisoner that he ever delivered. His theme was self defense. County Attorney Irish then closed the case by an excellent argument for the state. The case was given to the jury Friday, about four o'clock p.m., and they retired to the jury room. On first ballot the jury stood eleven for conviction for murder in the first degree and one for second degree. After reading the judge's charge and some argument another ballot was taken, which resulted in ten for first degree and two for second degree. At five o'clock Saturday morning, after being out fourteen hours, the jury returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. The prisoner was brought before the judge who passed sentence upon him. The sentence for murder in the first degree in this state, is death by hanging, after a year of hard labor in the penitentiary, providing the governor signs the death warrant within that time. If he does not do this the sentence is imprisonment for life. No governor has as yet signed a death warrant in this state. After sentence had been pronounced, the prisoner, in charge of Sheriff Cook, of Clay County, and Sheriff Houghton, of this county, was started for the penitentiary, and Saturday night the prison doors closed behind Isaac Warren. A new trial was asked for, but was refused. _______________ _______________ |