It is with deep regret that we are compelled to chronicle the sad affair which occurred here last Saturday, with the addition of another chapter to the bloody county seat wars of Western Kansas.

This time it occurs in Gray county, and human lives have been sacrificed to the greed of unfair gain.  The law and order of the free citizens of Gray county defied by men who are willing to resort to any means to bring about their wants, and Gray county baptized in blood for the first time over the county affairs.

Last Saturday morning the quiet and peaceable citizens of this thriving city arose and resumed their general routine of business or occupation, unaware that danger was near, and that ere noon came would have to defend the town against the most atrocious attacks ever made upon a peaceable and law abiding community.  It was scarcely ten o'clock when the people of this city were surprised by the appearance of an armed gang of men from Ingalls, a little town located six miles west of here, and a number of notorious characters from other places. 

The object of their presence was at once made apparent when they proceeded to the brick building in which the county books and records were located and attempted by force to remove the same by taking them to Ingalls.  It was scarcely more than the duration of a flying minute than the news had passed from lip to lip, from house to house, and brave men never more promptly responded to the call of arms than did the people of Cimarron.

The books had by this time been placed in a wagon, but before the intruders could move out on its triumphal march homeward, firing was opened by both sides, and during the battle which ensued the wagon which contained the books was taken to Ingalls with all the speed that horse-flesh would permit, where they have since remained. 

After the fight it was discovered that one of Cimarron's most respected highly honored citizens, J. W. . English, had been murdered in the affray and two other mortally wounded, namely:  Jack Bliss and Ed Fairhurst.  Not one of the invading force were killed, but the report comes to us that three of their members received slight injuries.  Four of the invading band were prisoners in the upper story of the brick building adjoining the post office, and it was only through the influence of a number of our citizens that they escaped with their lives.  At six o'clock the sheriff arrived and made arrangements for the removal of these prisoners, but before leaving they were all put under arrest for murder, and entrusted to the sheriff as such, but a report is current that none of them were committed to jail. 

The cause of the trouble is supposed to be as follows:  The election for the permanent county seat occurred October 31, 1887, since which time the question has been pending in court under contest proceedings.  Cimarron received a majority of forty-three votes for the permanent county seat and was so declared. 

The Ingalls adherents contested the election, and the case is set for hearing at the April sitting of the Supreme Court.  At the recent election a county clerk was chosen favorable to Ingalls, as the canvassing of the vote of the 7th demonstrated, and in a few days, as soon as the January term of the board of county commissions was over, the office was to go into the hands of the newly elected county clerk. 

Mr. Riley having mailed his certificate of election early Saturday morning.  The only way to account for the action of the people of Ingalls is by assuming that they had fears of a restraining order from the courts prevent the removal of the records, and sought to anticipate any such legal action by force.  But the citizens of this place, considering the shortness of time until the final decision is to be made by the supreme court, decided to submit to the action the new officers choose to pursue, knowing that a short time would practically settle the matter. 

Cimarron was totally unprepared for the fight and the truth is she was not expecting anything of the nature, and had there been an inkling, a much different course would have been pursued.  There was not many citizens of Ingalls mixed in this battle, the greater number being notorious characters and professional killers for other places both east and west, which leads one to believe there must have been money, and big money too, to induce them to engage in such a piece of business.

Cimarron was totally unprepared for the fight and the truth is she was not expecting anything of the nature, and had there been an inkling, a much different course would have been pursued.  There was not many citizens of Ingalls mixed in this battle, the greater number being notorious characters and professional killers for other places both east and west, which leads one to believe there must have been money, and big money too, to induce them to engage in such a piece of business.

Ingalls is a little place owned by speculators, while Cimarron is an old place of several hundred inhabitants, the people living here being composed of a class much different to speculators, and in every case a class of people who came here years ago with the intention of making this their home by gathering around such improvements and conveniences as is noticeable in any civilized community, while that of our rival town, (pardon us for using such an expression), is the reverse to anything of a civilized nature, its gained being that what the use of money will bring to it through illegal means.  It is a noteworthy fact that its citizens are few, and that is populated by a class who are paid for residing at the place, and think nothing more of engaging in a skirmish like that of last Saturday than to walk up for their drinks.

This attack was uncalled for on the part of Ingalls, and they are not slow in being  convinced of the effect it will have upon their faction in the courts. 

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