Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas 1874
ARJ’s game of comparison ended suddenly when Dad pulled
Sugar and Spice to a stop in front of a
small, white building with a hanging
sign that said SHERIFF’S OFFICE. Dad set the brake and jumped from the wagon, landing
soundly on the dirt street. He tied the team’s reins to the rail in front of
the door.
“We’ll come in with you.” Mum said. Dad walked around the wagon, took Eva Anna from Mum, and then helped her down.
“Come on, boys!” he told his sons. “We’re all going inside.”
Dad and Mum, baby on her lap, sat in two chairs in front of a big desk filled with papers. The man behind the desk leaned back in his swivel chair as he listened to the story. Clothed in white shirt, black vest, and thin black tie, Sheriff Massey listened. He looked up at ARJ once during the story and winked at him as he stood quietly behind Mum and Dad holding JW’s hand.
“Yep… “the sheriff said, when Dad had finished. “Sounds like we have a few instigators and a whole lot of followers… You didn’t happen to recognize any of them?”
Dad shook his head. “The only one I can identify is Robert Williams and that’s because he told me his name.”
to meet some of those men on the road late last night. He overheard the conversation and gathered they’d been harassing you. I got some names from him that will be extremely helpful; one of them was Robert Williams.”
Dad leaned forward on the squeaky chair. “What do you think I should do? Can I press charges?”
The sheriff paused, his eyes tracing the trim that edged the ceiling.
“I think you have a case… You probably haven’t been here long enough to make friends with very many neighbors… What with the trespassing and acts of threat at your own home and all… you may have a legal path.”
Dad put his right hand on the desk. “That’s what I want to do.” His mind made up. “I won’t be intimidated, and I won’t have my family frightened. I’d like them arrested today.”
ARJ looked up when the Sheriff’s office door abruptly opened.A man dressed in black walked in and headed around the desk to the back of the room. His boots clomped on the wooden floor, his revolver swung in the holster with every step, and for a moment, ARJ lost track of Dad’s last sentence. He and JW were immediately enthralled by this curious figure, and if the man hadn’t been wearing a badge on his black jacket, ARJ might have thought he was an outlaw.
The man pulled a large ring of keys from a hook on the back wall, and then turned to face the room, leaning against a counter as he sorted through them. When he finally looked up, ARJ noticed his dark piercing eyes scrutinizing them. John William started to whisper something to ARJ but was quickly shushed with a nudge of his brother’s elbow. The man’s long black mustache was the bushiest he’d ever seen on a man without a beard. It reached past his cheeks and almost farther than his chin.
“Take a look at these names.” The sheriff said, swiveling on his chair and handing the list to the other lawman. “Know any of ‘em?” He asked.
The man looked over the names. “Recognize one of ‘em.” he said, “This Williams fella.” He tapped the piece of paper and handed it back. “Need me to pick ‘em up?”
“We’re heading toward that conclusion...” The sheriff answered. “Might be best to go together. Seems they organized a mob last night to harass Mr. Dibbens here.”
The lawman looked up at Dad, then his eyes moved to ARJ and JW, standing frozen behind their parents. He squinted slightly and nodded at the sheriff’s words.
By the time they left the office, it was done. Dad had signed a statement and a warrant was issued. There would be three arrests.
Dad helped Mum back into the wagon. “Those men are about to find out that Arthur Dibbens won’t stand for such absurdity!” he said in a forceful whisper, as he handed the baby up to Mum.
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