A Bold Game Tried on an Innocent Girl Near Cedarvale

A Bold Game Tried on an Innocent Girl Near Cedarvale

Arkansas City Republican, August 15, 1885.

A warrant is out for the arrest of Sam MCWHIRT, who lives near Hart’s Mills, charged with taking a young lady–Hettie CONKLIN–away from her home for the purpose of prostitution. The particulars are as follows: It seems that Miss CONKLIN had been employed to do house work in the family of G. W. MCKINNEY–MCWHIRT’s father-in-law–who resides in this city, but had left there some time ago and gone to her home, about four miles east of town. It is reported that MCWHIRT had remarked in the hearing of certain parties that he believed he would go to Miss CONKLIN and ostensibly employ the girl to do house work and then take her to the territory for the purpose above mentioned, and it appears that one day last week he attempted to carry out his nefarious scheme. He went to the home of the girl and represented that he came for her at the request of Mr. MCKINNEY, who wished to employ her again to do house-work. She finally consented to go with McWhirt and they started, but instead of coming here MCWHIRT drove toward the territory. The girl saw they were not on the road to town and spoke of it, but MCWHIRT quieted her by saying they would first go to his house near Hart’s Mills, and then back to town. In the meantime Mr. MCKINNEY had in some way learned that MCWHIRT had gone off with Miss CONKLIN and started in pursuit. He overtook the couple below Hart’s Mills near the territory line. Covering MCWHIRT with a revolver, he told the girl to get into his buggy, which she lost no time in doing. MCWHIRT was then allowed to go his way and MCKINNEY brought Miss CONKLIN back home. The girl’s stepfather, George WENDOVER, the next day swore out a warrant for the arrest of MCWHIRT, but at this writing he has not been captured.

Cedarvale Star.

* * * * * * * *

This article concerns George W. McKenney Sr. (my line) having certainly a not very pleasant encounter with his son-in-law, Samuel McWhirt, who had married George’s daughter, Addie, about 1881-1882. They were living in Osage Indian Territory while George was living in Cedar Vale in Kansas. Samuel McWhirt must not have gotten in too much trouble, as he and Addie went on to have 9 children. He did later land in Leavenworth Prison, but not to my knowledge until 1918.

Mary Etta Conklin’s parents were Amsi Mervin Conklin, born about 1840 in Ohio or New York, and Ellen Savilla Gallea, born about 1848 in Illinois. The pair were married March 20 1865 in Ft. Scott, Bourbon, Kansas. Amsi died April 16, 1872 in Cedar Vale, and Ellen had married second George Wendover who was born about 1841 in Africa, though his parents were born in New York.

Mary Etta Conklin, born Sep 15 1869, married a James M. Allison on Dec 7 1885, and apparently after that a Spencer Taylor. She died about 1890.