he asked permission to open up some of the graves in the hill, that he might have some skeletons for his study of anatomy.” He removed three skeletons, one of which he still had at the hospital. Hartley in 1879 and he heard a rumor that “Boot Hill was to be placed under cultivation. As a young medical student, he was working with Dr. The Newton Weekly Republican reported “Boot Hill Being Used for Filling.” The location was described as “just south of the bridge on East street that spans the ravine which has received the name of Slate Creek, is a knoll of ground that was named many years ago and still bears the name of ‘Boot Hill’.” The knoll in question was being leveled and the dirt taken to a property owned by Dr. In 1915, something of a controversy was stirred up surrounding Newton’s Boot Hill. In 1882, he was credited with “arresting four saloon breakers, single handed at one time.” As a reward for his bravery, Mayer received a “gold Marshal’s badge valued at $100.” During his time as Marshal, he saw “ what so many of you did not and never will see” of “ frontier justice.” He noted that during this time “Newton had a nation-wide reputation as a bad town.” “Boot Hill Used for Filling” 1915 He served as Newton city marshal 1873 -1894. Mayer arrived in the summer of 1871 to homestead. In 1908, Henry Mayer recorded his memories of early Newton. Like the story told by Captain Seaton in 1904, all referenced the violence in Newton in the summer of 1871. Many of the old settlers were inspired to tell their stories of the early days of Newton. Stories abounded in the early part of the 20th century. the proprietor said it was nothing.”Ĭaptain Seaton’s story seems a bit fantastic when compared to other accounts. with names of the deceased printed in rude fashion.” The names included interesting descriptors like “Red Eye Pete,” “Brimstone Bill,” “Wild Ike.” Seaton further recalled an experience he had years ago sitting in a store, he “ noticed a skull lying near the road. He reported “although not a man had died a natural death in the town, he counted 63 graves in the town cemetery.” He noted that he “scrutinized the markers” which consisted of “ boards. Seaton claimed to be a first hand observer although he did not arrive in Newton until 1873. He asserted in an interview with the Evening Kansan Republican that “he can hardly agree. In 1904, several articles appeared in the Kansas City Journal and The Atchison Globe that noted that Newton “was never much of a town for shooting in early days.” A man identified only as Captain Seaton felt the need to set the record straight. Reviving Old Stories “ He can hardly agree”
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