· Walter Leslie Dixon (1894-1965) Sheriff 1947-1951 · It’s Saturday, August 18, 1951, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Walter Dixon, 57, wakes up and looks at the clock. It’s 1:25 a.m. The room is quiet except for his wife’s breathing. He’s been dreaming, or remembering. Four years earlier, in 1947, he and Ruth were sound asleep when the phone rang and Walt answered it . . . at 1:25 a.m. * “Sheriff Dixon,” said the caller, “this is Milton Stucky of rural Pretty Prairie, there’s been an unusual … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Walter Dixon
Behind the Books Blog
Sheriffs of Reno County: Steve Stapleton
· Othar Wilson "Steve" Stapleton (1888-1963) Sheriff 1943-1947 · It’s Saturday evening, November 14, 1942, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Brothers Stevie, 8, and Billy, 10, are playing hide-and-seek in the Reno County courthouse, First Avenue and Adams Street. Their father, Steve Stapleton, 54, a deputy and sheriff-elect, is taking his turn as relief for the regular jailer, Lloyd Gardner, who receives Saturday nights off beginning at 6 p.m. * “I’ll count to a hundred before I come looking for … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Steve Stapleton
Sheriffs of Reno County: Guy Ankerholz
· Guy Ankerholz (1904-1991) Sheriff 1939-1943 · It’s Monday, January 11, 1943, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Juanita, 32, and Guy Ankerholz, 38, are preparing to go to the Reno County Courthouse for the swearing in ceremony of the new sheriff, Steve Stapleton. Guy will be hanging up his star after having served nearly sixteen years: two terms as sheriff, after working for three sheriffs, Fay Brown, Ed Cunningham, and George Allison. * “Remember when we first met?” asked Juanita to Guy. … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Guy Ankerholz
Sheriffs of Reno County: George Allison
· George T. Allison (1883-1951) Sheriff 1935-1939 · It’s 1:30 Sunday afternoon, April 11, 1943, in Eureka, California, in St. Bernard’s Cathedral rectory. Georgiann Allison, 19, daughter of George and Charline Allison, Hutchinson, Kansas, is marrying Richard Harmon, 21, son of J. Clair and Florence Harmon, also from Hutchinson. * It’s Sunday afternoon, April 11, 1943, near Langdon, Kansas. Daisy May Sherow Jones folds and unfolds a newspaper clipping from the society page, then … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: George Allison
Sheriffs of Reno County: Ed Cunningham
· Ed Cunningham (1896-1971) Sheriff 1931-1935 · It’s Wednesday, July 1, 1936, in Hutchinson, Kansas. “Well, look what the cat drug in,” said Fay Brown, owner-operator of the Brown Wheel night club, as plain clothes city detective Ed Cunningham walked in the door. Fay Brown and Ed Cunningham were old chums, lawmen, who had worked on the Hutchinson police force in the early 1920s and had teamed up as sheriff and under sheriff of the Reno County Sheriff’s office from 1927 to 1931. … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Ed Cunningham
Sheriffs of Reno County: Fay Brown
· Fay Brown (1891-1968) Sheriff 1927-1931 · It’s Monday, August 3, 1931, in Hutchinson, Kansas. “Buenos días mi amigo,” said Fay Brown, 40, causing Houston Latimer Whiteside, 41, to smile. It was Fay’s common greeting to those men who had served on the Mexican border in 1916 during the international trouble. “We’re sorry for your deep personal loss,” continued Fay. “Julia was a gift to Hutchinson.” “Thanks, Fay,” responded Houston, Jr. “If she hadn’t been visiting her sister … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Fay Brown
Sheriffs of Reno County: Jesse Langford
· Jesse Langford (1879-1935) Sheriff 1923-1927 · It’s Wednesday, June 24, 1931, on the Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railway in route to Chicago, Illinois, from Hutchinson, Kansas. Houston, 81, and Julia Whiteside, 59, and their son, Houston, Jr., 41, are making an emergency trip to the windy city’s Presbyterian Hospital. Julia needs surgery. * “I do hope Wiley Post and his navigator succeed with their record flight around the world,” said Julia. “They’ve completed the first lap … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Jesse Langford
Sheriffs of Reno County: William “Bill” Clark
· William "Bill" Clark (1864-1934) Sheriff 1921-1923 · * It’s Monday, October 24, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Houston Whiteside, 81, tells Julia, his wife, 59, that the escapees from the Reformatory released their kidnap victim, Roy Lloyd, unharmed, in Kansas City, Missouri, on Saturday afternoon. “Mr. Lloyd is home safe. He was released after the men on the run decided not to ‘bump him off,’” said Houston. “The police haven't located the criminals yet.” * “Bill Clark must have an … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: William “Bill” Clark
Sheriffs of Reno County: Walter “Scott” Sprout
· Walter "Scott" Sprout (1875-1941) Sheriff 1916-1921 · It’s Saturday, October 22, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia, 59, and Houston Whiteside, 81, are discussing the escape of three men from the Reformatory. “The inmates were members of a work detail digging sweet potatoes when they overpowered a guard and took his .38 calibre Colt revolver,” said Houston. “They kidnapped a man on Harvey Street while he was collecting the family laundry and forced him to drive them to Kansas City in … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Walter “Scott” Sprout
Sheriffs of Reno County: Tom McGinn
· Tom McGinn (1883-1956) Sheriff, December 31, 1916 - January 4, 1917 · It’s late Friday afternoon, October 21, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia, 59, and Houston Whiteside, 81, are sitting at their dining room table when Julia stops talking, turns her head to the southeast, and announces, “The reformatory siren is going off.” “I wonder who escaped,” said Houston. * “Which Reno County sheriff was never elected, but he served in that position for four days?” asked … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Tom McGinn
