· Hello Girls It’s Wednesday, March 16, 1927. Cora Brown’s thirty-third birthday isn’t until Thursday, but she’s expecting her sister, Occie, and brother-in-law, to arrive any minute to help her celebrate. Occie’s promised to bring a freshly baked cake; Cora and Fay, her husband, will provide tea. * “It’s Occie and Sidney,” said Fay. “I’ll get the door.” “Hello, Fay,” said Occie, handing him a picnic basket and receiving a kiss. “Where is she? Does she suspect anything?” “She’s got … [Read more...] about Hello Girls
Cora Brown
Sheriffs of Reno County: Ed Cunningham
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) · 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 … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Ed Cunningham
Sheriffs of Reno County: Fay Brown
(To listen to the audio of this blog post, use the purple play button.) · 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 … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Fay Brown
Sheriffs of Reno County: John W. Jones
· John Wesley Jones (1856-1926) Sheriff 1890-1894 · * It’s October 13, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Julia Whiteside, 59, meets her husband, Houston, 81, at the door. “The radio just announced that Ruth Elder is safe!” said Julia. “They were rescued from the ocean off the coast of the Azores. The American Girl had a broken oil line.” “Is George Haldeman well?” asks Houston. “Yes, they were both picked up by a Dutch steamship.” “All of McPherson will be glad to hear that,” remarked … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: John W. Jones
Sheriffs of Reno County: Daniel E. Miller
· Dan E. Miller (1839-1916) Sheriff 1888-1890 · It’s Wednesday, October 12, 1927. Houston Whiteside, 81, and Julia, 59, his wife, are at the corner of Main Street and Avenue B east, Hutchinson, Kansas. The condemned, but still standing, Reno County courthouse is on the southeast corner. The building just east of the courthouse is the aging, but open, Reno County Jail. It includes the sheriff’s residence. * “I still think the commissioners could fix the courthouse,” said Houston. “It’s … [Read more...] about Sheriffs of Reno County: Daniel E. Miller
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Line-of-Duty Deaths
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Line-of-Duty Deaths· It’s September 1, 1927. Reno County Sheriff Fay Brown is driving to Wichita to attend a funeral service for a Wichita motorcycle officer who was killed in a pistol battle with bandits. * Fay understood death, or at least the ramifications of death. When both his parents died while he was a young child, his life drastically changed. Fay was farmed out, adopted by George Gorman, an elderly farmer, and raised with the help of George’s grown … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Line-of-Duty Deaths
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Wilkinson’s Watermelon
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Wilkinson's Watermelon· (Conclusion - Part 2 of 2) It’s Sunday night, August 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Earlier, two boys were caught by Old Man Wilkinson as they were attempting to steal a prized watermelon from his melon patch. Reno County Sheriff Fay F. Brown was called and responded to the scene from his home. He contacted Wilkinson and collected the boys. * The boys were eager to leave Wilkinson’s property. When ordered, they jumped into the … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Wilkinson’s Watermelon
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Wilkinson’s Watermelon
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Wilkinson's Watermelon· (Part 1 of 2) It’s Sunday night, August 21, 1927 in Hutchinson, Kansas. Cora and Fay Brown are having a conversation while Pal, their one-year-old German shepherd, is lying on the floor, dreaming. * Pal’s asleep. He’s no Rin-Tin-Tin, but he’s an intelligent and handsome German police dog. However, Pal can be fiercely protective of Cora, matron and cook of the Reno County Jail, and every prisoner knows it. “The farmers can stop … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Wilkinson’s Watermelon
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Rin-Tin-Tin the Police Dog
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Rin-Tin-Tin the Police Dog· It’s Friday night, August 19, 1927, in Hutchinson, Kansas. Fay and Cora Brown are home with their German police dog, Pal. The temperature is unseasonably mild. * “There’s another Rin-Tin-Tin movie coming to town next month,” said Cora. “I think Old Pal heard you say Rinty’s name,” replied Fay. “He’s looking around.” “Rinty must be getting up there in age,” said Cora. “Do you think he’s slowing down? Those movies require a lot of … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Rin-Tin-Tin the Police Dog
Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Bad Boy of Arlington
· Sheriff Fay F. Brown's Badge: Bad Boy of Arlington· * It was July 19, 1927. Truman Reynolds, 18, had rubbed Reno County Sheriff Fay F. Brown the wrong way ever since the boy was fifteen-years-old. The youth, who the local paper had dubbed the “Bad Boy of Arlington,” (located 15 miles SW of Hutchinson) was pure trouble. * Sheriff Fay Brown was sick in bed on the second floor of his residence when, shortly before midnight, he heard a noise on the west side of the jail building. He peered … [Read more...] about Sheriff Fay F. Brown’s Badge: Bad Boy of Arlington