Chapter XVI. SOME MATTERS INCIDENTAL TO AND CONNECTED WITH THE INVASION It was claimed in the invaders’ petition to the governor and in his dispatch to the President, and talked in the press as well as on the street that the civil authorities of Johnson County refused to give protection to the cattlemen while engaged in their legitimate business of gathering and branding their cattle. To prove the falsity of the charge the following official notice is given as it was printed and sent broadcast over the country in May, 1892: Notice To Henry Blair, Dr. Harris, the Murphy Cattle Company and Other Owners of Cattle Ranging in Johnson County: The authorities of Johnson County invite and desire that all owners of cattle ranging in this county who have either personally or by their foremen and representatives participated in the late armed invasion of this county to send able, trustworthy and discreet persons to their ranches to attend to the rounding and preservation of their property. The undersigned pledge to them the resources of the county in the protection of their interests here. We would suggest that there are a number of idle cowboys here who have not been branded as outlaws or blackballed by the stock association who will gladly work and help round up the cattle during the coming season. C. J. HOGERSON, C. M. DEVOE, J. T. BROWN, County Commissioners. ALVIN BENNETT, County and Prosecuting Attorney. W. G. ANGUS, Sheriff. Another false statement that was freely circulated throughout the country was to the effect that Johnson County was a barren waste, only suited for range cattle grazing, and that three-fourths of the taxes accrued from the range herds owned by the large cattlemen who were either present or represented in the raid. The martial law petition sent to the governor stated that the assessable value of the range herds amounted to “millions of dollars.” The exact facts are presented by the county clerk in the following statement: “The assessed valuation of property in Johnson County for 1891 was $1,789,075.69. The valuation of all horses and cattle owned by stockmen was $318,125, the tax on which was $3,817.50.” This shows the cattlemen’s interest in that county to have been less than one-fifth of the total, yet they claimed to be entitled to the control of all matters by reason of their money invested. On the morning of May 10th, 1892, George A. Wellman was murdered on Nine Mile Divide, in Johnson County. Here is the story as it was first told to the Bulletin, in Buffalo, on the day of the murder: “Thomas Hathaway, a cowboy, who has been for several years in the employ of H. A. Blair Company, known as the Hoe outfit, came into town Tuesday evening, unarmed, wild-eyed and excited, and unfolded a tale that created consternation among the people.