George W. Flatt – Kansas Gunfighter and Marshal
The annals of the American West are filled with figures both lauded and condemned, individuals whose lives were often etched in lead and defined by the harsh realities of a frontier society. Among these figures stands George W. Flatt, a man who carved a niche for himself as a gunfighter and lawman in the burgeoning town of Caldwell, Kansas. His story, however, is not one of unvarnished heroism, but rather a complex narrative of ambition, conflict, and a violent end that underscores the volatile nature of life on the border.
To understand George W. Flatt, one must first understand Caldwell itself. Situated near the Oklahoma border, Caldwell in the late 1870s was a quintessential boomtown, fueled by the cattle trade and the influx of settlers seeking their fortunes. The town’s reputation as a "Wicked Border Queen" was well-earned, with saloons, gambling dens, and brothels catering to the desires of cowboys, gamblers, and outlaws. Maintaining order in such a volatile environment required a strong hand, and it was to this challenge that George W. Flatt initially rose.
In 1879, George W. Flatt was appointed as Caldwell’s first marshal, tasked with bringing law and order to a town teetering on the edge of chaos. He was known as a fearless gunfighter, a reputation that likely preceded him and contributed to his initial appointment. However, his tenure as marshal was far from universally praised. While some likely appreciated his no-nonsense approach to law enforcement, others found him to be confrontational and overbearing. It appears that his methods, while perhaps effective in suppressing outward lawlessness, alienated a significant portion of the citizenry.
The seeds of George W. Flatt’s downfall were sown in the town’s political landscape. In April 1880, Caldwell underwent a change in leadership with the election of a new mayor, Mike Meagher. Meagher, upon assuming office, quickly made it clear that he disapproved of George W. Flatt’s methods. He viewed Flatt’s confrontational style as detrimental to the town’s progress and stability. One of Meagher’s first acts as mayor was to discharge George W. Flatt from his position as city marshal.
Meagher wasted no time in assembling a new law enforcement team. He appointed William Horseman as the new marshal, and supplemented the force with deputies Frank Hunt and Dan Jones, as well as constable James Johnson. This sweeping change signaled a clear shift in the town’s approach to law enforcement, moving away from the perceived heavy-handedness of George W. Flatt towards a more community-oriented strategy.
Understandably, George W. Flatt did not take his dismissal lightly. He openly voiced his discontent with Meagher and the new police department, claiming that his only enemies were those within the city administration and that the rest of the town supported him. Whether this was a genuine belief or simply bravado is difficult to ascertain, but his words would ultimately prove to be a tragic miscalculation.
On the evening of June 18, 1880, the simmering tensions boiled over. A drunken George W. Flatt embarked on a tour of Caldwell’s saloons, airing his grievances to anyone who would listen. His complaints were fueled by alcohol and resentment, and his behavior likely became increasingly belligerent as the night wore on. At some point during his saloon crawl, Flatt encountered Frank Hunt, one of the new deputies.
The encounter between Flatt and Hunt escalated into an argument. Hunt, perhaps attempting to de-escalate the situation, eventually persuaded Flatt to go home at around 1:00 in the morning. It was a fateful decision that would seal George W. Flatt’s destiny.
As George W. Flatt made his way home through the darkened streets of Caldwell, he was ambushed. A bullet struck him in the back of the skull, instantly ending his life. The circumstances of his death pointed to a calculated assassination, rather than a random act of violence. The location of the wound suggested that he was shot from behind, leaving him no chance to defend himself.
The murder of George W. Flatt sent shockwaves through Caldwell. The already tense atmosphere became even more charged, with suspicion and accusations flying in all directions. Sumner County Sheriff Joe Thralls quickly launched an investigation, leading to the arrest of Mayor Mike Meagher and police officers William Horseman, Frank Hunt, James Johnson, and Dan Jones on June 25, 1880.
Five days later, on June 30, all but Frank Hunt and William Horseman were released from custody. The local newspaper, the Caldwell Commercial, commented on the situation on July 1, stating that "the whole thing has the appearance of a put-up job." The newspaper’s assessment reflected the widespread suspicion that the murder was a conspiracy orchestrated by those who sought to silence George W. Flatt.
The investigation continued, and while all of the men were initially bound over for trial, the judicial system ultimately focused on William Horseman. A year later, Horseman was acquitted of the murder. The acquittal fueled further speculation and controversy, leaving the question of who killed George W. Flatt unanswered.
The story of George W. Flatt is a microcosm of the complexities and contradictions of the American West. He was a gunfighter turned lawman, a man tasked with upholding the law in a town where the line between order and chaos was often blurred. His methods were controversial, and his confrontational style ultimately led to his downfall. His murder remains a mystery, a testament to the enduring power of secrets and the often-tenuous nature of justice on the frontier. His legacy is one of a flawed figure, a product of his time and place, whose life and death continue to fascinate and intrigue those who study the history of the Old West.