Page "Johnson County War" Paragraph 12

The WSGA, led by Frank Wolcott ( WSGA Member and large North Platte rancher ), hired gunmen with the intention of eliminating alleged rustlers in Johnson County and break up the NWFSGA.

Twenty-three gunmen from Paris, Texas and four cattle detectives from the WSGA were hired with Idaho frontiersman George Dunning who later turned against the group.

Some WSGA and Wyoming dignitaries also joined the expedition including State Senator Bob Tisdale, state water commissioner W. J.

Clarke, W. C. Irvine and Hubert Teshemacher, both instrumental in organizing Wyoming's statehood four years earlier.

They were accompanied by surgeon Dr. Charles Penrose as well as Ed Towse, a reporter for the Cheyenne Sun, and a newspaper reporter for the Chicago Herald, Sam T. Clover, whose lurid first-hand accounts later appeared in eastern newspapers.

A total expedition of 50 men was organized.