Old West trial coming to Wardville courthouse

By Philip Navarrette/reporter@trcle.com

March 25, 2008 02:05 pm

— Round up the posse and put your spurs on. The Johnson County Heritage Foundation is hosting an Old West trial at the oldest log courthouse in the state.
At 1 p.m. April 4, a mock trial for cattle rustling is scheduled in the Wardville Courthouse at the Chisholm Trail Outdoor Museum, west of Lake Pat Cleburne.
This is the first time the foundation has organized such an event but not the first time it’s been talked about, Heritage Foundation President David Murdoch said. A similar event was tentatively planned about 2 weeks before the courthouse fell victim to arson May 20. The fire destroyed the building’s floor, roof, windows, doors, furnishings and all the exhibits inside.
But now that the rebuilding is done, it’s time to have the trial everyone originally wanted, Murdoch said.
“We just felt like it would be a good way to call attention to the site and the historic restoration that’s going on there,” he said. “It’s just to give people an idea of how frontier justice used to be.”
During the event, everyone will wear mid-1800s attire. Ronny McBroom, justice of the peace Precinct 1, will preside over the court while Sheriff Bob Alford transports the prisoner in a horse-drawn jail wagon. District Attorney Dale Hanna will serve as prosecutor.
“Since we’ve gotten it restored back again, Judge McBroom had asked to hold court out there,” Murdoch said.
County Judge Roger Harmon also asked to hold court at the location.
“That will probably be done at a later time,” Murdoch said.
Originally, the hope was that a real trial would be held at the site, but that couldn’t be done because of the laws about where trials are held, privacy for the accused and other factors, Murdoch said.
“Because of legalities, we can’t do a real trial. So it will be a mock trial, but it will be held like a real trial,” he said.
The public is invited to attend, and the performers will probably have microphones, but those dressed in period-accurate clothing may end up being closer to the front of the action.
“That little courthouse is only 16 by 16 [feet], so space is premium,” Murdoch said. “We’ll also have the Ghost of Buzzard Flats, which is a gunfighter group, out there in dress.”
For more information, call 817-648-1486.

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