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Fort Scott National Historic Site Photograph of Powder Magazine and Officers Quarters at Fort Scott
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Fort Scott National Historic Site
Your Day in Court
Land office squabbles often led to court cases.

NPS Photo

Scene representing U.S. land office. Squabbles over land often led to court cases

This program will be a recreation of a trial that actually took place at Fort Scott in early 1858 regarding a land squabble. Disputes over land were common especially between pro and antislavery settlers.  In this program, students take the roles of judge, attorneys, witnesses, and jurors as they try the case of Southwood vs. Stone.

 

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Pre Visit Instructions



 

Theme, Goals, and Objectives



The script is not posted online, because students who are jurors should not see the script before hand.

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Col. George Croghan

Did You Know?
Colonel George Croghan, the inspector general, visited the fort in 1844. He praised living conditions, but disliked the layout. He remarked that the hospital "interrupted in the most offensive way, the only refreshing summer breezes" One author doubted that any building could stop a Kansas wind.

Last Updated: May 12, 2011 at 10:47 MST