Roll of Honor
Incident
Sheriff John Cross and three posse members were shot and killed in what became known as the "Hay Meadow Massacre", the result of a fight between two towns, Hugoton and Woodsdale, to become the county seat of Stevens County. The citizens of both towns were holding a meeting in nearby Voohees when the Hugoton Marshal hit the Woodsdale Sheriff with the butt of his revolver. A warrant was issued for the marshal. Sheriff Cross and four men he deputized, Ted Eaton, Bob Hubbard, Roland Wilcox, and Herbert Tooney went after the marshal but failed to find him. While on their way back to Woodsdale they were ambushed by the marshal and five men with him. Sheriff Cross, Deputies Ted Eaton, Bob Hubbard, and Roland Wilcox were shot and killed. Deputy Tooney was wounded but escaped. Two weeks later the Kansas Militia established martial law in the area. All six suspects were arrested and charged with four counts of murder. In July of 1890 all six were convicted of murder and sentenced to hang. On January 26, 1891, the U. S. Supreme Court voided their convictions because the killings took place in "No Mans Land", the present day Oklahoma Panhandle, where no court had jurisdiction. They were never tried again.
In Our Keeping
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BO-US-KS-F73F73BA- Stewardship
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- Added to badge.nw
- April 2, 2026
- Last updated
- July 23, 2026
Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.
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Tributes
138 years is a long time for a name to go unread. Not today.
Sheriff Cross served with the Stevens County Sheriff's Office.
Thank you for your service to the Hugoton community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993
Agency
Service Record
Incident Details
Sheriff John M. Cross is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.
In KS, 237 of 335 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.7% of this state's fallen. That is 16.5 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.
At Stevens County Sheriff's Office, 4 of 5 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 80% of this agency's fallen.
National Cause Distribution
How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. John M. Cross's cause is highlighted.
How John M. Cross Compares
Offender Outcome
Conviction overturned
When Felonious Deaths Occur
Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. John M. Cross is highlighted in Jul.
Weapons Used Against Officers
Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths. John M. Cross was killed by gun; unknown type.
Others Who Wore This Badge
4 officers from Stevens County Sheriff's Office are honored on badge.nw.
