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Fort Scott National Historic SitePhotograph 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.
Officers Quarters that later became the Goodlander Home for Children  

Did You Know?
After Fort Scott was abandoned by the army in 1853, the buildings were sold at public auction, and the fort became the town of Fort Scott. One of the officers' quarters eventually became the Goodlander Home for Children. For about fifty years, orphans and other needy children were cared for here.

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Last Updated: May 11, 2008 at 05:45 EST