Petition for Wichita's incorporation to go on public display

(Wichita-AP) -- An important part of Wichita's history is going on display, for the first time in 130 years. <br><br>It's a petition, for the city to be incorporated -- and among the 124 signers

Tuesday, June 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Wichita-AP) -- An important part of Wichita's history is going on display, for the first time in 130 years.

It's a petition, for the city to be incorporated -- and among the 124 signers is Catherine McCarty.

Not a familiar name? You might know her son better -- Billy the Kid.

The petition, presented in 1870, had been stored for years in the Hutchinson salt mines along with other Sedgwick County records. But Monday, District Judge Paul Buchanan delivered the papers to the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum.

Buchanan says the Kansas Supreme Court authorized him to dispose of the records. He feels the museum is the best place for the petition.

Bob Puckett, director of the museum, will display the petition in the museum's "The Magic City" exhibit.