The Sun.
London, England, 1857-08-26 00:00:00

JUDGE LYNCH IN KANSAS.

Mr. Andrew Stewart, editor of the Steubenville (Ohio)
Union, who has lately been travelling through Kansas
territory, arrived at this place on Monday evening,
having left Leavenworth city on Saturday night, the Ist
inst., and favoured us with particulars of a fearful tra-
gedy enacted on Friday night and Saturday morning in
that city. On Friday night, the 31st ult., a man named
Stephens, living in Kansas city, came up to Leaven-
worth city, and, while spreeiog around, went into a
drinking shop called the Ward House. The barkeeper,
named Baines, became very friendly, and after getting
Stephens quite drunk proposed a walk up the river, and
took him to a spring on the bank of the Missouri river,
just above the Planter's House, where they were
met and assaulted by two men, who demanded
their money or their lives. The barkeeper, Baines,
gave his money up and ran off. When he got to
the lower end of the town he gave the alarm that a man
was being robbed up the river at the spring. Several
parties of citiz ns immediately went up, and arrived on
the spot j set in time to find poor Stephens crawling out
of the river, his body and head all beaten and bruised
with stones and clubs, and his chest and shoulders
bearing several stabs and cute. The cit.zens
ran to his assistance, but the unfortunate victim,
though struggling to speak, was too far gone,
and presently died, without being able to utter a
single word about the manner of his death or the names
of his murderers. Suspicion at once alighted upon the
bar-keeper Baines, and so outraged were the people, and
so violent, the presumptions of his guilt, that a posse of
the citizens at once arrested and held him in close cus-
tody. Tne news in the meantime spread like wildfire all
over the city, and the excitement grew intense. An im-
mediate trial of Baines was demanded, and finally it was
agreed he should be hung on the spot, without judge
er jury. A rope was prooured and put round his neck,
and already be was being drawn up to the limb of an
overhanging tree, when he expressed a wish to make a
confession. The crowd yielded and let him down to
the „ground. He said that he and two men, one
named Tohn Quarles, from South Carolina, and the
other called Knowlton, had laid the plot by which
Stephens was robbed and murdered, and that the same
mon had murdered another man a short time before and
thrown the body into the Missouri river. He stated also
that he and the men Knowlton and Quarles belonged
to an organised body of about 25 men, who lived
and carried on the business of robbing and murdering in
Leavenworth-city, on the island opposite the city, and
in the towns of Lawrence and Topeka. He then gave
the names of as many of the gang as ho could remember
to the authorities. As soon as Baines had finished his
revelations he was committed to the calaboose; a one
story stone building about 16 feet square. The crowd
then went off in pursuit of Charles and Knowlton, and in
a short time had them arrested. Among the revealed
conspirators was Win. Woods, 'the proprietor of the
greater part of Dsavenworth Island, and regarded by his
acquaintances as an hone,t man and good citizen. A
party proceeded at once to arrest him, and, after making
a thorough search of his house, found 2,500 dole. in
counterfeit money, a lot of connterfeiting plates and
other instruments, and a knife and pistol belonging to
the murdered man, Stephens. At these conclusive
proofs of the correctness of the confessions of Bain s the
people were deeply moved, and held counsel together
in large and small parties during the whole, night.
We give the narrative of Mr. Stewart. He Bays,—
" I went to the mayor's office on Saturday morning,
and found an immense crowd awaiting the result of the
examination of Woods and Knowlton. Baines and
Quarles were in the calaboose. While the examination
was going on Judge Lecompte was outside making a
speech, and expostulating with the angry crowd in
favour of law and order. The cry of Hang 'em, the
murderers !' arose frequently from the mob, but
milder ocuurols seemed to be prevailing, when at once
some one shouted, To the calaboose! to the calaboose !'
an I away a crowd of about 50 maddened men started in
that direction. The balance of the people followed after
in sma,lsr partie,, leaving Judge Lecompte almost alone,
and the mayor's effice relieved of its throng of specta-
tors. They had teen gone about 15 minutes, when
I heard a great yell. I started after the crowd, and
followed it to the bank of a creek which divides
south and north Leavenworth, where there was a
steep bank, and on its edge a large elm tree. I
reached the spot in time to see Quarles suspended
from the tree, grasping in the agonies of death at the
rope which was around his neck, while several of the
snob were swinging on to his arms aid legs, to make hie
death sure. His body had hardly ceased its convulsions
when the shout was raised for BaineS. The rope was
pliced around his neck, and he was led to the edge of
the bank, when some ono uf the citizeas appeared by his
side, and, with a watch in his hand, demanded five
minutes for further confessions. They granted it, when
Baines said, if they would let him he would show them
another man in town who was concerned in the opera-

Last evening Mr. Wakley, the coroner, held an
inquest at the Eleph tut and Castle, King's-road,
Camden-town, on the body of a man unknown,
attired in the gall) of a sailor, who is alleged to
have applied at the gates of St. Pancras Workhouse
for admission and relief, and having been refused,
went straight to a pond in the Agar-town-fields and
drowned himself.
Mr. G. W. F. Cook, solicitor to the parish, and
some of the directors of the poor of St. Pancras,
attended to watch the proceedings.
Mr. Payne said he found the body of the deceased
on Saturday morning at a quarter to six in Agar-
town-fields, in-the water of a pand there. He was
not floating, but laid about half an inch below the
surface. He went for a policeman, and got the de-
,
ceased out. His hat was lying on the bank with a
stone and a handkerchief in it. The policeman
searched him and found a farthing in his pockets,
and two skeins of thread, one white and the other
grey, and a -needle. His clothes did not appear to
be torn, nor was there any signs of struggling on the
banks of the river.
Mr. W. E. Iffreys' surgeon, St. Augustine's-
road, said that about 6 o'clock on Saturday morn-
ing he was called to see the body of the deceased.
Should take him to have been a man of 50 or 55
years of age. Found from the marks on his arm
that ho had been a sailor. Had made a post-mortem
examination of the body, and believed that he had
died of suffocation by drowning. There was
nothing in his stomach but a small quantity of
water. The brain and vessels of the brain were
very much congested, but there was no disease.
J. Taylor, police constable 134 S, said he was
called by the first witness, and found the body of the
deceased as described. Saw deceased about eleven
o'clock on the previous night at the workhouse
gate. Did not speak to him.
Isabella Hewitt said she saw the deceased, whom
she did not know, last alive about 10 o'clock on
Friday night, at the St. Pancras workhouse gate.
There were then two men, two women, and two
children lying at the gate. Was herself waiting for
a night's lodgings and remained there till the de-
ceased's body was brought in. He left the gate
about 11 o'clock, and was very sick and ill. He
complained of faintness and sickness. When he
came witness asked him if he had rang the bell, and
he said " No." He then rang the bell, and one of
the men asked what he wanted, and ho replied he
wanted a bed.
The Coroner directed that the officers of the gate
should be sent for, for identification.
Charles Smart, police-constable, 404 S, said he
saw deceased about a quarter before one on Satur-
day morning, in the King's-road, and he said he had
nowhere to go to. He asked him if he had applied
to the workhouse, and he replied that he had, but
they would not admit him. Told him to go to
Gray's Inn-lane Union, and he said he had not been
there, but he said he would go down to the work-
house again, and left witness for that purpose. He
was quite sober, and looked destitute. He did not
make any observation as to how long he bad been
without food.
By Mr. Cook—Did not ask the deceased what his
name was, or what parish he belonged to. Re did
not have the appearance of being exhausted.
Isabella Hewitt recalled—When the man an-
swered the gate deceased said " I want a bed for
the night." The man who answered him is now
before the court, and he said " There is no bed
to-night for you, nor any one else."
The man referred' to, who is one of the inmates,
said his name was Thomas Mingatty.
The witness then repeated in substance the evi-
dence already given.
By the Coroner—l only asked for a bed once.
None of us got in. I remained with my child, aged
11, and the other two women remained with their
two children outside the gate all night.
The Coroner inquired if there were any rules laid
down for the admission of persons on applying at
the gate '1
Mr. Cook said there were, and he wculd send
for them.
The Coroner warned the jury that they must not
place implicit reliance on all the statements made
by this witne-s, as they were made in the absence of
the parties concerned. At the same time he feared
there was too much truth in it. He really could
not understand why the poor were treated in this
manner by workhouse authorities. If the Sepoys
in India were to treat any of our people in the same
way, we should set them down as the greatest
brutes in existence.
Mr. Cook said there were a class of persons who
determined to make the workhouse their home, and
live upon the public.
After a long conversation upon this point between
the Coroner and Mr. Cook.
Thomas Mingatti was sworn—He said he was an
inmate of the workhouse, and was night watchman
at the gate. The gate-porter is over me, a dI
consider him] my master. Mr. Gramma was the
gate-porter on duty that night. , I do not recollect
a sailor applying for admission on Friday night. I
came on duty at nine o'clock. I will swear to the
remember a person
best of my recollection I do not
on Frida
remember the woman Hewitt applying
night. I
like a sailor applying
for admission y
for admission, and told her we bad no casual ward
but if she belonged to the parish
d apply to e overseer. They take them
for six
she ooulmonths,
th
into the separation ward. We had not admitted
any casuals that
night or the previous night. I
know there were women and children lying outside
the gate, and I told the porter of it. He said he
could- not let them in. I have no instructions but
from the gate porter.
Mr. Cameron—The gate porter's duties are care-
fully defined.
Mingatti said he was paid Is. 61 per week and
a pint of porter as night watchman. He was an
inmate of the house.
The Coroner condemned the practice of employ-
ing paupers in any office.
The Coroner said ' some important points had
been rats .d in this inquiry, and a moral questi°ll
was also raised as to the mode of adininisteerinrsg-r:i
lief, and he had no doubt but that the'dirree
f
the poor, who, from all he had heard,th
endea-
dinquiry into it.
vatting to effect great reforms. int
of St. Pancras, would make . e V.orklio use
a ursigwere the directors
Mr. Cameron said;
ATTSIIrTED SUICIDE IN A WATERBUTT.—Yesterday deceased men bad appliedfor_
to do so, that in C0118()Tutmall
relief and been re-
ets,*'wof a rumour -that the
morning a woman Emma Squires, residing in Snow'r., fused, they had, at their board meeting that after-
fields, Bermondsey, attempted self•destruction by drown-an. inquiry to ascertain if
lug herself in a waterbutt. After great trouble anima-was not so. They
it were true, and found.thittit
lion was restored, but she remains in a very precarious
noon, already instituted„
were most a case rigidly investi-
state.
gated. Yesterday a serious accident occurred at the new
buildings in course of construction in Belitha-square, The
Coroner here said he had two juries waiting
and if the
Thames-bank, leading to the new Chelsea-bridge. It for him at that late hour, jury would
determine either to come, to a verdict or an sa-
seems that four workmen were employed on an upper
scaffold, when one of the cross putlocks broke, and, the journment he would feel ,obliged.
the boards giving way, they fell to the ground fromdf a The jury retired, and,, in the course of a few
height of 30 feet. William Duffy was found dre
ury
minutes returned, and trip foreman stated that his
injured, his skull being fractured and several ribsbarckm; brother jurors, as well as himself, agreed that the
and another man, named Shaxtm Craft,
had both his inquiryThe was of so much public importance that they
legs fractured. They are not expected to survive. considered an adjournment necessary.
two others escaped with trifling injuries. The inquiry was then adjourned accordingly.

tions of the gang. He was then taken to the calaboose,
but for some reason did not give satisfaction to the
people, and they demanded his body to be returned to
them. Judge Lecompte again addressed the people,
and with some effect, for they seemed to divide into two
parties, the one clamouring for the hanging of the pri-
soner, and the others demanding a trial for him. Marshal
Denis, of the Territory, was also present, and though he
exerted himself with all his power, he could not maintain
his position at the door of the calaboose, nor prevail on
the crowd to disperse. The wife of Baines, also, ap
peared, and, in,pired by the dangerous situation of her
husband, took a heroic stand on the entrance, and en-
deavoured by frantic threats and entreaties to stay the
wrath of the populace. But all efforts were unavailing ;
the peace party were overpowered. Judge Lecompte s
voice was drowned by the shrieks of the mob. A. large
piece of hewn timber, perhaps 25 feet long and one foot
square, that was lying near, was lifted up by a crowd
of men, and plunged with fearful effect against the cala-
boose door. The sight of the wife's distress and the
sound of her screams, mingled with the ragings and
shticks of the infuriated mob, were too much for me,
and I turned my back and walked away. I heard an-
other blow front the piece of timber and a simultaneous
shout from the crowd, which told me that the door bad
given way and the prisoner was at the mercy of the
people. I walked hastily around the tqaare, for with
all its terror there was a fascination in the sight, and
reached the spot just in titne to see the mob rushing down
e
the street with the prisoner towards the creekh and t
theis
din tree. I pursued, and when I reacnbedhi spo.
body of Baines was already in the air,ea d ts
least deah
struggles were shivering along bs. The crowd
hWoods and Knowlton
then appeared to be satisfied.
meanwhile had been placed in an omnibus and hur-
ried off to fort. The city continued
very much ex-
cited up to the hour I left, but no further violence
was anticipated. All sorts of stories prevailed, and
many of the mysterious disappearances and rob-
beries which have occurred in the territory are all being
referred to this band of murderers." Two or more of
the gang have since been apprehended and executed.--
Missouri Democrat.