Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-09-04
From TING st. Louis Daily Gazette
OUTRAGEOUS PROCEEDINGS AT KASKAs-
kIA. ILLINOIS.

We have been informed bv a gentleman last
arrived from kaskaskia, the county seat of RIM
doiph, Illinois, of the occurrence of events In
that town, TIE pcrusal Of which cannot fail to ill
the mind OF any pcaceahc citizen and friend II
law AID social order with deep regret and pro
found sorrow. 1t appears from an informant i'm;
on Thursday night. the II inst between the
hours OF aud ; O'clock. when the family were all
asleep. the house Of Mr.. Whitehead, a LAWYER
from ST. Lonis, whose family is at present resi-
ding at haskaskIa, was surrounded by large
party of men, armed IN different ways aud par
TALL. disguised. some with Grape on their faces,
some with handkercbleis tied over the lower part
oil their iaees, aud most of them. with their coats
put on wrong s:Je out Mr. w had only tina,
evening arrived at ktshashia from ST. Louis TO
attend Court. After making dreadful dlslur-
bance, breaking IN all the windows, and dashiug
IN the sash frames, throwing IN volovs Of heavy
rock and stone upon the inhabitants of the house.
some OF which struck Mrs. W. on the breast and
came very near killing and infant lying on a bed
--demanclng with loud cries and menqces ac-
comPanIed with dreadful tbs and rEprecatons,
The person whom they came for, swearing reaeat-
eddy they would have his life. They at length
alter repeated aud violent assaults, burst open
the door of the house, wrenching il from its fas
tenIBgs. and then rushed in body into the house
upon tho deienceiess family At this moment.
just as they were on the point Of succeeding in
securing the body ot Mr.. w. some neighbors a.
woke by tho screams Of the distressed females
and the loud disturbance made by The attack. ar
rived at the house which is situated some hun
dred feet from any other dwelling whereuDon
the assalIants, desTous, doubt, Of avoiding re-
cogniion, rather than from any fear of the
persons who arrived 10 the assistance Of the fam
lily, took to III ght. Some Of the individuals well
known as tavern loQngers Of the town. and some
Of standing and connections, which 1t might have
been expected would have forbid their ioininr in
such criminal excuses, were recognized b. the
family, notwithstanding their i'll coatrived at
iempts al disguise.
Ga the Monday following. the Court met. and
the Grand Jury charged in nm eioauen, and
powerful address By L. s Linder ESQ. who made
particular reference 10 the awiess violence above
described The family were afterwards sum
moned before the Grand Jury, and SIX several
bills Of indictment, for burglary. With intent 10
XII, were found against such OF the party con.
cerned IN the outrage, as has been recognised
ms, however, instead OF operating in yiuA;ca-
iion OF the laws, and IN giving security to indi-
Fidaai lite, only aggravated the matter: The per
sons concerned, who some weeks before had tn
ken with impnnity an unfortunate prisoner on,
Of fhe JAIL and lynched him 10 death. proud OF
theiF influence, numbers. and former irnpunitv
ielt and knew they bad nothing to fear. They
went at large, were no; even held TO bail, and
ooasied Of what the would do, and threatened
paociy that they would bTing witnesses 10 con