The Kansas herald of freedom., 1855-06-09
Corresponding.
ErA< Herats If Eeedcm.
Plain Statement of Facts.
!. LEAvrswoRrH Guam Housn.

K. T., May eest. 1856.
G. W. BRowE, ESQ. DEAR Snip
to this time have thought proper to let
an impartial world Judge of my conduct
IN shooting CLARK, but perceiying that
that wretched paper printed at Leaven-
worth is determined to deceive every one
who condescends to read it, and even
you do not appear to have a true under
standing of the case. as you appear to
proceed upon the superstition that | had
first insulted Clark. ~ -
/ will therefore give you full state
ment ofthe facts leading to the sad result
upon the ground, together with what Il
suppose to have led to it. Up to that
day 1 had always been ON very familiar
terms with Clark; 1. e.. had heard
him said to be a very troublesome man,
and wished 10 be at peace with him. He
often called at my house, aud I always
made quite free with him. On this
action, myself and five or six free State
men, together with Clark, were the first
upon the ground intended for the meet
ing. p!ayfully called upon Clark for a
speech he frowned and came towards
me, and addressed me as follows: Il
don't want any Cd id abolition son
of BIB to speak to me.'' answered
Mr.. Clark. al did not wish to offend
you; did not know that you did not
wish me to speak to YOU, or 1 certainly
would not do it ;" he then said, "well
don't; and the closer you keep to that
resolution the longer you may escape q
Cd id bruising, which have prom
ised you and an other perured abolition
sou of b-h." / made no answer, and
he went off, and the meeting having
come to order, and man by the name OF
Wilson, from Missouri, asalso was Clark,
was called to the chair, who, under the
pretenee of explaining the object of the
meeting, suggested the necessity of con-
tinuing the Squatter laws over the Terri
tory, so as to keep out the damned pau
pers of the East and North. All the rest
ofhis long speech was in the same strain.
When he concluded in common with
some others, | called L. j Easton to the
stand, and asked him to keep himself to
the question before the meeting also
slightly reflected upon the last speaker
for his disgraeeful depression. Easton
concluded his speech much in keeping
with the late conduct of his party, and
nei her were interrupted in one jot or
title by me or any one else. was then
and before repeatedly called to come for
ward to the stand. Clark swore that no
Cd id abolitionist should speak in
that meeting; and to avoid trouble, as
well to myself as friends, stepped back
to the outside of the crowd. They had
it all their own way. A vote was taken
on extending the time for squatters Mis-
sourians to settle on their claims till 0c-
tober next, and a division being called
for, some two-thirds took the side against
the extension of time, but the mulatto
who counted the votes declared the ma
jority falsely. l then said to Mr.. Eames,
who stood by me, "did you ever see
such,a raseally fraud ?' Which express
sion being overheard by Clark on the
opposite side of the stand (ealling me
a id son of a b-h, he Immediately
picked up piece of a two by four scant-
ling and made towards me. / receded
some thirty feet before he came through
the crowd, but made no answer to him
whatever. On reaching the outside Of
the crowd, he set upon me at full speed,
and before had time to get out of his
way he made a blow at me, which 1 jus,
managed to dodge. thought of my
revolver, but felt a horror at the use of it,
| therefore tried to run, but before
could get out of his way received the
second blow on the head, and glancing
down to my shoulder, fractured my
collar bone it blinded me for the mo-
ment. As soom as had somewhat recoy-
cred from the shock, seized my revolver,
and looked back saw Clark still near me
with the seantling uplifted, and Messrs.
Green and Todd slightly behind him.
trying TO take aim on me with a pistol.
saw that there was but one alternative
left me, and | fired at Clark; / then
started 10 take aim at Todd, but he was
loading his pistol, and not wishing to
shoot She vile wretch turned to go away
from linn, but in the act of turning my
back to him he fired, his ball passing
under my arm, but not wounding me-
All that | have stated, since Clark is
represented as being on the outside
of tile crowd, was the work of per-
haps one-fourth of a minute. Others
were attempting to fire at me at the Same
time, to whom / Lave not alluded. ]
have now stated every word, act and
deed of mine.. from tie commencement
of that meeting till the end of the fatal
tragedy.
shall now give you what / believe led
TO this fatal result, and it is not guess
work: The night that Easton got home
from the mob committee, on which he
went for his certificate of election
met him, when he used the following
language to me: cd d-n your soul
you and Phillips made affidavit agains
the election, and it'll be the last you vii
make you viii both 6nd this country
100 hot for you; and you went down tt
the Mission TO defend. that Cd d.
abolition son of b-h, Reeder, but YOU
will find it all you can do to defend your
self.'' For the purpose of revenge npol
us there is no doubt but the ruffin Ciafl
had been petted with promises to b
backed up, in ease he needed it; for it !:
notorious that he was always ready to uss
hisenormous powers for any vile purpose
and this plot is further evidenced from
the fact that I had no sooner shot ths
Platte county Bully, than it was repre-
scented that MIR. Phillips had been issoci
ated with me in circulating hsnd-blfis
although poor Phillips had not Spoken
TO me since heard of the call for tht
meeting; aud the wrath of these ruf
ffians does not arise from the decease 0
Clark, but that they expected land Phil
lips would fall an easy prey to their pow
erful leader. His last words were XII
hint / am shot -
lam your humble seryt DC,
G. McCREA.
p. s. The window of my prison com
nands view of the road from the ferr,