The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-06-23

xntexesting Letter from O. Mocrea-Hn Ex
cuse for shooting Clark.
from the Chicago Tribune, JuEe 10
We publish to day letter from McCrea, now confined
at Fort Lsayenworth on charge OF murder IN killing
Malcolm Clark, border rufan who participated large
" in the Kansas outrages McCrea writes se man OF
pluck The letter addressed 20 Mr. Charles Ratteray
bookseller, Dubuque Iowa, his father in law and was
LEAvEswoRrH (Ksnsas), May "a. 1855.
2sth nit tho telegrapbc despatch OF the 7th instant
and the boxes have heard st the warehouse Tor
witch We are very grateful to all parties donating
Some eight days after cate your despatch came to
hand, but was not such rs 10 cheer US much in our
time of tronbe. Poor E. was least prepared for the
sweeping request TO leave her husband IN uono.e IN
voving his hte She bears up well but 10 IN Very ""
state Of health.
You have doubtless looked for the particulars Of the
cause Of my shooting Clark, wh,h, without taking mo-
tice Of rnmored aont to my wife, while boarding ct
the house OF said Clark when we first came to this
10 Ss hs @ Of ss .sot
Clark was Missourisn bully, and Of those ban
ATS who took our election last spring force Of arms
put in the challenge to the only district in which
the mnons Of slavery defeated and certfcstes of
election given to State men; and Phillips, who has
since then been attacked, kidnapped from his own
house. into Missouri side Of his head shaved
tarred and feathered, rode some three miles upon o
rail- and then sold at auction BY negro for two cents
man Of wealth, besides being man Of family, only
about eight months from Massachusetts,; ana that
not all that was intended for me and Philips.
1t was concerted to take both lives as learned,
by having posisson In bail the night after the
report of the Goveor's cessrtion arrived, when Phil
lips entered wisiI hs wife ais presence turned the
versaton from tie Governor to him. and thus TO ms 1t
was even then agreed that beore the next election
shoad be got up in crowd where were pre-
sent. to take llves. As could move with
safety, went to Mr.. Philips informed him, and ad,
stration was given could from time to time ses evil
dence Of the plot not being abandonsd ana it this
Clark commenced to abuse me, will appear below.
The meeting at which this affair took place Was called
under the influence Of the MssouriAns to TEND the
time given by mob law for on residents Missourians)
for making o personal settlement upon their claims,
which they, in reality, never intended to settle but
and persons from the North all of whom looked upon
by those rufans with hate. There meetings had com
time the actual equatters had large majority Percev
ing this these Missouri rufans determined to carry
John Wilson was called to the chair who, under the
pretence Of explaining the object Of the meeting, de-
hvered an abusive and blackRuard harangue against
every person who not from Elave States the Cover
NOR coming in for large share, by way OF comparison
with his negroes did those who desired to oppose
cape his notice; he st last concluded was called for
but, knowing that plot was laid for me, and that
my contempt for him and his cause which would be the
signal for an attack upon Irefused to forward
called upon man whom ! supposed then to possess
some qualities of gentleman, by the name OF Easton.
he made speech, not SO loog but otherwise much in
keeping with his predecessor He closed and the Nd
would take no denial, but pushed me forward.
As went forward to tie stand "a dry goods box,
being out Of doors), thought there was something
circle and getting our party to the outside but vent
on slowly till near the box Clark otherwise called the
Platte county bully, met me, snd said in savage man
shall speak in this nesting' Knowing that the abuse
was intended to provoke some remark from me- went
could perceive that he had teen pted, and dssp
pointed moved TO the extreme outside of the crowd,
believing that should not be moiested till the business
of the meeting was over and then intending to get out
OF the way of trouble
appeared TO be against the interest but
decided By the chair % M,ssourian) Tor them. dvi.
sion was then called from mary voices the division
ed by the chairman against tue majority Tthen turn
Ing towards ND. Fames OF my neghbors, 80 go of
fraudl which being oveThe ard by Clark he exclaimed
"You are Cd did lying SON OF b-h, and I'll kill
you stoopDg as il in the act of picking something up
which could not then
then told Mr. Eaues get icto any trouble and
should try 10 do the same and walked away from him
and the crowd about thirty feet, before Clark got
through then he sat upon st full speed, backed BY
four others with pistols and bowie knives and before
with piece Of twa-ty four scsnling, which managed
to dodge but by the time got started to get away, he
gave me ssnc'1g blow which cut my head and fra,,
then seized my revolver, ard could
my balance turned Glars raised his stick third time
trying to ere a. me.
Instantly frsd as Clark striking him about the mid
but learning by the shouts Of Clark who dropped his
stick, "Kn him, Cd d-n him, kill him-Im shot
through AID through he turned, fired st me- his bali
passing under my right arm, and another shot
fred, giving NE slight Touad. The Immediate flight
OF the first who rec at mo- and the great distance Of
the second tie necessity of my firing another
ehot before my frshas rallied around me, and they be-
ing az well armed as my ssssants prevented any fur
Their atsaul. upon me.
warrant sot out ny Mr.. Eames, my best friend,
and brought bers rather for security than conne
ment. have been waiting till after the election, which
took pace in the rejected districts the day before yes
terdsy.
No trick Gas been lett uB.risd; even two Missouri
lawyers volunteered to me- in ordsr to encompass
my lhs and assassipate me- / have been told that my
wife sick and dying with offer of writ Of ha
beas corpus q forged oDe) to get out messenger
waited upon her, whom (my wfe) had seen an hour
before to inform Der that had directed her to sell her
furniture TO Iowa. and cot to trouble herself by try
ing TO see me, would be admitted ex.
cept this favored messenger but she having been ad
mited at AL times except the first detected the vlain
and informed him OF tbs fact with request for his
absence.
There are some twenty five thirty persons who
testify TO the facts which have stated TO the nature
of my defence
Tshan apply for examination soon 50 to be ad-
united to bsil, that may go to work as dare not
practise my profession ut present Clark, like many
other Of these border rufaRs, had friends except
such as feared or wished to make tool OF him. he
has been the terror Of this Territory since