Nebraska palladium. [volume] (Bellevieu City, Neb.) 1854-1855, 1855-04-11

The resolutions of this Convention indicate the state
which existed Zoo the Territory boz consequence of he ig,s
Missouri. and the -euartments OF the alleged Legislative
The language 9f some of the resolutions Is violent. and can
justified either 100 couseqgcnGaol the attempt 20 enforce Thea
acts o. tyranny, or for the purpose OF guarding agaiutasmir
In the fI Of 1858, there sprang ont Of the existing a5
pNcltemeuts Iu the Territory, two secret Free State Sfea u
were defensive 10 their character, and were designed n0na
lection 20 their members against unlawful attacks Of u0sas
assault. One Of the societies was Of a purely local chE7s.
was confined 20 the town Of Lawrence. Very shortly a0e ia
ization, d produced It's desired effect, and then went outd =
ceased 10 exist. Both societies were cumbersome and pa
except 20 give confidence 10 he Free State men and ena'sai
know and aid each other Ia contemplated danger. So fIah
idence shows, they led to no act Of violence IN resislanosta
real or alleged laws.
on the 2ist day OF November, 1858, =. NJ Coleman, aRpS
man, and Charles w. Dow, a Free State man, had a dYWi
the division line between their respective claims. N5mA
afterwards, as Dow was passing from a biacksiniths sPp
his claim, and by Tho cabin Of Coleman, the lattev sbe DOR,
double-barroled gun loaded with slugs. Dow was emrd
fell across the road and died Immediately ms was aoo1lt
p. NJ. His dead body was allowed 10 lie where II fell wt
shutdown, when 10 was conveyed by Jacob Brans0n 10 hsh
which Dow boarded. The testimony IN regard to this bu-
yoluminous. and shows clearly that 1t was a deliberate M
Coleman, and that Harrison Buckley, and a Mr. Hargous
ccssorIcs 20 IL. The excitement caused by 1t WAS very ga
all classes Of settlers. On the 26thi a large meeting OF cta
held az the place where the murder was committed, and fa
passed that Coleman should be brought 90 justice. luh
time Coleman had gone 10 Missouri, and then TO Gov, sMi
Shawnee Mission, in johnson County. lie was there &t
custody by S. j. Jones, then acting as sheriff. No VAIN
issued or examination had. On the day OF the meeting at
Point, Harrison Buckley procured a peace warrant agaius
. BriUsOn. which was placed ~ the HduuH bl JNirHs lNal san
lug. after Brauson had gone 10 bed, Jones came TO bis cabin
party Of about twenty-five persons, among whom were hai.
Bucklcy-burst open the door, and saw Branson IN bed
drew his pistol, cooked Il, and presented u 90 Bfanson's BIZ
said, g" You are ms prisoner, and il YOU move will bi
/ through" The others cooked their guns and gathered r-
and took him prisoner. They all mounted and went 10 "a
house.
After time they went on a circuitoua route towards B
+ Bridge, stopping 10 drink on the way. As they appf1d
bridge there were thirteen in the party, several having
Jones rode mp 10 the prisoner, and among other ihing,t
that he had " heard there were one hundred men al your b
day, and that be regretted they were not there, and that "
cheated out Of their sport" ln The meantime, The alarm
given in the ncighborbo0d Of Bransons arrest, and seFeIap
tiers, among whom were some who had attended the
Hickory Point that day, gathered together They were ~
ted: the alleged injustice Of such an arrest Of O quiet s1
a pcace warrant from "Sheld Jones' aided by Two maA
90 be accessories % q murder, and who were allowed mN-
. exaspcratcd them, and they proceeded as rapidly % .
nearer route than that taken by Jones, and stopped neIItN
d.. S. Abbot. one Of the party. They were on loot "
( approached on a cauter. The rcscuers suddenly ioim,4
road 10 front Of Jones and his party. Jones ha'ea
&" Whats up ?" The reply was, "Tbats what We naA
i What's up =" Drauson said, " They have got me a pnNh
one 10 the Tescuing party told him 70 come over 10 nsIl-
did so, and dismounied, ard the mule he rode was dr'a
;. Jones party; Jones then left OF the persons ~engasfaN ID.
/. cue, three were from Lawrence, aud bad attended us
/ Your committee have deemed D. proper 10 detail me
Z this rescue, as 10 was made the groundwork OF what ~.
- ~ HA- unMRn she II