Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1855-12-21
THE AMERICAN.
prooress Of OUTRAGE in Kansas.

which. and the proceedings growing
out Of ID. Gov. Shannon has taken ad
vantage to represent the Free-State
settlers Of Kansas rs in state Of re.
bellion-is by no means a singular
event in the turbulent history of that
infant Territory aud Of the border
ruflians" who have taken its affairs in
charge.
Alter the Spring election Of 1855.
several Of these personages waited on
Gov. Reeder aud threatened to hang
him unless he would give certificates
OF election to the Pro Slavery men
chosen to the Territorial Legislature
BY The votes Of the Missouri mob
His reply was: "GentIemen. two or
three OF you can murder me. but le
gion oonnot compel me TO do that
which my conscience does NOT approve
A similar attempt to ffighten Gov.
Reeder. and to compel him TO recant
some statements OF his during visit
to the East. was aftersard made by
tho redoutsble Stringfellow himself;
nor we're there wanting other similar
occurrences, out Of which the tele-
graph from st. Louis manufactured re-
ports--now that Gov. Reeder had
been logged. and now that he had
been murdered.
On Saturday. April IA. 1856. mob
OF some two hundred ruffians from
Platte County. Missouri, the residence
Of Stringfsllow and Atchison, assem-
bled at ParkvilIe. Missouri. and at
tackled the Office Of The Luminary. q
newspaper published there. and which.
because Il did not implicitly subscribe
to the border-rufliian operations. was
accused of Free-State proclivities.--
They destroyed the fixtures and threw
the types and presses into the river
The editors and publishers. ]. s. Park
and Wn. s. Patterson. escaped per-
sonal violence at the time. but they
were obliged to fiy the State. Mr..
Patterson is now in this vicinity, Civ
ing lectures on the conspiracy TO make
Kansas Slave STATE The pecuniary
interests of the inhabitants Of Park
vile. Of which town Mr.. Park Was the
founder and principal proprietor, inn
peratively required his temporary re-
turn thither for the purpose Of execu-
ting conveyances and releases and
other business acts. No sooner was
he known to be there than the Platte
County ruffians ferociously threatened
to march upon the town and 10 des-
troy it and him /; nor could the peo-
pie Of Parksville find any security ex-
cept in military organization. and a
compact for mutual defense similar to
that lately entered into by the people
of Lawrence.
On the 3oth of April. sixteen days
after the attack upon The Luminary.
at a political gathering at Leaven-
worth City after question had been
put by the Chair. Malcolm Clark. a
leading Pro-SIavery politician. cried
out. ave have the majority" to
which . lawyer named dc rea respon-
ded, ITS a lie." Upon that Clark
struck McCrea With club, whereup-
on. recovering little from the stun
ming effects Of the blow. McCrea drew
. revolver and shot Clark dead
Nc rea fed instantly. holly pursued
BY Clark's friends, who saught to kill
him on the spot; but he ran into the
river and found protection under the
bank. whence he was presently taken
by his friends and delivered to the
commander Of Fort Leavcnworth for
custody and protection. Anywhere
else his life would not have been safe.
Thus baked in their attempt to muir
der NcCrea. on The 18th Of May fol-
lowing. number Of border ruffians
from Missouri crossed the river at
Leavenworth and seized Mr.. Phillips,
the law partner Of McCrea, and one
Of the most intelligent and respecta-
bic citizens Of the place. who had CIV
en- additional ofiense by contesting the
election in his district, in consequence
Of which new election had besn or
dered BY Gov. Reeder. Assisted by a
number OF other .rutiians resident in
the town. and before the body of the
people Of the place had time to collect
and act. they carried Phillips across
the river--his friends being unable to
follow for want Of a boat-and took
him some miles inland on the Mssou-
ri side. when they shaved half his head
stripped him naked. tarred and feath-
cred him. rode him on q rail mile
and q half. put him up at moe auc-
ton, and bid him of to a negro at
one dollar. Phillips. however, etfec-
ted his escape from these villains and
returned to Leavenworth, where he
still remains. in spite Of all the threats
of further violence against him il he
should not hy the Territory. But
now mark the difference of civil pro-
cedure ia these two cases Of Phillips
and McCrea. No attempt whatever
was made to infiict any punishment
on The lyuchers Of Phillips. Mr.. Nc
Crea, on the other hand. undergoes
long and rigorous imprisonment. FIRST
Ia the fort and then in the Jail a bill
Of murder is E,und against him by n
packed jury. after more honest one
had refused to fad any; and when at
last he comes into court to be tried he
finds among the counsel within the bar
and among the officers Of that tribu-
nal. including the clerk Of the Court
no less than four persons who had been
concerned in the abduction and lynch.
ing Of Phillips. This fact was after
ward brought to the notice Of the
Court by sworn affidavit; but We have
not yet Harmed that any action was
taken upon IL. We are happy to say
that McCrca. after many other points
had been ruled against him. has sue
ceeded in obtaining change Of venue
which operates. however, TO defer
the trial and prolong his imprisonment
which Il 10 q county jail Of the most
wretehed description.
On the Goth Of May, three days af.