Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1855-12-21
Law and Order in Kansas

Lecompte, one of the ruffan judges of Kan.
sas, has met with an unexpected obstacle to
his plot to compass the judicial murder Of
McCrea, by the appearance in his behalf Of
Thomas Shankland, grave and learned law
yer, who formerly practice; in the United
States supreme court. lie has commenced
by bold and skillful attack upon the prinoi-
pal rufians who constitute the court He
moved for the expulsion Of the clerk of the
court and the two attorneys acting against
McCrea, Tor having been engaged in the
lynching of Phillips, last May. He then
somewhat astonished the Judge by a formd
able collection Of affidavits. fullv sustaining
the charge and proving that the Judge him
self had said it was his duty to discharge the
clerk and expel the lawyers, "but he believed
he would not do it, Rees, another rowdv
lawyer, rose to object to the reception of the
afhdavits, when Mr. Shenkland effectuallv
silenoed him by saying that he ought also in
justice to have included this Mr.. Rees in the
motion for expulsion, as there was full proof
that he had indorsed and approved the out
rage, although not actually engaged in it
These proceedings greatly emparrassed the
noble Judge and he ordered the documents
hled, while he should take time for reflection
The guilty clerk raved and said, {, There's
one man I've got to give a id thrashinr to
before be leaves this" and the rufianlv law
yer Rees swore Shankland should
answer for this in another place The vene-
rable lawyer stood these assaults unmoved.
and quietly said, "Does the court permit
sucg language" no" sad .Judre La
compte, "No, don't want to hear anv moro
OF it." Mr. Shankland was threatened with
violence outside Of the court and the Leaven-
worth Herald warned him that he would find
Jordan hard road to travel" Judge
| mi - Il.
OF the way evidently, for it will not be easv
for him to go on with his lawless proceedings
under cover of law, with a keen and practic-
ed lawyer to watch and expose him. If
Shankland is not summarily disposed of by
the law and order rufians, We shall have
| nope OF McCrea acquital, as the evidence is
conclusive that he killed Clark in self
defense The case Of the lynching of Phil
lps Is before the grand jury, but as that was
IN accordance with such 'law and order as
.he government officers are attempting to
enforce IN hansas,it is not believed that
bill will be found against the perpetrators
A free state meeting was held at Leaven-
worth the evening of the 2lst ult., at which
the law and order party made some dis
.aioance' Sheriff Todd, an appointee of the
missouri leglslators,got up on a box to speak.
but was too drunk to keep his equilibrium
and came down again. Another champion
OF slavery took the vote of the audience for
and against slavery, and got so overpowering
an an aye Tor freedom that he left in disgust
Ihe pro-slavery men then blew out the lights
and yelled themselves hoarse but did no
other damage Such are the officers to whom
the administration of justice and the rrotec
tlon of individual rights is committed in
Kansas, and whom governor Shannon saws he
is authorized BY the president to sustain with
the militia field Republican.