Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1855-07-05
AlisteIlaneOns Reaoinp.
From the Chicago Tribune
G, MoCrea's Statement Of the AffraV In
which he killed Malcolm Clark.


We publish to-day q letter from McCrea,
now confined at Fort Leavsnworth on a charge
Of murder in killing Malcolm Clark. border
rufhan who participated largely in the Kanzas
ousrages. McCrea writes like a man Of pluck
The letter is addressed to Mr.. Charles Ratter.
way, bookseller, Debuke. Iowa, his brother
in'law, and was not intended for publication
LEAvESwoRrH, KANzAs
't May "a, 1855.
DRkR FATHER We have received your
setter Of the 29lh ult.; the telegraph dispatch
Of the 9th inst, and the boxes, we have heard
are at the warehouse, for which we are very
grateful to all parties donating.
Some eight days after date, your dispatch
came to hand, but was not such as to cheer US
much in our time Of trouble. Poor E. was
least prepared for the sweeping request TO leave
her husband in troubles involving lis life
She bears up well. but is in very low state
Of health.
You have, doubtless, looked for the partic-
ulais Of the cause Of my shooting Clark, which
without taking notice of a rumOred effrOnt to
my wife, while boarding at the house Of said
Clark. when we 6rst came to this country, l
will give you in detail I; and first, to what I
suppose to be the real cause Of this attack up.
on me. Clark was Missourian bully, and
one of those bandits who took our election last
spring BY force Of arms, and put in the chsl-
lenge 10 the only district in which the minions
of Slavery we're defeated, and certificates of
election giJen to free state men and Phillips,
who has since then been attacked. kidnapped
from his own house. taken into Missouri, one
side Of his head shaved, tarred and feathered,
rode some three miles upon a rail, then sold at
auction by negro for two cents, although a
lawyer and in every way gentleman and
man of wealth, besides being man of family,
only about eight months from Massachusetts,
and that was not all that was intended for me
and Phillips
1t was concerted to take both our lives, as l
learned. By havinga position in a ballroom
the night after .he report of the Governors
desertion arrived. when Phillips entered With
his wife. His presence turned the conversa-
ton from the Governor to him, and thus to
me. II was even then agreed that before the
next election row should be got up in some
crowd where we were present to take our lives.
As soon as could move with safety, went
to Mr.. Phillips, informed him, and advised him
to go armed; and though no natural demon
stration was given, I could. from time to time.
see evidence Of the plot not being abandoned
and it was this which made me take the out
side of the crowd when Clark commenced to
abuse me. as will appear below.
The meeting at which this affair took place
was called under the influence of the Missou-
rians, to extend tie time given by mob law for
non residents (MissOurians) for making per-
Sonal settlement upon the claims. which they,
in reality, never intended to settle. but merely
to speculate upon, and keep from free State
men and persons from the north, all Of whom
are looked upon by those rufians with hate.
These meetings bad commonly been largely
represented by Missourians, but this time the
actual squatters had large majority. Per-
Ceiving this, these Missouri ruffians determined
to carry their point by storm.
A John Wilson was called to the Chair, who,
under the pleteDce of explaining the object Of
the meeting. delivered an abusive and black.
guard harrague against every person who was
not from slave States, the Governor coming in
for large share, by way of comparison with
his negroes: nor did those who desired to op-
pose the friends of the last election, by expos
ing them escape his notice: he at last conclud.
ed. Twas called for. but knowing that a plot
was laid for me, and that could not follow the
previous speaker without showing my con.
tempt for him and his cause, which would be
signal for an attack upon me, refused to go
forward, and called upon a man whom sup.
posed then to possess some qualities of gen,
tleman, by the name of Easton. He made a
speech, not so long, but otherwise much in
keeping with his predecessor. He closed, and
the crowd would take no denial, but pushed
me forward.
As went forward TO the stand, "a dry
goods box, it being out of DOORS thought
there was something wrong in those rOwdies
crowding to the inside Of the circle, and get
ting our party to the outside; but went on
slowly till near the box. Clark, otherwise
called the Platte COunty bully, met me, and
said in savage manner; Go back; no cd
d-d abolition son Of b-h shall speak in this
meeting Knowing that the abuse was intend
ed to provoke some remark from me. I went
back without saying word. then thought
that could perceive that he Lad been pitted,
and was disappointed. l moved to the ex-
treme outside of the crowd, believing that I