Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1856-07-23
Border RuRanism-InfeFnaI outrage in
kanZass

Kanzas.
Topeka Correspondence of the Cincinnati
Gazette. 1 heard to-day Of an outrage which
exceeds any that l have heard Of during the
Kanzas troubles. A man by the name of
Richards, formerly of Ohio, residing on Pot.
tawatomie creek, in the southern portion of
the Territory, having occasion to go to West
port, left home on Thursday last, with the
understanding that he would be back in four
days. During the first day of his absence,
two men came to the house and inquired for
him finding that he was not at home they
left, saying that they would call when he re-
turned, his wife inviting them to do so, stating
that he would be home in day or two
About ten o'clock that night, after the family
had retired, a knock was heard at the
door; Mrs. Richards asked what was wanted
the reply was, we want to see Mr.. Richards.
She replied that he was not at home. They
then demanded Mrs. Richards 10 open the
door. He is a Cd id Abolitionist, we
must have him. She again replied, he is not
at home, and refused to open the door. 1t
was then broken open, and seven or eight men
entered the room and commenced searching it
for Richards. Not finding him, they accused
Mrs. Richards and her daughter, an intelH-
gent young lady about nineteen years of age,
of secIeting him. The ladies, completely be-
wildered by terror, protested that they had
told the truth, and that they had not secreted
him-that he was really gone to Westport.
One of their men then replied, "Then God
id you, we want you" and dragged the
daughter from the bed, and from the house
into the bushes close by, and there proceeded
deliberately to violate her person.
Her mother, Mrs. Richards, was treated in
the same manner, and both left for dead
How long they remained in the bush, they
were unable TO tell but she managed finally
to reach the house, were they were found by
one Of the neghbors the next morning, who,
otter providing for their personal comfort, i'm
mediately started to raise company to pur-
sue the villains. In an hour company of
terribly excited men were raised, numbering
about thirty, who under the command of
Mr.. Smith, started N the trail. They traced
them to a camp of about one hundred men,
situated in deep ravine some distance from
the creek. Finding that they were not strong
enough to light, some OF the company started
for assistance, while others remained to watch
their proceedings. The watchers were, how /.
ever, unfortunately, discovered, and conse.
quently had TO leave, and by the time their
comrades returned the camp had been moved
and the ruffians escaped.
This affair has caused great excitement
throughout the Territory, and is almost too
horrible to believe. l had the facts from Mr..
Richards himself, who has been TO acting
Gov. Woodson, to endeavor to get Justice
DONE but without avail, and has come to To-
peka to get the citizens to help him TO arrest
and obtain the perpetrators of this diabolcal
Outrage. II has since been ascertained that
the scoundrels were part of Bufords men,
who are armed with United states muskets,
and in the pay Of the United States Marshal.
1t issuch outrages and crimes that men support
and sanction, when they vote for the nominees Of
the Cincinnati Convention, and for that afro
cious platform Of political depravity which was
there established by Southern negro drivers and
Forthern doughfaceS under the Specious name Of
Democracy. Freemen Of Massachusetts,, read