New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-17


with as he knew. As he was an active partcip ant
in the defense Of Lawrence at the time, his accouu.
Is detailed sketch Of that transaction, but the
same essentially with that already laid before the
readers Of THE TRIBUNE.
The afternoon Of yesterday was mostly consumed
In secret session.
Saturday Night, May 3, 1856.
This morning the Committee resumed their Sc
cret session, which lasted until the middle of the
forenoon. From the witnesses examined, Learned
that the matter under investigation had reference
to the difficulties near Hickory Point and the muir
der Of Dow. Two of the witnesses examined told
me that their testimony would be conclusive as to
the murder and also as to the truth of the account
of the whole transaction as published in my cores
pondence last Fall. Evidence has also been be-
fore the Committee relative to the murder Of Bar
ber-how full or conclusive have not been able to
ascertain. proceed with summary Of the evil
dence taken in the open session:
JOIN C. DAVIDSON sworn-Had resided for fifteen
years in Missouri and came TO Kansas in June 1854;
his estmony went to prove that large parties Of Mis-
souriaps had come to the Territory to vote at the
March election, rs55,) when the bogus Legislature
was elected; he had seen large body of these
Missourisns voting, and knew many Of them when In
Missouri; he had visited the camp of a party from
Carol County, Mo and conversed with them; they
told him that they had come to vote; admitted that
they had no intention Of settling ID the Territory; de
clared that they had right to vote under the Nebras
Ia bill as all were residents who were IN the Terrific
~, no matter bow long they staid; they also told
him that they did not intend to be kept from voting,
but were determined to fight before they would be
prevented. On cross-examination, by Woodson, he
said these men told him that the Eastern men were
coming up the river with placards on their hats,
"Ksnsas Free State" and they had as good right
TO vote Eastern emigrants.
DR.. JOHN DAY sworn-Gave testimony about set
tier from Mo-, in Lawrence, having provisions in his
house previous to the March election to supply the
Missouri men when they came up this man. called
'Red Robinson on being asked by witness about the
piles Of bacon -four, meal and corn, said that some
of the boys were coming up to help them to vOte;"
witness also saw them dealing out their rations to the
different camps several Of these camps had inscrip-
lions sigpifying where they from, such "Cay
"County Boys;" testified to the violence used to Free
State men in Lawrence, by these Mssourans, driving
of Stearns and Bond and shooting at the latter iden-
tilted several of the party knowing them personally
10 be Missourans he had not been able TO vote for
these men until evening.
THOMAS BREEsE was sworn-He is an old man. was
from Missouri and stated in his testimony that he was
"Pro-Slave" he testified TO an act of violence toward
Free State man named Fairly who had been driven
from his claim his house burned down, and his family
turned out of doors; he made long rgmarole about
the squatter law, which was not very succnct which
had reference to the number Of claims man might
hold; the "squad" that mobbed Fairly were from
Missouri all but two lie also testified to these men
giving written notice to Branson, to "leave;" this
outrage happened at the time Of the March election
t55) and these men had been up to vote; this was
testified to by the next witness, Mr.. Mckinney
a Pro. Slavery man, also who had lived in Missouri
at the time of the occurrence, and who testified
to the party going past his house into the
Territory and that his went with them; also testi-
fed that his son and another man belonging to the
party had told him they had burned Farlys house and
driven him off also that they had frightened Branson
that there had be from hundred to hundred
and fifty camped on the ground when this happened,
snd that they had gone up to vote.
HOMES HAYS, a German, testified to having been
taken and kept a. prisoner for days at the Waka
rusa during the siege Of Lawrence, last December;
he lived near the Wakarusa, and had been summoned
TO show the ford at the Kansas River but declined on
the very rational ground that he did not know it, he,
however took them TO a neighbor who could snow
them: he was afterward arrested while going to
Franklin ard placed on bare backed horse as his
csntors led the horse by halter, he concluded he
had no use for the reins but they commanded him to
take them. for ga Cd id Dutch Abolitionist;" he
had plead ignorance Of this charge as there were no
Abotionsts in his country.
There was testimony taken here from several wit
pesses a. to the difference between the number of
votes on the poll-books in the different districts and
the number Of persons living therein.
Gov. ROBINSON sworn-His testimony gave the
same account Of the siege of Lawrence and the Incl
dents connected herewith that has already been pub
Ished in The TRIBUNE. He disclaimed having at any
time aided the escuers of Branson; the most interest
ing part of his testimony related to the negotiations
with Gov. Shannon; he and Lane had been appointed
by the Committee Of Safety to negotiate with Shan
non; Robinson's testimony was that the Governor
stated in Council he had misunderstood the people Of
Lawrence; Jones ard others had made statements TO
him that he was satisfied incorrect; he expressed
regret that the people were here in such numbers
feared he could not control them and dared not close
negotiations that day; he was anxious to have Col
Sumner with the troops arrve If he should close the
negotiations that day on any terms honorable to the
people Of Lawrence, the men at Waukarusa would
raise the black flag and march upon the town. he
went down TO the camp that night TO keep them
in subsection; Committee appointed that
night 10 draw up treaty; the Governor came back
next day and showed paper he had drawn up;
witness showed Shannon the paper the Committee had
drawn up; Shannon had no objections to the paper
himself bu. must have everything to satisfy the men