Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1856-05-09
Fsf'ssE.HNssTON:
The New Kansas Trouble.
FRIDAY MORNING, MAY .. 1850,

Inc New Kansas Trouble
The Legislature which the Mssourian in
vadcrs elected to tyrannize over the people Of
Kansas, and force them to submit to their
piratical cnactmcnts for securing Kansas as
Il slave State, appointed one Jones, post
master Of Weston, Missouri, to he Sheriff of
Douglas County, as they calledi it, in Kansas
The frequent mention of his abusive conduct
for months past in the various accounts OF
the violence which the settlers have been
subjected TO by their invaders, has made his
name notorious. It vas rumOred some days
ago. that lie had been shot.-sevcrelv, if not
fatally wounded, by some unknown person,
at Lawrence. The letters lately received
confirm this rumor and give the particulars.
The Telegraph brought word on Saturday
last, that large meeting had been held in
Lawrcnce-that resolutions condemning the
act and disclaiming all responsibility for it
were passed. and that Gov. Robinson had of
ftrei reward of $500 for the apprehension
Of tie guilty person. Within few months
several free state men have been shot down
where there was no ARRAY whatever, and one
coolly hacked to pieces but no notice has
been taken Of it by the officials in authority
under the [. S. Government, from franklin
Pierce to Wilson Shannon. The bogus legis
latures officials of course have not troubled
themselves about it either. No attempt what.
ever has bcon made to bring the guilty vii
lains to Justice, and one Of them still holds
nlnr -,;t ,l.,r
ty which he held. when, without the least
rrovocation, he deliberately shot down his
fellow man in the highway, in broad day
light and in the presence of others The
difference is worthy of notice
Under the inevitable exasperations Of such
condition Of society as has prevailed in
Kansas, the wonder is not that one angry
man has thus vented his rage against such a
man as Jones; but rather that scores Of lives
have not been taken on both sides before this
The occurrence is not on that account the
less to be condemned. if the circumstances
are truly represented. To shoot another in
self defence or under the excitement of
violent and dangerous contest is one thing
to deliberately seek the life Of another, how
ever provoking his conduct has been, when
NJ one is in personal peril, hut all arc in
state Of quiet for time, is another. If the
first is cxcusablc, more or less, the latter is
not so.
We copy below letter written to the editor
of the Missouri Democrat gives as con
densad an account Of the matter as any one
we have s7cn. Among those arrested by Jones
for not helping him make an arrest Of Wood,
wbo conH net bc fonnd, the Sunday before was
Mr.. Hutchinson from Randolph, Nt.,-well
known 10 many OF the people of this State
having addressed them in several places on
the affairs Of Kansas.
LAwRrNor X. T., Thursday, April -, lSj6.
T. N, Ediay NJ The Missouri Dcmocrat:
knowing that your regular CORE spondent is de.
barred from writing to you by this mail, volun-
tcer a few lines that will be Of public interest
Jones' the Sheriff of Douglass County, was shot last
ui:h about ~ O'Clock, and it is expected that his
wound will prove fatal. The attending circum-
stances were these On saturday, and sunday last
b. made two unSuccc >stul attempts to arrest :. n
Wood and Others, for old offences for which he
has held warrants for several months, and never
sought 10 enforce. Our people were unwilling to
recognize him or his authority. lie had small
took away mono OF our men under such circumstan-
ces. He seemed greatly cAaspciatcl and swore he
would have them Mt any cot of life money. lie
made Locompt"n his headquarters, where shannon,
Oliver, W hlticld, StringiellUw, and others in
'ounc, directing all his movemen ents and intending
10 get up fpray just the verge of the exam
nation by the Washington Committee, to prejudice
them agaist tho squattcr' Of the Territory. shan
non sent to Leavcnwoth for troops to asss Jones in
making his arrests and about o'clock in the after
noon yesterday, he rode into town at the
head Of ten twelve Dragons, fully
armed. Wood and those he came
more particularly to arrest, not in town, md
were advised to leave, to prevent and avoid difficulty
at that time But they soon found twelve others
whom they arrested and marched through the streets
under guard Of [. 3. Dragons, like culprits. Many
of our people were indignant at this; still they
all arrested and taken TO the prepared for them
without the least resistance, and even L. :.
officer, with such instructions they have could have
accomplished the same, for will never resist the
arms and authority of the e. As night came on,
however feared there wouli be further disturbance,
stitl expected nothing serious than abusing
Jones something of the kind. But, unfortunately
for US, some desperate whose impulses beyond
control, shot Jones he in tent occupied by the
drsUuus; but no trace can be found any evidence
to fly the guilt any particular Our citizens all
drprecltc tho act very much, and will use every
means to bring the assassin t. justice. The Lieu
tenant in command has sent to Lcavcnworth for a
largo force, but we apprchend further dcmonsra-
uou. JONES is alive this morning, but is considered
very dangerously wounded. The ball entered be-
tween the shoulder blades near his neck, and prob
ably injured the spine 1t is hoped the public will
withhold Judgment until further Investigations nrc
made public, RANDOLPH.