The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-09-18

FROM 81 Iou- papers OF September and 6.
THE MURDER OF MR.. PHILLIPS.
We have Just seen and conversed with Mr..
j.. L. Abernethy, Of Nashville, recently resi-
dent of Leavenworth, Kansas, who left that
plac. on Tuesday last, the I'd inst, who brings
MT only tine latest, bat the most exciting intel
G,cnce we have yet received from that scene
al disorder and lawlessness. He says, that on
Monday last the city election was held in Leav-
enworIh The Free State men, fearing a col
lsi0n and violence, withdrew their ticket, and
took TO part in the election. The Buchanan
party appointed fifty men to guard the polls,
and exclude all "Abolitionists." There was
much rioing and disturbance during the whole
imr. One Free State man, unaware of the
siihlrawal Of the ticket, went to the polls, aud
gas shot at four times by the Buchanan men,
bat escaped without injury.
Soon after this affair, sixty-fve of the Ruff
haas marched to the house of Mr.. Phillips, the
Gentleman who was lynched some time ago for
defending Mcltea, against whom the Ruffians
have always retained a bitter enmity, and de-
maaiod the arms he had in the house, and that
be should surrender himself prisoner. He
refused, aud they at once began firing on the
house, in which there were no men but Mr.. Phil
ip. and his brother. Mrs. Myers, a daughter
10 VII Ee1DSTB Vi OOuHcToNliic, lDlS Dldtc,
vas in the house at the time and says that the
bullets hailed all through the house. She
passed through here this morning on her way
20 her fathers. After firing awhile, the Ruilians
broke into the house. AS they were mounting
ihe stairs, Phillips shot two of them with his
revolver, and was Immediately riddled with bull
lyls. Two balls entered his eyes, and four
charges Of buck-shot were driven right through
LIS breast. His brother was wounded in the
arn. and on Tuesday, when Mr.. Abernethy left,
Vas thought to be dying.
The Rutians, after completing the murder Of
Philips, tried to fire the town, but were dis
idaied by some of the more moderate of their
party. Al the Free State men who could be
Seen on the streets were then taken prisoners.
captain Emery, the same who took Mr.. Hough-
lPn OF this city prisoner, as related the other
day, then had proclamation read On the cor
ners OF the streets, warning all Free State men
to leave the place by Tuesday morning, as all
found after that would be shot. Mr.. Abernethy
and about seventy five Free State, and moderate
Pfo Slavery men, who refused to take arms or
approve Of the acts of the Ruflians, left the
gIa"e at once, on the Martha Jewett. They
"elr taken to Weston, where part we're kept,
and The rest ordered to return. Mr.. Abernethy
"a' OF de portion who returned. They came
back part Of the way to Leavenworth on Mon
ia, evening, and reached the place on Tuesday
morning. Then they were Immediately ordered
away again, and he started on his journey to
his State
Iae younger Mr.. Phillips is since dead.
STATEMENT or PRISONERS WHO WERE CAP
Red EH THE PRO-SLAvERY PARTY.
From the st Louis Democrat.
party of some FIVE or six Ilinoisians and
iHIauiSns, who had gone out to Kansas to
settle, returned to this city yesterday morning,
alhe steamer Polar Star, having been captured
a The hattie of Ossawatomie, by the forces I'M
a-s General Reid, and after being detained g.
day CT two in captivity were conducted to West.
port, AID there placed on board the steamer, to
be taken out of the State of Missouri, and ac-
cmpanied with the threat that If they ever
'entured back to the Territory of Kansas, and
we're caught, they should instantly be hung or
shot.
Leaning Of the arrival of this party, We had
an interview with its men on board the steamer
Baltimore, on which they had taken passage for
"01n, Illinois. Their several accounts agree so
ie,iec!ly that We have condensed and embod-
'7d all their statements, that we might present
oar readers with a complete and reliable nara
i've Of the terrible conflict at Ossawatomie.
HE town of Ossawatomie was composed Of
IRON thirty to forty houses, and was a thriving
pace before the Kansas difficulties, and had a
population Of about two hundred. It's situated
Immediately between the forks of branch of
g we Usage river and the Pottawatomie river.
lie distracted state Of the country had coca
s''n7d an almost total desertion of the town
W lhe families living in it, and at the time of
IGe night 1t was occupied by about fifty armed
ilee State men, and few women and children
Al SIX O'Clock on last Saturday morning, just
4'tr sunrise, a Pro-Slavery party of about 400
.7"' under General Reid, made their appear
4lce before the town, having in their command
piece OF artillery, and most of them mounted
iney had made a forced march of thirty or
,''V miles from their camp on Bull creek. AS
:, oh as the Free State men deserted the Pro
avery force, they put themselves under com
I-An ~. OF Captains Brown and Updegraf, former
u ohiO, and sought shelter in G growth o
-ll7rbrush, about 500 yards distant from the
"h. The Pro-Slavery force maintained thei
round at about a half.mile, and commenced
,..Iug with their cannon, which was loaded will
s.1pe and canister shot and slugs. They hat
- advantageous position, and each discharg'
- The gun raked the ambush of the Free Stat
i've with fearful effect. One of our informant
S'es that he saw three of his comrades fal
~ce; still they returned as brisk fire a.
eIey could, and succeeded in wounding severs
neir enemies. After some ten or a dOzel
1'charges from the artillery, a company Q
aIO4t eighty of the Pro-Slavery force dismouni
y TCn their horses, and having surrounde
We pac. of ratr.aaf mazda an ohaera apd oaur