Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1856-10-04
RELEASE OF PRISONERS IN KANSAS.

to be ended. Judge LecUm pie, Vt the Supreme
Court Of Kansas, opened his sessions ON the 9th,
which was the return day, and the prisoners were
brought into Court, with their counsel, Messrs.
Branscombc, Parrot, and Christian. No business
was done that day.
The account proceeds
next morning, at 0 O'Clock, the prisoners were
ready with their counsel aud friends. About II
o'clock, Judge Lecomptc opened the Court. lie
was very politt to every body. Mr.. G. IL. Grover >p-l
penred IN behalf of the Government for Col. Isaacs
who was snid to be sick. lie made a motion in
writing that the term Of TIE court be continued till
the last Monday in November next, alleged that
the county Of Douglas which includes Lawrence,
Lecompton, Benicia, and Franklin) was in a state
of Instruction, caused 10y the introduction of large
bodies of armed men, whose purpose was to resist
the laws of the Territory, and that this prevented
Jurors and witnesses from attending court. Mr..
Grover made a short argument ON his motion, say
ing that he had proof of these allegations at
hand.
MIR. Brhnscomhe, in reply, said that certain
persons were held in custody 10y "A process IF that
court, ON the charge of high treason, that they had
been ready for trial last term, they were ready
this term, and they now demanded as n right an
Immediate trial. He argued that the reasons nj.
legged on the motion for continuance were not valid,
that there was no evidence before the court Of the
introduction of any armed bodies of men for the
purpose stated by the counsel for the Government,
and he called for proof, protesting against taking
any mans ipse dixit for testimony. Although no
summUuses, he said, had been issued to jurors or
Witnesses, there were jurors present whu would
answer to their names: and if there was Il deicien-
cy in the panel, it could be fill J up from the tales.
There was, therefore, no ren Il Tor not proceeding
Immediately to trial. 1t any rate, if tho Govern
ment was not ready, it was not the fault of the
prisoners. and they should not he com PEELED to sui
fer for it lie declared, in conclusion, that they
were ready for trial, and objected to the motion.
MIR. Grover, in response, said that the court
ros Inuu1 tn tnto nHi .inl ,p,nizuorn nf tLn fact of
the instruction. lie could bring any quantity of
proof of it. There was the london Times. The
London Times said that not only Kansas, but the
whole country, was in IA state Of insurrection.
Judge Lecumpt over ruled the motion, stating
that there was not sufficient evidence before the
court Of such a state Of insurrection as to deter
jurors or witnesses from appearing.
The docket was then taken up. The first case
called was the Territory of Kansas against Charles
Robins N, for usnrration of Office. Mr.. Grover
moved to continue it to the next term, (this is held
in April next for the same reason alleged Oh his
motion to adjourn, and also because the witness
said to have been summoned was not present.
This man Up. Hutchinson) has cen carefully
looked for 10y the prisoners counsel and friends,
but without success. No trace OF him can be
pected that he is II myth.
Mr.. BranscJmbe objected to the granting OF
the motion, for the same reasons which he gave
against the motion to adjourn the court.
Judge L%ecumpte asked MIR. Branscome if he
was II member of that court.
"Mr. branscome replied that he was not.
Judge LecOupte. Then you had better be
qualified before you appear in this case.
MIR, Branscome. What are the qualifications
necessary for a member Of this court?
Judge Lecumpte. You must take an oath 70
support the Constitution of the United States, the
laws of the Territory, the organic act, and the Flu
gitve Slave Law.
c Mr.. Branscome. / cannot conscientiously take
that oath.
Judge Lecompte. Then you cannot appear ii
the case.
MIR. Brarscome then applied to appear as ami
Gus c,1i@, merely TO: the purpose of doing business
preliminary to the trial.
Judge Lecompte denied the privilege.
"Mr. BranScome asked if the Judge would sus
pend for IL tew minutes his decision on the motion
to continue the case.
o Judge Lecompte said he would.
Mr.. Branscumbe then went to the camp. anC
conferred with DR.. Robinson. There wal a younj
lawye r Mr.. Parrutt) at the camp, whom they hat
kept in reserve for this ~exigency. He had been
member Of the court before the bogus laws wer
passed. and consequently was not obliged to tax
the oath. lie did not wish to appear. unless
was absolutely necessary, as the Deputy Marsha
d had threatened on Monday to string him up. ii
Is came up to court, aud appeared in the case; but
was getting late, the court adjourned till mex
morning
Marshal Donaldson brought the prisoner int
court the next morning, under an escort Of Unite
TX States troops.
p mir. Parrott demanded an immediate trial.
ID DIR, Robinson asked that the motion for contir
e. uance, with the reasons appended. be read; an,
m they were read. He then asked Judge Lecompt
a if that was to be IL matter Of record, and judy
&c Lecompte told him that it was.
'Dr. Robinson. WIZ it lie in order for me t
=, make a counter stGtement which also shall appea
! on record?
Judge L%ecompte. I suppose that it will.
CDR. Robinson. ! want il to be understood tina
rr | protest against the reasons alleged in that motto
g for the continuance of this case. There is 10 il
i; surrectiOn in this country, no Introduction Of arm
ed bodies Of men for the purpose Of resisting tn
laws of the Territory, and no disturbance or e!
element except such as has been caused by the ty
? : amy p~racticeG upon the people.
considerable sensation was produced by this.
Judge Leconpte then gave his decision On til
motion to continue the case. lie said that he ba
IT, no evidence before him of any such insurrectio
us was mentioned in the motion, nor had he an
ficial knowledge of the presence Of large bodi,
5: Of armed men, whose purpose was to resist tI
law; but he said tina: there was excitement in ii
country to such an extent as to prevent IL fair tri
and he should therefore continue the case.
"Dr Robinson was Immediately admitted to ba
in the sum Of five hun lred dollars.
y 1.-THE case of the United States rs. Charles Ro
81 insun and others was then called, and continue
for the same reasons. Judge Lecompte. after d
- Gliding to continue this case, said that he had !
is, evidence that the prisoners were not ready for Il
al. On the other hand it was to be presumed thu
they were. 1t did not appear that the Cover
ee ment was ready, or, that there was any good reasC
N. why they were not. lie therefore thought it won
re- be n hardship upon the prisoners to confine the
of longer, and he should permit them to he discharg,
N. on bail. lie had thought NJ first of fixing the bs
III at $4,000, but, upon consideration, had conclud
tie 20 fix it at S.. 1000.
at Bail was forthcoming Immediately. Jud
Use Smiths bail are Pro-Slaverv men. Dr.. Robinson
nd bondsmcn are his brother and Mr.. S. N. Simrso
It'll There is no title to real estate in Kansas, and
course bail amounts to nothing legally. Jud
for Lecompte, however, manifested a disposition to
very easy IT. regard to bail, and Appeared to
quite anxious to get rio Of the prisoners.
Inn 1.-TWO of the prisoners-John Brown, Jr., a
Mr.. WILLIAMSBURG never been indicted, and.
course, were not included in the number admit