The Kansas herald of freedom., 1856-03-15
Robbery.

we nave EcCcifSo @n ASS''S At0AAA sAsS
Office of the Lexington, No., Express.
dated Sunday morning. March 9th, 1856,
with an article headed Arms for Kan
sas Arrested-Hostilities Commenced T.
The article goes on to say:
The good steamer ARABIA. Capt. John
lis. Shaw, arrived at our wharf about sun
rise this morning. Immediately on land
ing, a comnitte was dispatched up town
to inform our citizens that person from
Massachuse It's was on board, having IN
his possession one hundred Sharp RITES
and f,Oo cannon destined for service In
Kansas, and sent forward by the Massa-
chusetts Aid Society. This information
brought together many of our most re-
spectacle and reliable citizens, when a
conference was had by them with Mr..
START" with view of inducing him
to leave the dangerous" weapons with
our citizens for safe keeping. This he
assented to, and delivered the goods"
up, subject to requisition of Gov. Shan
non or his successor in office.
The proceedings were orderly, and al
though the determination to arrest the
arms was decided, no one talked Of vio-
lence to the poor tool that could so heart
lessly lend himself to such unnatural
work.
The arms were boxed up and marked
"Carpenters' Tools The discovery
that they were on board was made at or
below Glasgow, fromsa letter, of which
the following is copy, droped by MIR.
s., in the cabin, and picked up by boy
and handed to Capt Shaw, by whom it
was read aloud in the Social Hall. The
passengers and officers were highly in
censed at the disclosures but no indigni-
ty was offered to the miserable disorgan-
iZer.
Then follows the letter purporting 10
be found on. board the steamer, which
we omit. The editor closes with the fol-
lowing:
The Carpenters Tools" are now
safely bllio
Great credit Justly attaches to Capt
Shaw, and his under officers, for the
just and manly course pursued by them
in this affair. Three cheeres were
given the boat as she pushed off.
We suggest that committee be ap-
pointed by our citizens, at meeting TO
be held at the Court House tomorrow,
Monday morning, at ten O'Clock,
whose duty it shall be tie examine for,
and intercept, all similar shipments.
The facts in the above case are about
as follows: A gentleman started from
some part of the country in the East for
Kansas with hundred Sharp rifles and
two breach-losding cannon. Arrivingat
St. Louis, he divided his freight and sent
the slides, the most important part of the
guns, by land, and the balance he ship
ped up the river on board the steamer
Arabia. After getting some distance up
the river the discovery appears to have
been made that arms were on board
Much excitement prevailed; a commit
tee was appointed to inquire into the
facts, who reported that they had opened
the boxes and found the arms. A pro-
position was then made that the guns
should be thrown overheard, and stone
tied 10 the necks of those in attendance,
and they be sent after the guns. This
proposition prevailed, but was afterwards
reconsidered on the recommendation of
more liberal persons, and the resolve
finally passed to leave the guns at Lex
ington. The passengers indemni6ed the
Captain of the boat; afterwards got the
owner of the guns into a private room,
and told him he must sign certain papers,
else he would be passed over to a mob
on shore. Telling them that he should
do SO. but against his will, he signed the
shipping bill held by the Captain, and a
duplicate held by himself. stating that he
received the freight at Lexington instead
of Leavenworth city, to which they were
consigned, and releasing the Captain
from any damages in consequence of the
delivery at that place.
The committee then gave the owner or
agent of the guns receipt. stating that
they had received the guns from Mr..
Hoyt, at his request. for safe keeping !;
that they would pay the freight on the
same, and deliver them to Gov Shannon,
his successor in Office, or his order, with
out specifying any time for doing so.-
During this arrangement mob was on
shore endeavoring to get on board. and
wasonly prevented from doing so by force.
Mr.. Hoyt, and those in charge of the
guns, have arrived Ia town, and have the
papers with them. The editor of the
Express, as copied above, saysa meetingof
the citizens would be held the next morn
ing, and recommends that committee
be appointed to search every boat COM
ing up the river.
The case is one of robbery, and if COM
mitted within the flow of tide-water
would be piracy. Robbery is defined