The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-07-08
THE TREASON CASES IN KANsES.

AAAG A1GA0VN Oh0GO xxN AAIOGEOs
.~~~~~~~~~~~~--~-~-~-~~~~~~-
The United States against JOHN Bro,oa Jr. Jason Broa
Poanderser Names, Samuel w. Kiibu,n Henry W. Vii
hams Simeon u. Morse and Wttliom Partridge.
Warrants issued by Hon. s. g. Cato, Associate Justice
of Supreme Court X. T. and Judge Of Second Judicial
District May 20, 1885, for treason.
Examir alton of witnesses taken at Tecumseh court
house, in the county Of Shawnee, in the Territory of
Kansas on the goth day OF June A. d. 1885, before Ed
ward Hoagand, United States Commissioner within
and for the district and Territory of Kansas in the
ter fcompan made upon the oath Of Grant against the
above named John B-own Jr, Jason Brown, Poindexer
Maness Samuel W. kiSGfs Hec-v III. Williams, Simeon
the oath aforesaid with against the United States
William Barber, acting District Attorney OF United
States, read affidavit explaining absence Of warrant.
Joseph Higgins called for prosecution and sworn-I
know o. public meeting being held at 0ssawotame
time in April astthe action OF the meeting called in
relation TO the payment of assessment OF taxes
my understanding Of that the meeting intended
set aside all laws passed by the last Legislature the
question whether the citizens should pay taxes or
John Brown was Of the persons influential in
raising the question was not in the meeting when the
meeting was first called after the meeting had proceeded
some tme was asked into the meeting by citizen of
the town at first refused to 60 but finally did 50
found the meeting organized and some resolutions drawn
up the purport Of which resolutions to the effect that
the persons there assembled repudaed the payment Of
any taxes under the laws OF Kansas and would use
any and all means 10 keep from the payment of any
| such taxes to any officer officers who might at
tempt to collect such taxes that any means taat
available to repe any such officer, should be used
10 that epd further than that do not know abou. the
ting except that action taken to carry into eloct
or rather that the question adoption put, and
derstand that the resolutions adopted that Is all;
think Mr. Partridge not present; do not know; he
have been do not remember Of seeing HIM there
have faint recollection OF seeing one OF the Mr. Par
tridges there b At which one do not know only ant
recollection; was present about thirty minutes; John
Brown Jr present that mocting think that Mr.
John Brown, Jr. in the meeting that passed the
solution mentioned and remained there to the close
there was kind Of squabble or opposition to the rcso
tions kind Of a SPILL but John Brown, Jr.,
cd; think Alexander Gardner also in that meeting
know nothing abou, John Brown Jr, being at the head
n 4
was generally understood that John Brown was
at the head Of company; understood from persons
waLmie creek, who recognized him captain; do not
know what the company raised for knew nothing Of
such company until about the time Of the meeting at
0Ssawatome next time alter seeing HIM at the above
meeting saw John Brown Jr, al Prairie City; John
Brown, Jr was in there in command OF that company
only knew Mr. Williams position In the company nom
report at Mr. jones' at Ottawa creek on return OF the
company from Prairie City TO Poitawatomie, was some
distance from where the company paraded but there
heard Mr. Brown tender his resignation captain 10 the
company; Mr. Williams the prisoner was then and there
elected captain In place Of Brown and had command Of the
company far my knowledge goes; separated from
them; know nothing in relation 70 man named Jones
being elected from hls claim further than what hear
say about A. ~ Sunday morning. about The Goth
Of May last there 4 gentleman riding into Juhu
rowp Jr camp was there this mau com planned o the
treatment that this Jones had received nom MI. Brown
or bis men; time before he and Ar. Browl
got into conversation; think he desired Mr. Brown to
hayc Mr. Jones to come back; TO use means to that ef
feet; Mr. Brown refused thus 70 do justified himself on
the expulsion of MIR Jones; this whilst Brown had
nation gentlemen rode down the santa fe road after
Jones they seemed like friends OF his and opposed
T. his berg turned o Mr Brown iound considerable tla
about those riding through and wanted them pursued
and arrested this j. all that heard Mr Brown or any OF
hs men say abou, the natter do not know Of Browns
driving o any other settlers saddle was brought into
camp, but whosc was do not know; William Partridge
| was then in the company only know him as member
Of the company from report Mr.. Williams was then there
| also there Simeon d. Morse; don't know Mlness;
heard ~ Mr.. Benjamin till few days do not
remember seeing Jason BRO sn there on this same sunday
NOR tlp MaN
siderable confusion In the crowd assembled nj Prairie
CITY; may be palmyra Prairie City and Hickory Point
together, but distinct localities and secmens;
John BRO Jr and otherswho they and whether
OF ether parties than bis not cannot sayman
tested disposition TO remain there or Ia that vicinity the
portion Of the crowd Ossawaornc manifested strong
disposition to dispersc retire and home after consider
able discussion the whole crowd moved OF 10 souhery
direction from Palmyra; after moving about mile, co.
umn of United States troops discovered coming up
the Santa Fc road, apparently going 70 Palmyra where
these men had started from; Brown and the whole
crowd moved 10 two miles or two and . half from
Palmyra, where Brown called halt; ] understand
| nom Mr.. Brown himself, that the officer command
| ing the troops mentioned had sent for him 10
come and him; In the course OF half an hour
afterwards Brown started that direction and his
return said he had the troops consultation
with the officer ~ the troops that the officer told him he
had been sent there to see what was gong on and TO dts
pcrse armed bodies and prevent collisions between par
ties and that the officer desired the company under
Brown TO dsperse and retire from that point have
heard Brown declare that he did not approve or intend
submit the Territorial laws unless they
toned tho and conversation 10 that
4
that remember; have heard speak Of the Prcs
dents proclamation Of January February last concern
ing Kansas affairs that be did not regard as docu
ment worth paying attention heard Williams
Partridge say anything about the laws Of Kansas or the
proclamation, except that Williams had remarked that
he did consider the Territorial laws OF Kansas just
| mover heard Williams language implying that he
| intended TO resist tue Territorial laws by force;
tho crowd said al Ottawa Jones Sunday night and
| the next morning (Mon iay) | saw John Brown Sr,
there; did not hear either John Brown Sr., On Jonn
Brown Jr speak Of the murder Of Wilkinson and others
Al That tiua.
speak Of the murders at any tme at Osawaome got In
conversation with John Brown, Jr., at night and was
speaking o. the murder OF Wilkinson and others said 70
him I thought II very desperate thing, out
rageous for any 10 be guilty Of and that rcpu.
dated Nil such actions and all such men, matter what
party they belonged to- John Brown Jr said he did not
rcpudae the crime altogether although he said he could
not Justify altogcher,hat there excuse In part
for told him could not abide any such conduct, and
Il then turned away and left him.
Gross. II lveat osawatomic, Kansas Terri
tory, sixty i've seventy miles from hcre never was a.
his house but suppose live nine miles from John
Brown, Jr. fret saw him, think, about the first o.
member OF the Topeka Legislature; know the poop
about Pottawatomic Greek and Marat des Cynes pretty
generally after the company had gone wen, TO opsmya
left there Sunday morning and joined in the crowd;
not in command OF any company, or connected with
Of a company got up at Osawatonie IN February last or
| thereabouts, for amusement and becoming acquainted
with military tactics, but not for hostile inten this
had nothing 10 do with Brown; do for what J.
Brown, Jr.'s company assembled precisely; Brown was
al Osawaome two or three days before they started
towards Lawrence, and said there a great deal Of
| trouble nj Lawrence, and that IL desirable for
citizens Of other parts Of the Territory 10 aid them
In resisting what he called outrages against the town
| DO not know that Brown had then heard the truth
| about affairs at lawresce, only that be had many
| rumors and that he going himself, and in
| tended 10 get all 10 90 with him he could understood
| from him that there parties from Missouri and
elsewhere cncamped near Lawrence with the ntent liza
| OF burning the town; did not hear him say anythng
| that implied knowledge on his part that the Unhet
states troops were there understood from Browo tha
| assembled aud unlawluly arrsyed and assemble,
against Lawrence, and he wanted all 10 go Who could
did not hear him say anything tina, occas about
sistng United States territorial authorities; he
there only a short time, next time sag lun, he z
II utth s4uY he a.