The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1856-07-10
Atrocities Committed iu Kansas
by LnNc, E2ccdcr and NassachU-
setts Enligrant Aid FMrty-Erec.
MNcM Read!

by Lame, Rccdcr and M#sstchU-
setts EnE igrnnt Aid E';Tty-Trec.
IRcn Read!
We invite the attention OF our readers 10
the following article, which we take from the
Lecompton (Kansas Territory Union Of the
18th ult. The Union says:
Mrs. WILKERsoN's TESTIMONY. - Could
the masses Of the people of the North have
beheld the scene we did on last Friday, the
18th of June, we would no longer feel np.
prehcnsive of Kansas troubles. We speak
Of Mrs. Wiikerson's testimony, the widow Of
Allen Wilkerson, who, was SO inhumanly
murdered near Osawattom,e by five hired
| assassns of the Emgrant Aid Society. Her
tale was one of deep sorrow and afilction.
Near her stood her three little orphan chill
dren, clinging to their mother, as she related
the incidents Of their fathers murder. She
told Of their leaving home. parents and
| friends in Tennessee. and coming to Kansas
to make them q new home and new friends.
On arriving in Kansas, her husband found
the country in commotion, and deadly hos
tilitv seemed matured between the two par
ties (pro.slavery and Free State) in Kan
sas. Her husband had always been a con-
servaive mon, and bud no desire to partici-
pate in such extraneous movements.
He was several times called upon by the
"Free State men," who had a ma jorlty in
the neighborhood, ard pressed to join them.
He told them he was Pro-slavery man
from principle, but was at the same time a
strong "Kansas Nebraska bill man." and
would recognize that Constitution passed by
majority of the legitimate citizens of Kan
sas. From this time he was denounced by
! them, and his life threatened because he
would not forsake his principles and act
with them under the order of the "Aid So.
ciely," and their deputy Robinson. When
the March elections came round Mr.. Viii.
kerson was elected member of the House
and proved himself worthy and active
member, always standing upon conservative
grounds This set another price upon his
head, and he was hu,ted down by these
scoundrels who were seeking his life.-
When our late troubles began, Mr.. Wilker.
son remained at home to protect his family
from the hands of these men who had 30 FIRE.
quently threatened their lives. Mrs. Viii.
kerson says her husband had not been ont, ol
Of his private sentiments. 1t was found out he
could reveal some very importantfacts be fore
the Investigating Committee, ,'nnd there now
n stunds upon record sufficient proof to estab.
lsh this as the grand cause of his murder
He mny have been killed any how, but per
: haps these bloodhounds would not have been
- 30 soon "set on" by their employers. Thi
q tended to hasten his death, and ON the nigh
!, o! the Oath of May five men visited his hous
" and dragged him from his bed, his house an
II the bosom Of his famiy,and amid the scream
i of his wife and children bore him off shor
distance into ravine, and performed Oh
Of the most cold blooded murders upon rec
ord. When Mrs. WiIkerson came to thi
n part of her Testimony, every eye in the roor
was filled with tears-she several times wa
stopped with sobbing, in relating her ar
r peols to the men to spare her husband.
g We repeat--if only this sorrow strcke
Il widow, surrounded by her little orphan chi
dren, that have suddenly aud unmercifull
=" been thrown upon the worlds cold charit,
10 by the hands of hired assassins, could pre-
h sent themselves before the masses OF tn
,r North and East, as we saw them, and relat
= their simple tale of truth, what differer
y" feeling would possess some who have bee
swinded into a wrong belief about ol
Df troubles, by the lying employers of that dan
- . nable "New England Aid Society," An
'e this is not the only picture we would like
e, show them-hundreds besides as inhumal
e. as cold blooded and revoting murders, al
i. daily occurring in our midst.
ii We are sometimes almost tempted TO Civ
70 up in despair, when we huve exhibited dali
the foul play of our enemy. This is not
war Of principles; one party stands upon tf
&c platform of principle, supported by the Coz
u sttution and the laws, while the other di
81 claims all. We have to combat with an el
Q, emy who acknowledges obedience to 4
- power not recognized by the "Northern A
N.Y. or Emigrant Aid Society.
3 Our citizens are dragged from their bet
and bntchered before their families. and "
have to wait the tardy process Of law to vi
. |, justice upon the doeFs OF such deeds; an
70 that isa NOT all, even out Of their own deet
s.i they manufacture for Northern consqmptio