New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1856-05-26
THE CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATION.

kw hours BransOn was under examination, and
a few of his nei2hbors, and the examination doubt
HISS related to the murder of Dow. Hence, the
sscr,t session. About IL O'Clock the Committee
resumed the open investigation, hessrs. Howard
AID Sherman present. Mr.. Oliver left this morn
ig for home.
Judpe WAKEFIELD sworn--BOrn in Kentucky; came
10 Illinois to Iowa, to Kansas; was one of the first
settlers Of the Territory; gave testimony in regard TO
tie rules established by the early squstters for the
government OF claims; at the first meeting held July
1854, of which notice had been given, large number
of men from Missouri attended, and the residents find
ING that these men were determined to vote, adjourned
the meeting After the Misseurans left the people re-
assembled. and passed laws regulating the holding Of
claims; they elected Chief Justice, Marshal and
Recorder; q desire being manifested to amend the
rules adopted for the government of claims, another
meeting was called of which, also, notice was given;
at this meeting large number OF Nssourians
again present; these made speeches, end some OF
them made threats; after great deal of argument
and difficulty compromise between the actual resi-
dents and the hissourisns made by which two
reports one called majority and the other minority,
TO far as this meeting was concern"d) and both OF
these reports were adopted although they oonfcted
in many points; thus tue difficulty was arranged
and thus wac the Land Claim Squatter Laws adopted;
the election for Delegate to Congress, November
1884, witness was candidate; went down II Frank
lin two days before the election, aud met large crowds
of men coming up from Missouri; these men told wit
pees and his companion where they ca ne from; next
day. in returning, also crowds going up into the
Territory; one man told him that he was from Clay
County, and that half Clay County would be there;
told witness whom he took for 9 Pro-Slavery mani
that he wanted to vote he must go TO the place of
election where there two whisky barrels and
hell them he wanted TO record claim; the day OF
election witness went to the voting place there were
upward of go votes poed there were not more than
50 residents in the district at that time, and great
many Of these did not vote OF the Judges OF Eec-
ton was person he has never seen before OF since;
there was abundance of whisky ON the ground, and IL
was distributed freely: there was probsoiy $50 h'ega
votes polled that day; the men were armed one man
advised witness not to challenge votes or he would be
killed; one man seized witnes, by the collar, and
called him a Odd Aboluonist;' when they got
through voting they got into their wagons and
carriages and horses aud cried as they started down
the road toward Missouri, IAN aboard for Westport
and IA witness took dcnce OF frauds IN the DIS
trct ard presented them with another protest to the
Goyenor the Governor said that there was no use OF
proce. ding with contesng the election, unless he did
al over the Territory; advised witness to go to Con-
.,ass and contest the election there; he could get
mileage; witness identified many names Is resi-
dents Of Missouri, among others that OF \.
H. Woodson (Col. WoodSon of lndependenoel;
The evening before the election, March 20, 1888,
party of men ed al the house OF witness they went
TO the polls and found large army of hssoursns,
who continued to arrive; they armed; witness
was called upon to assist the judges in filling out the
po books this gave offense TO the Misscurians, who
ha had no us; he
Judges took the oath prescribed by the Governor
voting began, when the hissourians crowded up and
demanded to vote; one of the Judges Mr.. Burson)
challenged the first of these who offered to vote.
and rendered him the OATH refused to take ii great
tumult was Visible outside and herewere cries to put
Wakefield out Of the voting room; one Of these mon,
named jackson, got q log aud made an intamns-
tory speech; advised the men TO put white ribbon in
their button.holes, TO distinguish them from the
Abohtionists;' an attack was made on tie house
where the Judges and Clerks of Election were some
tried TO batter down the door, and TO prise hole in
The wall with lever; of the Judges Ia Pro Slavery
man named Elison) seized the ballot box and rushing
out with it cried, "Hoorsy for Missouri; the other
two Judges asked Wakefield what they should do; he
told them 10 20 down 10 the hc~se OF Ramsey Of
them, which was only few hundred yards off, aud
draw up protest to the Governor stating the facts;
called to them to stop but they dsrcsarded this drew
mn the mote IT. and all the residents who hadasembl-d
there sgped il: after some them had left, the Ms
souriaps came focking down. and seeing man So
ing over the prairie ridge took after him, crying II
h Burrcp he has got the poll books they took after
him. caught him, he had the poll -books; his name was
Unbarges; they brought him back and came down to
the house shouting take Wakefield dead or alive;
witness stepped into the house got double oarTeed
gun cooked il; great many of them presented pistols
at him. some Of witnesses friends urged him to surren
der or they would all be killed; witness wanted TO
know on what terms first; they demanded that he
should 20 mp to the polls and state whether he had ad
vised the judges TO take the polbooks; wttesS Told
them where he was, that he had not gwen them this
advice, but would have done so Il be could have 60;
near enough witness went up TO the polls, on their
PR mise not to modest him aud made speech 10 them;
one man cried shoot him, he's too sassy smother
man wanted TO tie a white nbbcn in his but;onhoe fog
se1 the boys would kill him; after some further
trouble witness went home; all the actual residents
mao ei' thon or were leaving witness be ng candi-
2s's 10, Inc council made up protest. the Governor
'e' issue the election and ordered ne " election which
w" h'iu IN may at this election there were none bat
'eou'" 'o'''si witness was elected for the Council
a wv 'ui'i rec state men FOR the Assembly got A
S "O. '"' "o'efnof, atienoe the Leg stature
eos'eneo al a"pee' was sworn IN; when the Com
miitee on Elections proceeded to ipvss,is,,. a.,
elections, Gen. Coffee made q report Ndv.rs. =, -.
claims stating that a named Donaldso, W.. -
ted 10 the seat; witness made speech Ia than, -,
Of which particularly eoquent he proceeded to CIV,
when Mr.. Howard requested him to con6ae himself TO
nets; be lost bis seat, members OF the Council all
- nm ma h.