The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-12-04
THE NATIONAL ERA: WASHINGTON D. c. DECEMBER A,

rest of Hayes was mere rasse, and every day
my suspicious are gaining strength.
1t is probable that no proof will be brought
against him. They know we'll the guilty one,
but they think that they can as well deceive rs
with Hayes as with the real murderer, and still
save him from merited punishment. Titus
will soon leave for Nicaragua or San Salvador;
SO he will not be injured. Then, as to Clark,
as every one here knows, he is out of the way,
driven from the Territory by the fear of re-
venge from the friends of Barber otherwise,
he would never have been indicted. But then
they cannot bear even this. They claim that
they should be allowed to murder with impu-
nifty any man who does not acknowledge the
validity of their DEGREES and that it is wrong
even to admit the injustice of such course by
the finding sham indictment.
Some of the militiamen in one of the COM
panies here-Capt. Donaldson's-have changed
their opinion concerning US considerably, since
our Imprisonment. Quite number of them
have become earnest Free State men under our
tuition. During the last week or two, nearly
the whole of this company have expressed their
sympathy for US, and acknowledge that our only
offence was merely a difference in political
views, and often wish we were set at liberty.
They are mostly from the more Southern States,
while the other company is comprised almost
wholly of Missourians. They now hate the
pu6es, as the people of Missouri are called,
about as heartily as we. The greater portion will
go back to the South as soon as they receive
their discharge few, all Free State converts,
will remain and labor with us for Free Kansas.
When Titus is not about, these treat us with
as much kindness as the stringency of their
orders will permit but when he is here, they
are almost forced to insult and abuse us, espe-
cialy since the late kinding of his wrath against
US.
The other company need no such compulsion,
as inhumanity seems to be part of their ma
ture at any rate, it has become habitual with
them. Night before last, one of them threw q
heavy bone in an open window, hitting one of
the prisoners on the temple, and wounding him
quite severely. The same guard, shortly after
wards, attempted to throw in stone, but miss
ed the opening. Four or Eve of us went to the
door and called the Lieutenant, telling him
what had been done, and asking him to come
in and see the wound while it was yet fresh, and
learn the circumstances of the affair. He re-
fused to do so, and he was entreated second
time, but, instead of acceding, ordered us to re-
tire to the further part of the prison. Now was
our turn to refuse, and we told him so, frankly
and decently. He then called five of the guards,
placed them Immediately in front of the door,
and but five or six feet distant, and again COM
manded us to retire, informing us that he should
fire upon US, unless we obeyed. The other pris-
oners, hearing the disturbance, all rushed into
the passage leading to the door, and told Mr..
Ritchey and Mr.. Bickerton, who were the prin-
cipal spokesman, to stand firm until the request
should be granted. They endeavored to reason
with the officer, but he commanded them to
cease talking. He was told that words could
not gag US. At this he became more enraged.
His guards cooked their carbines and presented
them to our breasts, and we were given to un-
derstand that another word from us would send
US to eternity. Major Bickerton spoke slowly
and calmly: "Shoot just as soon as you please.
We have met greater danger than this. We
have come quietly to make reasonable request
and we will die right here unless it is granted u
Here the Captain of the guard appeared, and
consented to come in; which done, there was nc
further trouble. He promised to punish the
guard who committed the deed, but forgot to
do so. Still, we were the conquerors. This
serves to show both their errogancy and their
cowardice.
Forty-seven of the Hickory Point boys were
yesterday morning, taken to Tecumseh for trial
This was all except one, who failed to get q
change of oenae by neglecting to give his name
to his attorneys for that purpose. He remains
here, and think may as well; for even though
those who have gone up there should be acquit
ted on this charge, as l think will probably be
the case, all but a few-perhaps every one
will be brought back, and re-committed to pris
on on other charges, perhaps all for being al
the fight at Titus fort. What chance there will
be for getting out before next May, by any pro.
cess of the courts, 1 cannot see. understand
and from consideration of the past, am led
to believe it true-that the Supreme Court
which holds a session here in few weeks, some
time in January, l think, will refuse writs OF
hGbeas corpus to enable US to prove alibiS, or
anything else, to our advantage. l will gather
what information l can respecting the trials at
Tecumseh, and forward the same to you.
After the forty-seven boys were taken away
those remaining were called out for court
About half of the whole number had formed in
line, when Col. Titus, who had overheard Capt
Mitchell speaking somewhat independently OF
the character of him, for which he determined
to punish the Captain, he arrogantly ordered
him to come into ranks.
| Mitchell delayed scarcely second, when Tt
tus marched forward, and Selling him by the
| throat, pulled him into line, and ordered him
bound, which order was carried out. Mitchell
twtted Titus of his cowardice and cruelty and
Titus, to prove himself chivalric and brave,
dreD back to strike him, unarmed and bound
as Mitchell was, and would really have done
| so, had not some outsiders interfered. Perhaps
Mitchell was convinced by such demonstra-
ton, and perhaps he was not. Mitchell said
| to Titus, I" once saw you prisoner, when you
| begged like child for your life; but entreaty
is not in my constitution. You may tie every
muscle, but I will still talk what / think, and
throw my wrongs into your teeth; but will
never beg nor ask of you favor"
| Titus then ordered him taken to the guard.
room, and directed him to be gagged, as though
he had the right to stop the mouths of Ameri-
can citizens, before conviction of any crime. A
Pole, who says he fought for liberty in Hun
gary, begged the pririlege Of aohittling ont the
gag l believe his name is Koskoe. Mitchell
remained bound and gagged until nine o'clock
at night-about twelve hours-and was then
released by Captain Wallace, upon the condi-
ton that he would not treat Titus any worse or
more indecorously than he had always done.
| They had found metal that aoould not bend.
There is more such here.
| Ritchey, of Topeka, and Chester Hays who
have been tried and acquitted on the Hickory
| Point charge, but held on some other, and Cot
tingham, one of the bogus convicts, escaped
this morning. The officials are greatly fright.
ened concerning Ritchey, as he has great infu-
ence, and they think will effect rescue OF
| those he left behind.
An appeal has been sent to Governor Chase,
of Ohio, from those prisoners who were late
| citizens of that State. This will probably be
followed by one to the Governors of each of the
| free States.
Interesting Items from Kansas.
We gather the following items from late