Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-06-04
THE KANSAS INVESTIGATION.

| witnesses have been examined, all going to
show that the grossest frauds and outrages
were perpetrated. The evidence taken is toe
voluminous for our columns. but desire 10
| give the public an opportunity of Judging for
themselves, induces us to give synopsis of
the testimony of few witnesses, some OF
whom Missourians.
| Jordan Davidson testified that he came from
Missouri to vote in Kansas at the Legislative
election, March, 1855; contended that he had
right to do so; understood tina. Gov. Reed
| er had brought on anti-slavery voters from the
| East to make Kansas Free State, aud had
given prior and secret intelligence to the east
| as to the day on which the election would be
| held; witness had attended some meetings of
secret society existing in Missouri, and he
supposed in other Slave States, intended to
plant Slavery in Kansas he Joined this socie-
ty in Cass County, Missouri, in Feb, 1855 it
was known as the ssSons of the South, s.Blue
LODGE and by various other names; the
members were known to each other by secret
signs and passwords; sometimes by a ribbon
tied in button-hol of the coat; witness rec
ognized some twenty five to fifty of his BROTH
er members Gin MissourD at the poll held at
Douglas for the Legislative election know no
anti-slavery man, not actual resident of
Kansas, who voted at said election; witness
was one of the Judges of Election after the
original Judges left the ground. All this was
drawn out of him sorely against his will.
Much of it was corroborated by several other
witnesses.l
Hon nr.AM fl-n,r- ,f lac
at the 50th March election; saw large crowd
there, and many wagons: got there just as Mr..
Mace did he tried to vote, and when the pro-
slavery party saw that his vote was a Free
State vote they said he should not vote it
several men took hold OF him by the collar
and pulled him away; he took hold of me and
we were both pulled away together from the
poll they cried out, ssCut his throat sstear
his id heart out of him; - saw one man
draw his knife upon him, without doing any
injury saw a man with a lever, trying to pry
up corner of the cabin; others cried out,
ssdon't do it until you have orders - saw Ell
lison come out of the cabin with the ballot
box in his hand, and cry out, '.Hurrah for Mis-
sourI'' Ellison was one of the Judges; heard
Jones (no,r Sheriff. say he trould gire the (origi
nab Judges fire minutes 10 resign die Jones
gare more minute and they then left; these
Judges were Ramsay and Burson, both Free
State men; was there when the other Judges
davidson & Co. were appointed the crowd
then commenced voting; saw no Frce-State
man vote don't know whether Jones voted
that day.
William Lyons testified that over one hun
dred Mssourans voted at Douglas on that
day some returning to Missouri that day
and some the day after; they told him they
were from Missouri one Of them told him he
knew of eight hundred Missourians who would
vote in Kansas that day. Witness testified to
similar voting by Mssourans at the first cleo
tion of Whitfield, Nov. 1854.
Augustus Wattles corroborated this last tcs-
timony.
George Embargo saw the original Judges of
election driven from the poll by threats of vi
olence at Douglass about noon of the 30th of
March election; Sheriff Jones of the
party, and seemed to act as leader; Ramsey
cone of the original Judges) gave witness the
poll-books and charged him to take care of
them; witness started for home, but was over
taken by eight or ten horscmen, surrounded,
and poll-boo taken from him Sheriff Jones
(not then Sheriff, even in pretense) was one
of the party; forced witness to accompany
them back again; his life was threatened; al
so that of Benson. (another of the Judgcs,)
who had escaped; saw some of the voters
start for Missouri.
James r. Stewart attended the poll in the
9TH district; douglas is in the I'd j two of
the legally appointed Judges did not serve,
and their place was supplied by strangers
many who lived in that district did not vote
those who did vote were nearly all strangers;
they were encamped near the poll recognized
two of them as residents of Missouri; the
strangers voted without being sworn, they were
armed; they went east toward Missouri at
ter voting about 800 votes were there pollcd,
nearly all for the pro-slavery candidates.
l. b. Titus corroboratcd this testimony.
A. Horner testified to similar proceedings at
Switzer Creek the strangers arrived and en-
campcd the night before election; during the
election they adjourned for dinner, and took
the ballot-box down to their camp meanwhile
they had their provisions and fodder along
with them
III. Rice confirmed much of the foregoing.
Marcus III. Rose testified that there are 50
voters in the 9TH district, according to the Of
fetal census taken just before the 30th March
election; of these, seventeen appear by the
pcn-books TO have voted at that election.