Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-08-15
Fearful IL agedy in s.eaveEWo-!h City,
Kansas.
Kansas.

enacted at Leavenworth city, Kansas, on Err.
day night and Saturday morning, Aug LIST.
Andrew Stewart, Esq, editor of the Stcu-
benville (Ohio) Union, who left Leaven-
worth on Saturday night, has furnished the
SC. Louis Democrat With the following de-
tails:
On Friday night, the Dist ult., man
named Stephens, living in Kansas city, came
up to Leavenworth and, while spreeing a.
round, went into drinking shop called the
Ward House. The barkeeper, named
Baines, became very friendly, and after get
ting Stephens quite drunk, proposed a walk
up the river, and took him to a spring Oh
the bank of the Missouri river just above the
Planters house, where they were met and
assaulted by two men who demanded their
money or their lives. The barkeeper, Baines
gave his money and ran off. When he got
to the lower end of the town he gave the a.
harm that man was being robbed up the riv
er at the spring Several parties Of citizens
Immediately went up and arrived just in
time to find poor Stephens crawling out of
the river, his body and head beaten and
bruised with stones and clubs, and his chest
and shoulders bearing several cuts and stabs.
The citizens ran to his assistance, but the
unfortunate victim, though struggling to
speak, was too far gone, and presently died
without being able to utter single word s.
bout the manner of his death Or the napaes
Of his murderers. ~
Suspicion at once lighted upon the bar
keeper, Baines, aud SO outraged were the
people, and so violent tbs Prescriptions of
his guilt, that posse of the citizens at once
arrested and held him in close custody. The
news in the mean time spread like wild fire
all over the city and the excitement grew IT.
tense. An immediate trial of Baines was
demanded and finally it was agreed that he
should be hung on the spot, without judge or
jury. A rope was put around his neck, and
already be was being drawn up to the limb
Of an overaanging tree, when he expressed
n wish 70 make confession. The crowd
yielded and let him down to the ground
STARTLING CONFESSION.
He said that he end two men, one named
John Quarles, from South Carolina, and tie
other calld Knowlton, had laid The plot by
which Stephens was robbed and murdered,
and that the same men had murdered another
man short time beforn aud thrown the bo-
DIV into the Missouri river He stated also
that he and the men Knowlton and Quarles
belonged to an organized body ct twenty
i've men who lived and carried on the bus
mess Of robbing and numbering III Leaven-
worth city, on tue Island opposite the city,
and in the towns Of Laareeee aud Topeka.
lie then gave the names Of as many Of the
gang as he could remember to the authorities.
THE ARRESTS.
AS soon as Baines had finished his reve-
s.saens he was committed to the ealaboose, a
one story stone building about l6 feet square.
The crowd then went off in pursuit Of
Quarles and Knowlton and in short time
had them arrested. Among the real con-
spirators was William Woods, the proprietor
of the greater part of Leagenworth Island,
andregarded by his acquaintances as an hon-
est man and q good citizen. A party gro
eeedoG 1t once to arrest hin, and after MA
king n thorough search CT his house. found
81 500 in counterfeit money, a lot Of coun
terfeitfae plates, and other Instruments, and
a knife and pistol belonging to the murder
ed man Stephens. ST these conclusive
proof Of the correctness q tue confessions Of
b lines the people were deeply moYa1, aa1
held counsel together in large and small
parties during the whole nigas.
TEE PROCEEDINGS ON observation-disclosures
10 AND RAINEs HUNG.
We here give the narrative OF Mr.. Stew
art. He says: Il went to the Mayors
office on Saturday morning, and found an
immense crowd awaiting the result Of the
examination Of Woods and knowlton
Baines and G uarles were in the calaboose.
While the examination was going on, Judge
Lecompte was outside making speech and
expostulating with the angry crowd in favor
Of law and order. The cry of..Iang EN-,
the id murderers, arose frequently fronl
the mob, but the milder counsela seemed to
/. he prevailing when all at once some one
shouted, 10 the calaboose ! to the Gala
boose and away crowd of about fifty
maddened men started in that direction -
The balance of the people followed after in
smarter parties, leaving Judge lecompte
almost alone, and the mayor S Office relieved
of its throng of spectators. They had been
gone about fifteen minutes, when heard
great yoil | started after the crowd, and
. followed it to the bank of creek. which
divides south and north Leaveuworth, where
there was steep bank, aud on its edge a
large elm tree. reached the spot just in
time to see Quarles suspended from the tree,
gasping in the agonies of death at the end
+, OF the rope which was around hrs neck,
while several Of the'mob were swinging on
to his arms and legs. to make his death
sure. His body had hardly ceased los con-
valsions when tie shout was raised for
Baiues
The rope was placed around his neck,
aud he was led to the edge of the bank.
. when some one Of the citizens appeared by
his side, and with a watch in his hand de
manded FIVE minutes time for further con-
fessions. They granted il; when Baines
said, If they would let him, he would show
them another man in town who was concern
ed in the operations of the gang. He was
then taken to the calaboose, but for some
reason did not give satisfaction to the people
and they demanded his body to be returned
TO them. Judge Lccompte again addressed
tie people, and with some effect, for they
seemed TO divide into two parties, the one
clamoring for the hsing of the prisoner,
and the other demanded a trial for him.
Marshal Denis of the territorory was also
present. and though he exerted himself
with all his power, he could not maintain
!, his position at the door of the ealahocee