Squatter sovereign. [volume] (Atchison, Kan. Terr.) 1855-1858, 1857-02-24
From the Leconnpton Union Extra.
CoNardly Assassination.

Our city was thrown Mo q state Of mad
exeitemetls this afternoon, by an affair.
resulting in all human probability IN the
death of WIN. L. sherrard. late OF WIN
chester. Va, Sheriff of this county. which
surely adds no laurel to Governor Geary.
or his advocates. but must forever damn
them In the eyes of all honorable and Ian
abiding men. The circumstances OF the
case, as we shall deliberately and eoolly
portray them, involves the Executive man
sion of Governor Geary in dark eonspi-
racy to seek the life of one of natures
brasest sons. beloved by all who know him
and WHO had won the confidence of stran-
gers In this Territory.
A Difficulty of personal nature has
for some time been pending between Jno.
w. Geary and VIM. T. Sherrard, many
OF the circumstances concomitant to which
are known to the public yet as the
whole matter is intimately woven In
this sad affair, we must briefly refer TO
these:
In December last. our esteemed and re-
nowned Sheriff. S. ]. Jones, resigned his
position as Sheriff of Douglas county, and
the Board of County Commissioners ap
pointed w. T. Sherrard. A Certified
transcript of the action of the Board was
sent to the Governor. whereby he might
issue the commissions; II not being forth
coming, after some days, Sherrard visited
Geary. asking him for the commission
In the course of warra conversation
which ensued, Geary formally demanded
of Sherrard whether ne Is. "would aci in
| inically 10 him or no, e. Sherrard's no.
bic answer was, that he should only act
conscienciously in The discharge of fis du-
ties, On the cath Of his office, irrespective
of the opinions of private men or Cover
nors. Geary informed sIr. S. however.
that he would have the CO nilnission ready
for him the next day. Mr.. Sherrald
| waited several days, and then Wrote note
formally demanding his commission, and
If the Governor did not grant i, he would
apply FOR mandamus. Before he sent il
Mr.. Bennett of the Union, informed Mr.
5. that in conversation he had with the
Governor, he had said that the delay in is
suing the commission was owing TO the
absence OF the Secretary OF The Territory.
After some days had elapsed after the re-
turn of Secretary Noodson, Mr.. Sherrard
applied to the Courts for a writ Of manda-
mus, which the Judge did not issue, not
being satisfied of his right so to do in vaca-
ton. The session of tie Legislature was
approaching, and AR. S. concluded TO lay
his case before that body.
Accordingly, bill was introduced, s'de.
claring the acts of ". T. Sherrafd valid
and declaring his appointment valid al the
same time a resolution was passed by the
House, calling upon Geary for his reasons
in not commissioning Sherrard. The Gov
ernor in answer thereto, denied the right
of the Legislature to question him In re.
gard 10 the matter, thus virtually refusi ne
TO give the reasons, yet in the same eo,nInu.
HiNss'-oAA hC oeloChSG liiS 1Iif'ttt CH1IdCtel
OF Sherrard, denounoing hisn-upon the
backbiting of men net interested, AM
holding no official position-as a base. borl
drunkard, a violator of all the pace of til,
city; as continually engagaged in drnnI,
en- brawls, and shooting at persons, anl
stating that he would not commissi on nm,
one who bore sucl reputation,
! Those of US who know Sherrard, hi
family, his high-born sens of honor, ans
his department, are fully aware of lh,
slandereus and diabolical nature of sucI
I assertions by a n Executive The mesSag,
called for sworn statement from the Sher
III, stating the facts connected with IT,,
commission, and stating that the only dis
ficuities in which he had ever been en-
gagged involving the necessity Of his usinf
deadly weapons, occurred previous to Lii
appointment TO the Office, the facts 0
which were known to the tribunal whence
he derived his authority, and which the,
did not deem Of sufficient weight as to /.
"a 6e@ oS az oIjoStioIi- 1 nc oiHeI OUcuT
red after His Excellency had virtually re-
fused the commission notwithstanding be
had no right under the Organic act tt
+ make such refusal
) This matter will thus app. ar in strange
/ light; and the reasons for refusing til,
commission were small and shows factiou
| disposition; the true reason being tha
Sherrard was identified as pro-siayer,
man, had writs in his possession for the ar
rest of men whom Geary had taken un
der his especial wing of protection. an,
; therefore he refuses TO issue the parchrneu
: depriyeing Douglas County Of an execu
: tive; officer, and thus allowing criminal
I 10 go at large. laughing at The majest