Delaware weekly Republican. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1841-188?, 1857-08-13
Fr,nrnr rnAappy ~ LrAvKswonru CRY.

s1JTeSttn una flhHg FIchfWebt d7uOlg fNt
Citizens.
MIR. Andrew Stewart, editor Of the Steuben-
Vile (Ohio) Union, who has lately been tray-
elling through Kansas Territory, arrived at this
place on Monday evening, having departed to
Leayenworfh City on Saturday night the LIST
inst, and favored us with the following partic-
MARS of a fearful tragedy enacted on Friday
and Saturday morning at that city. The state
ments ofMr. Stewart are derived mostly from
personal conversation, and may BIO relied upon
as correct.
On Friday night, the 3lst ult., man named
Stephens, living in Kansas City, came up to
Leayenworth City, and, while spreeing around,
went into drinking shop called the Ward
House. The barkeeper, named Baines, be-
came very friendly, and, after getting Stephens
qHite drunk, proposed walk up the river, and
took him to spring on the banks of the Mis-
souri, river, just above the Planters House,
Where iney were met and assaulted by two
men, who demanded their money or their lives.
The barkeeper, Banes, gave his money I'M and
ran oil. When he got to tho lower end of the
town he gave the alarm that man was being
robbed up the river AT tho spring. Several cit
liens Immediately went up and arrived on the
spot Just In time to see poor Stephens crawling
out Of tho river, his body and head all beaten
and bruised with stones and clubs, and his
CHEST and shoulders being several terrible
stabs and cuts. The citizens ran to his assist
ance, but the unfortunate victim, though strug-
glng to speak, was too far gone, and presently
died, without being able to utter a single word
aeont the manner of his death, or the names OF
his murderers.
suspicion at once alighted upon the bar
keeper Baines, and so outraged were the peo-
PIE, ana so violent the presumption Of his
guilt, that posse of the citizens at once ar
rested and held him in close custody, The
news In the meantime spread like wild fire all
all over the city and the excitement grew in
tense. An immediate trial of Baines was de-
handed, and fnallyit was agreed that he should
De hung on the spot, without Judge or inry.
rope was procured and put around his neck
and already he was being drawn up to limb
OF an overhsnging tree, when he expressed a
wlSn 70 made confession. The crowd yielded
anu let him down to the ground.
Startling Conf !ssiOn.-He said that he and
TWO men, one named John Quaries, from South
Carolina, and the other called Knowlton. had
lad the plot by which Stephens was robbed
\ ana then murdered, and that the same men bad
murdered another man, short time befope
and thrown the body into the Missouri river
He stated also that he and the men Knowlton
and Quarles belonged to an organized body of
| about twenty-five men, who lived aud carried
on the business of robbing and numbering in
Leavenworth city, on the island opposite TO
the city, and in the towns of Lawrence and
Iopeka. lie then gave the names of as many
OF me gang as he conld remember to the au-
thori.ies. -
IIE ARREsTs.--As soon as Baines had finish
| ca his revelations he was committed to tho ca
iaooose, one story stone building, about six
teen feet square. The crowd then went off in
pursuit of Quarles and knowlton, and in
| short time had them arrested, Among the re-
| vealed conspirators was VIM. Woods, the pro.
prieter Of the greater part of Leavenworth Is
land, and regarded by his aequaintances as an
honest man and good citizen. A party pro-
Seeued ut once to arrest him, and after making
thorough search Of Ills house, found twenty
| five hundred dollars in counterfeit money. a
lot OF counterieiting plates and other instru-
ments, and knife and apistol belonging to
the murderered man Stephens. AT these con
conclusive proofs of the correctness of the
confessions OF Baines, the people were deeply
moved and held counseltogether in large and
small parties during the whole night.
. THE PRooEEDISds ON SATURDAY.-We here
give the narrative of Mr.. Stewart He saws
~ went tothe Mayors office on Saturday mer
nlng, ana found an immense crowd awaiting
the result of the examination Of Woods nnr
= hnowlton. Baines and Quarles We're In iii,
q ealapoose. While the examination was going
on, Judge Leeompte was outside making i
"a speech and expostulating with the angry crowd
q III lavor OF law and order. The cry Of hang
\; en- the Id murderers' arose frennent1s
IN from the mob, but milder counsels seemed Ia
N DC prevailing, when at once some one shouted
10 the ealapoose to the calaboos9 20 nnd
men
,s started in that direction. The balance of tba
10 psolie followed after in smallerparties leaving
NJ dnu8e Lecompte almost alone, and the mayor's
once relieved of its throng of spectators
n lhey mad been gone about fifteen minutes,
,. when heard great yell l started after the
~ crowd, and followed il to the bank Of a creek
IL; IL, which divides south and north I.eayenwortb
j. where there was steep bank, and on its edgt
q large elm tree.
NJ reached the spot Just in time to see Quarle,
2. suspended from the tree, grasping in the ago
MES OF death at the rope which was aronnd
his neck, and several OF the mob wero swing,
n ing on his arms and legs to make his deafh
= snro. HIS body had hardly ceased its conynl.
slons, when the shout was raised for Baines-
n me rope was placed around his neck, and he
: was LED 70 the edge of the bank, when some
OF the citizens appeared by his side, and with
watch In his hand, demanded five minutes
time Tor further confessions. They granted il;
When baines said, If they would let him. he
would show them another man In town who
I was concerned In the operations of the gang,
he was then taken to the caaboose, but for
some reason did not give satisfaction TO the
people, and they demanded his body to be re.
turned to them.
Judge Lecompte again addressed the peo-
PIE, ana with some effect for they seemed TO
divide into two parties, the one clamorinp for
the hanging Of the prisoner, and the other de-
manding trial of him. Marshal Dennis of
though
exerted himself with all his power, he could
not maintain his position at the door Of the
ealaDoose, nor prevail on the crowd to dispense
Inc WlIe OF Baines also appeared, and, inspir-
Ell by the dangerous situation of her husband :
TOOK heroic stand on the entrance and endeay-
ored by frantic threats and entreaties to stay
the wrath Of the populace. But all efforts were
nnavailing--the peace party were overpowered.
Judge Lecompte's voice was drowned by the
shrleks of the mob. A large piece of hewn
timber, perhaps twenty-five feet long and one
! foot square was lying near, was lifted up by
crowd of men, and plunged with fearful veloc
ity against the caiaboose door.
The sight Of the wife's distress and the sount
of Der screams, mingled with the ragings anC
shrIeks OF the infuriated mob, was too mucl
, for me, and turned my back and walked away
\ i heard another blow from the piece OF timber
n and n simultaneous shout from the crowd
!. which told me that the door had given way
and the prisoner was at the mercy Of the peo
pie. walked hastily around the square. TO
~ with all lis terror there was fascination In tn,
sight, and reached the spot Just in time to se,
u the mob rushing down the street. W IN IN,
prisoner, toward the creek and the elm tree.
u pursued, and when l reached the spot tbr
nj oouy OF balhes was already In the air. and hi,
= last death struggles were shlyering along hi,
a. limbs. The crowd then appeared to be s1tis,
=. He'd. Woods and Knowlt0n meanwhile had
=. peeh placed IN an omnibus and hurried off Ia
= thi tort. The city continued very much excit,
=. ed mp to the hour left, but no further Vic,
,q lence was anticipated. All sorts OF sterie,
u prevailed, and many OF the mystef4bus disan
- pearance and robbsries which have occnrrer
m 10 the territory are all being referred TO ihi
~ band OF murderers."
IL DISTANCE OF THE Sun FROM rHE EARTH
1t The German journals have given some table,