True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1857-08-19

= ~ oStSOu hidh uC stlOheu W tiolS Ou NO
spot, without judge or jury. A rope was
and put around his neck, and
already he was being drawn up to limb
OF an overhanging tree, when he ex,
pressed wish to make confession.--
The crowd yielded and let him down 10
the ground.
STARTLING CONFESSION.
He said that he and two men, one
named John Quarles, from Sout h Caro-
lima, and an other called Knowlon, had laid
the plot by which Stephens was robbed
and murdered, and that the same men
had murdered another man, a shoIt time
before, and thrown the body into the Mis-
souri, river, He stated also that he and
the men Knowlton and Quarles belonged
to an orgauized body of about twenty
five men, who lived and 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 Topeka. He then gave the names
of as many of the gang as he could le-
member to the authorities.
THE ARRESTS.
As soon as Baines had finished his rev.
elations he was committed to the Gala
boose, one story stone building about
sixteen feet square. The crowd ther
went off in pursuit Of Quarles end Knowl
tou, and in a short time had them arrest
ed. Among the revealed conspirator'
was VIM. Woods, the proprietor of tht
greater part Of Leavenworth island, ant
regarded by his acquaintances as an hon
est man and good citizen. A party pro
ceeded at once to arrest him, and afle
making thorough search of his house
found tcenty fue hundred dollars i,
counterfeit money, lot of counterleiliu!
plates and other instruments, and knil,
and pistol belonging to the murdered
man, Stephens. At these conclusive
proofs of the correctness Of the confe S
sions of Baines, the people were. .deepI
moved and held counsel together il
large and small parties duliog the whol'
night.
THE PROCEEDINGS ON SATURDAY.
We here give the narrative Of Mr.
Steuarl. He says,
81 went TO the mayors office on Sat
prday morning and found an immens
crowd awaiting The result OF the examina
ton of Woods and Knowllon. Baine
and Quarlcs were in the Calaboose.- -
While the examination was going on
Judge I.scomte was outside making
speech and expostulating with the angr.
crowd, in favor of The law and order
the cry of L" hang EN- The d.
murderers," arose (requnlly from tn
mob, but milder counsels semed to b.
prevailing, when at once some one shou
ted 10 the calaboose ! to the colaboose!
and away crowd of ofmaddened men star
ted in that direction. The balance of tn,
people fDlIOwed after in smaller parties
leaving Judge LecOm;e almost alone, ant
the Mayors Office relieved of its throng O
spectators. They had been gone abou
fifteen minutes, when | heard grea
veil. started after the crowd, and fol
owed it to the bank Of a creek, which
ldiyites south and north Leavenwortl
where was a steep bank. and on its edge
large elm tree. | reached the spot jus
in lime TO see Quarles suspended from
tie tree, grasping in the agonies of death
al the rope which was around his neck,
while several of the mob were swinging
on 10 his legs and aims TO make his death
sure. His body had hardly ceased its con-
vulsions when the shout was raised for
Baines. The rope was placed around his
neck, and he was led TO the edgs of tho
bank, when one of the citizens appeared
by his side, and with a watch in his baud
demanded five minutes time for further
confessions. They grantd it; when
Baines said, if they lei him, he would
show them another man in town who
was concerned in the operations of the
gang. He was then taken to the Gala.
boose, but for some reason he did moi
give satisfaction to the people, and they
demanded his body 10 be returned to them
Judge Lecomte again addressed the peo
Pile, and with some effect, for they seemed
to divide into two parties, the one clam
otng for the hanging of the prisoner, and
the other trial of him. Marshall Den
mis- of the Territory was also present anj
though he exerted all his power, tt
could not maintain his position at tht
door of the caiaboose, nor prevail on the
crowd TO disperse. The wife of Balne.
also appeared, and inspired by the situa
ton Of her husband, took a heroic stanc
on the entrance, and en4eavored by fran
tic threats and entrearies to stay the wratl
of the populace. But all efforts wert
unavaling; the peace party were over
powered. Judge Lecomte's voice wa.
drowned by the shrieks of the mob.
large piece of hewn timber, perhaps TWEEN
,y five feet long and one foot square, tha
was lying near, was lifted no by crow
of men, ard plunged with fearful velocit
against the calaboose door. The sigh
of the wfe's distress, and the sound @
her screams, mingled with the raging
and shrieks of the infuriated mob, wa
too much for me, and | turned my bac
and walked away. | heard anothe
blow from the piece of timber and sim
ullaneons shout from the crowd whic
told me that the door had given way, an
the prisoner was at the mercy Of th
people. | walked hastily around tn
square, for with all its terror there wa
a fascination in the sight and reache
the spot just in time to sec the mob rusl
ing down the street with the prisoner, t
ward the creek and the elm tree. l pu
sued and when I reanhed ihe snnt Nh