The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-08-08
For tie Herald Of Freeiom.
Ridieulcas
LAwRENcE, Z. 81, AUG. /, 1851.


LAWRENCE, K. T., Aug. /, 1867.
SIR:-Under the head of correction"
in the Herald Of Freedom of to-day, / per-
ceiEe an article from Mr.. Hoogland in
which he skillfully labors to throw oppro-
brium on me. He says, s0n complaint
made before me, as Justice of the Peace,
by Boynton, that Adams had threatened
to kill or personally injure him, &C." Now
the real complaint fully explained to Mr.
FL. and substantiated at the examination,
was .heS Ada.ns, who is pro-slayery
scoqndrel Of desperate character, backed
and sustained by gang of rufians, had,
after destroying my crop, on several oc-
casions attempted to take my life. Once
by lying in ambush in my field, once by
stationing himself within seventeen yards
of my cabin, with a double -barrelled shot
gun, prepared to fire as soon as l should
make my appearance, while three of his
scoundrels came to my door to decoy me
out, at another time civilly approaching
me until within four yards, then suddenly
cooking and leyelling at my head his gun,
which was thrown up by bystander just
in time to prevent his firing. Seeing he
was determined to shoot drew a shot
gun to defend myself and he made off
l repianted my corn and they again de-
strOyed it.
l finally made the complaint against
several of them before Mr.. H. as U. S.
Commissioner. He declined to take cog
nizance of it in that capacity, but did
finally consent to issue his warrant as JUS
tice of the Peace, against Adams only.
Although do not acknowledge the bogus
laws, learning Mr.. III. to be National
Democrat" thought it good opportu-
nifty to test the Justice that Free State
man could obtain from a member of that
party.
On appearing at court / was surprised
at being arrested, on writ issued by Mr..
II. for the act of self-defence above men,
toned, one other charge which l proved
and can again prove false, was added to
it in the warrant. No attempt was made
on the part of Adams to refute the charges
in regard to the ambush, and the affair at
the cabin, and other outrages equally GRIM
inal, and they were fully proved. Yet
the ruffian was released. on bail, and I
,Cas ordered to gre bonds IN the same sum.
The whole examination appeared to be
ridiculous farce.
The harsh words he speaks Of as hav-
ing passed between the counsel for Adams
(Benj. Newsom) and myself consisted of
an insult offered me by him, to which l
replied that ] would answer him after the
adjournment of Court When the deci-
sion had been given and Court about to
adjourn, Newsom rose and apologiZed to
the Court for the language he had used,
saying he was willing to be fined. Soon
as Court adjourned he left the Court
house. When he returned-which was
not until all my friends had left the house
Il asked him if he intended that apollo
gy to apply to me as well as to the Court.
He replied, "No, / mean to say you are
Cd d-m l-r," and instantly with a
large bowie knife inflicted severe cut on
my head, while /, quick as l perceived
| the hostile motion, knocked him through
the doorway into the Court room pro TEN,
no doubt saving my life by SO doing In
stantly some seven or eight of the rufians
rushed on me, shouting xiii him. Cd
d-m him, kill him!' No doubt the
whole affair was concerted measure on
their part. Mr.. Ii. was instantly on the
spot, when l demanded of him writ of
arrest against Newsom, and also Adams,
he being party in the affray, after CIV
ing bonds to keep the peace about fifteen
minutes before. Some of my friends,
hearing the affray, had now returned, but
not one of them was armed, as Mr. II. in
| Inmates. At Clements Hotel l again de-
manded a warrant, but Mr. Fl. persisted
in declining to issue it, saying he would
I have nothing more to do with the matter.
He goes on to say, Convinced that under
the existing circumstances, arrests and an
inquiry into the matter would do no good,
but only further endanger the public peace,
l declined issuing another warrant, or
causing the actual arrest of the parties
mentioned, and informed Boynton of my
inability to preserve order or enforce judi
cial authority" The existing eircum-
stances, were that all the scoundrels were
pro-slayery and myself Free State, and
an Enquiry into the matter would do no
goodn because it would show his precious
Dro-slavery friends to be aggressors.
HENRY B0YNT0N.