White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-09-17
From The Ksns.s Herald.
Great Excitement ii Lsiysnworth.


Suspected NEyder-Z iposA sH. Ayrested-
Vigilance Commtttee Orgaaized-SHc
Committee and Search Committees.
Early on Wednesday morning bioot
was discovered on the shayings under
carpenters shed in the lower part of our
city near the saw mill. Suspicious were
soon aroused, End the blood traced to the
rivers edge. where there was = good deal
of blood. It seemed as if the body Of
something had been laid down there; and
bled profusely. From thence it was traced
few yards up-the river towards raft OF
logs that lay in the river. Just before
reaching the raft, the blood had entirely
disappeared.
The signs of blood discovered led ma
ny to believe that some man had been
killed and thrown in the river. ExAml-
nations were being made throughout the
day, end suspicious were aroused against
man by the name of Gillespie. who has
been here but few days. Wednesday
night, under very suspicious circumstan-
ces, a man by the name-of Chas. Gordon
was seen standing under this same carpen-
ter's shed, about ten or eleven o'clock, at
night Just previous to this, one Of our
most respected citizens of South Leaven-
worth had been followed By two men to-
wards the branch. He came back and
two or three men went with him near
home. On coming back, this man Cor
don was found under the shed and was
arrested. He denied at first knowing any
thing of the murder, but after being alar-
med as to his safety by being choked a
little with cord, heconfessed man was
killed, and that he had participated in it.
His statements, however, at that time
were contradictory.
He says the stranger was taken down
to the shed by O'Brien and Gillespie, &C.
cording to previous arrangement, and he
accompanied them. On arriving at the
shed, 0'Brien stabbed him, and as hefell,
he cried murder. After falling, O'Brien
stabbed him again, and that the man died
in minute or two, and that O'Brien and
himself packed the dead man to the river,
and on the raft, and threw him into the
river. Gordon does not say Gillespie
stabbed the man at all but says he was
present, aiding and abetting, and hunted
for good place to throw the deceased in
tho river. After the man was killed, o.
Brien ran his hand into the pocket Of the
deceased, and got out portmonie. 1t
was supposed he had fifty dollars. O'Brien
agreed to divide, but Gordon says he him
self did not get cent.
There is no other evidence against these
men, except the confession of Gordon,
and he seems to be laboring greatly under
the effects of liquor.
Gillespie denies all participation in the
affair, or any knowledge of ever having
seen Gordon before the examination; and
says that on the night of the murder he
went to bed at dark, and was not out of
the room from that time until after break
fast next morning, and that he can estab-
lish this by testimony. His pants that
had been washed from the knee down, he
accounts for by getting into the branch
before night, and that he had them washed.
There is also evidence that the morning
after the murder, Gillespie was scraping
spot Of blood from the bosom of his
shirt, and said it was from chinch bug.
Many of these facts becoming public,
great excitement was produced. In the
meantime, Charles Gordon and L. Giles
pie were legally arrested, and placed in
the hands of the Sheriff. The people as
sembled in a large crowd before the
Mayors Office. On Thursday morning
it was determined that Vigilance Com
mittee, 70 aid and assist the legal author
tiles in bringing criminals to punishment,
and also for the farreting out Of crime,
should be organized. Accordingly, fifty
Of the best men in the city were appoint
ed by the meeting, as a Vigilance Com
mittee. They have been laboriously en-
gagged in the discharge of their duties,
eliciting all the information they can in
reference to this supposed murder, as well
as other crimes. Up to our going to press,
Friday noon, the Vigilance Committee
were still engaged, and had not reported.
On taking the prisoners to Jail, on Thurs
day evening, from the committee room, a
large crowd gathered around. The cry
was raised" hang 'em !" and number
Of the Dutch, and perhaps some others,
made a rush at the Jail door to take the
prisoners ont and hang them. But they
were resisted by the order loving citizens
of the place. Finally the editor of this
paper got the crowd off a short distance
and appealed to the people to be calm
and wait, at least, until the Committee
was through with the investigation. and
not rush headlong and commit a deed
that would reflect discredit upon the citi-
gems of the city. Mr.. Vaughan made a
similar appeal to thecrowd. BY this time
things were quoting down. Shortly after
this, a very intelligent German, Mr.. Ro-.
elofson, made few remarks to the Ger
mans, in their own language, which
seemed entirely to satisfy them.
A strong guard was kept around the
jail all night, both toprotect the prisoners
from the moband t6;preyent their escape.
We want to see justice done, and If
men are clearly guilty, and they escape by
any technical bubbles Of the law let the
people deal with them then but we are
opposed to mobs hanging, especially on
suspicion, and when we have no evidence
other than drunken mans confession,
that any one has been killed at all.
MARRIAGE ExrRAoRDHARY.-In the last
news from Califofnis. Ia the following