The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-09-19
tcoPYRIGHT sECURED.J
Fritsss eepssss.y for tie ksra,d of Freedom:
4 COkfbtEri,E
HISTORY OF KANSAS;
FzoN
FIRST Discovery by the French, to
the Close Of the Year 1851.
BY THE EDITORS.
BY THE EDITORS.
CHAPTER Ky


EXECUTIVE coNMIFrEE-srArH NoyENEsr Fri.
Lf oHGANIZED-ELEcTIoSs. sc.
1t was the policy of the Free State men
to violate no law, to use no law: nor in
any manner 10 aid and assist In executing
any law which had originated with the
usurpers.
The plan was to hold the whole thing
in allegiance, till Congress could interfere
TO save their pet bantling, Squatter sov-
freignty, from ruin or premature death.
The outrage on popular rights was so
palpable, that no one doubted for mo-
ment that the people of the Union, by
their Representatives in Congress, would
rise in one body and condemn the huge
crime as one of national snicide
TO change this state of things, oppor-
tunities were sought to aggravate the set
tiers. and implicate them in some manner
before the business could reach Congress
and be acted on. Members OF certain
secret society had agreed to murder reso-
lutte Free State men, as trivial offences
might arise, and then stand by each other
in mutual defence, till all the Free State
settlers should submit, be driven from the
Territory, or be killed. Acting.Governor
Woodson pronounced them outlaws-the
Territorial papers pronounced them out
laws-the secret societies pronounced
them outlaws-and the judicial officials
pronounced them outlaws, against whom
no crime could be committed.
In furthefance of this general under
standing, F. w. Coleman, Missourian,
residing at Hickory Point, ten miles south
of Lawrence, murdered CHARLES P. Dow,
a Free State neighbor, onWednesday, the
2lst of November, 1855. ii Tnis deed was
agreed upon by his pro-slavery neighbors,
some time before it took place. Dow held
4 claim, pant Of which Coleman desired
and according to Missouri usage, and a
pEeconeerted arrangement, he went upon
it without consulting Dow, and took pos
Session. On meeting each other near a
hlaeksrnith's shop some words passed be-
tween them, when, they went out togeth-
er, and walked towards their home
Coleman with a double -bafrelled shot gun
loaded with slugs for the occasion, and
Dow with small wagon skein in his
hand, which he had been to the shop to
have mended. When they came to
Coleniar.'s house; he allowed Dow to
pass on few steps. then taking aim at
MIN, snapped his gun, but it missed fire.
Dow Immediately turned and requested
him not to shoot him. But he put an
other cap on his gun, and fired, killing
him instantly.
This murder was Immediately known to
several pro-slavery men in the neighbor-
hood, but they allowed the body of the
murdered man to remain in the public
highway from noon until near dark, with
ont paying any more attention to it than
they would have done to wild beast.
Mr. Dow was from an old Democratic
family in Ohio, considered safely conserv-
ative, having voted for Frank Pierce
Tor President; and the only provocation
Tor killing him was, he was in favor of
making Kansas free State.
The news came to Lawrence on the fol-
lowing day. S. n. Wood, Esq, who was
hls personal friend in Ohio, accompanied
by Nh. s. c. Smith, went out to Hickory
folnt and attended the funeral, the next
day. Coleman, and the Others who had
been privy to the murder, had fled to Gov.
shannon,at the Shawnee Mission.for pro-
tecaoa. After the burial, the settlers
agreed to hold meeting on the Monday
following. s. F. Tappan, and S. n.
wood, Esq, of Lawrence, were present
.. \. Wood was appointed an attorney to
question witnesses. About one hundred
men We're in attendance, many of them
pro-slaYery.
ihe testimony clearly indicated that
Dow had been murdered, not out of pas.
slonal feelings, but on oecount of his Free