Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1857-08-20
The Leavenworth Tragedy.

we md IN the haTS:iS correspondence
ofthe Boston Journal very long and in
teresting account of the lynchings at Leay-
enworth, containing many new facts; and
much elaboration of detail. The follow
ing account of the speech of Judge LIE
compte before the first execution, is graphic;
After dinner the inflammatory feeling
still prevailed, and the crowds increased in
size. Judge Lecompte finally appeared
upon the balcony of one of the hotels, and
addressed the people endeavoring to dis
suade them from violence. Several hun
dred persons were assembled for few min
utes, and his presence and remarks but ad-
ded fuel to the flame.
He implored the citizens in Gods name
to reflect upon what they proposed to do,
and leave the prisoners to be punished in
the regular way-through the courts of
justice.
A dozen voices responded that there was
no legal justice in Kansas the courts
were farce-and that no man had ever
been punished here for murder.
Judge Lecompte admitted that no mur-
derer had been convicted, but it was not
his fault. There was no man who loved
justice and hated crime more than he-no
one who was more anxious to see the
guilty punished. (This remark brought
out boots and sueers from every portion of
the crowd.) The trials for capital offences
in Kansas had hitherto been in connection
with political affairs, in which party feeling
was involved. But this was not such a
case. The prisoners could be put into the
hands of the U. S. Marshal and safely kept.
If they were not guilty they ought not to
suffer. This was the course provided for
bv the Constitution and Laws of our coun-
try, and he trusted that every good citizen
would use his influence TO let the law take
its course.
A Voice-We don't want any more Flu
git trials.
Another Voice-A prisoner got clear
here the other day by paying So.
Judge Lecompte-Every man of you
who aids in the commission of violence,
breaks the laws of the United States, to in
dictment for murder.
A Voice-Indict and be ID, then.
By this time the excitement became un-
comfortable. Those who favored lynching
began to see their strength, and were so ex-
asperated at reproof from "Jeffries LIE
COMPETE" that very bitter language was
used towards him, and grand rush wade
made for the jail.
Within ten minutes two thousand men
and boys had gathered around the Jail,
which is a small stone building with very
strong doors of wood and iron. At short
distance from the crowd many women also
wers lockers on.
Judge Lecompte again attempted to
speak, but perfect tumult of shouts pre-
vented him. Some declared that he had
ruled and wronged peacable citizens too
long already. Others said that unless he
refrained from speaking, an example would
be made of him. The Judge very wisely
withdrew.
Another speaker sprang upon some ele-
vated object, and urged that no violence
should be used. He commanded the peace.
He announced that he was the U. S. Mar
shal when his voice was instantly drown
ed by such cries as "Down with him.
"He's the greatest scoundrel in the Terri
tory" ''Lets hang him, he deserves
it" etc. The Marsal was greatly frighten-
ed, and with good reason. He turned
pale; his voice grew husky, and he also
disappeared in the crowd.
Clarkson, the postmaster here, and a Ger
tain Judge Wood, of Lecompton, both at
tempted to speak, but were dissuaded by
their friends. They are said to be notorious
border rufiians, and very obnoxious to Free
State men. The crowd was in such an
condition that few words
from any energetic person would have
caused their lives to pay the forfeit, had
they persisted in speaking.
1t appears that Qurles is native of
South Carolina, Pickens district, and Bays
of Pointsville, johnson county, Kentucky.
The latter kept a drinking shop in Leav-
Both were hardened wretches.
Knighten, who was first arrested, and con-
fessed the whole conspiracy, is a native of
Clay county, Indiana, and only 81 years
old
Wood, who appeared TO have been the
chef of the gang, was native of Tennessee.
The counterfeit money was all obtained
from him, and he seems to have grown
quite rich by robbery and other crimes
these men belong to the swarm of rufiians
who have so long terrorized over the Free
State men at Leavenworth.