The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-08-14
Lynching at Leavenworth--A Gang
Of RObbsrs and Murderers
Exposed.

The Missouri D,mocrai gives an account
Of the hanging Of two men by the mob OF
LcaycnwOrIh, on Friday AMI saturday, II
appears that nan named stephens, came
FROM Kansas city 10 Layenworth, on Friday
and presented check at the hank for $50,
and received the money. IL was seen 70
by man named Quarles, who kept gam.
bling house in Leavcnworth. The man pre-
vailed upon stephens TO so with him TO a
spring OF water n ar the town. and here they
were joined by several members Of gauge
OF nutdJrers. Stephens Wa then murdered
TJhbsl and no ,n intD the river.
Q ,arls.. ON aching the town, related
tn abye story, aiding also that he was
rOhb a at the Ins tIn,; but his IN amer ut
relating the AFFAIR, and several inco sistenc.s
an hIs statement. AROUSED the uspiciUns Ut
the citizens, VINO tOOk him into custudy. A
Ia * parry then prJcesld u the scene OF
the murder where the victim wls discover
ell rwo more of the gauge were AT once
appr ,hrnd-d and taken into town. One Of
them.a young man mel William vi. BAYS,
was hangei. together with Quarl's, IN spite
OF the attemps OF Judge l. 'cOnpte 10 prevent
it, Bays cOnfc ssi the murder. and implica
"a another N an nam 4 KnDwlton OF knigh-
ton, in the crime Ito also sid they he'd
previously murdered another man, and that
knowlton and QuIrles b longci 10 an organ
tized body Of about twenty i've men, who
lived and carried on the business OF robbing
and numbering in l. avenworth City, on the
IL. 81. as nj In hs fAkN ms.
OF Lawrence and Topeka.
Ampng the rcyeued clnspirators was
William Woods, the proprietor of the great
er part Of Lstvenworth Island, regarded by
mis- acquaint,nc,s as an honest m IN and good
citizen A party procceded at once TO arrest
him. and after making Thorough -.arch Of
ms house, found $500 dIll,rs in counter-
felt money. u lot of c,unterfsit plates, and
other in,trum,nts, and kn.fe aud pistol
belonging ~ the murdered man, Ste
phens.
stephens formerly KEEP, grocery at Kan
as City. Mi>sodri, ani wIs resArdsd as a
hard character ana sdsplci1u. are enter
tlin,i hat ne was m hnbir Of s.nss By
WHOSE a nd, h. peri,hgi. III, Wa 30 years
orageand had bosn married bat "a short time.
QiArles, before BENG hanscl, s.id he hal a
wife and three children In Nov York. Mrs.
Bays wIs At the prison when her husband
was dragged Out - be- hung. and fought Tor
him lcrociOusly. On the next lay. sabss.
qusnt - the hanging OF Bays and Qiirlcs.
the pDpulacs bssst IN PRISON, AMI demanded
Woods but they were ia lily apps.sel, suh
eient 10 allow an examination Of WO,Jds By
n jury chosen FROM amorg them-elvc--
KaOwltOn, the fourth person implicated.
bore testimony in the case, and as the Jury
concluded that Wood wls only an unwilling
spectator Of the murder, Mayor Adams APP
pellcd TO the crowd who hal BEEN vociferl-
ting without. was rec lived warmly and snub
BID hOotcd ~ as Jadss L,compts had been
on the previous day and he succssisi in per
suadlng the mob TO allow the prisoners. Woods
and knoslton, to have a fair trial. Knowl.
ton has made q detailed statement Of all
that transpircd. in which he affirmed that he
had no iIsL vi wat was - take place til
after he had bssn induced To ~ 70 che fatal
spring, and then oaly believed a robbery
wa 70 take place. H. says that BAYS knrck
Cd the doe~s.ed down. Quarles stabbed him.
and that deceased got assy aud swan ~
the opposite shore vi the river before he died
His confsssions r,veal the exi stence Of large
gang Of soanterfsiters.