The Kansas herald of freedom., 1857-02-28
The Tstaio Of Freedom.
lawrence, saturday. Feb. 90, 1857.

A meellHS VI lAe SAe1<-SA' VI -%oo3
las county was called at I.ecompton
an Wednesday, 18th inst, to consider
,be insult offered by Sherrard to Gov.
Eeary a short time since. In pursu-
s,os of the call about two hundred
.srSons assembled in the open air, near
tbe capitol, at half-past 2 Pm. The
meeting was organized by the appoint
mept of Mr.. Stewart, Mayor of Le-
oompton, as President, and John e..
Cook. of Lawrence, as Secretary.
After few remarks by the President
upon the necessity of preserving
neace. the following five gentlemen
we're appointed a committee to draft
rasslutions Messrs. DIR. Wood, Bo-
ling, ]. F. Legats, J. G. Bailey and
Wesley Garrett. Captain Hampton
made law and order, conservative
speech, applaudatory of Gov: Geary
and in favor of peace. He was fire.
quently interrupted by Dir. Bennett,
Of the Leeomptoa Union, who was
drunk enough to be quarrelsome, but
not sufficiently SO as to be unable to
take himself ont of danger when it
came. After Captain Hampton was
through, Mr.. d. took the stand, and
while there insulted every free State
man present. He sneered at Uncle
Sans aristocrats, meaning the prison
ers now at Leeompton, several of
whom were present. Mr. McAllister
also made a few remarks, showing
that the course taken by Gov. Geary
was not partizan one, and that he
intended to govern Kansas without
being member of any party. A
majority Of the committee then re-
ported a series of lengthy resolutions,
condemning the conduct of Sherrard,
speaking of Gov. Geary as the re-
storer of peace to Kansas and the
savior of the country fiom bloody
civil war. and pledging him support
while he pursued a course based on
the principles contained in his Mes
sage. After the reading of the reso-
lutions, Mr.. Sherrard demanded to be
allowed to speak. The President
wished him to wait till the minority
report was read. Sherrard, however,
took the stand, and in a cool and de-
liberate manner made the following
remarks -
"The difficulty between Gov. Geary
and myself is personal matter, and
have offered satisfaction. Any man
who imputes anything dishonorable to
me in that affair, is a liar and &
eOward, and | stand ready at all times
to back up my words
Mr.. Legate remarked that he was
personally unacquainted with Mr.. S..
and therefore could not be accused o
personal feeling in bringing in those
resolutions. Mr.. Bennett wished tc
make an explanation. Mr. Shcrrard
repeated his words. and applied then
to those who favored the resolutions
Mr.. Joseph Sheppard, free Stat,
man, living near Lecompton, remarke,
"that the resolutions were just
"You are G. d-d liar,
corard and scoandrel," was the in
slant reply of sherrard, and while
Sheppard was pushing his wa,
through the crowd, he fred at him
Several shots were fired by Sherrarc
and Others. ShepparPs revolver
missing fire, he clenched with Sher
rard, and they struck each other will
the butt ends of their pistols. Mr.
Sheppard was wounded twice in th'
thigh and hip, and severely beatcl
over the head by Sherrard. A lull o
a few seconds occurred in the storm
which, however, soon became NOR,
general. Mr.. Bennett, of the Union
who had been instrumental in creating
the disturbance, made himself scare
when the first shot was fired. Th,
last seen of him was his coat tails
streaming in the wind, as he rushc,
towards the printing office.
The crowd by this time had scat
tered, leaving about dozen persona
IN the center Sheriff Jones, while il
the act of drawing his revolver, wa
struck by a shot, which did no fur
ther harm beyond cutting his watcl
chain in two. Mr.. Hunting, of Law
renee, was shot in the knee. Mr.. j
y. w. Jones, one of Gov. Geary'i
clerks, was shot at, and while Sher
rard was in the act of making towards
hIm, drew his revolver and fired. Tht
ball struck Sherrard above the right
eve and came out on the top of hi,
head. At the same moment, some
man fired at Sherrard over Mayor
stewart's shoulder. Sherrard fell tc
the ground Immediately. and Doctor
Wood and Sheriff Jones seized Mr.
Jones. Some of the friends of Sher.
fard endeayored to raise the cry O
Hang him ~ seHang him p" by
The exertions of Mr. Stewart, the riot
vas then quelled. This gentleman is
deserving of praise for his ensleayors