New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-06-03
KANSAS.
THE LATE MURDERS IN LINN COUNTY.
~---~.o.senne Of he n Y Tnhppe

nrwssponsepoe OF The ~ T. Tribune oo
MosEKA, Linn Co., X. T., May "a, 1855.
The lat few weeks have been weeks OF great
excitement and full Of events OF intense interest,
even for Kansas. speak OF this ana INC az om'og
County, Bourbon Il,
.lSays been regarded as rendezvous for Border
Ruhians." 1t was from this Fort that Col. Clark,
two years ago, with band OF Pro-S Slavery followers
rsnsscked this region Of country and drove away
The inhabitants, pisged their houses robbed their
stores. and drove of their cattle
In this Linn county a committee Of twelve was
APPOINTED TO try the cases OF the settlers. This
Committee held it's sittings mostly at the Trading
Post which is about three or four miles from the
State line. Ali the settlers along Big and Little
Sugar and Turkey Creeks, and the Marais des Cyg-
pes, were thus passed upon; some were to be killed,
some TO leave the Territory, and of some their prop
srty only was taken. Their proclamation WAS
"kansas cannot hold as both either you must kdre
Or ue must" At that time they had the power
and enforced the measure as they thought proper,
Noto the Free-State party is in the ascendant, and
are disposed TO adhere to the old terms.
After some military maneuverlDg on both sides,
and some depredations concerning claims, &c, the
froops few weeks ago, it seems, issued, without
orders, from the fort, and attacked Capt. MontgOm
cry and twelve of bis men, who fired upon them,
killing one, wounding two others, and killing one
horse.
Some time last Winter company of Frees State
men surrounded the house of a violent PrO-Slavery
man in that vicinity rodeup with considerable noise
and haste, and soon as he opened the door, fired
upon him, the ball passing through his body just
znder the collar bone. In few weeks he
recovered, and, of course, swOre revenge.
With company Of some eight or ten, he visited the
houses Of two Free-State men in the night, called
them TO the door, and then shot them down. This
again called for vengeance and pretty general or
ganization of militia took place throughout the
counties for selfpreservation. Recently Capt.
Montgomery had pretty thoroughly expelled them
from the vicinity of Maamston and the Little Usage;
and company from the Potawatanie had moved
1hem mostly from Big Sugar.
For time things were quiet, and all seemed to
think our troubles But just at this juncture
. company two of troops, with several pieces of
cannon, were sent to Fort Scott. This seemed to
give new courage, and impart new strength to the
Pro Slavery mems hopes, or, perhaps, to their de-
sires Of revenge.
Day before yesterday Capt. Hamilton, accom-
panied by Brocbett and thirtysix others, came into
The Trading Post, bringing with them several men,
mostly prisoners, whom they had met along the
way, aud drew up before the public house kept in
that place. They took the landlord, Geo. w. An
drews prisoner, also Mr. Bassett, his partner, and
Mr.. Campbell, clerk of the store there.
They also took Elder Reed, Baptist preacher,
prisoner, and Mr.. Stillwell, formerly from Mont
aOmery Co., Ind, who was on his way to Kansas
City for goods, ard several Others with whom am
not acquainted
Elder Reed had been preaching in Moneka for
some time previous, and Mr.. Stillwel was distant
neighbOr.
These, with number of others, they started with
out of the place. and toward the Missouri line.
Mestrs. Andrews and Bassett, with several
others, were released; but with the remainder,
eleven in number they proceeded about three miles,
when they entered deep ravine and called halt.
Without further deberatiOn, the prisoners were or
dersd TO form themselves into a line, which they
did Capt. Hamilton then, at few PAGES distance,
ordered his men to fire on them-motiOnless, IN
armed and unofending men! Five of them fell
dead five badly wounded, and one unframed. But
they all fell, and seemed to be Dead thinking this
The only way to escape more savage treatment.
As coon as the rufians had fired, and had seen
them fall, they mounted their horses and left But
in few moments some of them returned and rlf1ed
their pockets, and kicked them over to see if they
were dead. The man who was uniD ured was thus
kicked over and his pockets riled. He lay by the
side Of his brother, who showed some signs of life,
when one Of them put pistol to his head and fired,
the ball passing through his head. They were then
left and the marsuders made their way back to
Missouri.
Mr.. Hail. the one unwounded, now arose and
afforded what relief he could to the living, and then
went to obtain assistance and had them taken back
10 the Post.
Elder Reed was out all night, and suffered
intensely from his wounds but it is thought he will
recover.
Several of the party took what horses they could
meet with. Among them were those of Mr.. Still
well and Elder Reed. Mrs. Reed followed them
she thinks seven or eight miles and made them
give up his horse, aud with it she joined her hus-
band, soaked in blood, and assisted him to place
of safety. Mr.. Stillwell had about $500 with him.
which he left in his wagon, and which they did not
obtain.
So sudden aud unexpected was this movement
that assistance could be obtained although there
was military company organized within the town
ship. But in three or four hours, there we're up
ward of $50 men on the spot.
A company of IS mounted men were deputized
10 give chase and to take them if they had 10 fol-
low them TO Georgia.
To the credit of the MssOurians, the permanent
citizens along the border, be it recorded have
held public meetings, disclaimed all knowledge of
or participation in the affair, and will aid to the
extent Of their abilities, III capturing this lawess
band.
Rumor states that the people of West Point, a
town in Missouri near the line, and twelve miles
from the Post, knew of the plot and yet failed to
give the timely warning.
A few hundred of Free State men have gone up
there and they WILL probably, be brought to con-
tesson. At any rate, their return is looked for with
great interest.
But the probabilities are that our border troubles
are pretty nearly over. The immense odds now
against the invaders, both in the State and in the
Territory, will soon put the matter to an end and
do not now know Of real rO-Slavery in either
Bourbon or Linn County.
As ever. FOR FREE KANSAS
PURSUIT OF THE MURDERERS
ConsspCndenee Of The Boston Journal