The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-01-16
The IstaIo Of freedom.
For the Herald Of Freedom.
. v;evzx of the Fort Scott Difficulties.
LAWRENCE, Jan. IA, 1853.

For the Herald of Freedom.
n.-.,.n, Views Of the Fort Scott Difficulties.
LAWRENCE, Jan. IA, 1853.
G. ". BRowN-Dear Sir My atten-
-, has been called to letter in your pa
-, Of Jan. 9th, headed Truth from
.ro- Scott over the signature of Geo.
. Crawford, which l should have allow
\ n mass unnoticed, had not the writer
-,ofsssed to correct the errors and mis-
t...ements By what he calls statement
8 facts. Now, sir, I consider that duty
e the prisoners and all parties concerned,
demands that 1 should correct the nu-
,s,ous errors into which G. A. C. has,
IboUs iqnmantly, fallen. In order to do
20 It will be necessary for me to give a
history of the experience of the original
settlers Of that part of the Little Usage
xbich is the seat of the present troubles.
In the summer of 1855, when we were
invaded by numerous hordes of rufians
from other States, principally from Mis-
sonri it is we'll known that strong
party vas organized at Fort Scott by G..
" Clark, which party marched into the
interior, laying waste every thing belong
ing to Free State men, nearly every one
of whom had to fee for their lives, tax
ing With them only such property as they
could hastily gather togethe, but in most
cases were not allowed anything bnt a
team to carry them away. The claims on
the Little Usage being very valuable, on
account of the timber, were Immediately
transferred to the invading party, or their
friends, with all the cattle, swine, and
other property, left behind. During the
last summer many of those who were
driven off, returned, when, as might be
much difficulty occurred.
Those having fraudulent possession of
these claims refused to give them up,
while those to whom the property right
fully belonged, expressed their determi-
nation to possess themselves of it. Some,
after much trouble, have succeeded
others have not, but have been doomed
to see their property and stock, bearing
their own private marks, appropriated by
these usurpers, and when they made any
attempt to prevent such appropriations,
they have been summoned before the
County Court at Fort Scott, held to bail,
and subjected to enormous costs, &c.
which has reduced members from CON-
Portable circumstances, to state of pow
erty and suffering. These men having
found, by sad experience, that they could
get nothing from the courts but malicious
prosecution, and their substance was daily
being consumed by their prosecutors, made
an appeal to their friends, which re-
suited in the organization of the Court re-
ferred to by G. A. c., held, as he says, in
of law, but sOe say in accordance
With justice. So much then for the origin
II the difficulty. G. 4. C. says that on
writs were put in the hands of
he Sheriff and Deputy Marshal. Letus
zee what are the facts in the case. A wo-
nan whose husband was under arrest, rode
nto Fort Scott, and, without getting from
ler horse, stated that her husband was
.rrested. She made no oath or affirma-
ion to any of her statements, but imme-
lately returned. So much for the legal
ty of the complaint. Writs were placed
n the hands of the Sheriff and Deputy
darshal, who, suppose, were to divide
Ill they could make out of the operation.
Nrits might have been issued, but were
lot placed in the hands of Sheriff prop
II, but sham Sheriff.
If G. a. G. does not know, he ought to.
that Cummens is no Sheriff at all, never
having been commissioned as such. And
the Deputy Marshal had no writs to exc
'ute, till many days after the arrests were
made. So that this posse was nothing
more nor less than mob, seeking, under
the garb of legal authority, to protect the
grossest villainy and prevent the execu-
ion of Justice.
"He was resisted with threats" Of
course he was. Who would not resist
such mob? The Free State men of Kan
'as have borne all they intend to from
sham legal mobs. "He had barely return
ed to his posse before FIRE of Sharp's ri
hes was opened upon him." This is un-
True, for it was the understanding that
nOstilities should commence as soon as the
~
Marshal got to the head of his column,
nut our party did not commence firing un-
III the posse had partially surrounded the
house, having divided into three detach-
ments for that purpose. G. a. C. is cor
rect In saying that G.. W. Clark did not
act as Deputy Sheriff. and that he kept
nlmself in town-which is the safest place
iof him, and no one knows that better
than himself. If melting lawless mobs
% commit acts of violence upon the peo-
PIE in the country, and seeking the lives
Of prisoners Illegally arrested after legal
discharge, is deyoting himself to his own
Eflsate business. then we know that he
!, mas been in that business long time, and
'alnk it is time he sought better employ
ineht ONE OF THE SUFFERERS.
For tAe Herald Of Freedom.
FT SCorr Ton 9Th 1919