Freeman's champion., 1858-06-03
Meeting in Lawrencel
Statements of MesSrs. Read and
Hsirgrove, Victims Of tho Late !.
Horrible Massacre.
LEG 0MPTON AND THE PRO
SID VERY SEI>'O rs.
INDICATIONS OF A GENERAL
OUTBREAK!

| VI eliW "vuuhOu LhVnb AV's "
and his a,saSsins for dead, reached
Lawrence on Saturday last, deputlzed
by the citizens of Lynn county to
lay their position before Gov. Denver
and tho Free State people of this
section. Mr.. READ is an elderly
man, over fifty years Of age, Mis-
sionary Of the Free Will Baptist So
ciety. He has resided in Kanzas
about twelve months and has never
been identified in any manner with
tho troubles, but on the contrary is
known as apeace-loving, conservative
citizen. Of course he is opposed to
slavery, as are all Of his denomina-
ton, and in consequence is obnox-
ious to the Ruflians. He bears the
appearance OF a simple-minded, truth
full and candid man, and in oil his
statements was Scrupulously exact in
stating only what ho knew himself.
M. HAInGRovE iS . native of Marion
county, South Carolina has lived in
Georgia and Mississippi; came from
Illinois here voted for Buchanan
and still believes in the old rascal
thinks slavery right, but desires
KanzaS to be free because ma jority
wish it. We suppose this lis his
oFense. He is sixty-four years Of
aga, and is man of shrewd, practical
ability. Mr.. READ was wounded in
the shoulder, he standing sideways
at tho time Of the firing, as was also
Mr.. HAIRoRovE. The latter received
six .buckShot in his left arm and
Oreaet/ The citizens Of Lynn coun-
ty, being many of' them unArmsd.
and also destitute Of means to a great
axtsnt, determined to send some per-
sons to Lawrence to lay their case
before ths people, NlcsSrs. READ q
HAIRGHovE volunteered to come
They were just able to ait up, but
made tho journey in tolerabls cSm-
roR.
Nv. RrA9pr'Ach'd in the Baptist
Church on Sunday evening to very
full congregation. After his dis
course, which was a plain sermon
from the text "Wsch and pray"
he male statement relative to the
tragedy in which ho was victim;
IIo stated that in order to avoid sNy
ing anything that wAA not positively
true he had written out an account OF
the afliSy, which ho intended to scnd
to the ogsn Of his denomination for
publication. We present our readers
with a copy, apd report Of tho con-
vOrsatiou that followed;
BLooMING GRovr, Lynn Co., K, t.
z - May %, 1858,
Whereas many reports will be CIR
culated relating to the horrible mur-
ders committed near MaliaS des Cyg-
mes River and the Missouri State limo,
on the 10Th day Of May, 1858, and
being ono Of the number shot and lett
for dead, will cndeavorto give you a
correct statement OF the transaction.
About 8 o'clock on the morning OF
that day, | went to ncighbor about
a mile distant to get horse to mark
> outsome corn ground. Willie there,
convorsing with a noighbor about q
school and other subjects, man
known AZ CHARLES A. HAMILTON,
with about thirty armed men, came
up. lie ordered nae and man named
TAYLOR and Mr., JAMES to fall into
line. l said no, He drew a large
pistol, cooked and presented 1t, and
said:
You won't, will yoa2"
I then told him | was willing to do
anything that was right. Ho Nhen
ordered me to hitch my horse and
fall into line | did so. Ho then,
with number OF his men, won't into
Mr. NIoHols yard and said they we're
going 10 search his house. Soon af-
ter they returned with a number oI
guns, and said thoy could not find
any poSdcr. They then let Mr.. TAy-
! Lon go. Presently y man driving a
tcam 1.-TWO horsss attached to wag-
on, came along side, lie was ordered
to stop. Some Of the party said;
Where do you liver
Tie replied, cat Surar Mound. 49,