The Kansas herald of freedom. [volume] (Wakarusa, Kan. Territory) 1854-1860, 1858-06-19
Fort Scott piaicnitias

Scott; and thar, 70 give the facts IN regard
to their origin. and to keep our readers
truthfaHy posted with their progress. Such
communications as have reached Us from
time to time, as seemed able to throw any
additional information upon the subject,
come from what source they may, have
been cheerfully published, and the same
course viii be pursued tothe end. The fol-
lowing communication is from stranger,
and is evidently from the opposite side
from any articles we have previously pub
lished; but, like witnesses introduced into
a court of justice by different parties, it viii
probably aid US in arriving at the truth.
In that light, then, the reader viii peruse
Lit, considering it an er parte statement, as
have been all the other articles published
in our paper on the subject, though from
the other side of the house. We wish it
distinctly understood that we do not en-
dorse the statement, or any part of it, but
give it for just what it is worth, and no
more -
| Fort ScoTT, June 4, 49,
Mr.. BRowN-DEAR Sir You will con-
fer favor upon the citizens of Bourbon
county to publish this communication in
your paper, as it has very large cireula-
ton in this county.
Fort Scott is as generally known through
the Territory now as any other place in
the Territory. For months past the pub
lie journals have been filled with history
of outrages perpetrated at this place, upon
linoffensive people, who might, perehance,
be in this vicinity. The first great out
rage that was charged to have been COM
mited, was communicated to your paper
by some letter-writer, unknown to the
public, and who had but little respect for
what he said. In the communication
there was an elaborate account of the in
Justice done one ID. B. johnson. There
was never more false representation
!, given any transaction that has been COM
mitted anywhere. 1t is well known that
in your own city, johnson raised hue
and cry against the citizens of this place,
for the purpose of getting assistance to
redress his wrongs. We would ask you
now, Mr.. Editor, to refer his sympsthizers
to his conduct of recent date, in the
vicinity of Osawatomie. Ask the many
good citizens of that community if he has
conducted himself as the honest and good
citizen he represents himself to be, when
he pretended to have been robbed of what
he had when he came to this place. And
it is well known that he had nothing when
he settled here. At the same time, we do
not wish to be understood to justify any
thing like mob law, as neither life nor
property are safe where such is the case.
For four months past, our town has
been menaced by band of murderers,
thieves, burglarers and midnight assassins
D.y after day has the cry of the incendi-
airy been heard against our town. Inquiring
the reason of this, and the ready response
was, that the people of Fort Scott were
harboring a set of thieves. Now, all that
the citizens of Fort Scott have to say
touching that point, is this If thieves
were in our midst, we knew nothing of it,
and plainly brand such with falsehood.
Whilst it may be true, and it is probable
there may have been some bad men here.
it was totally unknown to the better por-
ton of the community. One thing is self
evident here. 1t has been but short
time 1.-TWO months) since We had Court
in this district, and, as an accompaniment
there was Grand Jury of as good men as
the Marshal could pick from the many
counties composing this district, and he
made a most excellent choice. They
were sworn, and commenced their arduous
labor; and they had not progressed far
when some suspicious characters had bust
ness elsewhere, and have not completed it
yet, as they have not been in this neighbor-
hood since. There are accounts against
them here, already drawn off for them to
settle on their return, aud most excellent
stone building which they can get full
benefit of; and if they are guilty, we would
be highly pleased to see them put in such
place.
| The banditti that have raised such base
and false reports against this place, profess
to be of the Free State payty. Now, as
far as this enters into the consideration,
hear what we have to say upon this
This band of men-what their number is
we do not know-are led by one Mont
gomery. We believe he has been a Free
State man since he arrived in the Terri
tory ! but portion of his bandits we know,
and have made diligent inquiry to inves-
tigate this point, and these are the States
that are represented in his Infamous COM
pany r Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee,
Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, Arkansas and
North Carolina. 1t can be established
that not five months has elapsed since
those from the Southern States were huz-
zaing for slavery, with all their might, as
a number of pro-slavery men say, and we
have no doubt it is correct. Now they
are as fanatical for freedom, as they term
lit. So it may be perceived at once, that
there is no party spirit attached to it,
The only thing that James Montgomery's
party care for, is to find something to steal,
and steal it they will if they can find it.
They do not care from what party, whether
from the widow or the orphan. They
would be called the Free-State party
There is not a man in this whole section
of the country that calls them the Free
State party, even the most ultra Of the
Pro-Slavery party. But this position is
taken-that James Montgomery was a
thief where he came from, and all of his
men are of the same stripe, and claim to
be acting under great political principle
in order to get up sympathy in their be-
half. There are but few Of the Free State
party who will receive much benefit of the
spells he has taken, we presume. In a
public speech. on Saturday last, he de-
clared to an audience of two hundred per-
sons, that he was riding stolen. property
that he shot the q. s. soldier that he had
stolen and would do the same again
What is to be done with such man On
Sunday last, Samuel Walker, of Douglas
county, came into this town for the pur-