The Kansas herald of freedom., 1858-08-07
For TIE Herald Of Freedom.
From Fort Scott.
FoRr ScoTr, July 2sth. 1853.


Ed. HERALD OF FREEDoM-SIR:-Is see
by the Lawrence Republican, os the 25th
inst, an article headed "Rev. Mr.. Stew
arts Defence" in which he, (Ssewart,l
attempts to show to the readers of the
Lawrence Rspu6ieon, and the ,.rest of
mankind generally" !" that he is an honest
mar, and not hofse-thief, as represented
in the advertisements of Sheriff Roberts.
Now in reply to the defence of Parsoa
Stewart, would say, that had not
my name been mentioned in trying to
display great zeal in my new Office" and
not this only, but from the fact that the
entire defence is an unmitigated falsehood
from beginning to end, should have
treated it with silent contempt; but for
the purpose of substantating the above,
:" let facts be submitted to candid
world"
On the morning of the 30th of June
last, started in company with some of
the most respectable citizens of Bourbon
county, in pursuit of a company of men,
at the time unknown to us, who had, on
the day previous, stolen from Drywood
creek, lot of horses to tie number of ten.
Two of the horses belonged to James
Cantley, one to old man Boyaston, and
one to his son, one to Mr. Jones, and
the remaining two proved to be the prop
erty of Benz. Workman. All of the
horses have been recovered, except one,
but not as represented by Parson Stewart,
alias Capt. Levi ". Plum. l succeeded
in getting and returning all the horses to
their riShtful owners, except two, which
the owner, Nr. Workman, tollOICed to La,c-
renee, at s0lsich place lie obtained them. Rev.
Mr.. Stewart, alias Levi w. Plum, would
have the honest, true Free State men of
Kansas believe that he "catched seveL
horses with which we (Stewart, Len
hart & Co.. started, and in two days
arrived on the Usage without finding
owners for any of them, though we gave
notice all through the country that We
had them" Now, Mr. Editor, permit me
to say that the aforesaid Rev. Mr.. Stewart,
alias Levi w. Plum & Co., left Drywood
obout II o'clock on Sunday, the 29th of
June, and forgot to stop when night came
upon them, but travelled during the whole
time up to Monday evening, at which
time they arrived cn the Little Usage,
and at which place my deputy, Capt.
Moore, living on the Usage, having re-
ceived intelligence that the thieves were
coming that way, hastily gathered together
few of his company, and had gone but
short distance when they met them
Warren Bassett, Theodore Dickinson and
Charley Lenhart were arrested, the latter
afterward made his escape. The above
named Bassett& Dickinson were found and
arrested on horses which were afterwards
proven to be stolen property, and not bOr-
ro,0ed property, as represented by Parscn
Stewart.
In regard to the horse which parson
Stewart left on the prairie, would say
that l now have that horse in my posses
sion, ready and willing to give him up to
the proper owner at any time. He was
left on Yellow Paint, distance of fifteen
miles above this place, ard fifteen miles
south of Little Usage, between l and 2
O'Clock on the morning of the 30th of
June last.
Now, Mr.. Editor, ask the honest men
of Kansas, does the course pursued by
Parson Stewart, look like an honest one?
He travelled all night, never took road,
but preferred the prairie or the skirts of the
timber. was on the Usage all day OIL
the 31st of June, with my posse, and no
sooner had left than this same Parson
Stewart made his appearance in Raysville
with ten or twelve armed men, and de-
manded Sharp's rifle which had been
taken from one of his men two days
before.
Warren Bassett and Theodore Dickin-
son have both informed me that Parson
Stewart deceived them; and further, Da-
vid Forbes and Talton Barnes, of the
Little Usage. both say that the ParsOn
deceived them also.
Now, Mr. Editor, with this close what
l have to say concerning Rev. Mr. Stew
art, but in regard to the editorial which
1 find in the same paper, of the same
date, concerning the same matter, / would
say to the Editor that he had better ascer-
tain facts before giving publicity to mere
runsor. would say for his especial bene-
fit, that Col. Titus, with the Bloody
RetsD have not been in Bourbon county,
aud in all probability are not now within
five hundred miles of Fort Scott; and
further, the Sheriff of Bourbon county
never pursued any of Titus men for the
purpose of recovering stolen horses, Or for
any other purpose.
In conclusion, Mr. Editor, permit me
to say, that am a Free State man, and
have ever been known as such. but / am
not an approbator of Free State horse
there's. Respectfully, &C.,
T. Z. ROBERTS.
! Thanks.
We are indebted to a friend at Fort
Scott, for list of twenty additional sub
-; l,or. 4, <,,. ,,aa. ,,ai-;no, oo,,n atkir,fy