Daily Iowa State Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1856-1859, 1858-05-29
Murders and Robberles in Kansas-The
Free State Men Responsible for the
Atrocities.
We clip the following from the St Louis

We clip the following from the St Louis
Hepmbiican:
In giving publicity to the following letter
to IA citizen OF this city, we think it proper
to say that it is written by gentleman
who has no motive in the world to misrep-
resent the existing state of things in Kansas
His account Is a plain, unvarnished ore
and at any other time, and under almost
any other circumstances than those which
control men and parties in Kansas. would
call forth Indignation from every quarter OF
the land. AS it is, this band Of murderers
and robbers are openly upheld in their
course by the leading ultra Free State men
of the Territory, and they are applauded by
those outside of it:
PAoLr, X. T., May 90, 1853.
NY DEAR SIR The late disturbances
in the southern part of this Territory hav-
ing attracted some attention, it may he as
well to give you correct version Of them,
in order that they may be understood.-
Just before Mr.. Stanton retired from office
there was some trouble in the vicinity of
Fort Scott, and he sent down troops to re-
| store peace. Gen. Lane went down also to
command his forces, but finding the troops
in the town concluded to return. He made
a flaming report to the Legislative Assem-
bly,, stating that he had driven the Nilsson
rians back to their dens, after having killed
several; all Of which great feat was imagi-
nary, for the Missourians were not there at
all He stated further, that he had left
two companies in the field. These were un.
derstood to be the companies of Montgom-
cry and Bayne.
The United States troops We're withdrawn
from the town of Fort Scott shortly after
wards and another demonstration was made
ON the place by these men, and again a call
was made tor troops, to protect the United
States Land Office, which was threatened
with destruction, and two companies Of cav.
| airy were sent down. Shortly afterwards
two men quarrelled about a land claim
Denton iorcibly expelled Hardwick from a
quarter section Of land. and few nights af
forwards Denton was killed in the door of
his house by some assassin. Two Others
were shot and one of them killed the same
night Hardwick and some others were
charged with being the perpetrators Of
these crimes, and the people in Fort Scott
requested the parties w5o took the matter
IN charge TO come in, get out writs and have
tnem arrested. This they refused to do
II AFFORDED too good a pretext for themselves
10 act Accordingly Montgomery got into
motion with from twenty to thirty men.
| They plundered and robbed quite a num.
Der OF settlers in the vicinity Of Fort Scott
-.peaceable citizens. whom no one had
charged with any crime, and whose only Of.
fence was that they had property to nIpu-
der. Writs were taken out, placed in tho
hands of the Deputy Marshal. and the
| troops went out to act as posse comifafus
The marauders were discove cred on The nra;.
RE. They attempted to fly, but were too
much encountered with stolen horses and
piupder to escape. Finding that they we're
likely to be overtaken, they ran into a
point OF thick timber, which could be enter.
ed only by ravine, wheeled and fired. -
Some of the soldiers then fired their reyolv.
ers for the first time, and then drew off and
sent back for long arms, with which thew
nad not, unfortunately, provided Themselves.
one soldier and two of the robbers were
killed.
Before long. Arm, arrived for the troops.
the marauders fed, leaving behind them Ten
or twelve horses and mules, . burev. n ~
q surveying instruments and . eccS 40 -
other plaadse, IL Il whish had ~ 49,