Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-08-05
[FOr the journal. |
DKURY, ILL, July Both, 1855

DRURY, LII. July oUth, 1907.
MR. EDrroR.-In an editorial preface to
communication from Quincy Mcneil, cou-
sin and nephew to the unfortunate Hamp-
tons who are accused Of numbering Chas.
S. Bean,you say you are willing to do JUS
tice to all parties. Unfortunately for him
however, notice, you had to preface his
letter by a note defending yourself against
one of its falsehoods or blunders, as the
case may be.
Now the truth is, the public and, it may
be, your illustrious correspondent-need q
little disabusiDg on that subject, and pro-
pose to do it. In doing 80 l am not labor.
ing under the disadvantage of being remov-
ed from the scene Of the tragedy, in the city
of Rock Island or anywhere else, thirty or
forty miles off, and presuming to know about
the facts from the statements of the prison
ers themselves-but am an eyewitness and
participant in what he misrepresents as the
"cruel and inhumane' treatment of the
prisoners. He says:
''The prisoners made no attempt at escape
:: made no resistance; and yet after their
deliverance into the hands of those who
came for them one man presented loaded
and cooked pistol to the breast of jasper
Hampton and held it until Hampton chang
ed his clothes.''
The facts are these: After Jasper Hamp-
ton had been pursued and taken he requested
the privilege of going to the house of his
friend, George Clancy, to get something to
eat, as he said he had nothing since morn
ing, after which he wished to go to his
of which was freely granted, although it was
late-already after dark. Here he wished
to 60 into the back room to change his
clothes, when took the responsibility of
going with him, carrying in my hand the
only lighted candle in the house. When he
had about finished changing his clothes l
heard Matt. Laqiatt give my friend James
Patterson the lie, in the front room, and at
the same time the window sash near Jasper
Hampton flew up, opened by some person
from the outside. l then drew my revolver
and called to my friends in the front room
to take care of themselves that Jasper was
safe if he did not attempt to escape. By the
interference of the officers, whom your cor
respondent so cordially and deservedly
thanks for their kindness and humanity,
Laquatt's long knife was sheathed and Pat
terson's revolver pocketed, end no further
attempt was made to get up row in which
the prisoners might make their escape.
That part of the story which AYERS that
Henry Hampton was tied down on bed and
while thus tied had loaded and cooked rifle
drawn upon him and he threatened with
death, pronounce sheer fabrication, hav-
ing no foundation in truth. After the death
of Bean the prisoners were securely tied, but
not SO as to render them uncomfortable.
This we thought the circumstances in the
case demanded-the nature of the crime
for which the prisoners were held and the
fact that we were surrounded by their
friends, some of whom, take it upon my
self to say, are men of the most desperate
and dangerous character especially in the
dark. And here may add, as significant to
the point, that we have abundant and salts
factory evidence to prove that while lamp
ton, Phillips & Go, were yet in Jail some
three or four of this internal gang were
prowling about during the small hours of
the night seeking to execute the threat,
made by one of them, that 'sthere was one
or two others to be killed yet and, by -,
it should not be long before it was done y
This, of course, does not refer to your cor
respondent, for he was not there.
Now, without casting any elections upon
the reputation of your correspondent
which is as well understood by many of your
readers as by myself do say that con
slider the publication of the statements con-
tanned in his communication very much of
piece with swearing to the good character
of Captain John Phillips. Yours,
S. R. DRURY.