The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-01-15
Me.ssc. of d. cevsrnss:. & IN. House of Repro
sentadves.

Y
sentadves.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, X. 7.
To the Honorable the Speaker and Members
Of the House Of Representatives.: Il
In answer to your resolution of inquiry,
which reads as follows;
Resolved, That the Governor Of the Ter
ritory be called upon to furnish to this
House any information in his possession iq
relation to the difficulties In Linn and
Bourbon Counties,
/ would most respectfully reply, that,
at this critical moment, do not think it
advisable for me to make public the names
of persons who have given me informa-
ton in relation to the troubles in Bourbon
and Linn Counties. 1t came to- me in so
many shapes, written and verbal: from men |
whose character fer truth and veracity
Rad no reason to doubt, and one state
ment confirming another, while received
from all classes of people, that felt it
my duty to call your attention to the facts
in my message of the Sd instant But
most. cheerfully communicate the sub
stance of the information In my Posses
sion, while from prudential motives l
withhold the names Of my iuformants for
the present.
December Goth, the day after my arri-
val in the Territory to assume the duties
of the Executive Department, delega-
ton of citizens from Fort Scott waited
upon me, asking my protection Of the citi-
Gems and property of that place from a
band of marauders under the command Of
Capt. Montgomery, who harbors his men
in Linn and Bourbon Counties.
They stated That on the morning of
the 10th of December an armed body Of
men, supposed to number one hundred,
well armed with Shapes rifles, revolvers
and cannon, entered the town of Fort Scott
from the West side Most of them pro-
ceeded directly to the Fort Scott Hotel,
wherein one BENJAMIN Rice was held in
custody by the Sheriff of Bourbon Coun-
ty. Rice was Immediately released and
put in possession of arms. During the
time occupied in releasing Rice, number
, of citizens were arrested and others fred
upon. The house Of j. H. Little & Co.
; was approached and fired into. The fire
was returned by some Of the inmates, but
| did no particular damage.
Afterward, Mr.. J.H. Little, while look
ing at the crowd outside, from q small
window over the door, was fired at, the
shot piercing his brain and causing almost
. instant death. The store adjoining the
dwelling was then broken open and robbed
!, of most of its contents, amounting to sew
L eral thousand dollars in value.
r The Fort Scott Hotel was entered ant
b robbed of large amount of wearing ap
It parel, guns, &c.
i, This body of men was led on by jaime
Montgomery, and among the number
/ were men from Linn, Lykins and Bourbon
l. Counties, who have for some time pas
a been pillaging in this and other localities
4 Upon receiving this information, i'm
:. mediately proceeded to ascertain wha
2 force there was in the Territory to brin
n the violators of the law to justice, and t
"a put q stop to any further or similar out
|. RACES. To do this, had to dispatc
. messengers to various points, which l di
is without delay. also employed men
lie go to the infected district at differer
" points, and report to me, as speedily 9
- possible, the true condition of affairs ther
. the probable future disposition of tn
70 individuals accused-their strengthen
all possible facts in connection with tn
Of rumored Notifications that they had COZ
~ structed for their defense.
y The substance of what could lear
u and accredit is, as follows:
p That those who visited the infecte
rs district met on their way thither, famil
10 after family, leaving everything and flet
ing for their lives. On inquiring the caus
10 they were told that Capt. Brown had bee
k. into Missouri, stolen several negroes (sai
it to be fifteen driven away horses, null
bo and oxen and killed Mr.. Cruce wi
- sought to defend his property, and tn
oe they were afraid the people of Nilsson
u, would come over and take vengeance f
Sc it.
n. Nearing the disturbed district they four
!. the people much alarmed. All perso
~ appeared to be under arms; and every OIL
be one declared that neither person nor pr
Gu perty was safe unless they concurred
in the opinions held by Captains Brown al
oe Montgomery.
They found that many robberies hi
been committed, which were charged
on the adherents of Montgomery and Brow
a but the perpetrators could not be arrest
"A and punished. The civil authority seer
ed to be wholly powerless. In fact {
us Sheriff Of Linn County, in trying to raj
n posse to arrest some of Montgomer.
MT men, was disarmed in broad day by sor
-. of the party he wished to arrest. Form
supporters of Montgomery stated that
iu- mans property was safe.
ng They also verify the statements in RI
fe. erence to the attack upon Fort Scott, a
&C add that Mr.. Little was treated by sol
>, of the invading party in the most bru
o'' manner. When he was dying, one of {
to outlaws took pistol from his body,
a marking that "he could help him die ia
The err"
1t is stated that Rice was well treat,
ior and would have received fair trial, viii
The statements were admitted by Rice hims'
The Sheriff and Deputy Marshal
Bourbon County stated that they W
not able to arrest the offenders; Il
''' Brown and Montgomery had camped
I. Sugar Creek, and swore they would !
obey the laws, nor submit to any arre'
NJ either by the q. s. Marshal or Sheri
I. for any offences they had committed.
IR Montgomery was asked '::if no mel
ate could be devised by which he could
=, induced to desist driving men out of
' Territory for opinions sake ?" His re-
was, "that if the Governor would Civ,
of to him, in black and white, that none
EIDE his men should be arrested for anyth
mt. that had been done; aud that the P
Slavery men, that he had run out, sho
N. stay out; and that Sheriff Bull should
removed, and Mr.. Moore appointed in
stead, then they would stop, and that
would assist the officers to enforce the la
NJ if not, he would fight it out"
- Capt. Brown was fortifying himself
'ne Sugar Greek, some twelve miles from
of State line. He says he will resist I
the officers sent to take him.
,;,v Montgomery claims that he can "a