The Van Buren press., 1859-10-07
For the Van Buren, Press.

tween MIR. Thomas f. Brewer and the u.
;. Deputy Marshal now current, are cal
culatcd to make an entirely erroneous i'm
preston upon the public-injurious and un-
just both to Brewer and the Cherokee peo-
pie. Brewer is charged with having killed
one Dick Perkins, white, nlan-known
IN this country as vile and desperate
wretch, who, having escaped the fate of his
contederates in crime in Texas, first made
his appearance on our western frontier, via
Santa Fe in company with McBryant,
who also needs no introduction to jaiiors
in the States Of either Arkansas Or Texas.
Brewer, having by chance discovered a de-
liberate plan of Dick Perkins to waylay
and kill him, pursued the only course left
to gentleman dealing with such charac-
ter, under such circumstances. A true bill
having been found against him by the grand
jury at Van Buren,, and not wishing to Law
IN jail until Court, he sent word to the
Deputy Marshals that he would appear at
the last May term of the District Court
Whea that time arrived, his mother, who
had been Tor some time wasting away, un-
der the ravages OF consumption, lay at the
point OF death. She was not yet dead when
L returned from Cour: at Van Buren, but
died shortly afterwards. No man with his
heart IN the right place will blame him for
not going under the circumstances He told
me that he would not leave his mother in her
dying condition, but that he would go down
at the November term OF the District court
and submit himself to the proper authori
ties, and stand a trial upon the charge allcg-
ed against him. This seemed to be the un-
derstanding and hc was not molested, al
though he did not attempt to conceal him
self
Some time during the summer, John
McFields, desperate list of whose deeds
Of violence, expressed in the m;ldest lam
guage, would sound like extravagant exae-
geration to some, and who for several wears
had been on the scout in spite of all ef-
forts to arrest him, was finally arrested by
Deputy Sheriff Brown, of Illinois district,
and put upon trial for the murder of James
Colston. John McFields was known to be
held very precious by certain parties about
Bates Prairie. Brewer and McFields were
personal enemies. Brewer received offers of
compromise from the friends Of McFields
at Bates Prairie-that is they wished Brew
er to help clear McFields and they would as
sist in defending Brewer at Van Buren, by
paying attorneys, DC. This offer Brewer
ed, and under all the circumstances the in
tluence of Brewer, and his friends was look
ell upon ami rightly, too, by the defence as
one OF the greatest obstacles in the. way of
evading the law and screening McFields
from its penalties.
The case was continued some ten days
by defence, and Tim Fields, brother of
McFields left post haste for Bates Prairie
and ~, r., l..
turning in company with the friends and
attornies of McFields and three white men
but one OF whom was recognized The
white man recognized was Henry L. Smith,
who formerly acted as Deputy under the
present United States Marshal. Mr. Jaco-
way, but who, as was well known, was dis
carded from that position several months
previous to the arrest of Brewer He is
the same, also, who, it is generally under
stood IN this country, pretended to be a
Deputy Marshal when he arrested Wash
Starr, and turned him over to mob who
murdered him, which mob was headed by
some of the same Bates Prairie friends of
McFields about which Brewer thought he
had cause to fear. Tim Fields played spy
| in ferreting out Brewer. When they arrcs-
ted him they did not demand peremptorily
that he should surrender, as men backed by
authority do but used only persuasive Ian
guagc and inducements. They showed no
authority for acting in the capacity to which
they pretended, and no warrant for the ar
rest of Brewer. They insisted upon carry
ing their prisoner upon the west side of the
Grand River towards the Bates Prairie
which is in an opposite direction to Van
Buren, but at length concluded to cross ovel
to this place and take breakfast at Scrimp-
! shers. Mr. Gunter, one of the party was
unknown to most people here, and while at
Scrimpscher's, whose wife is relative OF
his, told the family that they had come
through Tahlequah Dist ma ming points they
had passed on their way down, whereas by
that time almost every one knew it to be q
Misrepresentation, and that the party had
come down on the west side Of Grand river
Such are some of the facts as they have
| been represented to nc, connected with the
, arrest and rescue of Thomas NJ Brewer
Such are some of the facts and circumstan.
:. ces from which spring up in the minds Of
Brewers friends a dark suspicion that all
e is not right-a suspicion that he was arres.
t ted under mock authority, AMI that like tn,
Wash Starr case, an Illegal arrest was only
a preparatory step to bloody assas sina.
tion-a suspicion that those daring chess
players in the game of crime intended un
y der cover of the excitement of secont
n Wash Starr case, and by diverting the pub
lie attention to try their skill in rescuin,
McFields from the fate which seemed 81
: surely to await him. 1t was under sucl
S circumstances and under the influence o
Q such suspicious that a party Of young moi
!. concluded to make show of resistance t
:, the prctensions of the parties having Brew
: er in custody upon the suppositon that
: they acted with proper authority they woul
II claim their prisoner, and show their au
n thority for holding him, and if they wer
;, only the tools of others to carry into ctfcc
an unlawful manuver for present effect i
:. the McFields case, or to assassinate Brew
II er, that they would show it by their &C
$ tions. And as they showed great signs
fear, ana appeared to BE- dreadfully frigh,