The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-03-26

went to the cabin and ordered him away.
Lane sent for other parties to come and
settle the difficulty. After they came,
Lane promised to leave the claim and not
return until the question of title should
be settled.
In December, '57, while Jenkins was in
Washington, with the same men, all
armed, Lane again took possession of the
cabin, where they remained for the night.
In the morning the men in Jenkins en-
ploy, and who lodged in the cabin, were
determined that Lane should leave it, and
so told him. Threats passed freely be-
tween the parties, and Lane, with his
men, left.
In April, man named Nichols rented
the Chapman house of Jenkins. From
the well in its yard, jenkins was accus.
toned to get water for family use. It
was his well; it belonged to him by set
Element and by purchase from Lane and
Chapman. Lane, in May, rented the
house from Nichols, moved into it, closed
up the fence where jenkins used to enter
to go to the well. and locked up the well.
While he permitted others to get water
there, he said Jenkins should have none.
jenkins undertook it and Lane killed him.
Was it murder? No man in this COM
munity, who knew Gaius Jenkins, will
believe that he would have harmed Lane
had he been permitted to get water. He
believed, as every man under the circum-
stances would, that Lane, in a spirit Of
vindictiveness savage and cruel-thus
intruded upon him to aggravate him and
insult his rights.
Lanes statement of the deed does not
agree with that made by him on the day
it was committed. Then, he said that he
fired first; now, he says they fred first
He now solemnly declares and appeals to
Almighty God for the truth of the state
ment, that he did not intend to kill him.
1t is recorded in the testimony taken in
the case, that he said he would kill him
if he came for water, and one of the JUS
tices in the examination, has acknowl-
edged that he also told him the same,
and there are other witnesses who can
testify in like manner. The testimony
declares that those who accompanied Jen-
kins did not enter the yard until after he
was killed. What is there SO noble OF
beautiful, IN the character of j. H. Lane,
as to COMPEL us to accept his statements
as truth, and theirs as false
Three Justices have decided that no
reasonable cause existed 20 believe that q
crime had been committed, and the Grand
Jury refused to indict him Does this
constitute innocence Matt Ward was
acquitted by jury, yet where is the man
who believes the verdict just
His defence of his action, when the
mob pursued and robbed the posse, canno,
be sustained by facts. No sane man, ca
pable Of moments reflection, could have
believed that the Hamilton, who partici.
pated in the awful murder a. the Trading
Post,Iwas connected with this posse. We
all know that the posse were attacked and
robbed; we know that Lane participated
in it; and while he may say that he did
not lead it, we know he would not permit
himself to be led.
1t is to be regretted that Gen. Lane is
so sensitive, when charged with coward
ice. Some of his apologists have declared
that it was necessary for him to kill Jen.
kins, in order to relieve himself from it
|, 1t would be fortunate if he was destitute
of it, if the necessity of its demonstration
requires such criminal result. That up.
on this point there may be no mistake
hereafter, we advise all interested to ex.
, anime the files of the Globe during his
Congressional career, and motto, the "pas.
sage" between himself and Hunt, of Loui.
sana.
James II. Lane was chairman of the
} Protection Fund Committee. To thai
committee came all the funds raised fol-
, the relief Of Kansas in the winter of '55
} and '56. As member, it was his duty
, to know how much money was received
and where it was expended He cannot
: shirk this responsibility upon other parties
, If other members of the committee EN-.
bezzled it, he knew it then, and, If ar
honest man, should Immediately have in.
formed the public. If there is a spark o.
true honor in him, he will make specific
charges against the guilty parties, if any
: and permit the question to be fairly met
; This is not the first time that he has made
} such destinations, and although a mem.
| Der of that committee, bound to know
! whereof he affirms, we declare that wher
! he made these statements-when he said
he had never received any remuneration
whatever-he declared what he knew to
be false. On the contrary, while othel
members of the committee received MOTH
ing-he, at the loss Of parties who were
} supplying the impoverished with food and
clothing, demanded and received fund,
} that were intended for them. If he wish
es to go into this investigation, as, consid-
ering his charges, it is his duty, he will be
; welcome to feast from which he will re-
tire as a mourner. 1t is difficult TO find
words to express our admiration of the
brayery of that man who enters the field
of controversy-only to fly from it. sound
ing through his lips the beautiful words,
Het them howl until their very throats