The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-04-09
Written expressly for the Herald of Freedom:
looPYRIGHT SECURED ACCORDIEG To LAw.l
THE JAY-HAWKER
A TALE OF
SOUTHERN KANSAS.
BY P. P. FOWLER.
C0ntinued1


The Court stamps its physical and rev.
erend foot upon the puncheon floor.
Cries of stop him put him down! hang
him !' but, in spite of all this, you can
hear the words of Barrow, as they slip
through the confusion to the ear: 'I
swear l believe you made a trip here to
see whose horses you could steal, dog
on'd ef don't think So"
The trial proceeds-closes the proof
against the prisoner is conclusive to the
Court. Rev. Mr.. Grabhorse pronounces
the sentence: "You, Mr.. Barrow, are fined
$500; your claim and horses, harness, &C.,
are forfeited, and you are required to
leave the Territory Immediately"
Men are, by this tribunal, and its min
ions, arrested in the night, blindfolded,
put in a wagon and carried, they
know not where. 1t is dark, and we
cannot see the trail. Threats are made
to drive out every Pro-slavery man on
the Usage. These threats reach the
public ear; alarm becomes general, and
look, there go thirty or forty families,
leaving the Territory. They have hasti-
ly gathered up their household goods, and
in great CONSERVATION are making all the
hsadway they can, until they get beyond
the reach of that power which they feel is
meditating, and may accomplish their
ruin.
Look again at the Court. An armed
posse guard it night and day; why?
Look at that posse; Free State men
they are called. Very good; but do you
not see several of them who were active.
ly engaged operating against Free State
men in SO? And now they are among
the most violent of that slavery hating
posse who guard so vigilantly this Grab.
horse tribunal. But the posse and tn,
Court must be fed. Men cannot subsis
on thin air. Doctors cannot live on thei
own medicine nor can divines fatter
like aldermen on devotion alone. Natur,
abhors vacuum, and the empty stomach
yearus for nutritious aliment.
The horses which bear the redoubtabl,
posse must be fed, and corn is taken, oil
long credit, for their use, while hogs ant
cattle find themselves compelled to min
lister to the wants Of his honor or his rev
erence, or their guards. The poor, press
ed, unpaid-for qusdrupeds, take last
longing, lingering look at life cast
hssty glance around the small circle O
their feeting joys, and then take thei
e1isfrom the stage Of life, and disappea
piece meal through the hairy gateway be
tween the stomach and the external worlC
Another supposed culprit is before tn
Court; you see he is feeble old mar
1t IS not material what the accusation
against him. The Court, in the exercis
ot its great powers of discrimination
pronounce him innocent, and the prisont
takes his leave, and is on his return hom'
The alarmed and anxious wife looks ft
MS coming; listens for the sound of b
well know footsteps, but she looks an
listens in vain. They have walked Il
gether, hand in hand, along the trail
LIE, for many years, in peace and securit.
but now he is gone, fearful present
ment take possession of her mind, and 81
sinks upon q chair overwhelmed with pail
fQl emotions. The old man is nearir
his home.
Look an armed squad are pursuir
nm; they approach him; . few wor
are exchanged; bark ! report of fir
arms; the old man lies upon the grour
cOnvulsed with mental agony, and we
tering in his own blood. Farewell, o
man, thou dost greet thy faithful, for
old wife no more.
The country is in blaze Of excitemsl
Men fear that they are not secure.