The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1860-10-16
From the Mound City Report, August 81.
LIFE ON THE BORDER. .COLD BLOOD.
ED MuROER IN KANSAS,

A most cruel and cod-blooded murder wat
rerpetrated near the Missouri line, 10 Bour
bon county, about twelve miles from this
place, on Monday last. John Denton, a resi-
dent Of Bourbon county, and well known in
this vicinity, was deliberately shot by dos.
perate character from Missouri, called B;l!
Marchbanks. This terrible effait in its de
tails is the most dastardly murder which has
for long time occurred in this part Of Kan
sas, where so low price is Get upon human
life, and where manslaughtcr is of so frequent
occurrence
To understand the causes which prompted
the murderer to commit the crime, we must
briefly refer to the history Of the murdered
man.
John Denton. his father and family came
to Kansas in the early settlement Of the coun.
try and settled in Bourbon county, on the
Little Usage. where they commenced the
work OF making themselves ZONE. When
the difficulties between the border.ruffiaus an,
Free State men were rife. the father of John
Denton, although he had been reared and ed.
ucated in the regular Democratic faith, could
not countenance the wrongs which were re.
sorted to for the triumph Of slavery, and he
threw open his doors to the Free State set.
tiers, who were pursued and driven from their
homes, and gave food and shelter to all who
were engaged on the side Of freedom in the
Free State struggle. This cours, of action
drew down upon Mr.. Denton the curses and
aatred of the border rufiians. They warned
him to leave the c"un,ry, which he refused to
do, aud on ono dark night, to friends in hu.
man shape, Hardwick and Tom Morrow,
went to the house of Nj. Denton, called to
him, aad no sooner had be in response to
their call, appeared at the door, than Hard
wick fired upon hin and he fell and expir
ed.
Hardwick aud Morrow fled into Missouri,
but were pursued hy John Denton, who, ex
asp"r tel toy the cnwardy and unprovoked
murIcr OF his father, resolved that he would
h-ng them to justice. Marrow was appre
hepded and imprisoned.
For five months John Denton, alone, pur.
sued Hardwlck through ,he State of Missouri,
Arkansas. aud the Cherokee Nation, and Fl
nally captured him in Missouri; and upon
hearing ii udwck relate the II amer in which
be killed ais father, the motives which Undue
ed hiw to DO So. and TIE other crimes Of which
he was guilty. he became so enraged that his
passions were 'ntircly ungovernsble a1i he
shot Harwck dead.
He gave himself up to the authorizes, ami
was imprisoned, but terwards male hi. es-
cape, and has ever since heen p"rsued by
gang Of mercenarv despersdoes. who have
been urged forward by the promise of bribe
offered by the border ruffisn portion of Mis-.
souri for the death or apprehension of John
Denton. He has been beset on all sides for
year, and has been compelled to be
continually on his guard. Two or thre,
weeks ago his house was set on fire at
night, it is supposed by Marchbanks and his
can, when Denton and family were in it,
and the house and his goods were consumed.
Last Monday, Denton, accompanied by his
father-in-law and brother, went to small
grocery where the murder afterwards occurred
and chanced to meet with Bill Marchbanks.
Robert Marchbanks, and man named Hick-
lin, all belonging to gang frutfians. March
banks professed friendship, as he had always
done on former occasions. Some one in the
grocery remarked to Denton "There comes
three men armed" He stepped to the door,
and no sooner was he fairly in their view,
than Bill Marchbanks drew his rifle and de
liberately shot him, the ball entering his
chest. Denton fell and expired in about
twenty minutes. The rutfians then fled over
to the State Of Missouri, where it is reported
they were protected. John Denton was
young man, in the prime Of life. He leaves
wife and an aged mother, who looked to
him for support