Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1860-07-13
KIDNAPPING IN ILLINOIS.

The Chicago Press y IT7buHe contains Jhe
following letter to gentleman of Chicago,
Mr.. Sturges, who youches for the statements
of Mr. Kingman. The facts detailed do not
differ in their essential character from others
frequently occurring, which show the barba-
rizing influence of slavery, and its tendency
to break down all regard for law and hu
manly whenever they come in the way of
its objects.
CHICAGO. Ill, July 3. 1850.
Solomon Sturges, Esq, Chicago.
DEAR SIR-About eight o'clock last Sunday
evening, our usually quiet village was visited by
a band of the most barbarous men that | ever wit
messed. 1t seems by what developed at the
trial Of If the parties yesterday that
al men from Missouri have had their head-quar-
tiers in Ashkum the past three weeks more,
where with the assistance of one George d.
Smith, trader in Ashkum, and a Mr.. Cornelius
formerly a kentuckian, who lives In the immedi-
ate neighborhood Of AshkuIn they have been work
ing up plan for several weeks, to kidnap some
colored men who have been living in this town
About eight o'clock they had mana yed to get five
Of the boys into the "Selus House, where Smith
made himself very free in entertaining them.
when eight other men armed to the teetu, rushed
in and presenting their pistols told the bows they
were prisoners Two Of the most powerful of the
boys made a rush, and knocking down several Of
the ruffans made Their escape ; the other three
were severely pounded on the head with the butts
of their pistols owe powered, handcufed, thrown
into a wagon, and driven of before any alarm
could be given all done in the space of ten min
utes.
What makes the affair more diabolicaI, Is the
fact that one of the men carried off never was
slave, and one had been freed by bis master the
third one might or might not have been slave,
but little known Of him. 1t appears from
! what we learn since the affair occurred. that one
of the boys that escaped probably had been
slave, a that his master one Of the band
who figured here. 1t appears that this slave owner
made a bargain with Smith and Cornelius Of
Ashkum, that If they would assist him 10 take
'Ned,' one Of the slaves that escaped, that they
would catch many more they could, take
them South, sell them, and divide the spoils Al
ter the three were taken they were driven to Ash
KUN, about four miles, where they were put on
board the cars Of the Illinois Central Railroad
Company There seemed to be a perfect under
standing between the kidnappers and the coIduc-
tor Of the train, "Muchmore'-as the cars hardly
came to a stop before the negroes were thrust on
board and the train moving A sufficient number
of citizens went the train from here TO prevent
the negroes from being put on board, and were
fully prepared to have done so had the train made
the usual stop-but before If the citizens who
went on the train could get of TO render the re-
qUired assistance, the train was in motion, and, a.
learn, the kidnapped negroes were taken to St.
Louis
In addition to the nine kiinsPpers, who were
doubly armed with revolvers and bowie knives,
the section who work on the track Of the
Railroad Company, for about fifteen miles ais
tant, numbering about twenty Five, in attend
ance. apparently to render assistance if needed
all stout, able bodied Irishmcn
/ hope and pray that it may never be my lot to
witness another such
In haste, yours truly,
J. L. kINGMAN.
In addition 10 the al owe we have the following
from eye witness.
July 5. We have to-day five persons on trial
for assisting the kdnappers-three Irshmen Of
Clifton, and two Yankees Cor something else)
from Ashkum. We have employed an able lawyer
from kankakee City, and shall give them thor
0ugh examination Conductor Muchmore, on
one Of the Illinois Central trains, came up this
morning Il informed Us that the slaves CD had
been taken to ST. Louis" and he cursed Mr..
White for daring to show his indignation at such
proceedings, and thus injare the interests of the
railroad company. The conductor also stated that
chad any OF Us interiered certainly would
have been shot, and that the damned niggers were
no better than SO many beasts and he did not con-
slider the Republicans much better"
LArEP.
Three OF the men on trial have been held to
bail in $500 each to appear at the next term Of
court