The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1860-12-07

kidnapping on our soil, they would be hung
as fast as they could be caught. Nothing
short of this could ever restore peace to these
border counties, separated only by an imag-
mary line from slave state. 1t was for the
highest interest of every settler in these
counties that it should be so, and it would
prove equally beneficial to the people of Mis-
souri,. II any of our citizens were found on
their soil, seeking to entice or kidnap slaves
from that state, they were offered the same
redress.
Such was the tenor of his remarks, and
they were Endorsed by all who Listened to
them, of all parties, as the most practicable
remedy, under all the circumstances. Ac-
cordingly, Mr.. Kinds was led to tree that
stands just on the line between Missouri and
Kansas, and there hung to limb until he
was dead. His will was folded, and on the
back of it was written, "Hung on the llth
day of November, 1860, by the people of
Kansas, for kidnapping. All who who do
likewise may expect the same fate"
This was placed in his pocket, and he was
thus left hanging between slave and free ter
ritory, as beacon to evil doers.
Mr.. Kinds had been living in Missouri the
past summer, and only returned to his claim
the afternoon of the 10th when he was taken.
He had not even entered his house, but was
arrested while he was tying out his horse.
He was single man, aged about thirty. He
had long been identified as one of the wor-
shippers of 1.-THE institution" and was ever
on the alert to aid and pilot Missouri parties
in search of negroes. He had brother-in-
law named Reese, who lived but half mile
from him, but his house was across the line,
in Missouri, and Captain Jennison would al
low no one to interrupt him, fer the reason
that he was outside of our jurisdiction, al
though he had often accompanied Mr.. Kinds
on his kidnapping tours.
On Wednesday, the 18th inst, the same
party, accompanied by others, mostly from
Linn county, visited village called Barnes
vile, on the Usage river, in Bourbon county
in search of two alleged kidnappers named
Rounds and Scribner. These gentlemen had
also been pro6cients at their trade, but they
we're SO fortunate as to get about five min
utes warning before the company arrived,
and thus probably saved themselves the fate
of Kinds. The other citizens of the town
were somewhat alarmed to see an armed
company of strangers parading their streets,
but no harm was done them or their proper
ty. A very strict discipline seemed to pre-
vail against acy molestation of things not
their own One young man named Beson,
was found in possession Of a spur in the e.
vening, that he was known to not have in
the morning. and for this his gun was taken
from him and he was forced to leave the
company.
Some time Wednesday night, detachment
from the same company called at the cabin
of Lester ID. Moore, about mile east of this
place, where he was "baching it" with q
young man named Scott, formerly from Yer
mont. The party was led by the same Capt.
Jennison, formerly called Doctor, of Mound
City, and Moore was summarily commanded
to surrender. This he refused to do, and
gave vent TO tissue of profanity and oaths
seldom known outside of ruffian associations.
For several minutes they kept repeating the
order to surrender while Moore persisted
in his refusal, and declared that the first one
man. At this, Jennison violently kicked
down the door and once more summoned
him, for the last time, to surrender, telling
him that he should have fair trial by Jury
if he surrendered, ard If he was found inno-
cent, he should no, be harmed. Again Moore
commenced his TRADE of oaths, when he
was instantly shot in The neck and fell down
dead.
lie was formerly from Crawford county,
Indiana, was about % years old and unnar-
ried. He came into Kansas in the summer
of 1857, and has constantly maintained the
character of a servile southern tool. He was
an active member in what has before been
called the Dark Lantern" Organization in
southern Kansas. and was ever ready to be-
come the instrument of oppression toward
the pioneer Free State band who had prece-
ded him. He was implicated particularly by
his own confession in the hanging of Hugh
Carlin, at Barnesyilie, last July, and of Mr..
Guthrie, at this place, last winter. He had
vauntingly proclaimed that he put the rope
around Hugh Carin's neck. This Carlin, it
will be remembered, was first beaten until he
was insensibls, ard then hung BY the neck
in such position that his knees touched the
ground. He was bru.aily killed, without
even an opportunity for trial, although he
: begged for one, and he was willing to be
hung if they could bring any proof that he
ever committed crime. Still this Moore
and others cowardly beat him, and then hung
him in the night time en- the charge of being
a thief, without giving him any means of de-
r fense. 1t is generally believed that Guthrie
was also innocently hung, and he was GER
tainly denied even the doubtful privilege of
mob trial.
Such were the crimes with which Moore
was charged, and for which he would have
; been tried by Peoples Court. had he sub
| mitted to an arrest; and if found guilty
would have been hung on the same tree
where Carlin died; but pass from the sad
spectacle TO what followed the next day.
, Mr.. Dustin Scott, before named, was held
a prisoner until morning, as he was implica-
: ted in the same transactions with Moore. J.
NJ. Hotiingale, the present postmaster of Ma
ple,on. was also arrested by the same party,
p early the same morning, aud both together
we're brought up for trial on Thursday, in
the town of Mapleton. They were both
charged with belonging to the party that
hung Guthrie on Taggart Mound last Feb.
ruary. There were now some fifty armed
> men belonging to the company of Capt. Jen-
nison, bu: the citizens from the adjacent coun-
: ties came in rapidly, until over two hundred
were present.
The trial continued through the forenoon,
but all the evidence being circumstantial, and
giving the prisoners the benefit of all doubts
: they were released, but not until they were
told that positive proof could be produced a.
, some future time, and whenever it was, they
! might expect another visit, if they were to be
found.
During the proceedings. Capt Jennison sta
: ted in full the principles by which they were