The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-10-03


From the Mound City Reporter, August 81.
LEE On THE BORDER-COLD BLOOD
ED MURDER IN KANSAS.
A most cruel and cold.blooded murder wa!
perpetsated near the Missouri State line, in Bour
bon county, about twelve miles from this place
on Monday last. John Denton, resident o.
Bourbon county, and we'll known in this vicinity
was deliberately shot BY desperate character
from Missouri, called Bill Marchbanks. Thi;
terrible affair in its details is the most dastardy
murder which has for long time occurred in
this part of Kansas, where 50 low price is Sc,
upon human life, and where manslaughter lie OF
80 frequent occurrence. To understand the caus.
es which prompted the murderer to commit the
Crime, We must briefly refer to the history of the
murdered man.
John Denton, his father and the family came
to Kansas in the early settlement of the country,
and settled in Bourbon county, on the Little Os.
age, where they commenced the work of ma.
king themselves home. When the difficulties
between the Border. Ruffians and the Free State
men were rife, the father of John Denton, al.
though he had been reared and educated in the
regular Democratic faith, could not countenance
the wrongs which we're resorted to for the tri-
umph of slavery, and he threw open his doors to
the Free State settlers, who were pursued and
driven from their homes, and gave food and
shelter 10 all who were engaged on the side of
freedom in the Free State struggle. This course
Of action drew down upon Mr. Denton the cur
ses and hatred of the Border-Ruffians They
warned him to leave the country, which he re-
fused to do, and on one dark night, two fiends in
human shape, Hardwick and Tom Marrow, went
to the house of Mr.. Denton, called to him, and
no sooner had he, in response to their call, ap.
peared at the door, than Hardwick fired upon
him, and he fell and expired
Hardwick and Marrow fed into Missouri, but
were pursued by John Denton, who, exaspera-
ted by the cowardy and unprovOked murder OF.
his father, resolved that he would bring them TO
justice. Marrow was apprehended and mpris.
oned.
For five months John Denton, alone, pursued
Hardwick through the State of Missouri, Arkan-
sas, and the Cherokee Nation, and finally cap
tured him in Missouri; and upon hearing Hard
wick relate the manner in which he killed his
father, the motives which induced him to do so,
and the other crimes Of which he was guilty, he
became so enraged that his passions were entire.
ly ungovernable, and he shot Hardwick dead.
He gave himself up to the authorities, and was
since been pursued by gang of mercenary des-
peradoes, who have been urged forward by the
promise Of bribe offered by the border rut6an
portion Of Missouri for the death or apprehension
of John Denton. He has been beset on all sides
for year, and has been compelled to be on his
guard continually. Two or three weeks ago his
house was Set on fire at night, it is supposed, by
Marchbanks and his clan, when Denton and fam.
y were in it, and the house and his goods were
consumed.
Last Monday, Denton, accompanied by his "a.
ther-in-law and brother, went to a small grocery
where the murder afterward occurred, and
Glanced to meet with Bill Marchbanks, Robert
Marchbanks, and a man named Hicklin, all be.
longing to gang of ruffians. Marchbanks pro.
fessed friendship, as he had always done on for
mer occasions. Some one in the grocery remark
ed 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 deliberately shot him, the ball enter.
ing his chest. Denton fell and died in about 30
minutes. The ruffians then crossed over to the
State of Missouri, where it is reported they are
protected. John Denton was young man, in
the prime of life. He leaves a wife and an aged
mother, who looked to him for support
In Illinois Out for Lincoln !-Lester from,
f. Fl"aigan, Esq.
BENTON, Illinois, Aug. 25, 1860.
70he To,ers Of the osth Judicial Circuit Of Illinois
FELLOW CIrIzxNs:-It has been announced to
you that am candidate for the Office of States
Attorney, and it has also been represented to you
by myself and others that Stephen A. Douglas
was my first choice for the Presidency. 1t is true
am a candidate for the office of States Attorney,
and Stephen A. Douglas is my first choice for the
Presidency, and have been doing what little
could in my own district to influence votes in his
favor, and would continue to do so, only find
myself aiding disunionist, and by this mean
am indirectly giving my influence. whatever il
may be, to John c. Breckinridge and Joseph
Lane, who have been nominated and presented
before the American people, by men who have
openly avowed their intention to dissolve Oul
happy Union. l prefer then to support mar
who has influence and strength enough to pu
down the disunion element which we find i'm Oul
happy and at this time prosperous land. And
finding it All impOssibility to accomplish this enc
by supporting Stephen A. Douglas, the man ",
all 90 much admire, am constrained from a sens.
of duty to my God and my country, to tender IN,
feeble efforts to Abraham Lincoln, the romine,
of the Republican party. This, no doubt, viii
surprise many of you at first glance, but feel as
sured that when you come to examine my rea
sons, many if not all of you will justify me in th
step am now taking in the present political bat
tie of the country, and will upon mature delibe
ration and reflection, join me in humbling to tn
dust the party which seeks to destroy our Fed
eral Union, and spread civil war, anarchy and con
fusion throughout the land.
The reasons which will guide me in the presen
political contest are based upon the fact that W
carnOt elect Douglas.
We have four candidates in the field, and it i
now ascertained that Breckenridge and Lane wi
carry every Southern State with two or three ex
ceptions, and they will be carried for Bell unles
| Douglas carries Missouri. Then Douglas mus
depend fer his support on the free States, and W
friends, that he cannot carry more than fou
States, and to do this there will have to be
strong effort in his behalf hence you see the figh
is to be made between Breckenridge and Lincoln
the two strongest candidates, and it becomes ou
duty at once to decide which of these candidate
We prefer. / have decided to support Lincoln
would willingly support Douglas, but furthe
support of him can have no other effect than
carrying the election into the House of Represer
tatives, which will either elect Breckenridge, q
if the House should fail to elect by the ith
March, as is probable, the Senate viii elect j
Lane, who becomes President Of the Unite
States. And Lane will only be tool in tt
hands of the disunionists, to accomplish their on
idea Of breaking up the Confederacy and erec
ing the Slave States together with our Wesser