The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1874-08-20
Something Must be Done.

We have been much interested in Brother koo-
erts' Story Of early Kansas, in the Oskaioosa hn-
depeRdeRt-so much SO, that we mnst speak out
The gist of the story is this: Allen Arthur was a
master mechanic in. "A railroad machine sbop III
Cincinnati, about the year 1854 He refused to
swear as the Vice President of the road desired
him to, in an action against the road for damag-
es caused 10y drunken engineer. For this, the
Vice President commenced persecntibg him, pre-
paratory to finding an excuse for turning him of.
Mr.. Arthur gave him no opportunity, but spoke
to the President Of the road, who condemned the
course Of the Vice President, but was powerlcss
20 prevent the illegal and tyranuical acts of his
inferior in office! About this time, one Asa Shell
don, n former suitor of Mrs. Arthur's, commenced
visiting at her house aud making mysterious
threats, because she had refused him. She at
length apprised her husband and her brother
Willard of this, but they didn't think the provo
cation sufficient to kick him ont of the house
Finally Mr.. Arthur resigned his situation in the
shops, and determined to emigrate to Kansas.
Willard overheard Sheldon and young man
named Bob Stuart laying plan to kidnap Mr..
Arthur's child. What he wanted with it, does
not appear; but he willing to pay well for it.
Instead of laying a counter-Plan, aud detecting
them, Arthur & Co. proposed to sneak away, as
if they were the guilty parties. Sheldon prom
ised Stuart 81 900 to do the job. To accomplish
this, he engaged passage OH the same boat with
Arthur & Co., but missing his passage, lad to go
to Louisville by rail. At St. Louis, he hired a
ruffian named Jack Murphy to assist him. They
raised the Abolition cry near Lexington, in order
to have Mr.. Arthur and his family set ashore;
but the latter knew their design, and were pre-
pared for them. Willard was forever getting
into some odd corner aud Oyerhearng their
plans. At Kansas City, Stewart and Murphy EN-
pIoyed lot of roughs To mob them; but the Cap
tain of the boat, having become their FRIEND shov-
ed out and left the whole gang ashore. Bob.
Stuart knew, of course, that the fusitivcs would
90 to Leavenworth, and there hire wagon and
go to Lawrence; so he hired band of despera-
does to go out on the Lawrence road, waylay
them, and mHrler all but tue woman and the
child. But the same evening the victims were
approaching the ambush, the desperadoes got
into drunken row over cards, in which Jack
Murphy was killed, and the balance skedaddled.
Arthur & Co. picked mp one If the wounded ruff
fans, and saved his life, which made him their
fast friend. They proceed to Lawrence, where,
hearing raid from Missouri was preparing to
attack the city, they left most Of their goods,
and strnck out north of the river. Here Stuart
and gang of about twenty ruffians got on their
track, and almost captured them-the ruffians
being actnated by the promise of Stuart's thou
sand dollars divided among them.
Now, we cipher it up in this way: Stuart was
to receive 81 900 for the job. He paid his expens
es to Kansas, besides heavy incidental expenses
to carry out his scheme along the ronte; he
promised Jack Murphy half of it; the gang that
were to waylay the party between Leavenworth
and Lawrence were to be well paid; and he was
to divide the money among the gang that follow
ed them from Lawrence. He has already spent
several months in the effort, planning murder and
risking his own life-all in order TO steal little
boy, for whom they would have no when
they got him. The thing is beginning to grow
monstrous thin; and Roberts will either have to
bring the matter to focus or furnish a fresh
supply of money, or the whole business will run
into the, ground.