The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1874-01-15
LECONPTE'S CRUEL.
Interesting Testimony In Regard
to the Early History Of
Kansas.

The 'Jefres Of Kansas Tries to
Suppress the Facts.
Innumerable Objections Urged
by the Prosecuting Witness.
SECOND DAY.
Yesterday morning the Police Court was
crowded TO lis utmost capacity, to hear the tes-
timony given in the case Of s. d. Lecompte,
against The TINES for willful and malicious
Libel. The ball opened shortly before 10
O'Clock, and all through tine day the wrangle
continued without any sign Of abatement.
One ofthe most pleasing features of the morn
ing session, was the eloquent, learned, and
exhaustive harangues of the legal quartette,
who had charge Of the preliminary examin-
alton. H. Miles Moore. talked till deep
emotion choked all further utterance. L.
compte dilased on his numerous greivences;
told what perfect burden his life had been,
pictured his deep misery to the Court, till
his knees began TO weaken and great crocodile
tears chased each other down on either aide
of his blushing nose. Immediately follow
ing E: N. o. Clougb, gave his birth plscs
and pedigree. In feeling words he spoke of
his deep sympathy and friendship for the
complaining witness, and while wishing him
ali the joy imaginable said he had legal
void Of all feeling. Last of all came the
learned Matthias, who twining his fingers in
his flowing locks, said that his brethren were
not only getting excited but making long
speeches which amounted 10 nothing, and
that he could condense the whole matter into
few sentences. which he proceeded to do,
taking up about an hour and q half of The
Courts valuable time.
When these buncomDe speeches had rip.
pied away into complete nothingness. the
Witnesses we're called.
Judge s. NJ. Latta being sworn proceeded
t. give the reputation of Lecompte during
the early Kansas troubles, when he was cut
short by an objection from Lecompte, who,
only the day before, had courted all the tes-
timony that could be brought against him.
He raid che did not propose to have any
thing told of his past History BY irresponsible
persona" In question put to the witness in
relation to the reputation OF Lecompte while
judge of the First District court, another oh
lection was interposed. Then another long
dispute commenced between the counsel.
The records of the court while under Le-
complies management were sent for and
found to he either missing or mutilated to
such an extent that nothing could be CLEANED
from them. Lecompte wanted these records |
to be used as testimony, and the defense |
pleaded their insufiiciency and asked to
prove the imbecility and corruption of LIE.
complies court by parole testimony. After |
innumerable objections, Mr.. Lstta was asked
the following question:
Was Lecompte q pro-slavery man and
prejudiced against the free State doctrine?
(Lecompte here intcrposed and said he was.)
The counsel for defendant then asked the |
witness: Do you know what the reputation
of Lecompte was at this time?
The witness answered in the Affirmative
To the next question, asking that the wit. |
ness state this reputation, objections were
raised BY the prosecution and sustained BY |
the court. As Lecompte or his attorney OBJ |
jecsed TO all the other questions put
TO Mr.. Latta, he was dismissed and
JAMES F. LEGArE sworn, who testified |
substantially as follows: Came 10 Kansas in
June, 1854; was a member of grand jury At |
Lecompton, in 1855; Lecompte was then
Judge of the District Court; this grand jury
prepared bills of indictment against free state |
men; all the records OF this court were |
burned at the time of QuantrelPs raid on
Lawrence, and Law had to be passed BY the |
Legislature for. the benefit of attorneys prac
ticsng in this court. The grand jury did, in
1855, after IN exciting discussion, bring in . |
bill declaring the Free State Hotel. at Law
renee, 4 nuisance by q vote of ID to 4. aud
also found bills against the Kansas Herald
of Freedom. The hotel YVES shortly after.
ward burned by the deputy sheriff, who pub
licIy proclaimed that he did it under author |
ity from the court. The sheriff also sane.
toned the proceeding by his presence. No
sotice was given the parties Of intention to |
sack and pillage, to my knowledge. Ownem
of hotel only knew of intention to destroy |
when loaded cannon were run up in front Of
the house. The two papers, Herald Of Free
dom and Kansas were also de- |
aroyed 1t that time, and private residences |
pillaged and plundered by the same mob.
under the leadership Of the sheriff and dep
uty. Thee guilty parties were never'indict-
ID for the crime committed, and the court
took no notice of the outrageous proceedings.
Lecnmpte did hold court after that, but the |
o6seders were never brought 10 justice. L.
compile and his officials were always on the |
mos friendly terms. None of the parties |
were ever reprimanded or punished for their |
conduct.
SAMUEL MCFARLAND, being sworn, testi- |
sed % follows: Came TO Kansas in Nay,
1856; have known Leoompts for years; was
here when Fugett murdered and scalped |
Hopps; did not attend the trial; it Wa the |
general impression that Lecompte was in |
league with The ''border rufians;" formed |
tbs opinion myself from the testimony Of
pessons Who attended the trial Of Fugett |
he state Of public feeling 1t that time w.
not favorable to . free state man.
Lecompte vas Judge of Court; the people |
were afraid to Be tried before Leconpls's |
Curt Here an objection was raised By the |
psosecuaion, and il being suaaaised BY the
Court, the witness was mot allowed to testify |
furthef.)
On. FEW being sworn, testified - foliovs
Cans to Kansas in "a; held ofios - ma
eiseraae under appointment from Governor
Rseder, and acted in that capacity. knew Of