The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-02-18
A Man Excited.


or of the Oskaloosa Isdependent, that we did not
invite Judge Lecompte to write his article for |
our paper. We simply showed disposition not |
to kick him because everybody elese was doing
90, whererpon be asked the use of our columns
for review of his official. life, and we granted
the request. -
Judge Lecompte has told his own story, in his
own words. He denies every charge brought
against him, and says they cannot be proven ex-
cept from book written by a man prejudiced
against him, and whose principal object seemed
to be to write up Gov. Geary, let who else might
suffer thereby. We are not attempting to de-
eide this matter. Judge Lecompte defantly
challenges the production of any living witness
or authentic record to prove any of the charges
against him. If the editor of the Independent can
bring forward witness a record to this effect,
he is the man who has been called for, and such
production will be worth more than column of
assertions and Indignation. No indignant reit-
Grafton of charges, no striking at us for publish
ing Judge Lecompte's article, will fill the bill.
Bring the witnesses or the records, and then set
tie it with Lecompte. If the story now running
through the columns of the Independent, written
by its editor, is intended for authentic record,
rub that under his nose. If Mr.. Arthur or Will
lard, their friend from Missouri, are alive,
bring them as living witnesses.
We wish to inform the Independent, that the
columns of the Chief are open to any man who
claims that he has been wrOnged or misrepre
sented, and desires opportunity to vndcate
himself If JEFF. Davis the Devil asks the
privilege, be can have it, No man is shut out
from these columns; but We always reserve the
right to make such comments as we see proper
upon any communication which appears in the
Chief. The Independent, Notwithstanding its
name, may act upon d different principle. 1t
may hold it to be right and just to denounce and
iampoon a man for weeks, months, and years,
and then refuse him an opportunity to tell his
side of the story. As newspaper, the Iadepead-
eat puts on the appearance of being more unjust
than it accuses Lecompte of being rs a Judge.
!: has mar charged with MURDER takes COM
mon report as evidence, declares tine fact to be
proved beyond dispute, aud proceeds to hang
the accused, without allowing him an opportuni-
ty to be heard in his own defence.
Since the above was in type, We have received
the Junction City Union, which has comment
upon Judge Lecompte's article, and which, for
its fairness and common sense is SO different
from the one in the Independent, that we copy it
below, in full. If the Judge was guilty of all
the charges, he is as much entitled to have the
account cancelled, as many other men who acted
a notorious part in Border Rufian days. But as
he emphatically denies all the charges, and de-
mands legitimate proof, it should be produced,
or denunciations stopped. Flying off the handle,
rciterating the same batch of charges, and throw
ing dirt at the Chief for giving the accused the
benefit of hearing, are not proof. Papers pursu-
ing this course, will have the pleasure of seeing
their articles quoted in full, in the Leavenworth
Times, as the sentiments of free and powerful
minds, if they satisfied with such fame; but
expressions like these from the Junction Onion
will keep longer, and be productive of better eff
fects:-
a REMARkAgLE AEIIcLE-The Troy CHIEF of the 4th
print entitled The Truth Of Hstory and Written
9y Judge sam d. Lecomptc as full defense Of his course
during the four and half he acted Chief Justice
Of the Territory of Kansas.
Without going into lengthy review of Jungc Ieeomptes
tiOn in recognizing the by Lc=sia.
ture elected by the residents Of Mssour-On the ground
recognized until repealed, and this day the
source of numberess rights of property and would be
upon them fir adudication Judge Lecompfe denies that
he allowed his political sympathes 6as him
judicial action in the murder brought
fore him and reviews at considerable length the proceed
ngs In the Of Cole McCrea who killed Malcolm
Clark In LeavenwOrth: of Hays indicated murder
Of Buffum and of Fugtt who killed Hopes Judge Le-
cOmpe denies that the destruction of the Free
and the Lawrence dome under order
So far he states from being bloody minded partisan he
abored to prevent unlawful violence everywhere and
claims that prominent Free State placed
obligations to him for personal efforts for their protection
and acknowledged themselves He cites as general
proofs that of the accusations made against him
improbable in their character that before he came to
Kansas, man had breathed a word against his |
character and that since his retraey from the bench on
which he has been accused of behaving like JEFF
fries he has lived amid community supposed to be fam
liar with his past official character without word of
prOach being east his every day of life.
The article. whatever be its merits an arr1I.
ment is certainly readable and has attracted and will
tract general attention not only from those who part
in the alluded to by the writer but those whose
sdenee in Kansas is recent The style com.
municatiOn is occasionally dse and obscure and very
often Owery, but the other hand il is nearly always
dignifed The only departure, believe is where the
writer speaks of Gihon the historian Of Geary and Kan
sas, as the only man whom have known who struck |
coming up to the full significance of lickspittle
Judge Lecompte iDtimaes in closing that he may be
forced to take the law those editors who wantonly
assal his character. We hope the provocaon will not be
extended Abuse of Judge Lecompte by Kansas newspa
pers at this late day. silly and inconsistent
childish to recognize neishbOr and friend
political associate and good old fellow to-day and
the time abuse him for what he did fifteen twenty
years ago. We remember, as boy, witnessing and ad
niring amateur drama in which Gov shannon and
Judge LecOmpte figured rednnsed and black bearded
uans their full Of ferocty and their belts
ull of horse pistols Yet Gov Shannon is leading
in the State respected citizen the ancient
abolition town of Lawrence and believe political
associate of his oldtme enemy Gov Charles Robinson
Why should not the amnesty be extended to Judge
ompte And why should war be kept up in newspapers
which Is kept up nowhere elsel