The Leavenworth weekly times., 1876-03-02

Sl"ce II may be interesting 10 many oi
the people OF sout,ern Kansas, to know
just what induced Mccormack TO walk in
TO the friesdly embrace Of Sheriff Palmer,
brief history OF the matter may not be
out OF place here.
Some time after my first arrival here,
and upon learning that Mccormack was
the bosom friend Of the Sheriff, sent East
for man upon whom knew could rely
under all circumstances, one Z. C. Craw-
ford, who came promptly, and VINO was to
remain with me fire years, if 20 long time
should be required, to bring Mccormack to
Justice. After much labor and time had
been consumed, Crawford received boast
ing letter from Mccormack, in which he
stated that he was perfectly safe, and by
which he endeavored to create the impress
sion that he was with the james boys.
The fact, however, was that he was secre-
ted in a cellar in the Indian Territory
north, and little east Of Tahlequah, where
he remained until the Indian proprietor
became uneasy-he then, in company with
two Indians, went into Arkansas and roam
ed about for short time in Crawford,
Washington and Benton counties OF that
State The two Indians in his company,
were under the direction of a third Indian,
whose whereabouts / learned through Mr..
Crawford. This Indian was TO deliver him
up for one Thousand dollars. AT this time,
Mccormack, with three Indians, was camp
ing in the pine woods in Tanly county, Mo-,
or small tributary OF the White river.
Horses were procured, men employed, and /,
one dark, rainy night, three men and one
boy spurred their horses right into the
camp and over the camp tire where Nc
Ccrmack was lying upon his blanket, with
a navy revolver in each hand. The noun
ted men used their revolvers, but McCor-
mack dropped his without firing shot,
and, aided by the intense darkness, made
his escape TO Mcdonald county, Mo, in the
company of one Indian, who was under
special instructions from his chief to kill
him if he attempted to desert his horse. He
succeeded, however, in eluding the Indian,
and started one night, for Columbus, afoot.
He well knew that the Indians had turned
against him, and il would, therefore, be
useless to again enter the Indian Territory.
He could not go south, for kidder Kidd,
U. S. Marshal at TT. Smith, had but recent
" written me that he thought he could
bring him in soon. All avenues Of escape
north and east were closed by his immediate
pursuers; the route to Columbus was the
only one LETT unguarded, and he took that
in hot haste. The Indian who was seen in
this place the day after McCormack's ar
rival, was the one from whom he escaped.
Four white men also pursued him hither,
arriving here but a few hours behind the
fleeing fugitive.
Mccormack was ordered to the Jail at
Baxter, and Sheriff Palmer gave the jailor
written instructions how to treat the pris-
oner. This resulted in Mccormack occu-
pying the office of the Jail where he could
at any moment raise an ordinary window
sash and escape. i, therefore, had that
Jail guarded on the outside, night and day,
until Mccormack left it.
During the trial the sheriff armed the
prisoner, but every night the good citizens
of this town guarded both the sheriff and
his friend. Mccormack was tried, found
guilty and sentenced to be hanged. sheriff
Palmer started with him for Leavenworth,
and although he shackled and hand cufied
other prisoners who were guilty of larceny,
the murderer, Mccormack, was placed
upon the cars without irons, and separted
as far az possible from the other prisoners.
Incensed beyond all measure at this conduct,
l procured doubie-barreled shot gun, and
in company with 4 friend, similarly we'll
armed, we guarded, upon our Osn respon-
sibility, both the Sheriff and his friend
until the latter was placed in charge OF
Major Hopkins, at LeavenwOrth.
Such is the unblushing audacity with
which the Sheriff of Cherokee county up
holds murderers. What mysterious link
thus binds him to Mccormack, and in his
behalf induced him, during the trial, to go
upon the witness stand and commit moral
perjury, | leave for the reader to conjec-
ture. Thanking the good people of South
ern Kansas who have extended to me SYM
pathy and assistance during the sad trying
scenes through which / have passed while
in their midst, now bid them an affection
ate farewell, for it was through their assist
ance that law and justice have assumed
their reign even upon the border OF the
Indian lands. SoLoN L. CHENEY.
Accompanying the above report, was the
following statement, signed as below, by
citizens of Cherokee county:
COLUMBUS, Kansas, February 27, 1876.
Editor Leauenuorth Times:
SIR: We, the undersigned citizens of
Cherokee county, noticed in the Leaven-
worth TINES Of last Fridays issue, an ar
ticle on the murder OF DIR. s. c. Cheney,
in which there are gross misrepresentation
of the facts as developed upon the trial,
as we'll as false picture of the life of the
desperado, Mccormick. We have read, or
heard read the article enclosed with this to
you, aud know that the facts stated therein
are true, az shown by the testimony in the
trial of the case OF the State OF Kansas vs.
James I. Mccormick. The statement of
of what led TO the surrender of the mur-
learn from those who were on the trail of
before his surrender We ask,
not only as favor, bur as matter of JUS
tice to the people OF this county, and as a
matter of justice to Mr.. s. L. Cheney broth
er Of the murdered DIR. S. c. Cheney, that
the article be published in The TINES. We
say to you, that the conduct Of Sheriff
Palmer has been unprecedented, and the
people of this county are loud in the con-
demnation of his conduct, which Is gross
insult to his fellow-cirizens.
Yours truly,
n. r. Cowley, J. n. Lee,
w. L. Bennett, \. j. Bahny,
p. F. Shackle, +. Fry,
S. A. Weir, L. w. Anderson,
ID. S. Freeman, W. l.. Broadwell,
Ii. Broadwell, Samuel McReynolds,
W. r. Jones'.
The WORD WHITE"
The Kansas House of Representatives
has passed bill to strike the word white"
out of the school laws of the State. Now
let the Senate do likewise. The school |
laws of Kansas, as they now read, are
disgrace to the State, and in direct viola
ion of the spirit of the Constitution of the
United States. Let us put an end, at once
md forever, to the last ves'ige OF the bar
,arism Of slavery, in this State.
TIE CHENEY MURDER.
CoLuMBUs, Kan, February %, 1876.
EDITOR TIMEs:-I have just received the
DAILY TINES of the 18th, read the account
,iven of the murder of Dr.. Cheney, by Nc
and lay the paper down TO drop
'ou this line. Will merely say for the
PRESENT that the account given is A gross |