Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-02-18
[ONEENOE REEDER'S ESCAPE FROM
KANSAS


Kansas in Disguise, in May. 1856.
Monday, May 5. Left Lawreuce viii
congressional committee for Tecumseh
Commenced examination of witnesses Their
Ia the afternoon, r. Rees assisting Whit
field.
Tuesday, May 6. Examined witnesses
Took tea with Judge Gilmore. Returned a
sO'clock p. m. through the woods alone
Began to think this was rather imprudent
Mrs Elmore lives in q cabin of one room
was compelled to nurse her negroes and dc
the Homework last fall, she says she never
cooked a meal before. She bears the change
well, and is most excellent woman.
Wednesday, May7. Examined witnesses
until p. IN. Learned from the best authori-
~ "a grand juror and others) that the plan
We had so often heard of was about being
carried out, to paralyze the free state party;
that the grand jury now in session at Le-
compton had been charged by the court, as
had the last grand jury at Delaware, that not
only all the officers of the state government
bnt all the judges of election were indlct-
able. A number of indictments have been
found ut Delaware, but for some reason had
not been pressed. and the grand jury being,
many of them drunk. several had been lost
n the street. similar attempt. We knew,
had be IN made at OSaWakee. when John
Hutchi ison had been called as a witness and
had refused to answer several questions.
and b refusal had been passed over because
they were of matters inquirabie at EecoInp-
ton, in another county. Both these courts.
as well as that at Lecompton. were presided
over by Chief Justice Lecompte, man of
frivolous mind. little ability, less integrity,
great peryerSity and Incidence, and limited
knowledge of the law. Having neither
property, practice, nor reputation at home,
bis head became turned by the location of
the capitol at the town he had laid out and
p,,$ h.
habit of the pro-slavery men, 50 well adapted
TO operate on weak man. they have made
of him a most supple tool. After his charge
to the grand jury at LecO1nptOn, they pro-
ceeded to consider the matter, and, without
taking any testimony at all, voted by
large majority of the sixteen present 10 find
indictments against Governor Robinson
and myself for treason. James Whitlock,
"a canting, sneakiny scoundrel. who was
elected to the bogus legislature by the GOO
IlssOurlans that came over TO Lawrence and
took possession of the polls, and who does
the most atrocious Things under the garb of
piety), suggested that it was important to
get out of US all the facts We knew, and
That perhaps, if they once presented us for
treason, they could not put us through an ex-
animation, and if not, the presentInent
would better be suppressed, and send
subpoenas for US first, that We could then be
examined, and afterwards arrested.
District Attorney lsacks was sent for. and
enqulred of whether we could be as we'll e1-
ahmed after We We're presented as before,
and he of course said 40" All of this Whit
lock knew as well before, his main object
being to bring us TO Lecompton on a sub
poena. knowing that on n warrant for treason
We would not come. These details had
from James +. Legate, one of the grand Jury
who came up to Tecumseh to inform me.
Governor Robinson and Lieutenant Governor
Roberts and myself had consultation, and
a. came to the same conclusion-that the
plans of the enemy were well laid. that if we
allowed them to pick up all our leaders, in
Gliding all the state officers, members of the
Legislature, etc, for an offence not bailable.
and keep them shut up for six months and
until after the next election las they could, |
that they would then take our peo-
pie in detail and break them down,
as they had provided for
a parade and training of the mill
tia on election day, and under cover of this
would introdue without doubt number of
men from Missouri. The prospect was dark,
the Crisis an important one and involving
grave consequences, and yet We had but brief
time to consult. Resolved that we must soon
make an open, organized armed resistance,
and that to make tt as effectual and justifia-
Bile as 1t Is already righteous and just, we
must do 1t under and through the forms of
the state government and thus set up the
state against the territorial government.
For this we must call the legislature to-
sether, pass laws. organize courts, organize
and officer our militia and supply them all
With arms, who are not already supplied
nat rs soon as our courts are organized we
must issue writs of habeas corpus and take
heir prisoners away from them, and TINS
make the issue of force and blood in the best
hape We can. Codifying committees are
lready at work, and some of the laws will
Don be ready. The legislature must be
allied by the - day of June, as on that day
commences the next court in the second
district, when they will all be indicted and
crested. 1t is agreed also that some one
hall go east to raise men and arms to pre-
ARE for this emergency, and for several rea-
ons that Robinson would better go, after
ssuing his proclamation for the legislature
o assemble. leaving Roberts to act in his
lace. l suggested that would like to have
hem try one of their indictments for treason
n me. and that perhaps should better be
All agree that much capital could
e made out of 1t, but the only difficulty is
hat it will keep me prisoner till October.
7hen so much is to be done. ! persisted,
owever, that ! would submit to the arrest
nd try 1t. We did not determine what We
you'd do rs last resort in case the general
government took the field against us, and
ave us the attentive of hacking out or of
Ndf oStluSt tneln. MS would
'e not the silly sham treason for
Vhich indictments are found now,
nut actual treason at least in !
he letter. although as holy and glorious in
pirit as the dawn of the revolution of '76.
robinson declares that at least We will vine
ut the id territorial government abso-
utely and effectually, and to this wo all Us
ented.
Toward evening Mr.. Fain. a newcomer
rom Georgia, who has been in the territory
mt two weeks, called and Very politely in ,
ormed me that he was acting as deputy ,
MARSHAL and had a subpoena for me. | re- ,
uested him to let me see it, and he handed
ne copy. On looking at it discovered
hat it was very irregular in form. and, as I ,
Ias not yet ready to be arrested for treason,
determined not to obey it. l accordingly /
o informed the officer, giving as the reasons, ,
ny privilege as delegate in congress, and
be informality of the subpoena. He left, ,
nd soon after met LeEate, asked where
johnson was. and was told he had gone to ,
'opeka: asked if he could so there and SUBJ
oena him with safety. Legate mischie- ,
ously told him he did not know, that he I
aust run his own risks. which so alarmed
he Georgian that he at once turned back to {
ecompton. The same evening he went :
ack to Topeka; staid till after breakfast of :
is next day.
Thursday, May S. Returned to Lawrence. 5
here We met Mr.. Sherman and Mr.. Oliver, ,
t,sA Il -