The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-08-15
General Cameron, the Kansas
Hermit, Issued No. /.
Was a Justice of the Peace In
1856.
ORBRONSON'S ARREST
Jim Lane Led Mob That Res =
cued the Prisoner.
Court Was Put Under Arrest
by the Militia.

Dy the mlllLlas
Few people know that General Hugh
Cameron, the Kansas hermit, who IlVes
near Lawrence, drew up and ordersu
served. the first warrant issued in Kan
mas He was the first justice OF lhe
peace in Kansas and was made SO DS
appointment from Governor shannon
His acceptance of the Office and his is
suing of the warrant were not lnsplreu
by modern day causes, by desire LOT
fame, notoriety, or money, put IN re-
Spouse to his own vote and SANCTION ol
a set of resolutions passed at the nrst
Democratic meeting in July $780, thdI
the way TO make progress in the terri
tory of Kansas was to obey the law
and to see that it was obeyed-
IT cost General Cameron plenty OF
trouble His own story of the analr Is
interesting. The famous OLD man en-
1oys the telling of the story, Tor II Is
one to him now, although a stern Iea 5-
~ then After good deal OF coaXlnS
and urging he settled himself oacK INTO
q chair took off his steel-rinlmed glass
es stroked his long gray beard aYu
said: James H Lane, the OLD eIIll II
Cbieftain.' as they call him now was a
That rather striking sentence immedi-
ately started wonder IN the fli i.l =, "
ouestioner in itself, and also IN It's AS-
lation to the first warrant issued III
kansas. about which the discussion was
started -, s.,r+,d
the general ION July q, 1855, met
with the Democrats in the nrst Demo
cratic convention held in the state. Inc
meeting took place at Lawrence jim jim
Lane was chairman Inc neeIlhs Wa
held in the office of DIR. j. N. -. I.
Wood c. W. BabcOck, James GarNlh
and ]. s. Emory were among those VIII
attended. ,.
" discussed all the phases and conan
fions of our political status. We came
10 the conclusion that our observance
of the law and our efforts to see that
others obeyed it, would work by far the
best results in all events Jim Lane
was the frmest advocate OF TINS plan-
along in November an opportunity
came for me to enforce my agreement;
Two men by the names of Buckley ana
Idargis wanted tqv~be protected from
man named Jacob BranSon, who was
threatening their lives. Governor Shan-
non was then in charge OF the territory
and l went to him and received an ap-
rofntment as justice of the peace. linen
i made out a warrant and had 1T serV-
ed upon Branson. So near as can re
member the warrant read about as 1ol-
TO any constable or other officer
authorized to serve legal processes "a
the interests of good government, ana
the suppression of lawlesSnesS IN the
Territory OF Kansas, Greeting:
Buckley and Hargis who, upon oatn'
declare that they are both bona fide res
that they are afraid of Jacob Branson of
Grove who has threatened to Kill them,
ing his threat You will therefore arrest
him and bring him before me day after
nortgnity of confronting his accusers and
showing why he should not be put under
bonds gidSs 70 keep the PafrneGsHt CAMERON.
" a Justice of the Peace for the Territory
of Kansas, by Recent appointment of
Gov. Wilson Shannon
The warrant was served and ordered
returnable the day following. But the
night before which Branson was 10 be
brought before me, he was taken away
from the officers by some of his friends
s.1Then Jim Lane and Charles Robinson
ordered Captain Lyman of the Kansas
militia to arrest me for my act They
found me at DR.. Babcock's office in Law
renee to which place had gone to get
some quinine for 1 was suffering from
chills and fever
They took me outside and after severe
word abuse. informed me that my punish
MT mat meant We'll they would take
Fli ma 49,, tbsra ard throw them into
that mud. from which the trumpet OF Ga
briel could not extricate them didn
thinking cap and went to work TO see
how could escape that punishment. for
Right close by was a saloon. There
was a lot of drinking going on in those
DAYS So I turned to Captain Lyman ana
said: Come in and have drink and bring
the boys along.
Is You can't treat all this crowd he re-
. Bring EN- along and III see If
so went inside and got a two gallon
tug of whisky and gave it to the crowd.
of course they were all thirsty and while
they were busy guzzling down that whis-
ky made my escape They dldnt get me
again"
And Jim Lane was traitor to his
own word? asked the questioner.
He was base man." answered Gen
eral Cameron.
THAT is an interesting story" was said
by way of compliment
The general looked up quickly. at first
serious and then his gray-blue eyes melt
ing into a smile as he answered: 1T
IS good story now. Rut it was reality
then. You'd think Il you knew what
Il means to have your belly full of Wala-
ruSa creek water.