The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-10-06


Wilkinson, who was the postmaster at
Shermansville (now Lance, and also
member of the territorial legislature
of Kansas. Mrs. Wilkinson in her tes-
timony said that she was sick in bed
with the measles, that she begged them
TO let her husband stay with her as
| she was helpless. THE old man
| (Brown) who seemed to be In COM
mand, looked at me and then around
at the children, and replied: You have
neighbors." They then took my hus-
hand away. One of them came back and
took two saddles. The next morning
Mr.. Wilkinson was found. ] believe
that one of Captain Browns sons was
in the party who murdered my hus-
band. My husband was quiet man
and was not engaged in arresting or
disturbing anybody.
Three Doyles. father and sons, both
of the lads under age, were also muir
dered. This done, the horses and sad
dies of the dead men were taken along.
and according to Sanborn, taken to
northern Kansas and traded off. This
author STYLES the killing of these per-
sons as "executions;" those killed In
retaliation by pro- slavery outlaws he
calls the "Marais des Cygnes muir
ders."
On December 20, 1853, John Brown
led an expedition from Kansas into
Missouri and forcibly took from their
| lawful owner slaves, horses and other
property, and one Of his men KILLED
one white man, the master, who fought
| against the liberation" Quotation from
| a letter written by John Brown, and
as a result of these and other unlaw-
full acts. he, according to Sanborn, left
Kansas pursued by Unitede States
troops" (page 340). and to escape ar
rest and punishment lived in various
states under the names of isaac Smith,
Shubel Morgan, James Smith and Mel
SON Hawkins. In a letter to Eli Thayer
dated April IS. 1857, this man OF nigh
| ideals. heroic valor and grim energy
saws. az am advised that one of Uncle
SANS hounds is on my track" (page
3S2)
OF the high idealism which was ram
pant at this period this letter from
| Theodore Parker, the great divine OF
Boston, may be an indication. My dear
Judge (RusselD: If John Brown falls
| into the hands of the marshal from
Kansas he is sure of the gallows or of
something yet worse. If I were In his
| position 1 would shoot dead any man
who attempted to arrest me TOT those
alleged crimes; then I should be tried
by Massachusetts jury and acquitted
page 512)
It is claimed in his and their defense by
those who gave John Brown material or
moral aid in his foray into Virginia that
LIT was not intended to incite an tnsurrec-
ltlon among the slaves. and his latest
champion, Mr.. Roosevelt, quoting from
Mr.. Lincoln, says: ut was not a slave
linsurrection" The fact that an insured.
ltion did not follow the attempt does mol
prove that It was not intended or hac
not been contemplated as possible. Mef
lof the desperate character OF JONI
Brown and his sons, their hands req VIII
1.-The blood of those they had surprised
Lin their beds by the side of their wivei
land children at dead of night and GU
} to death-cut, not shot. for fear Of raising
Ian alarm-would scarcely stop at an In
surrection of slaves and whatever o.
horror this might bring, to accomplish
their purpose They and those who aidet
them knew we'll that in that same stat
rs years before the Southampton insur
rection had occurred under the leader
ship of Nat Turner. who gatnered aoou
him a band OF 90 negroes. with ines
he started at an appointed time 10 g
from house to house to Kill every whit
person of whatever age, sex or condition
to inspire universal terror ana arouse tn
whole slave population. Beginning a
Turner's own home they first killed nj
master. and then went to other pianta
! lions. An advance. guard on horsebac'
! surrounded each house In turn, hoidinl
, 1t until their followers on foot, arme'
with axes. scythes and muskets. cam
up to complete the work OF destruction
while the horsemen rode on TO the mex
! house. In 4s hours IS white persons wer
killed without loss to the Insurgents.
(Bryant's and Gays History Of the Uni
ted States" Vol. ~
The money contributed to this expedi
ton by George L. etearns. DR.. Howe
Theodore Parker, Colonel Higginson,
B. Sanborn, 0srrtt Smith and others W.
in part expended in the nanufacturs 70