252 
KANSAS. 
Westport, of the matter, and he advised him to leave the line, and 
get some one else to drive in his place, as “ Coleman was a des¬ 
perate man.” 
While such outrages were being committed between Kansas 
o o 
city and Lawrence, the reign of terror was complete at Leaven¬ 
worth. On the morning of the 28th an exciting extra, issued at 
the office of the Westport News , headed “ War! War! ” was received 
at Leavenworth. The ruffians immediately held a secret session, 
and appointed themselves a vigilance committee. All persons, 
who could not answer “ All right on the goose,” according to 
their definition of right, were searched, kept under guard, and 
threatened with death by the rope or rifle. A company, under 
the lead of Warren D. Wilkes, of South Carolina, armed with 
United States muskets and bayonets, were paraded through the 
different streets of the town. They surrounded the house where 
a portion of the investigating committee boarded, while two or 
three entered and took prisoner Judge M. F. Conway, who was 
acting for the committee in the capacity of clerk. Forming a 
hollow square, and placing him in the centre, they marched 
through several streets. As they passed the office of Miles 
Moore, the Attorney General under the free-state constitution, 
they arrested him, also M. J. Parrott, a law partner of Moore. 
Mr. Sherman, one of the investigating committee, was convers¬ 
ing with them at the time, and Mr. Sherman inquired of Wilkes 
“ if he had arrested one of the clerks of the committee upon 
any legal process.” He replied, “ he had not, but, at all 
hazards, he should arrest those whose names he had on his list.” 
Attacks were nightly threatened upon the houses of those free- 
state men v/ho had stood firmly by their principles, and the 
committee were in hourly danger of violence. A. threatening 
message was sent them with the significant signature of “ Capt.. 
Hemp.” Violence had been contemplated both against the com¬ 
mittee and my husband. It was rather too bold a step to attack 
the United States officials. 
The exact state of things at this time may be better realized by 
statements of prisoners in the camp of the invaders. Hi Hoot 
and Mr. Mitchell had been taken prisoners about the 15th May 
