BELLEVUE GAZETTE.
1IKNHY M.
News and Lor Hi
mriiT,
Kill (or.
DCLLEVUE, N. T.
THURSDAY, DEC. 3, 1957.
lnrs. Whereupon, Mr. Trntiiluti pro
ceeded to jump n claim owned by the Town
Company of Jlellcvuc, and within the cor
porate limits of said city. Said claim had
a good houso upon it, and uliont i?0 ucros
of breaking done,' nt the time Truin
lull jumped tho sniuc. Judge Ferguson
was one who acted ns a mediator between
the Town Company and Trumbull, and
Mr. Trumbull was paid two city lots, and
$'J00 iii money, thereby Belling again his
right to pre-empt. Tread lightly, Mr.
Trumbull, w e have but just commenced.
You agreed to nettle honorably, nnd have
peace with the company; and in good faith
for the pun huso money you got, nnd the
money you had been paid, by said compa
ny, for labor done, when money wus
. ...... I., r . ..
scarce. ton were now icuny iur jum
regular business, and proceeded to jump
KM) acres, that belonged lo n young man
of this place, by the name? of Page, who
hud taken n trip lo Iowa City, for a young
w ife. Page hearing that bin claim had
been jumped, wrote to tho writer of this
article, that he. would not come buck t )
Nebraska, unless ho could get his claim.
1 1 in venerable father came on, and plead
with you, for justice and his son's right.
Did you pay that old man u single cent ?
" Might makes right." again. DiJ you stop
here, contented with 100 acres? No, sir;
you reached out, breaking faith w ith the
Bellevue Company, and took more land
that they claimed. You did not stop nt
this. You asked for 320 broad acres, and
you made up the ballance, by taking the
land and improvements of an old veteran
Government Officer, who had (-pent his
hard curnt gold, to improve it, as a future
residence for his family. The nolle, dig
nified, princely, courteous, and gentleman
ly conduct, of this gentleman towards you,
even after you had done wrong to him,
should huve been a withering rebuke to
your uct of injustice. Were you not, Mr.
Trumbull, a w itness less than ten days
ago, for one Charles Fish, to pre-empt
one half of the 320 acres? and how much,
if any thing did you pay for such proving
up ? Did Fish cultivate, improve,
and occupy said land, more than five
days ? Did ho not cat his meals at an
other house, during the timet Who fur
nished Fish with lumber, to build his
shanty 1 Again, have you not filed
voi-a intention to prove upon the ballance?
and that, too, after you hnd sold your
right to pre-empt, twice, and for a inon
eved consideration, all raid you? You,
sir, live in a glass house. Your own per
sonul safety, requires that you throw as
few stones as possible, at your neighbor s
bouse. From what wo know of you, we
are free to say, that we believe that had
you been iu the streets, where Christ
stood, on one occasion, addressing a
crowd, concerning the faults of n certain
woman, whom the people were about lo
stone, there certainly would have . been i
store thrown in the direction of that un
fortunate woman, and the history of that
transaction, changed.
We now come to speak lastly of the next
liule great mau, in this most remarkable
play, for Justice, Chapman, God and Lib
erty. Win. K. Watson : is a brother of
Eli P. Watson is the very graie adviser
of his brother's best remedy, lo force
Judge Ferguson to pay his brother's un
just and unlawful demand. He is the
organ grinder set lo tune by JJ. B. Chap
man. He . pinches the tails of sundry
small animals, and immediately thereafter
thev soueal. to the satisfaction if the
a
grinder," and his presuming muster,
Last spring, he ran for the office of
Recorder of Sarpy Coanty, receiving
the vote of F.!i P. Watson, his brother
Charles E.'s voie, is voted for by Trum
bull thinks ho got the vote of his hired
man is modes and votes for himself in
all, six votes. Sarpy County has live hun
dred r iters. Chapman's paper says, to
give rredit to Trumbull, that he was
elected, last fall, county sup't of common
Judge rrrgiiKou's I'rr-r.mpUoii. i
JUDGE FERGUSON.
His Pr-Xmption and hit Malignen.
Wo feel satisfied that when the public
have read, even the few affidavits, which
we have room to publish, out of twenty
three already made, show ing thai Judge
Ferguson complied with the law, as an
honorable man, in his pre-emption, they
will see. as tho facts are, how much
wrong, and how base and palpable an in
jury, can be done a man, by three evil
minded, ignorant, and wantonly unscrupu
lous men, for the purpose of gratifying a
petty revenge, that rankles in the breast of
that class of small minds. Let the facts
speak for themselves. Fifty, yes, ono
hundred men, come up voluntarily, and
wrier to make affidavits, to sustain the in
tegrity of an honest and injured man.
Read tho affidavits in to-day's paper,
and iho subjoined facts, in connection with
thrt history of his calumniators, then judge.
Neither of the four persons w ho made af
fidavits against Judge Ferguson's pre
emption, cluim.or pretend to claim, in any
way, that Judge Ferguson was not the
sole owner of the land, he pre-empted, as
a claim, and that, too, by every prin
cipit of right. They, nor their friends,
nor no one in the w ide world, claim said
trad as agaiust said Ferguson. Why
then, are these men, so much interested ?
We will show.
Eli P. Watson, the chief in swearing,
of this beautiful trio, (for there is but
three, Marshall W. Stoddard, having
explained himself, as will be seen in
to-day paper,) had a pretended claim
agrinst Judge Ferguson, in amount less
than one hundred dollars. He, Wauon,
alleges that the Judge's boy, while play
ing on the prairie, following a team of
Judge Fergusons, ami his hired man,
sometime over a year ago, the boy 1 set
fire to the prairie, aiid Wo days .'and a
half subscqueut, t ihe selling of such fire
Eh P. Watson, had, as he alleges, some
liay burned, by a prairio fire. If it was
the fire set by the Judge's boy, that burn
ed Watson's hay,;had not Watson a rem -edy
in law ? Hut the truth is, we know
three good and substantial witnesses, who
say they will swear, that tho fire set by
the' Judge's boy, was not the fire that
burued Watson'a hay. Further, Watson
had the pon'oum, and honesty, mi y noth
ing about ihe impuience, to appproach
Judge Ferguson, on the day of election,
in which Ferguson was a candidate for
Delegate to Congress, saying to the Judge
that he had not voted yet, and asking the
Judge to arrange the settlement of burn
ing hay, in dispute ; and further remark
ing, it wouJJ have something to do with
his, Watson's, course, in the election.
Judge Ferguson, (as every body who
know him, knew, under the circumtdan-1
ces, ho would do,) kindly remarked to
Mr. Wstson, that he might pursue such a
course as he thought best, about voting,
but he, (Judge Ferguson,) should not pay
the unjust demand. Watson did vote for
Ferguson's opponent, and did swear, we
believe, that he did not err. Judge Fer
guson reside on his claim.
And as a guilty conscience needs no ac
cusing, notice his swearing before a mnj
istrate, while his knees are knockiug to
gether, from fear, and for shame, know
ing as he did, his veracity would le ques
tioned, on this point, by honest men, he
appeals to 1). 13. Chapman, for whom he
voted, for Congress, and three great men
uway oil" in Michigan, to sustain him for
truth, and that, too, before any body had
niiAtl tnnast t,Ja tirr.I
. ........ . schou s. of Sorry Coimtv. Ihe Nobras-
Anotner ot mis illustrious oano or i
three, engaged in the conspiracy, to ma
1 gn the fair fame of Judge Ferguson, is
one A. W. Trumbull, who had a little inis
understandiug with Judge Ferguson, near
ly two years ago. Trumbull came to this
county, about three years ago; and very
soon thereafter, on one Sunday morning,
proceeded up the Flatte Valley, and took
for himself a claim, that the sou of a wid
ow woman, from Illinois, had purchased
three days before, giving in payment a
jrold watch. Mr. Trumbull being a man
of large physical proportions, and seeing
that the poor widow woman's son was physi
cally small, and weak from consumption,
with one foot in the grave, and the other
. setting wpon, a portion of the beautiful soil
( of Nebraska, to make a home for his w id
. owed mother; proposes that might, iusuch
a case, would make right, and did hold
iid claim, ftud sold the same to Col. John
' . Seatoo, for one hundred and fifty d-l-
lb-low will hp found th lev.tnl affidavits
relating to tho pre-emption case of Judge
Funr Ferguson, our Delegate elect, to
Congress. We invite a perusal of them,
and we belive all will be convinced that
there has either been some tall swearing,
or else certain parties were laboring un
der a great optical illusion. These affida
vits aro made by individuals that are well
known to bo men of unimpeachable ve
racity. To those sure heath, that have at
tempted lo break the Judge's pre-emption,
we will say, that tho " end is nol yet,"
and " Lrry on McUvjJ'e t nnd damned be
he ulto fir J crits hold ! enough
William (Jarrsuorsr, being duly
sworn, deposes and say. that he bos re
sided in tho County of Sarpy, and Terri
tory of Nebraska, since the month of
April. A. D. ISoOj that ho commenced to
work forjudge Fenner Ferguson, of said
County and Territory aforesaid, by tho
month, on or about the first of September,
A. 1). 150, and continued so to work, for
Subscribed ami sworn
this the 'J.'M (lav of Noveml
Witness it i v hand and seal
SILAS A. STRICKLAND,
Notary Public, in and for Sarpy County,
Nebraska Territory.
Andrew M. Pollock, being duly
sworn, deposes and says, that he is the
Treasurer of tho City of Ik llevue ; that
he has lived and resided in what is known
as ihe County of Sarpy, and Territory of
Nebraska, since the fall of A. D. 1855;
that he has been acquainted with Judge
Fenner Ferguson, of the county of Sarpy,
and Territory of Nebraska, since that
time ; and that he knows the tract of land
pre-empted, on the 0th day of July, A. D.
I ls57, to wit: the North East qua ter of
I Suction nine, (9) Township thirteen, (13)
I North of Range thirteen, (13) East of the
i prin' i pal meridian, lyimr in tho County
J and Territory, aforesaid ; that he knows
i of his own personal knowledge, that the
said Juduo Fenner Ferguson, did, with
j his family, occupy said land, os ubnve des
cribed, the summer lust past; thut fie vis
ited snid premises in person, in company
with one lmrrmart Meyer, and his
to before mo, 1 'I0" "P ,M present time, occupy w ith I he, of his own personal knowledge, knows
or. A. D. 17. i '''.'';'' l-'""'t further that thill ,j10 .jj JVnner Ferguson, did in the
' , lie know .f fin own personal knnwled ire, tint ., , ', .
of otl.ee. hus,f ,,,,, vers..,!..,, rr-ssi,!. ril.i, some. I s""'""-r of IS )7, live upon and improve
son
t I.fiiji". Afvrr!i Riimn timM in lha fol( rinrl
Judge Fenner Ferguson, up to the lythj j,, A D anJ aw at lhnl lmi(.(
day of August, A. D. JSo7; that he knows , snij jUlgtJ i:vuuvr Ferguson, and his
well, of his own personal knowledge, the j f.,miy . U)J lht.y were rt.3jjjll? (, tail
trad of land pre-empted by the said Judge pmm;(eSi Bl ,,e li,ne . Dnd Uns deponent
Imim.t Ferguson, situated in Sarpy Coun- flin,1(.rs.iySillmt he k)mvs cf hiiJ mvn
ly, INehraka territory, and clescribeu as n(.rsnil illowl(!J1,. il,at said Jude Fen
kian lies under a miMake. Trumbull
was elected Iwo years ago, sup't of Doug
las County. For the same office, for this
County, he received last spring, thirteen
votes.
It pains lis to show up, to the public
gaze, in so unfavorable a light, any citi
zen of Sarpy County, but ihey have per
mitted their names, as the maligners of
an honest man, to be paraded before the
public, through the columns of a hireling
sheet, aud duty and justice prompts us to
detail these facts, that the admirers of this
trio, may see what manner of men they
are and in what estimation they are held
by this community.
To conclude, are not the above trio, just
such kind of men, necessary for Ctnp
man'f vile purposes, to carry on the kind
of warfare, he (Chapman) is an adept in?
He knows his tools and how to select
them, and how to plan their dirty work.
follows: being tho North East quarter of
Section number nine, (11) in Township
number thirteen, (13) north of mnge
thirteen, (13) east; and this deponent
says, that he knows of his own personal j
knowledge, that said Judge Fenner Fer- j
guson, did, sometime in tho month of;
April, A.D. 1S.",7, build u comfortable:
atnl substantial house as above described,!
and immediately thereafter, to w it : in the
month of April and May, nt the yeur
next above written, plow lrom sixteen to
seventeen acres ot land, or Hootit Unit;
quantity of land, in amount nol less than
sixteen ucres, all on the trad described
above: and this deponent further says,
that the land so plowed, was immediately,
to wits in the month of May and June,
A. I). 1837, planted to corn, sown to oats,
and planted to potatoes, cabbages, beets,
onions nnd other garden vegetables ; nnd
the various crops Ds above described, were
raised on said land; aud this deponent
further says, that Judge Fenner Fergu
son, with his own hands, a d th? help of
this deponent, in the months of April and
May, A. D. 1857, complete the fencing
of eighteen acres of said land, as above
described; nnd this deponent further says,
that he knows of hi own personal knowl
edge, that the said Judg-e Fenner Fergu
son, with his wife and children, did live
upon said land, as above described ; that
their household furniture and goods, were
moved on to the premises, and that the
said Judge Fenner Ferguson, did reside
with his family, upon the premises as
above described, before and at the lime
he pre-empted said land, to wit: on the
0th day of July, A. 1). 1S-37, and that he,
Judge Feimer Fergus-jn, nnd his family,
did live in the house above mentioned, on
siid trad of land, which houso said Judge
Fenner Ferguson, with his own hands,
and the help of this deponent, built; and
this deponent furtuer suys, that he was the
witness for Judge Fennor- rerguson, in
proving up his right to pre-empt said land,
and all the facts set forth by Judge Fen
ner Ferguson, at that time, in his affida
vit, (and this deponent, as the witness,)are
true ; and f his deponent 'further says that
he knows-one Eli P.Watson, living in
the County aforesaid and Territory afore
said, and thut he knows that said hli P.
Watson held a personal animosity ngninst
Judge Fenner Ferguson; and this depo
nent says he telieves that said Kit P
Watson, in making an adiduvit, as he has
le en credibly informed, lhai he did make
nn affidavit, against the pre-emption of
Judge tenner ierguson, was prompted
by malice; und made said affidavit for
the purpose of preiudicinir the claims of
Judge Fenner Ferguson, to his seat in
the present Congress, as a Delegate from
this territory.
Attest. WM. GREENHOUSE
R. S. McEwr.s.
Suultscrihcd, nnd sworn to, more me
this the i!3d day of November, A. D. !So7.
ltness my hand and seal of ofuce.
SILAS A. STRICKLAND,
Notary public, in and for Sarpy County
Nebraska Territory.
Thomas Ik Lemon, being duly sworn
depo.-es nod says, tha the has lived in Sarpy
'County, Nebraska Territory, since the
15th day of Mav, A D. 1S7; that he is
well acquainted with Judge Fenner Fer
guson of this County ; that he has seen
lime without number, Judge Fenner Fer
guson, going in llie direction of his claim
with a team, nnd implements of husband
ry, and that on the last of June, or the
first of July, 1N7, be saw Judge Fen
ner Ferguson, and his family, packing up
his household goods, and was informed by
Judge Fenner Ferguson, and his wife, ul
that time, that they were moving to their
claim ; and this deponent further says
that on the same day above mentioned, in
which he saw the Judge and his family
packing up his goods, tie saw Judge i en
tier Ferguson, with a load of household
goods, and his family, going in the direc
lion ot the Judge s claim ; ana inn depo
nent tunner says, he knew mat said
Judge Fenner Ferguson', was at dint time
absent with his family, from Hellevue
about one week ; and this deponent te
lieves, from may reasons, that said Fer
guson and his fsmily, were , residing upon
their claim. Ibis deponent further says
that at the time, he was boarding at llie
Bentou House, iu Hellevue, with his fam
ily, and thai said ' House was kept by
firm known as Stoddard & Cotl'man.
THOMAS 11. LEMON.
Hum in tli sproi; or A. p. ts.,7, trri t a
liwrlliri)' liou'c, uixm the tract of laud tle-s.
scril'fcl, above. As pre-cmptrd by .fud Fm
nrr Fimc'i0'1? n'' ",at said J'mige Femur
1'rrgiison, did, with his family, live upon and
occupy said premises, ss above ilejcnbcil. in
tli saininrr season, I ant pt, A. 1). IKj7
and tbia deponent futher states, that he knows
that said Jiilp Fenner FtrRtnon, did the ut
season past, to wit: the summer of 13.Y7, cul
tivate, fence, and raise a crop, or crops, upon
said prrtniHea, above deacribetl and this depo
nent further gays, that he has been informed,
that one l'.li I. Watson, had made oath, that
said Judge Fenner Ferguson, had never resid
ed upon, or cultivated, the tract of land, de
scribed above, as pre-empted by him, Judge
Fenner Ferguson; and this deponent further
states, that he believes that snrh oath or state
ment, if iniiJe by Raid Watson, was made
wiili the malicious ami willful intent, to prej
udice Jndje Fenner Ferguson's claim to his
seat in Congress, as delegate from this territory-
as well as to the great damage of said
Judge Fenner Ferguson's reputation, and just
ri'-liU, in the premises.
BERNIIARD MEYER.
Subscribed and sworn to, before me, this
3tUh day of November, A. D. 1K57; witness
my hand and seal of office.
SILAS A. STRICKLAND.
I Notary Public in and
for Sarpv County, Ne
( braska Territory.
Louis Meter, being duly sworn, deposes
and nays, that he has heard the forrgniiig ati
iilavit.of Uernhard Meyer's read, and that he
is a son of the deponent, above descibed, and
that he knows, of his own personal Knowledge
tli.it the matters and tacts, set forth, in said
tier FiTgu-Hin, did, during the Miring nnd ffidavit, nre all true; and the deponent fuith
0 1 13 3 1 1 1 1 1 a. V.. I.n ..mi-ill
Munuier of the present year, to wit : A.
I). 1K37, cultivate, fence, nnd otherwise
improve said premiees ns above derscribed.
ANDREW M. POLLOCK.
Subscribed nnd sworn lo before me this
the IlOth day of November, A I). 1S-37.
Witness my hand and seal of office.
SILAS A. STRICKLAND,
Notary Public, in nnd for Sarpy County,
Nebraska Territory.
Lemuel Iklden, being duly sworn, de
poses and sa s, that he has resided in what
is nr iv known us Sarpy County, Nebraska
Territory, since September, A. D. 1S.1G ;
that he is well ncquuinted with Judge Fen
ner Ferguson, and has been since that
time ; that he is well acquainted with the
tract of laud, lo wit : ihe North East
quarter of Section nine, (9) Township
thirteen, (13) North of Kange ihirteeu,
(10) iAist ot the principal meridian, pre
empted by Judge Fenner Ferguson, on
the MXth duy of July, A. D. 1S37 ; that
10 knows of his own personal knowledge,
inl said Judge 1 cnnerl-erguson, did cul
tivate, occupy, improve by fencing and oth
erwise, the trad of, lend nbwe described,
le last summer past, to wit ; the summer
of A. D. 1857, and this deponent further
stntes, he saw.Judge Fenner Ferguson al
the time he moved his household goods,
nnd family, on to said land, sometime in
the fore pnrt of the last summer, to wit:
. D. 1507, ihat he was a loa der nt the
Henton House, in LVllevue, ut the time,
which house was kept by a firm known as
Colfmnn & Stodurd ; that ho has heard
that one Eli 1 .Watson, had made an affi
davit to the effect that Judge Fenner Fer
guson, hnd never lived upon, or c iltiviited
said land, above described; and that he
eiily believes, that taid affidavit was
made by said Eli P. Watson, if made at
all by him, for ihe purpose of prejudicing
the claims of Judge Fenner Ferguson, to
ns seat m Congress, us a Delegate from
this Territory, and for this purpose only.
L KM I EL. liELULK.
Subscribed und sworn to, before me,
n Notary Public, in and for Sarpy Coun-
py. u I'ness my hand and seal of office,
this the 30:h day of November, A. D.
1S.T7. SILAS A. STRICKLAND,
Notary Public, in nnd for Sarpy County,
Nebraska Territory. '
Wiluam Wu.kv, being duly sworn, de
poses sna says, tiiat lie is now me county
Freasurer of harpy county, INehraika lerri-
torv. That he lias resided m what is now
known as Sarpv roontv, Nebraska territory,
since the fall of A. 1). 1S.")4; that lie has
known well, and intimately, Judge Fenner
Ferguson, since that time; that he is well ac
quainted with the tract of land, to wit: the
north east quarter of section nine f, town-
sum thirteen U, norm or range uiirieen
D, east of the principal meridian, pre-empted
bv Judge Fenner Ferguson, July the rtth,
A. I. 157; that he, Wilev, did sometime in
he month of August, A. 1). 18.V7; pre-empt
the south west quarter of the earn section,
pre-empted by Judge Fanner Ferguson; that
lie, Wiley, resided upon the said quarter sec
tion, wlurli lie pre-empted, In a dwelling
house of his own, and cultivated and raised a
crop on lite s:iiue. to wit: t'ue last summer,
past; and that from the above favorable ccr
rumstanees for personal observation, he
states, that he knows, of bis own personal
know ledge, that said Judge Fenner Ferguson,
did w ith his ows hands and the help of o.hers,
erect sometime in the spring of A. V. I-)
a dwelling ho ixe, on the north east quarter of
section nine '., township thirteen 13J.
north of range thirteen 1 1J 1, east, ami Hint
aid Judge Fenner Ferguson, did occupv, cul
tivate, fence, and raise a crop on said land,
above described, the last season past, to wit;
the summer or A. V. 107.
WILLIAM WILEY.
Attest. In presence of )
S. A. Struklano. $
Subscribed and sworn to before mt this
thitieth day of November, A. D. 157; wit
ness uiy hand and seal of orne.
ILA3 A. STRICKLAND.
C Notary Public io and
for Sarpy County, Ne-
f barska jerruory.
Br.axii4D Mrves. being dnlv sworn, de
noses and says, that he has resided with his
family on the north-west qtuirter of section
sixteen 116, township thirteen 13, north of
ranpe thirteen 13, east; in Sarpy countv,
Nebraska Territory, since March, A. D. l"5ft;
that he hat known intimately, since that time,
Judge Fenner Ferguson, of said ounty, and
territory; that be knows well the tract of land
prs-empled bv Judge Fenner Ferguson, Julv
6th, A.P. 18f7, to wit: the north-esst quarter of
sec nop sins W, township thirteen HJ, norm
of range thirteen 13, cast of the principal
meridian; that said tract of laud, pre-empted
bv Judge tenner Ferguson, as stated and de
scribed above, is by section lines, exsctlv one
hstf a mile from this deponent's land. describ
ed above, which this deponant pre-emnld at
1 ihe land ofnc, at Omaha City, the 14'h day,
j of July, A. ti. I?J": and upon which land
I this deponent, since Msrch, A. T. l.Vi, h.
er slates, that he has been, in person, many
times upon the premises, described in the afli
davit, of liernliard Meyers, as those pre-empted
by Judge Fenner Ferguson, the summer last
past, and that he knows Judge Fenner Fergu
son, with his family, consisting of -his wife
nnd three children, andhimielf, were residing
upon the premises as described above, and tins
deponent says, that he is in his twenty-s-eond
vear. and has lived with his father, since he
has lived in Sarpy county, Nebraska Terrilory.
LOUIS MEYF.K.
Subscribed and sworn to. before me, this
HOlli day of November, A. D. 1S.)7; witness
my hand and seal of office.
SILAS A. STRICKLAND.
t Notary Public In and
2 for Sarpv County, Ne
( braska Terrritory.
Silas A. Strickland, being duly
sworn, deposes and suys, that he was a
member of the last Legislature, and i3 a
member of the present Legislature, of
the Territory of Nebraska, ns a repre
sentative lrom rarpy County, inatne
has been a resident of what is known as
Sarpy County, in said Territory, since the
fall of A.D. IH.U. That he has known
Judge Fenner Ferguson, since that time.
That he knows the traot of land pre-empted
by the said Judge Fenner Ferguson,
on iho 6th day of July, A. D. 1857, to
wit : the N. E. quarter of Section nine,
Township thirteen, north of Range thir
teen, east of the 6th principal meridian,
situated in Sarpy County, Nebraska Ter
ritory. That he knows of his own per
sonal knowledge, that said Judge Fenner
Ferguson, did occupy by living on the
premises, above described, with his fami
ly, the last summer past, to wit: A.D.
1S37. That the said Judge Fenner Fer
gu.-on, cmtivmeti ny raiding several vari
ous kinds of crops upon said premises, de
scribed above, the last season past. That
the aid Judge Fenner Ferguson, raided,
cultivated and gathered, or caused to be
gathered, said crops; and this deponent
further says, that he is well acquainted
with the laws of the United States, and
their provisions relating to the right of
nre-emntions, and he knows of his own
rersonnl knowledge, that Judije Fenner
-IS
t ereuson, did honorably comply witn the
spirit of the law, and was thereby justly
untied to the nodit ot pre-empting the
said described tract of land; and this do
ponent further savs, that he personally
knew that judge ien.iu.-r iergusoH, rid
not leave a residence which he had a title
in the territory, for the puriiose ot pre
empting the said described truct of land ;
and iunher, this deponent verily belives
that the . only land in this territory, to
which the said Judge Fenner Ferguson
has right by title, 111 the said tract pre
empted as above named, to wit : on the
6th day of July, A.D. 18.57; and this de
ponent further says, that he knows well,
one L.I1 1'. ivatson; also, one A. i.
Trumbull, who, he has been credibly in
formed, had made affidavit, to ihe eilect,
that Judge Femier Ferguson, hud not
complied with the law, in such cases made
and provided, in pre-empting the tract
above described, und that he verily be
lieves, that if said aflidavits were so made,
by tho persons above named, they were
made lor the purpose of prejudicing
the claim of ihe said Judge Fenner Fergu
son, to his scut in Congress as the Delgute
from litis territory, und for the further
purpose of gratifying a personal revenge,
by reason of a personal difliculty, which
this deponent knows to have existed for a
long time, and by reason thereof, the said
parties opposed the election of the said
Judge Fenner Ferguson, in August last,
as they frequently expressed themselves
to this deponent. Further, this deponent
siiith not.
SILAS A. STRICKLAND.
Subscribed and sworn to, before me,
this 30th day of November, A. D. 1857.
NVitness my hand and seal of office,
T. JJ. LEMON,
Notary public, in and for Sarpy County,
Nebraska Territory.
lid trad of land, by plowing, fencing.
and planting dill'erent kinds of vegetables,
and raised, and gathered, and garnered,
the snuio ; and this deponent further says,
that he, of his own personal knowledge,
knows that tho said Fenner Ferguson,
did not leave a residence to which he had
a title, for the purpose of pre-empting the
said above described tract of land.
A. C. STRICKLAND.
Subscribed and sworn to, before me,
this the .10th day of November, A.D. 1957.
Witness my hand und seal of office,
T. II. LEMON,
Notary Public, in and for Sarpy County,
Nebraska Territory.
Marshall W. Stoddard, being du
ly sworn, deposes and snys, that he was
for the Inst summer past, one of the firm
of Cofl'man & Stoddard, proprietors of the
Ilenton House, in Hellevue, Sarpy Coun
ty, Nebraska Territory, that one Eli P.
VVntsjn, presented to him sometime in the
nieiith of September, last, an affidavit
written, by whom, he does not know.
That said affidavit was general, and that
he signed it, and that he makes this affi
davit, for the purpose of explaining said
affidavit ; that he lived as he had stated,
a few rods from the place formerly occu
pied by Judge Fenner Ferguson, some
time before he pre-empted his claim;
that said Judge Fenner Ferguson might
have cultivated, occupied, nnd improved
the claim he pre-empted, and this depon
ent not hnve known it, as this deponent's
business occupied all his attention about
his own premises.
MARSHALL W. STODDARD.
Subscribed and sworn to, before me,
this ihe second day of December, 187.
Witness my hand and seal of office,
SILAS A. STRICKLAND.
Notary Public, in and for Sarpy County,
Nebraska Territory.
Washington, Nov 13. 1857.
Despatches were received by the Stale
Department to day from Chief Justice
Echols, of . Utah, dated at " Camp on
Sweet Water, twenty one miles east of
South Pass, October 13, 1857." Judge
Echols.says:
"An express has just arrived from
Green River, and reports that on the night
of Oct. 5, a train of twenty six wagons
was captured by the Mormons, twenty live
miles from the Pacific Spring. At the
same time two oilier trains were taken
near Green River in all seventy eight
wagons and loading. The Mormons said
they had seven hundred men there, and
fifteen hundred more al Salt Lake City. ,
" Col. Alexander is encamped on Ham
Fort, thirty miles in advance of the front
train, which is destroyed, lie sent lapt.
Many with four hundred men back to
Green River, to enable the teamsters to
collect their cattle.
The Mormons killed no one, for the
reason thut no resistance was made.
" Cot. Smith will collect the trains on
this side and escort them forward. One
train is now before us and two behind.
We are in good spirits, and that is a great
help to all. The Mormons will likely at
tack us in a day or two and may rue their
impudence. We have forty seven men
in this command, but Col. Smith is a host
within himself. We have determined, if
attacked, to use the rifles in the lines.
We shall most likely take the route on
Bear River for Salt Luke City. The
want of forage for our mules is the great
est hindrance, but we will go on if we
have lo walk and carry our provisions."
The above despatch, showing the first
overt act of Mormon treason, was imme
dirtely laid before the President of the
United Slates, who summoned the mem-,
bers of the Cabinet for consultation upon
its contents.
The intelligence was considered iu
Cabinet meeting in the afternoon, but no
definite action determined on. The Sec
retary of War thinks it would be hopeless
to attempt to send reinforcements or sup
plies so late in ihe season as this. Des
patches are anxiously looked for from
Col. Johnson, who is incotmrand of the
army for Utah.
A. C. Stbicklawd, of the city of
Bellevue, Sarpy County, Nebraska Terri
tory, being duly sworn, deposes and says,
that he has been a resident of said ci'y and
county, since the eleventh day of August,
A. D. 1856. ' That he has known Judge
Fenner Ferguson, intimately, since thut
time. , That he knows the tract of land,
pre-empted by tha taid Judge Femier
Ferguson, on tho 6th day of July, A. D.
19-37, to wit: the N. E quarter of section
nine. Township thirteen, north of range
thirteen, east of the 6th principal merid
ian ; nnd tbi- drpoio-nt fuither snys, that
The BtLLtvuE Gazette. We have
received several numbers of the above
paper, from which we learn that its Newt
and Local department, is under the edito
rial management of Henry M. Kurt, a
young Printer from New England, who
was in the Journal Office for a couple of
months brfore going to Nebraska. Mr..
Purl is one among the many young men
who have left their New England Homes
to make one for themselves in this glori
ous western country. We are pleased to
see Mr. Hurt, thus prosperous in his pro
fession, and wUh him success in his pres
ent undertaking all but the bogus demoe
racy! and so far as this is concerned,
we hope he will inculcate wherever and
whenever he can, the only true principles
of our beloved country, freedom and the
rights of humanity.
"We annex Aij Platform. Bttoxi ( Ww.)
Journul.
Bellevue G a sett b. From the far
Terrilory of Nebraska, comes a good
looking paper, with the above title, edited
by Henry M. Bun. Judging from the
advertisements, &.C., Bellevue is a lively
and flourishing place, with hosts of law
yers, doctors, merchants, &c. May suc
cess attend this new paper, and may it
advocate the true democratic doctrine of
equal rights to all of every race, color and
clime. CAif opes (Mass.) journal. fj
Those who visit Jthe national collection
of curiosities over the Patent Office in
Washington City, w ill find in one of the
esses, duly labeled, a piece of leather said
to be tanned from the skin of a negro iu
Georgetown, D. C.
