Messrs. Howard Roles and E. U. Snider,
Deputy Sheriffs of the county of John
son. Gentlemen; Answering your
communication of the 27th inst., request
ing delivery to you of the prisoners now
confined at Fort D. A Russell for the
purpose of taking them to Johnson
county for the purpose of holding prelim
inary examinations, before a committing
magistrate I respectfully refer you to my
letter of the 26th inst., to the county and
prosecuting attorney of your county in
which it was stated that these prisoners
would be held at Fort D. A. Russell un
til the county and prosecuting attorney
had a reasonable and sufficient time in
which to prepare and commence in the
district court of that county any criminal
proceedings against anj’ of these prisoners
which he should deem required and in
which letter it was further stated that
these prisoners would be delivered to the
civil authorities whenever the status of
the prosecutions in the judgment of the
court requires it and order is so restored
and excitement so abated as to render it
safe to do so.
