The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-11-19

cut off before being put to death! In
credible and preposterous as is this story.
yet there are enough on the frontier who
believe it; and on its strength forces have
been mastering at Westport and are now
on the way to the scene of difficulty to
wreak vengeance"
The false and partisan statements of the
letter-writers of that period were never cor
rected, but, in due time, the "Report of the
Congressional Investigating Committee
reached US, with the affidayits of Mahala
Doyle, John Doyle, James Harris, and Mrs.
Louisa Jane Wilkinson, found on pages 1893
to 1899 of that voluminous report, which we
copy rerbatim below:
AFFIDAVIT OF MAHALA DOYLE.
The undersigned, Mahala Doyle, states
upon cath: l am the widow of the late
James P. Doyle; that We moved into the
Territory, that is, my husband, myself,
and children moved into the Territory of
Kansas some time in November, A. D..
1855, and settled on Mosquito creek, about
one mile from its mouth where it cmpties
into Pottawattamie creek, in Franklin
county; that on Saturday, the Gath day
of May, A. D.. 1856, about II O'Clock at
night, after we had all retired, my husband,
James P. Doyle, myself, and five children,
four boys and one girl-the eldest boy is
about twenty-five years Of age, his name
is William; the next was about twenty
years of age, his name, Drury; the next
is about sixteen years of age, his name is
John; the next is about thirteen years Of
age, her name is Polly Ann; the next is
about ten years of age. his name is james,
the next is about eight years of age, his
name is Charles; the next is about fveyears
of age, his name is Henry-Ve were all
in bed, when we heard some persons come
into the yard and rap at the door and call
for Mr.. Doyle, my husband. This was
about II O'Clock on Saturday night of the
Oath of May last. My husband got up
and went to the door. Those outside in
quired for Mr.. Wilkinson, and where be
lived. Ny husband told them that he
would tell them. Mr.. Doyle, my hus-
band, opened the door, and several came
into the house, and said they were from
the army. Ny husband was pro-slavery
man. They told my husband that he
and the boys must surrender, they were
their prisoners. These men were armed
with pistols and large knives. They first
took my husband out of the house, then
they took two of my sons--the Oldest
ones, William and Drury-out, and then
took my husband and these two boys
William and Drury, away. Ny son John
was spared, because l asked them in tears
to spare him. In short time afterward:
I heard the report of pistols. l heard
two reports, after which heard moaning
as if person was dying; then l heard
q wild whoop. They had asked before
they went away for our horses. We told
them that the horses wereout on the prai
rie My husband and two boys, my sons
did not come back any more. l went ou
next morning in search Of them, and found
my husband and William, my SOD, lying
dead in the road near together, about two
hundred yards from the house. My othel
son l did not see any more until the day
he was buried. l was much overcome
and went to the house. They were buried
the next day. On the day Of the bury.
ing l saw the dead body of Drury. Feal
of myself and the remaining children
induced me to leave the home where we
had been living. We had improved oul
claim little. l left all and went to the
State of Missouri.