Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1859-02-24
The Missouri Kidnappers.

Doctor Doy and son, who were forcibly
kidnapped from Kansas, have written let
ter from their Jail in Missousi. We sup
nose but one is now in confinement as the
Leavenworth Times stated that both es-
capped from Jail and but one was retaken.
The indignities heaped upon these men
when captured and taken to Missouri are
past belief. On arriving at Weston, Mo-,
they were thrown into a police office and
slept all night on the floor. They say:
In the morning we were taken through
the streets, the people shouting, bells
ringing, DC. should have said at night,
on landing, salutes were fired, DC, and a
gtnnd supper was had by the captors, while
every insult possible was heaped upon us.
Candles were held to our faces to observe
us. We were then taken to the Court
House, amidst motley group, using such
language as l never heard-"give them
hemp"-"the rope is ready &c, and were
informed; that they were ready to Try us.
We stated We wished for day or so to
get counsel, as we knew not man in Mis-
souri,; but no, we must proceed. We
might take lawyer, they mentioned, if
we had money to pay him. They had our
money, we told them, and we were in
their hands, and they could do as they chose
with us. After the mockery Of trial
ended, l sat down and wrote protest as
citizen of Kansas against the whole pro-
ceeding. We were committed for trial
for stealing negro named Dick, car
penter, fiddler, &c. We were then hand
cufed, four trial comes off Feb. 2O-the
bail, S., ,OOO,) and taken to Platte City Jail,
where we now are. The inha bilants guard
the Jail every night.
We learn that Committee came over
from Leavenworth to demand us, but they,
with other friends who have come over,
were sent back without seeing US. We
have not seen friend since we were taken.
Oh! my country how free thou art! How
can we get ready for trial, knowing no one,
and not allowed to see any one? We lay
two lights in Weston in irons, before
brought here. Some of the colored men
are here in prison that were in the wagons,
as they would not choose masters nor ad-
nit they were slaves, being born free
February Sd l saw terrible sight. Jake
H rd came into the prison, having cov-
cred buggy at the door, ordered the free
boys, George Wilson Hayes, late cook at
Eldridge Hotel, Lawrence, and Charles
Smith, of Brownsville, Pa, to come out
and get in. They said they would wait in
prison till their free papers came. Jake
took his whip and unmercisully whipped
them till they consented to 60 with him
God only knows where. He said-"I am
your master now, and by God will make
you obey me-"
We have not seen person that we knew
since our imprisonment-yet we are to pre-
pare for trial on the goth of this month
Can it be that We are deserted in this our
extremity, or that the people of Kansas
will see their fellow citizens kidnapped and
imprisoned and tortured by the residents
of another State, without lifting a hand, or
extending word of sympathy? Neither
myself nor my son have committed any
crime or offence. We have violated no
law, and yet we are now Gagged and fettered
in Missouri cell.
We are very filthy, having no water to
wash with, and, the stencil is horrible. My
eyes are weak, in fact am almost blind
with the darkness of the iron box, or ma
talic coffin, in which We eat, sleep, and are
shown TO persons, who with candle, take
a view of the "two live Abolilionists '-
But as the cause of Freedom demands this,
we say welcome to it all; and if Missouri
desires TO become Free State sooner than
many expect, why then let them make US
dance on nothing. All VIC ask is that the
citizens of Kansas stand to Freedom, and
if our blood or our sacrifices will aid in ad-
vancing the cause, it shall be freely offered.
We would like to be treated like prison
ers (not like brutes, and for ourselves, only
desire to have fair trial. We despair Of
both, however, as long as we remain where
we now are, and throw ourselves upon the
kindness and protecting care of the AL
mighty God.
DOCTOR DOY.
CHARLES DOY.