Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-03-06
Narrative John DOy, of Lawrence, KanEd

The escape OfDr. Doy from confinement in
Missouri prison, where he had for months been
confined undera false charge ofinducing slaves
to run away, together with a sketch of his
previous history in Kansas as one Of the pioneer
settlers is related in pamphlet of one hundred
and thirty pages, 1t is "a plain, unvarnished
tale" of the brutalizing effects of slavery upon a
large number of our white population as well
as the negro race. DR.. DOY does not attempt
to create any excitement, or appear to write
under the influence of feelings that might
readily be pardOned under such circumstances
We give few extracts illustrative of the inter
state slave trade.
A day or two after, another slave trader, Of
the firm of White, Williams & Co., of Weston,
quite extensive dealers in human flash; but, 1
believe, as kind and humane as men can Possi-
bly, be in that trade, brought in a fine specimen
of a man, twenty five years old, strong, muscu>
lar and intelligent, blacksmith by trade, for
whom eighteen hundred dollars had been paid.
His name was George, and he was from New
market, where he had been working two years
for a man who had never given him dime for
his services, he having paid for his clothing
during that time by working on Sundays and
holidays.
This trader took the handouts from George
when he got him into the Jail, and reprOTed him
for a remark be had made to his former master
which he said displayed a very improper and
unchristan fee ling. It was, II hope TO meet
you at the bar of a just God, before you are sent
TO hell" 81. .e
Very early one morning a yellow man was
brought in, who said he had been kidnapped
from Kansas in the night As he stood weep
ing, the picture of despair, with his wrists
handcuffed across each other, he said to the
man who brought him, and who, it seems, had
bought him of the kidnappers, ''I told you l
was free; and am, or ought to be, as free as
you are. I've got my free papers in my pOck-
et"
Without word, the trader put his hand into
the poor mans pocket. and pulled cut tin case
five or six inches long, opened it by removing
the lid, took out the papers which proved that
he WAS entitled to bis freedom, read them, tere
them up and threw them into the stove. And
that NAN was driven off south that very night
with large gang Of slaves.
Some of the slaves brought in from the
neighboTing plantations told me that the slaves
in Platte county were winter than anywhere
else, and consequently, more sensitive and
wretched; that both men and women were
worked harder in the hempfelds; were whip
ped oftener and for less cause; that less regard
was paid to the separation of families, and that
they had the fear of being sold South more
constantly put before their eyes than in any
other State. And this was told me by old
slaves who had been in more States than one.
In the afternoon, before one of these gangs
was sent of, a very dark woman was brought in
with quite a light-colOred baby. One Of the
traders asked the owner, likewise trader W hat
he was going to do with the brat. Odd il
l know" was the reply "1'm bothered to
know what TO do with it,
I'VE can't take it in the wagons and have it
EqualIing all the way"
Here" said the owner to an inhabitant Of
Platte City, who Just then came in with boy
for sale, "don't you want this thingl You may
have it for twenty-five dollars. D-n it, he
continued, snatching the babe from its m1theT's
arms by the shoulder and netting it, ''it weik his
twenty i'e pounds Will you take it!"
"Yes."
Take it now"
And the child was carried off amid the hearts
rending shrieks and pleadings of the agonized
mother. 1s
When the slaves were brought to the Jail
and learned what was to be their fate, often
entirely unsuspeeted by them, the men would
beg the traders to allow them to see their wives
and children before leaving. The traders inva.
riablY promised to crafty them; their wives
and children should come to the Jail to>mor.
row or the next day; but as invariably that
morrow never came to the poor, despairing
fathers and husbands. They were generally
driven off in the night, and no opportunity was
allowed them TO bid farewell to those whom
they held dear, and whom they might never
hope to see again on earth. Oh may God
preserve me from ever again witnessing such a
scene of suffering and anguish as always at
tends the departure of slave coffie for the
South
The follOEing is the account given of his
final escape from Kansas City jail: .o
About IL o'clock in the midst Of storm, as
we were still watching at the grated window,
we heard a loud knocking at the Jail door,
which we could not see, and after while the
jailer's voice from his window, asking, "Who's
there What do you want %
"We're from Andrew county, and we've got
prisoner we want to put into Jail for safe
keeping. Come down quick" was the an.
sWeT
"Who is hel I"
"a notOnOus morse thief"
"Have you got aWarranti"
"NO; but it's all right"
81 can't take e man in without authority"
eff you don't it'll be too bad; for he is
desperate character, and we've had hard work
to catch him. Wen satisfy you in the morn
ing that all's right"
The iailer then went down and LET them IA,
and-as was afterwards told-when they were
n, aaHA al l. Il
in without warrant and turning 10 the sup
posed horse thief: ''What do YOU say DO
you think they'll be able to convict you ~
Ne, they won't, replied the thief, "to be sure
they found the horse in my possession, but
they can't prove stole him." "Well," said
the jailer, if they found the horse in
your possession, guess they're right enough,
and III lock you up"
Soon we heard steps on the stairs, and hur.
ried into bed, dressed as we were, covering
ourselves with the bedclOthes.
The outdoor Of our cell was opened, and
looking out the corner of my eyes, without
moving my head, I could see the jailer, and the
horse.lhief with his hands tied and held tightly
BY two men, while another was just visible a
little behind. There was quite paEley at the
doEf, and the horse-th.sf seemed TO draw back.
Then the jailer unlocked and opened the iron
grating, anL ordered him in. The thief still
drew back, and said, Il won't be put in with
niggers."
''0h! we don't keep niggers here,n replied
the jailer, ''they're down below"
"Have you got old DOy, the abolitionist, in
herei" asked one of the men, still keeping hold
Of the hoFse>thief, and pressing forward into
the doorway, as if curious to see me-
doctor DOy is here" answered the jailer
"That's the man we come for" exclaimed one.
The other said, Friend, we have deceived thee
Urtil now, but it was necessary for our purpose.
We have not come to put man into prison, but
to take out oft one who is unjustly confined n
At the same time the horse thief freed his
wrists from his bonds, which were suddenly
metamorPhosed into slung-shot, tue ball Of
which he had concealed in his hand, and sprapg