The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-08-29
Fiull tLt J,LOn Alas
INTERESTING LETTER FROM KAN
sAS-THE BRUTAL MURDER Of
CHARLES DOl AND THE TWO WAE-
FILES -OtIRAGES UPON TWO wO
MEN AND tIIIiDtEH BN RURDER
ISl lEElANS.

The private letter below was put into our
hands hy Dr. boy OF Kansas, who. il will bc
recOllected. was arrested some months ago, in
Kansas for an alleged attempt tp aid in the
escape OF fugitive slaves. He was imprisoned
and sentenced to o. year, in the Missouri Peni-
tentiary. bat was rescued Ly party at the
head OF which was hi, son Charles. Thi- was
the c.tus, oi the brutal murders which are de-
tailed below. The letter is from a Mr.. Archi-
bald. friend Of Dr. boy, and gives graphically
the horrible detail of these murders. 80 atroc-
iols a. those for which the Internal william
Hicks was hung let these dcspcradocs are at
large, and there is no prospect that any justice
will Lrng them 10 their merlted punishment.
IAwREScE, Kansas Territory, July l., l75o.
Ny DEAR FRIEND Mr.. boy and myself have
u,t returned from the most exciting journey
ever travelled. We went to Moneka, beauii-
ful town seYenty-live miles south Of Lawrence.
where your son Charles appears to have large
interest. (siX full town shares, containing a
number Of building lots eachD Although it il
near the Missouri line, it appear to have grown
very fast and it i quite a thriving country
around it, The circumstances connected with
Charles murder are these:
On the night If the 9TH Of July, about mid
night a gang of about twenty men surrounded
the house OF Mr.. Martin. whose house stands
some little distance from the town. where
Charles was stopping while he attended to bus
inesS connected with his interest there. They
called out Charles name, and Mr. VI. went to
the door. Charles called out that whoever
wanted him was To step 10 the door They still
continued to stand of, and demanded Charles
to come out or they would set FIRE 10 the house,
using at the same time the most awful language.
| Mrs. Martin expecting 10 be confined every day.
Charles thought it not best to endanger her.
| He, therefore. actually sprang out and ran the
| gauntlet through the crowd. receiving a severe
shot through the leg. near the knee. Although
| a yolley OF shots were fired after him. he sue
| ceeded in getting TO the house Mr. Henry Wat
| fe Gate Of New York Stateb some distance On.
The ,cretche: then actually set fire to the lOuSe
OF Mr.. Martin. with his poor wife in that condi'
! ton. giving them siX hour- To leave the coun-
| try Ii appears Mr. Waffle and his son Harvey
! seeing the house If their neighbOr Ia flames
had gone towards it to assist them. Charles
aud the Waffle passed each other without eth
er party knowing H. Mr. Waffle says Charle'
prepared deliberately 10 receive them. shOlld
they follow him there. loading the guns and pis
tol- He put the little ones under the bed, anC
advised Mrs W TO follow them a. soon a. sh'
heard them coming. In the meantime the par
Il Of ruftsns had seen old Mr.. W. and son 90
ing to assist u put out the fire. and told then
tIey also had to die When the Old man aske,
WHY the answer was. On account OF the part n
had taken in past troubles. They were bot
totally unarmed. The soa took to his heels
but though badly wounded in the leg, stil
made the woods. The old man received seve
: raj shots, but still called to his boys TO brin
, hi rife. But another yolley took one side {
his face and head Of. and be fell dead. Ii al
pears they succeeded in getting Cbarles' no!