Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1860-08-10
MISCELLA a d Y.
Border Ruflians Again at Work,

From the Boston Atlas and Bee
The private letter below was put into
our hands hy DIR. boy of Kansas, who, il
will be recollected, was arrested some
months ago in Kansas for an alleged at
tempt 70 aid in the escape of fugitive slaves.
He was imprisoned and sentenced to 60
years in the Missouri Penitentiary, but was
rescued by party, at the head of which
was his son Charles. This was the cause
OF the brutal murders which are detailed
below. The letter is from a Mr.. Arcbi.
bald, friend Of DR.. Doy, and gives graph
ically the horrible details of these murders.
as atrocious as those for which the Internal
william Hicks was hung, Yet these desper-
ADDE'S are at large, and there is no prospect
that any justice will bring them to their
merited punishment
LAWRENCE, Kansas Territory
July 18th, 1860.
MY DEAR FRIEND-Mrs. Doy and my
self have just returned from the most ex-
citing journey | ever travelled. We went
to Moneka, beautiful town seventy-five
miles south Of Lawrence, where your son
Charles appears to have large interest,
(six full town shares, containing number
of building lots each.) Although it is near
the Missouri line, it appears to have grown
very fast, and is quite a thriving country
around ii. The circumstances connected
with Charles murder are these: On the
night of the fifth of July, about midnight,
gang Of about 20 men surrounded the
house of Mr. Martin, whose house stands
some little distance from the town, where
Charles was stopping while he attended to
business connected with his interest there.
They called out Charles name, and Mr..
NJ. went TO the door. Charles called out
that whoever wanted him was to step to the
door.
They still continued to stand off, and de-
manded Charles to come out or they would
set fire to the house, using at the same time
the most awful language. Mrs. Martin
expecting TO 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 Sc
we're shot through the leg near the knee.
Although volley of shots was fred after
him, he succeeded in getting to the house
of Mr.. Henry Waffle, (late of New York
State,) some distance off The aoretcAes
then actually set fire to the house of Mr..
Martin, with his poor wife in that condition.
giving them six hours to leave the country.
1t appears Mr.. Waffle and his son Harvey
seeing the house of their neighbor in flames
had gone towards it TO assist them. Charles
and the Waffles passed each other, without
either party knowing it. Mrs. Waffle says
Charles prepared deliberately to receive
them, should they follow him there, loading
the guns and pistols.
He put the little children apder the bed,
and advised Mrs. W. to follow them as
soon as she heard them coming. In the
meantime the party of ruffians had seen
old Mr.. w. and son going to assist TO put
out the fire, and told them they also had to
die. When the old man asked why, the
answer was, on account of the part he had
taken in past troubles, They were both
totally unarmed. The son took to his
heels, but, though badly wounded in the leg
still made the woods. The old man re-
ceived several shots, but still called to his
boys to bring his rife. But another volley
took one side of his face and head off, and
he fell dead. 1t appears they succeeded
in getting Charls's money, he leaving it in
his hurry. It was quite sum, with which
he was about TO continue his claim contest
with one of the same stripe that now lives
on his farm.
To return TO the house of VIM. Waffle
they were not molested that night !;
Charles 1t appears, lame as he was by the
shot, assisted by old Mrs. Waffle actually
fetched home the body of the old man,
went to the store for nails and necessary
things to make coffin, then went into a
ravine near and dug a grave; getting all
ready to bury the old man, although Mrs.
Waffle says she begged him 10 think of
himself, and make his escape, as they would
kill him. But he locked round upon the
little children and the widow, and the
wounded son whom he had succeeded in
getting from the woods, and said he could
not leave them, but would die protecting
them. The editor Of the Mound City pa
per told me that Charles attended to the
wants of the family at the store and in the
town that day. as if nothing was the matter
more than common. At midnight, Mrs.
W. said. while he gas screEing down the
lid of the coffin, as they we're about to bury
the old man, the gang again appeared, and
GOT close TO the house before Charles OBJ
served them, when he sprang into the bed
room. put the little ones under the bed, and
carried the gun. &c, that he bad prepared
70 the door. and eoutinned to fire till all
we're discharged II appears he mortally