The National tribune., 1910-11-03
THE REIGN OF THE VIGILANCE COMMITTEE
At Baxter Springs, Kan., Winter of 1866 and 1867.
By ROBERT MORRIS PECK, Alias Number 81"
Copyright, 1907, by Norris Peck, a

Gibson during the war I had known
jeff Davis, Doc" Armstrong and Joe
boydston by sight, and when 1 met
them at BAXTER Springs I had spoken
TO them occasionally, but declined to
, cultivate any intimacy; for, altho our
new community was very much mixed
ana one could not be very particular
about choosing acquaintances, 1 knew
100 much about the reputation of these
men to desire to be considered one of
thell associates. And l also hoped to
avoid mourning their i'll will; l merely
wanted to have but little to do with
them In any way
Under the circumstances, possibly
my holding aloof from them may have
led them to believe that / was secret
Ey plotting and working to their preju
| dice among our Deighbors, or they
may have thought that I knew more
than L really did concerning their pre-
Vious questionable doings at Fort Glib
son, and that j would make trouble
for them, and they therefore feared my
influence.
We did not yet know that there
really was an organized gang of out
laws, or that jeff Davis and his pals
had any connection with them, if there
was. we only suspected 1t. l had not
received any hint or indication that
these men entertained any but friendly
ieeilngs for me, and nothing to found
a suspicion on that | was considered
lhlmicai to their interests; and l am
loath TO call it a presentiment or pre-
monition that came over me at this
time, but | got to feeling that 1 was
In danger from these men; that they
| considered me a menace to them; that
they had spotted" me. and would avail
themselves of any good opportunity to
remove me from their path. This was
propaplF only an apprehension.
strengthened by my suspicious and
my knowledge of their previous ne
far1ous reputation. But. be that as it
may, was getting to fear them.
Suspicious Aroused.
A little incident occurred about this
time that tended to confirm my sus-
pic1ons that these fellows were plotting
something didn't know what.
against my safety.
AS have said, ] had begun selling
groceries at Baxter Springs. / freight
ed my goods with my own four-muIe
team from Lawrence, Kan, where my
FAMILY was living. I had about fin
lshed my store, had nearly closed out
the load of goods / had brought with
me to Raxter Springs. and was intend
ing TO start back 10 Lawrence In q
few DAYS for some more goods and my
family.
We had no regular mails to Baxter
springs at TINS tlme and no express
or other safe way of transmitting mon
ey. The only way was to watch for
opportunities to send by some reliable
person who might he going up North.
Mr.. Higginbotham, from Leaven-
worth, had built 81 store just across the
street from me and was selling general
merchandise. He and / had become
quite intimate. He was running short
OF some needed goods. and, knowing
that | was expecting soon to go to
Lawrence, had requested me to carry
up some money for him-about 81 900
go on to Leavenworth. pay his bills
there, and order another lot of goods
for him: and ! had promised him that
! would do so.
One day. while was in his store. as
an apology for his stock running low.
he proclaimed to the assembled crowd
of loafers-among whom / noticed Jeff
Davis and Doc Armstrong-that he
would sooa send for some more goods:
was going to send $1,000 up by Mr..
feck to ray up his bills and get a new
supply of many things that he was run
ming short of. and asked:
BY the way. Peck. when are you
going TO get off? / wish you would
hurry up and GO"
To say that l was astonished at his
compromising me in this way by an
nouncing in the hearing of such men
that i was soon to carry n large sum
OF money to LeavenWorth for him, is
putting il mildly
ITO he continued