Description
Thirteen Negroes Captured in Kansas - Men, Women, and Children belonging to citizens in Platte, Clay, Jackson and St. Clair Counties, Missouri, in Charge of 2 Underground Railroad Agents from Lawrence to Iowa! - Dr. Doy & Son! - - Several valuable negroes having been stolen a few days ago from this county, a party followed them - found where they had crossed the Missouri into Kansas, in charge of three white conductors - pursued them to Lawrence, and thence on the great Lane trail towards Iowa.
But immediately after leaving Lawrence they perceived that the fleeing party consisting of 3 white men and 14 negroes could be overhauled at Oskaloosa, almost in sight of Lawrence.
At 10 o’clock in the morning the assault was made upon the 2 wagons. The negroes were well armed, and would have made a deathly resistance had not the white men surrendered after the first fire – no one was killed - and the whole party was captured and brought into this city (Weston, Missouri) about 2 o’clock this morning. The negroes have all been identified as follows:
Wilson Hays, says he is free, 21 years old, bright mulatto, 5 feet 10 inches high.
Chas. (Charles) Smith, says he is free, 24 years old, dark copper color, slightly pockmarked on the nose, about 5 feet, 8 inches high.
Ransom Winston, about 33 years old, dark, 5 feet 7 inches high, says he belongs to the estate of Joseph Winston, of St. Clair County, Missouri.
Dan Bright, about 48 years old, dark, belongs to Widow Bright in McGee’s Addition to Kansas City, Missouri.
Abe Rosbey, about 28 years old, wife and 2 children, one 5 years, the other 18 months old, dark, says he belongs to Roseby of Westport, Missouri.
Ben Logan, about 22 years old, dark, about 5 feet 10 inches, weight 140 pounds, belongs to George Kirk in McGee’s Addition to Kansas City, Missouri.
One girl about 22 years old, named Malinda, dark mulatto, belongs to Mrs. S. M. Wilson, Clay County, Missouri.
Catherine West, bright mulatto, 33 years old, belongs to W. H. Russel, Leavenworth City.
Dick, dark copper, about 35 years old, belongs to W. A. Newman, Weston, Missouri. (Researcher’s note: Benjamin Wood, Mayor of Weston, was Dick’s enslaver)
The name of the scoundrels who were conducting those negroes off are John and Charles Doy and ___ (Wilbur F.) Clough. They had an examination today before Justices Colman and Heriot, and in default of $5000 bail were sent over to the county jail (in Platte City, Missouri).
These are the real facts of the case. The capturing party numbering about 10 men, and embraced some of our best and most influential citizens.Date(s) of Creation
2/4/1859
