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Rescue of Dr. Doy – Account of Incident by One Familiar With It. – Doy was taken from Buchanan County Jail by Free State Compatriots From Lawrence Who Overpowered Sheriff Brown. - - (excerpted from longer article):
“Dr. John Doy was rescued from the old jail at Saint Joseph about 12 o’clock on the night of July 23, 1859. It was very dark and rainy that Saturday night, but the moon came out just as the Lawrence party were on their way to their boats to cross the river.”
“In those slavery days there were in each state a number of free Negroes, some of whom became thrifty and owned slaves themselves. This was one thing which caused the Doy episode. Many free Negroes settled in Lawrence Kansas besides a few runaway slaves. At that time there were “experts” in catching runaway slaves, who would receive a reward of $100 for each I capture. Then, there were also numerous kidnappers of free Negroes, who would sell the free men to the slave dealers for one-half what they would bring on the Negro auction block down South.
During the excitement at Lawrence some of the free state men were fearful that the presence of all these Negroes in the town would be a menace to the rabid pro-slavery element, and suggested sending such as wanted to go to Iowa whence they could proceed to Canada.
So a sum of money was raised to pay for their transportation. Dr. John Doy was employed to take a party of these Negroes – 8 men, 3 women and 2 children – all but 2 with free papers, as far as Holton (Kansas). The cavalcade started January 25, 1859 in two covered wagons. When 12 miles away from Lawrence they were overtaken by 20 armed men and arrested. By promise of reward and force of arms, Doy was persuaded to drive to Weston, Missouri, where the Doys were arraigned and held to the Platte City jail by a Justice of the Peace, for abducting slaves from the state they had not visited in five years.
Ten men were selected, or volunteered, to take the job of liberating the alleged “negro thief.” The names of these men were: Silas S. Soule, J. A. Pike, S. J. Willes, Joseph Gardner, Thomas Simmons, Charles Doy, Jacob Smix, J. E. Stewart, George Hay, and James B. Abbott, as captain.
They left Lawrence (Kansas) about July 16, 1859, and arrived at Elwood 2 days later, in two wagons, alleging they were returned “Pike’s Peaker's,” not pleased with the prospect in the mountain district.
A short time before 12 o’clock, on Saturday night, July 23, 1859, some 4 or 5 of the party came to the jail and called for Sheriff Brown, who was sleeping in an upstairs room of the jailer’s residence. They represented to him that they were farmers from the southeast part of Andrew County (Missouri) and had a horse thief whom they desired to be locked up during the night.
The sheriff asked for the legal papers, but they had none, so he asked the culprit, who had his hands tied, if he was guilty of stealing a horse. In a rough manner the thief replied, “Do you suppose I’m a damn fool, no sir, I want a fair trial.” That seemed to rile sheriff who replied, “I believe you are a thief and I’ll take chances with my bondsman in locking you up.”
When the sheriff had opened the door, they took the prisoner inside, and he said he “Wouldn’t be locked up with that nigger thief, Doy.” So one of the party asked where Doy was, and the sheriff told him, whereupon one of the party told the sheriff that all the performance was a ruse to take Dr. Doy home to his family. Sheriff Brown tried to close the door but three big men with guns and determination prevented.
Sheriff Brown was introduced to Captain Abbot and others, and expressed fear that the people might think he had a hand in the job, but his fears were relayed by the rescuers. He was told to put out his lights and not give a warning until daylight. But he did.
The party proceeded to their boats, followed by policeman with lanterns, but they crossed the river without hindrance, and were soon on their return to Lawrence. (Researcher's note: Dick's enslaver was Mayor Benjamin Wood of Weston, Missouri)Date(s) of Creation
7/9/1907