Description
“Dastardly Attempt to Kidnap a Contraband.” - - One week ago last Saturday night, a negro by the name of “Steve,” owned by A. Harson, who lives 8 miles east of Smithville, Clay County, Missouri, applied to Capt. Hill to cross over to Leavenworth on his ferry - to which the Captain agreed. “Steve” came aboard the boat, when he was seized by the Captain and the engineer, Dan, and tied and robbed by them of $21 dollars.
When the robbery was completed, Captain Hill took “Steve" to Smithville. At Smithville, “Steve," not having due regard for the blessed relation of master and slave, and while Capt. Hill was eating his dinner, took to his legs, and succeeded in making good his escape to Kansas City - and is now here. This is not the first time Capt. Hill has been caught in this dastardly business, but it must be the last. “Steve" tells the story in a straightforward manner, and we publish it as told us.
We hope Capt. Hill and his engineer will explain their action in the premises if it can be. We ask Dan, the engineer, to refund to “Steve” the $21 dollars stolen, and trust for the honor and decency of our city that these outrages may cease.
Capt. Hill and his gang have been engaged in this business a long time; their victims number 8 already. What makes the thing more revolting is the fact that this seizing, binding and returning negroes is wholly voluntary on their part, there being no law in Missouri compelling them to do this dirty work; and there is not a respectable proslavery man in Platte County who does not look upon such men with contempt for doing that which no honorable man will do.Date(s) of Creation
8/23/1861
