The narrative of John Doy, of Lawrence, Kansas ...: Printed for the author.

CHAPTER XIX.
THE RESCUE.-KANSAS AND FREEDOM.
ABOL-r twelve o'clock, in the midst of the storm, as we
were still watching at the grated window, we heard a loud
knocking at the jail door, which we could not see, and after
a while the jailer's voice from his window, asking, "Who's
there? What do you want?"
"We're from Andrew County, and we've got a prisoner
we want to put into jail for safe keeping. Come down
quick," was the answer.
"Who is he?"
"A notorious horse-thief."
" Have you got a warrant?"
"No; but it's all right."
"I can't take a man in without authority."
"If you don't it'll be too bad; for he's a desperate
character, and we've had hard work to catch him. We'll
satisfy you in the morning that all's right."
The jailer then went down and let them in, and-as I
was afterwards told-when they were inside, said again:
"I do'nt like to take a man in without a warrant," and
turning to the supposed horse-thief: "What do you say?
Do you think they'll be able to convict you?" "No, they
won't," replied the thief, "to be sure they found the horse in
my possession, but they can't prove I stole him." "Well,"
said the jailer, "if they found the horse in your possession,
I guess they're right enough, and I'll lock you up."