Deposition
of
vs
Lydia & Virginia, Taylor
and Nancy Vaughan,
and Mary Vaughan,
and Others.
Office
Asst Pro Mar
Kansas City, Mo
Feb 14, 1865
Daniel
A. Stephens of lawful age being duly sworn says, I reside in Kansas City,
Mo. I formerly belonged to Co “A” 2nd
Colorado Cav. I am well acquainted with
Mrs Harper and her sister Mrs Kelly, they live in the vicinity of Hickmans Mill
Jackson Co Mo. I know them both to be
friendly to the Bushwackers, and from
what I have seen while on duty in their neighborhood, I know that both of those
women, both harbor and feed Bushwackers willingly and render to them, all the
assistance and comfort in their power.
Old Mrs Mary Vaughn, Dan Vaughn’s mother, is in my belief a much better
women than either of them. She is
really a better woman than old Mrs Lydia Taylor is. I have no confidence in the loyalty of old Mrs Taylor or in that
of Mrs Harper or Mrs. Kelly. I have
some little confidence in Mrs Vaughn’s loyalty, if she was removed from her old
locality.
Miss
Virginia Taylor is a notorious Rebel, and one of the worst young women I ever
knew. The Bushwackers have no better
friend than she is as far as she is able to aid and befriend them.
And as for Mrs. Nancy Vaughn I have every reason to believe and do believe that she will aid and assist the Bushwackers and has done so repeatedly whenever it was possible to do so without detection. She is a firm, fast friend to them & they all well know it, they have often been found at & seen from her house by the Federal Troops.
With
regard to Mrs. Basham, Mrs. Kerr, Mrs. Bucker and John A. Moore’s gang of
Negroes living in that neighborhood, I believe the quiet & peace of that
neighborhood would greatly improve if those persons were compelled to leave it,
for they will feed and harbor Bushwackers as long as they have it in their
power to do so. Miss Rebecca Howell
& her sister should also be included in the lot made to leave.
(signed) Daniel A. Stephens
Sworn
and Subscribed
before
me this 14th
day
of Feb 1865
J H Smith
Lt & asst Pro
Mar 4th Sub
Dist KC M
A
true copy
J H Smith
Lt and APM
4th Sub Dist KC M