A former Kansas City police officer has turned his video surveillance skills to historical documentaries, and he’s found a fascinating topic in the story of Dr. John Doy.
Gary Jenkins will present a talk on his latest film, The Immortal 10 and the Rescue of Dr. John Doy, at the Kansas City Public Library Westport Branch on May 11 at 2 p.m.
Doy and the others from Lawrence set out to rescue thirteen slaves in 1859, and planned to meet up with John Brown to take two groups of slaves to Iowa, and then to Canada. Instead they were captured and held in Missouri.
“On January 25, 1859, Dr. John Doy and his son, Charles, left Lawrence, Kansas Territory, for Nebraska with thirteen slaves. They were captured twelve miles outside of Lawrence and were taken to Weston, Missouri. The two Doys were arraigned at Weston and were committed to jail at Platte City, Missouri, for the crime of abducting slaves. They remained in jail until March 20, 1859, when they were taken to St. Joseph, Missouri, where Dr. Doy was tried. After the trial, his son, Charles, was set free. The jury could not agree on a verdict for Dr. Doy, however, and he was tried a second time. At the second trial, he was convicted and sentenced to five years in the penitentiary. While being held in the St. Joseph jail, Doy was freed by friends from Kansas Territory on July 23, 1859.”
Kansas Historical Foundation website
Jenkins was a Kansas City Missouri Police Officer and detective and in the Organized Crime Intelligence Unit for 13 years. His first experience with a video camera was filming mafia members coming and going from an organized crime hangout. Jenkins is now a lawyer in Kansas City.
Details
- May 11, 2 p.m.
- Westport Library, 118 Westport Road
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