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Title: Affidavit of Peter Arnoldia
Description: This is Dr. Peter Arnoldia's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Arnoldia states that he had been in the building that housed the prison many times, including the day before it collapsed, and considered it safe and well constructed. The affidavit is dated September 12, 1863 and signed by Arnoldia and Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 12, 1863

Title: Contract for Hire of Slaves
Description: This contract states that William D. Swinney and James O. Swinney will pay Mrs. Mary Enyart $175 to hire two of her slaves, Margaret and David, for one year. The Swinneys promise to pay for the slaves' clothing and medical bills, noting that "Lost time from military violence or running away [will] be deducted from the hire." The contract was signed January 1, 1863 in Howard County, Missouri.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: January 1, 1863

Title: Affidavit of Elijah M. McGee
Description: This is Elijah M. McGee's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. McGee states that before the prison collapsed, he entered the adjoining building, saw that its columns had been removed, and predicted that it would collapse. The affidavit is dated September 10, 1863 and signed by McGee and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 10, 1863

Title: Affidavit of Solomon S. Smith
Description: This is Solomon S. Smith's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Smith, a brick mason, states that he built the walls of the prison and the adjoining building, using the "best quality Bricks." He describes the building's construction, then states that the prison could not have collapsed from ordinary usage, but only from "undermining the Walls in Some way or removing the Supports." The affidavit is dated September 10, 1863 and signed by Smith and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 10, 1863

Title: Deed of Emancipation of James O. Swinney's Slaves
Description: In this document, James O. Swinney announces that he will emancipate his slaves on January 1, 1864, "in view of the present condition of the institution of slavery." He adds that if he dies before that date, his brother-in-law, William Morrison, will be appointed as his trustee. This document was signed by Swinney and two witnesses, W.H. Savage and James C. Savage, in Howard County, Missouri, on September 4, 1863.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 4, 1863

Title: Affidavit of Charles H. Vincent
Description: This is Charles H. Vincent's affidavit concerning the August 1863 collapse of the women's military prison in Kansas City, Missouri. Vincent states that he was familiar with the building, that it was well constructed, and that it shared a common wall with a building occupied by soldiers. He adds that the soldiers removed columns and partitions in that building, causing it to fall and thus causing the adjoining prison to fall. The affidavit is dated September 7, 1863 and signed by Vincent and by Philip S. Brown, Jackson County Notary Public.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: September 7, 1863

Title: Wyllys C. Ransom vs. George C. Bingham
Description: These documents, created between 1866 and 1867, relate to the Jackson County, Missouri court case Wyllys C. Ransom vs. George C. Bingham. Ransom accuses Bingham of slander, asserting that Bingham publicly and repeatedly said he was a “murderer, robber, thief and a house burner” during the Civil War. Portions of testimony are from Ransom’s fellow officers in the Kansas Volunteers. Ransom seeks $30,000 in damages.
Object Type: Legal Document
Date: 1866-1867

Civil War on the Western Border: The Missouri-Kansas Conflict, 1854-1865