county. In your
paper of the 13th ult., I also read an answer to the charges and
insinuations made in the "Transcript," against Joseph C. Miller,
(whose life was basely destroyed), and other citizens of Chester
county; as the occurrence took place in my immediate
neighborhood, and I was familiar with all the facts and
circumstances, I propose to give a truthful history of that vile
and wicked transaction.

In the winter of 1851, the said McCreary in some unexplained
way, took Elizabeth Parker, one of the said colored girls, from
the house of one Donally (not McDonald), in the township of East
Nottingham, where she was living; but little was said about it
by Donally, or any one else. Soon after, McCreary with two or
three others of like proclivities, called at the house of Joseph
C. Miller, in West Nottingham, where Rachel was living, and
seized her, gagged her, and placed her in a carriage and drove
off. The screams of Mrs. Miller and her children, soon brought
the husband and father to the rescue; he pursued them on foot,
and at a short distance overtook them in a narrow private road,
disputing with James Pollock, the owner of the land, whose wagon
prevented them from passing. They turned and took another road,
and came out at Stubb's Mill, making for the Maryland line with
all possible speed; they arrived at Perryville before the train
for Baltimore. Eli Haines and a young man named Wiley, who lived
near Rising Sun, Maryland, about two miles from Joseph C.
Miller's, arrived at the same place soon after, intending to go
to Philadelphia. Mr. Haines knew Rachel, and seeing McCreary
there, and her so overwhelmed in sorrow, at once guessed the
situation of affairs, and he and Wiley changed their intentions
of going to Philadelphia, and went in the same car with McCreary
and his victim, to Baltimore, and quietly watched what
disposition would be made of her, as they felt certain pursuit
would be made.

As soon as possible, after McCreary had escaped from West
Nottingham, Joseph C. Miller, William Morris, Abner Richardson,
Jesse B. Kirk, and H.G. Coates, started in pursuit on horseback;
when they arrived at Perryville, the train had gone, with the
kidnapper and the girl; they followed in the next train. Soon
after they arrived in Baltimore, they were met by Haines and