When Mr.May returned home they told him what had happened.
At that time there was a local option temperance law in Missouri, under which a majority of the people in a township, by signing a petition to the court, could have the saloons abolished as public nuisances.

De Kalb was full of saloons, and there was one on almost every road corner in the county.
Years afterwards I heard Mr.May tell the incident, and his eyes flashed, as he said with his slow, strong emphasis, "When I came home and heard what had happened, _you bet I_ WAS _wrathy_! I just jumped on my horse, and I rode that township up and down, and I never stopped until I had signers enough to my petition, and I cleaned every saloon out of that township." Doubtless many a man signed that petition because he dared not refuse; for, although usually kind and quiet, few dared to face his anger.
When Lawrence was besieged, in May, a company of Free State men was raised around here, and they sent John Quiett to Lawrence to offer their services for the defense of the town, but were refused by Mr.
Pomeroy.

Soon after the return of the South Carolinians from Lawrence they found Mr.Quiett in the Atchison postoffice.

They at once seized him as a Free State leader, and began to debate whether to shoot or hang him.

But one of the Pro-slavery merchants of Atchison interfered, and begged them to let him go.