The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-04-29
Ambient Outrage ~ RensseI.er County.

Iron the Albany (H.Y) State Register April 70
We have to chronicle another of those dastardly
outroges which have rendered this portion Of the
State reproach throughout the land
1t generally known that the collection Of rents
in this county has been impracticable for many
years, in consequence of the difficulty Of serving
legal papers The officers whose sworn duty it is
to execute process elected by antirent votes 1t
has been necessary therefore, for the landlord to
employ other persons to make the necessary service.
Those who have been thus employed, have been
repeatedly maltreated, and one was shot year and
half ago.
The attorneys of Mr.. Van Rensselaer, had secured
the services, during two three months past, Of a
very worthy and resolute man in Rensseaerville,
who had served process in several eases The anti
renters determined to make an example Of him. He
had been appointed by the Surrogate commits
sioner, with two other persons, to lay OF widow )
dover in a farm in the town Of Bern. On Wednes-
day last, he was sent for by one Of his associate
commissioners residing in Bern, and notified that
they were ready to proceed to the admeasurement.
He accordingly went to the farm that was to be
measured, about seven miles from Rensseaeryille,
and commenced the survey.
While thus engaged carrying the chain with one
of the commissioners, and the third having the COM
pass, upon turning the corner of piece of woods
he discovered band of 20 80 +" Indians - in a m
bush, who Immediately sprang upon him. The
cowardly assallants, who completely disguised,
and armed with rifles, tomahawks, Sc, bound his
hands painfully tight with rope, bandaged his
eyes, and then commenced their preparations for
tarring and feathering him.
A fire was built, the tar melted, and he was then
entirely stripped of his clothing, and his body, even
his hair and face, covered with the tar and feather
cd. The several articles of his apparel were then
tarrcd on the inside and put upon him, and again
tarred on the outside and coated with feathers. In
this plight he was marched around the neighbour
hood for some hours, the scoundres who had him
in charge being fed and treated by the inhabitants
1t was about sunset when he was seized, and
about ten O'Clock he was escorted homcward Two
miles from his house, another fire was built, more
tar warmed and poured over him and, additional
feathers. After this, when they had in vain en-
deayored to extort from him u promise to serve no
more papers, he permitted to go to his house,
which be reached about midnight.
Upon reaching his house, he endeavored to prevent
his wife from being alarmed by assuring her he
was unnjured, and advising her Of the sight he
presented. But when she came to behold him, she
tainted He was concerned, also, lest his children
should behold the father they res sected, in the
plight to which the miscrcants had reduced him
With much difficulty he restored his wife, and in
the course of the night was able to remove the
pitch from his body, having burnt up his clothes
This is plain narrative Of the treatment to
which respectable and worthy citizen of this
county has been subjected, for bravely doing duty
which is Stunned by the proper legal officers,
through cowardice worse III )tives Ii is impos-
siblc that any should read it and not feel
indignant and ashamed that such outrages have
prevailed in this region for many years, that the
law is dead letter, and that for SO infamous an
offence against the person no redress can be OBJ
tanned. And this is New York