The Belmont chronicle, and farmers, mechanics and manufacturers advocate. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1848-1855, 1854-11-03
IGOTRY AND BRUTALITY.
Mob and Murder in Maine.

this city, was. on Saturday night, tarred and
feathered, and ridden on rail in Ellsworth:
Mr.. Bopst was on visit to Ellsworth when
the outrage was committed.
He was formerly pastor thcrc,and was there
engaged in a. controversy about the school
question.
The only thing the ruiiilns say for them
selves in extenuation is, that they had prev-
ously threatened to tar and feather Mr.. Bapst
if he came to Ellsworth again.
80 The Bangor Journal gives the following de.
tailed account of this most disgracerul affair:
We mentioned briefly in yesterdays pa
per, that Rev. John Bapst, the Catholic pas
tor in this.city, had been foully treated by u
gang oil ruffis ms, at Ellsworth, on Saturday |
evening last. We learn that Mr.. Bapstw was
by the name of Kent, whose house is near
the Catholic chapel. Mr. Kent's house, ,ab ,ut
0 O'Clock on Saturday evening, was surronn-
ded by large crowd, o. whom some twenty
or thirty, mostly young men, entered the
house. They searched from top to bottom
for Mr.. Bapst, who had retired to the cellar
to keep out Of their way. There they found
him, bore him out Of doors, ran him down the
street, and having got some distance from the
house, stripped him of all his cothing,e g,except
his psTtaio0ns, and in that condition put him
as,ride of fence rail, and carried him upon
it some three or four rods when the rail
broke.
About this time they began to debate what
further indgnitcs to inhct, most being in
favor of throwing him into the ditch, and
leaving bin, when light was seen coming
up the street. Some said this was the ap-
preach OF persons who had provided tar and
feathers. The gang broke up into small
knots. The light approached, and it proved
to be the Sheriff of the county, with some
assistants. though we did not learn that they
were recognized BY the victim at the time
in one of these knots of persons he was pla-
ced, and his garments thrown over his shoul-
ders, and thus, not recognizing the Sheriff
and his party,he was not recognized by them.
The latter, supposng that Mr.. Bapst had
beeE murdered bysthe gang, proceeded fur
.her along the street to find his body, if hap
ly life was remaining ia it.. 1t was raining
violenitllSy. at the time, and very dark. The
ruffians, as soon as they were rid of the She
riff, came together again, and proceeded down
the Mt. Desert road to ship yard Here
.hey took the pantaloons also rom Mr. Bapst
person, rendering him entirely naked.
Before taking off his pantaloons, they lift
ed him among them, and he perceived one
, thrustIng his hand in his pocket, and laying
hold OF his wallet, in which was something
more than $50. He bcsought that one not
to add robbery to his other violence, but the
other person took his wallet, nor has Mr..
} Bapst seen it since. His watch was taken
from him at the time they first stripped him.
| They they proceeded to smear him with tai
from head to foot, and afterwards coveret
him with feathers, not without however, in
the meantime making some disgusting per.
, sonal assaults, and using various degrees o
foul language. 1t is but justice to say that
time.
5 DuShg these indignities, Mr.. Bapst aske'
to speak. Some said, "Lct us hear him.
But the most cried, ale shall not be heard.
Then they let him go, and said to i'm that
3 he should have fifteen minutes to leave town
and asked him what reply he had to make TO
that. He answered, "All's right" But h,
went back to Mr. Kent's house, where, b,
5 the aid of grease, &C., tho coating of tar was
fully removed in halfa hour, He was be-
sought to take nourshment, but intending tt
. say mass on the morrow, he was, by the form
OF his religion constrained to fast. He sep
n none during the night, being much excited
n The next day, being Lords day, he perform
: cd morning and evening service in the chap
ell at Ellsworth. Yesterday he returned to
e this city.
. Mr.. Bapst is native of Switzerland, ant
not Italy, as stated yesterday. lie is cul
t tivated man, of sensible views, ard of unques
n tioue1 person al habits and morals.
d Some oftha mob were urgent for groatnr
k violence, and proposed hanging him; but the
leader continually dssuaded from violence
:, calling repeatedly to the boys not to hur
him. This leader used decent language, ant
appeared to feel responsibility to carry the
business through with honor to his boys,
r who were undoubtedly mcm9ers Of Ned Bunt
A Ines Guard of Liberty in that town, whicl
is said to be very numerous there, as on,
might readily suppose in such place.
f "One story is good until another il told'-
generally, and it proves SO in this case
Nc"u tHe lolIoWipb lEoHi Tue CllSWorth iCf
aid, and see what different phase it puts O.
4 the affair, ltcan be no excuse for the out
rage, but it is palliation.
Let any one take the matter home and i'm
agine themselves insulted and abused as hav
been tho people of Ellsworth by an ntrigu
I ing Jesuit, wretch whose cruelty has drve
to despair AT least one woman who never did
aught against him; cold blooded william
(. who cursed the poor woman in Belfast, ant
caused her to abandon the husband other low
because he is protestant; scoundrel who
/ would we'll adorn the holy inqustion of his
holy church; imagine all this, and then cup
4 pose him to return to the place from whence
public opinion had driven hm,at time wher
, the whole community were in deep anxiet,
h about the Ellsworth Bank, and have the i'm
, pudence 10 assert that the trouble had al
happened on account of his having cursed
Mr.. Tisdale, the President who was also on,
IA ~.