Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1857-07-18
For the Herald.
Patch Grove, July 10th, 1857


Mr. EDITOR The insertion Of the fol-
lowing incident will at once oblige = stran-
ger, confirm his impressions Of your inter-
est in the honorable conduct of your fell
low citizens and may act as warning in
the future to the parties themselves:
Called as Presbyterian Minister to la
Dor for short time in the township of
Patch Grove, and while residing there
was kindly asked on the morning. Of the
18th Of June by Mr. John Bate, one Of
he farmers in this neighborhood, to tske
Il ride with him, as / was q stranger to this
part of the country. / complied with his
nyitation-reached tie village of Patch
Grove or Fintown. During the absence of
Mr.. Battle in the transaction Of the bust
ness which had called him there, it was
whilst looking around this pleasant looking
little village that the unpleasant incident
referred to took place--an incident which
brings cut rather stfikingly some painful
features in the character of certain Of its
inhabitants as You and other inhabitants
of the county may Judge. Standing on
the side Of one Of it's streets, boy about
10 years Of age passed me: accustomed to
speak to children asked him if he WAS at
school. eyes he replied, and passed on :;
a few minutes after the boy returns, hold
ing out school book he had just bought
| asked him for sight Of il; looking over
| pointed out sentence desirine him to
read it. He declined, saying the book was
new and he had not yet learned it. |
asked then if they were good boys, and as
an wont to do, dropt few words of adj
vie as to the importance of obeying THEN
parents, telling the truth and loving God
Alter doing 50, the first boy took ont a
white handled knife, telling me he had
also got it in the store, then replaced it in
his pocket and walked OF, the other hoy
following Immediately. Now what fol
lows: A few minutes after, while stand
ing on the same spot, the first boy comes
up to me and tells me he had lost his knife,
asks me if | had cot it. On assuring him
| had not, and also reminding him I had
mot touched il, he went off ID the direction
of the store. The first circumstance that
tsartled me in connection with this affair
of the knife was, l saw the store Keeper of
the village, whose name | understand is
Paul, pointing his finger to me and asking
the boy, IS that the man who stole your
knife. slept up and assured the store
keeper the boy was mistaken. | had not
walked many yards when on looking back
| SAW this man Paul goo er and speak to
a number of loafers setting beside the door
OF what seemed to me to be a saloon
They now came towards me and forming
circle around me, charged me with steal
ing the boys knife, and in threatening
ing tones headed by Paul the storekeeper,
demanded the instant surrender Of the
knife. On my firmly assuring them the
thing was impossible, as had not touched
the knife, and doubtless the boy had lost
It on the road, they told me was living. /
had the knife and they guessed they aooula
make ne give It up. By this time a mob
had surrounded me, and from their threat
ening words and gestures expected every
minute to be knocked down aud have my
poekets rifed; the boy was sent for from
the nelghboring school to which he had
gone they asked him is this the man who
stole your knife he said he did not care
- me s'oiekeeper had given him another;