Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-03-11

sense OF the meeting:
Whereas the Ashtabula Sentinel Of the
18th ult, contains an a~llusion TO an out
rage committed in our midst on the nigh
of the 18th ult., calculated TO make the
impression abroad that this town alone
affords rufians capable of committing
the foul deed therein alluded to, and
destitute of persons who take any other
course than rejoice at the commission oil
crime.
Now as a peaceable, w-abiding and
justice-loving people, we repel with con-
temPtand disgust, any and all such in
situations coming from whatever quarter
it may, and are happy to say that we
have maintained as good order. and ven-
ture the assertion hat as few criminal
prosecutions have originated among US
as any other township in this or Ashts-
bulls county, as the records of our courts
will show. Therefore in justice TO our
selves we deem it our duty, and right,
and proper to lay before your readers
the leading facts Immediately connected
with this outrage.
A Mr.. Joseph Ball. living in this place.
an DID,. decrepit, childish, man, having
a wife much younger and more vigorous
than himself, have lived rather disagree
ably together for a considerable length
of time. It finally became notorious
that they were having a serious family
difficulty. which was continually being
made woFs. by the relations of the hus-
band interfering against the wife, she
having no relatives in this country and
being a second wife, it is claimed by the
husband and his relatives hat the prop.
erty, both personal and real, belongs to
his two ons residing in Troy, n. Y
hence the determination on their part
to dispossess and drive her from the
house aud premises in mid.winter, with
a small child, without any means of sup
port. And in order to carry out their in
human purposes, one of the brothers of
the husband, residing in this place, ear
ried the husband to another brothers in
Orwell. Ashtabula county. and he 1.-THE
brother in ORWELL came down and took
possession of the house and premises. as
be claimed, at the Instances Of these two
humane sons Of New York, and deter
mined to compel her to leave. At this
point, the wife applyed to her neighbOrs
for protection from abuse. when two or
three went in and expostulated with this
intruder in reference to the course he
was pursuing. but he obslinately refused
to provide any means Of support or pro-
lection fer the woman; consequently our
community felt very indignant, that a
defenceless female should be thus treat
ed, and one too. since she came among US
as the wife OF the said Joseph Ball, has
sustained no character but that OF a
virtuous. industrious and very respecta-
BILE woman, and one of the most neat
and tidy housekeepers in this or any other
town. and in cookery and prudent house
has but very few equals in
this or any other country.
On the night of the 14th, a above
alluded to there was agathering from all
parts of our town and perhaps from other
of men, boys, youngsters &C.. at
the Bristol Hotel, to see an Indian Show
and participate in a lance. DC. At a.
late hour of night, when most Of our
citizens who do not attend such places of
amusement, had retired 10 rest, they
were awaken by the cry Of "murder,"
in u streets, causing alarm, and many
of our citizens repaired Immediately TO
the house Of this Joseph Bal. where the
dificulty seemed to be, and there found
this good old man from Orwell who
had come down TO turn his bro'her's wife
out door, sitting aud in bis right mind.
with a coat Of tar and feathers.
The inquiry was Immediately instituted
il he had any means of knowing who
we're guilty of this outrage upon him, to
which be answered that it was impossible
for him to recognize any n connected
with the affair. The next day some
half a dozen or more of our most prom
citizens called upon him again TO
il possible who the williams were,
when he again stated distinctly that he
vas unable to recognize any one by any
means whatever. or form any idea who
he guilty persons were, and never claim.
ID that be could, till after he had con
suited with the other brother residing
here, who doubtless assisted him in Sc
a number of our most ~peaceabie
and law abiding citizens. whom they ar.
and this peace loving brother that
rot tarred and featheied, came forward
with his daughter and sde solemn oath
hat they recognized two of the persons
arrested, by the Fight shining up N them
rs he went TO the door to admit them af /
.er they raped. at which time he was
by force back into the lot where
deed was committed, and one other
he could recognize by his voice during
he operation, and he a person with
whom he never ~conversed but twice in
MS life. Il may seem to some to be for
innate that after peacable citizens are
arrested, and they on trial nroye their