Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-07-30
From the Raleigh Standard.
InIIuman Assault,

On Friday last, at Wake Forest in this county, Tai
bot Llgon, his brother Elias Ligon and John c. Jor-
dan, all OF this city, assaulted, with cowhde in most
lnhuman manner, Oscar Won Briesen, a Russian and
music teacher also OF this city, under the following cir
cumstances
1t appears that on the previous Tuesday night at
about 10 o'clock, Won Briesen, accompanied German
friend named Kreath part of tie way to his home in
this city At parting they stopped for few moments
conversation front Of the residence of Talbot Lgon
but On the opposite side of the street Whilst convers
ing In their ordinary tone of voice, and without the
slightest intimation that anything was wrong Ligon
came upon thea unobserved partly undressed and with
out shoes, and struck at them heavy blow with stick
The blow received by both. Won Briesen colare
the assailant and Kreath wrung the stick from his
grasp gon seeing he had attacked white men, apollo
glzed and said he thought they were negroes The first
impulse of the assaed was to return the blow but see
ing the assaianr elderly man, they forbore 1t
was resolved however that he should for the
provoked attack; and he being unknown to them, he
was told he had to accompany them to the Mayors Of
flee to be identified Lgon asked to return to his house
to dress but the asSailed fearing he might resort to
other weapons or evade hem refused to allow him, but
had his clothes brought out and he put them on.
They then took Ligon to the Mayors office but there
being no officer there they were induced to let him 60,
upon the that he well known and would
answer any charge they might prefer against him.
The matter was ended but talked of and laugh
ed at next day as capital joke; and Won Briesen and
Kreath became satisfied and abandoned further proceed
ings
On Thursday evening Won Briesen left for Wake For
est to attend to his pupils. On the night party
OF men, of whom the Lgons formed part sought Won
Bresen at his lodgings, and threatened to cowhde him.
Learning he had gone to Wake Forest it appears they
determined to follow him.
Before Won Briesen left Raleigh he heard rumors of
medltated attack upon him, and mentioned the crcum
stance, with what led to it, to friend at Wake Forest
by whom he advised not to return for a few days,
and the affair would blow over. He was induced, how
ever, by gentleman from Raleigh to return and about
IL o'clock Friday morning he visited the store Of
Mr.. Purifoy to the person with whom he was to re-
turn He had no sooner entered the store and taken
seat, than Talbot LigOn Elias LgOn and John c. Jor
dan all Of whom were personally unknown to him,
upon him from the street, and laid violent hands upon
him. He was dragged forward to the porch and then
on to the street, where he was knocked down his
face and held by Elias Lgon and Jordan, whilst Talbot
Llgon stripped his coat up. In this position the
ground he firmly held while Talbot Lgon inflicted
hlrtynlne iashes upon him with a cowhde The re
naming clothes cut off bis back by the lash, and
his flesh severely lacerated.
When these assailants satisfied they demanded
of their victim he had any weapons about him. lie
answered In the negative. They then searched him and
took from his pocket small penknie. He was then
released and told that if he ever visited Raleigh again
he would get much more and they told him further,
that there two three hundred men waiting, ready
to ride him a rail and give him coat Of tar and
| feathers
IHo oIuLal sight, II appears, was WlneoStu ny lou
other persons, of whom, John Fort, nephew,
learn o the Lgons kept the rest off by threats and the
cry Of fair fght" Won Briesen's face was cut
with the cowhde and the clothes on the front Of his per-
completely tattered by his writings under the
! lash
He ultin..tey token To ighJoring house where
his wounds dressed and where he supplied with
the necessary articles Of wearing apparel Shortly af
ter, with his smarng flesh and his mortified spirit, he
disappeared from Wake Forest and has not since been
heard Of He has been residing here but short time,
and was esteemed quiets inoffensive man.
The of this unparalleled outrage appears to be
the ndignity Of the arrest Tuesday night We need
hardly add, that the affair is universally regarded here
with the utmost adherence and indignation.
On Monday last Talbot Ligon brought before
Mayor Harrison and bound to Court for the assault
Kreath.