Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-06-28


SERVING A MONSTER ABOUT RIeHT-TAR
AND FEATHERs ALMOST Too Coon FOR SUCH A
FHHD Upon Sunday evening the very sor-
riest specimen of the genus homo it was ever
our misfortune to behold made his appear
ance in our streets. Upon examination it
proved to be Franklin Tousley Of Nelson, who
had the night before receiveda coat Of tar
and feathers, st the hands of twenty or
twenty-five unknown individuals. The job
had been most handsomely done, and such
another being on two legs we hope never to
hnhnld : aFaip e TQusleY formerly liEnd -- IN
Sprlngneid, summit CO, DuL became resi-
dent Of Nelson two or three years ago, pur-
chasing farm in the s. E. part of the town
ship. While in Summit Co. he was put un-
der $1,000 bonds to keep the peace, and these
bonds are still in force.
His history presents one of the most bru-
tai records possible to imagine, and it is q
wonder almost that he is permitted to exist.
We might fill columns with details of his
devilishness, but few incidents wiH suffice,
some Of the less disgusting ones that have
been told US. q
Tousley has a family, wife and several
children. The wife has now left him-she
has been repeatedly beaten, kicked and drag
ged out doors by the hair Of her head, tied
into a chair for a whole day, been made to
suffer with hunger, and performed labor that
should be the duty Of only strong men. She
is now with brother in Summit County,
who, as we are told, keeps a gun loaded, to
shoot the wretch Tousley, should he ever
dare 10 make his appearance there.
Last fall several executions were put into
the hands Of Constable Phillips, of Nelson,
against the property Of Tousley. Learning
this the brute went home and killed his cat
tie, and three or four horses, to prevent his
creditors from getting their dues.
Having a COW, that from starvation had
been unable to stand up, he hitched horse
to her, put boy upon the horse, and lashed
horse, COW and boy around the field, until
the weak, starved creature was killed.
Last winter, ordering a son, a lad perhaps
nine years old, to do some chores, and the
halGclad boy saying he was SO cold he
couldn't, this incarnate fend seized the boy
and held him to the stove until one cheek
was burned to blister, the scar of which the
poor boy will carry to his grave.
The neighbors about him have the fences
to their grain fields and meadows torn down,
clothes lines are robbed, and other petty an
noysnces peTpetrated.
At the February term of Court, an attempt
was made to have Tousley indicted for killing
bis cattle and horses but it was found there
was no law that rendered the desired object
feasible. For the abuse of his family he
might have been indicted, but not being able
to send him to the Penitentiary for that no
action was taken in that direction { Z
1t is more Of wonder that he has been
permitted to pursue such brutal course, than
that summary punishment has been at last
dealt out to him.
The indignation Of those whe saw the
wretch on Sunday, almost found vent in a
repetition Of the pun ishment, and the uniTer-
sal verdict was that the scoundrel had not got
half justice. The best thing for him to do
will be to clear the country.
The object Of Tousley's visit to Ravenna,
on Sunday was as he expressed il, to wash
/ the tar off with laW-but not q single officer
that he called upon was willing to do any
thing to aid in that kind of washing, and he
returned as he came, besmeared with tar
from head to foot.
It is proper to say that no greater violence
was done him than simply the application of
a liberal quantity Of " tar and feathers "-R
/ UeHnd Dem