Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-29
RIOT IN NEW BERLIN, UNION COUNTY.
The Knights of the Golden Circle Re
sisting the Law
BERKs COUNTY EMULATED.

BERKS COUNTY EMULATED.
From the Middieburg Weekly Tribune, .4prit %
IL becomes our painful duty to chronicle one
of the saddest, and at the same time one OF
the most daring and damnable attempts at de-
Tying the laws and the Government, that has
yet occurred in this section of the country.
To make the matter clear it becomes neces-
sary to enter somewhat into detail
When the draft was made in October last, a
man, by the name of James Hummel, of Mid
dlecreek township, rotuntarity entered into
an arrangement, with Mr.. Azarah Kreeger,
to go as substitute for the latter, who was
drafted into the service of the United States.
This arrangement was made, and HummeI
took the money or at least part of it, and
went to Harrisburg, where he was sUorn into
the service of the 2 United States and Mr.. Kree-
ger accordingly discharged.
Hummel remained at Harrisburg short time
and then deserted, thereby defraudng the Gov
crnnent out of the service of Mr.. Kreeber to
which it was entitled, and also Mr.. Kreeger,
out of his money, by not giving value therefor.
This man Hummel, together with some other
deserters, since the time of the ir desertion,
have been defying the authorities and threat
ening to kill any man who should attempt to
arrest them. They however found it conve-
nient 10 secrete themselves, whenever the
guards were about, which fact was duly herald
ed by the Tory organ, the Selnsgrove Times.
Thus things went on until last Saturday,
when Capt. Cox, who is stationed at this place,
by some means learned that there was to be
a funeral at New Berlin, at which it was quite
probable that HummeI would be present.
He accordingly ordered Sergeant Kephart and
an assistant TO New Berlin, with instructions
to arrest him in church, very reasonably presu-
ming that there no resistance would be made,
and blood shed avoided. But be was sadly
mistaken these desperadoes where fully arm
ed for any emergency. The Sergeant, with
right up to Hummel, tapped him on the
shoulder, and commanded him to surrender,
upon which Hummel drew a revolver and fired
two loads at Mr.. Kephart, when the sergeant
fired, the ball passing cit is said) through his
lungs. He, however, discharged two more
barrels at the sergeant after he was wounded.
While this scene was being enacted the friends
of Hummel some fifteen or twenty in number,
rushed in upon the officer with revolvers and
some with their fists, beating and clubbing
him and his assistant, and firing their pistols
at them.
We are told that there were some eleven
shots fired during the me lee, of which the Off
GERS in discharge of their duty, fred only four.
escape from the enraged rebels without inju-
ry, except little scratch upon the knuckle
of one of the fingers % the Sergeant; two
balls however, passed through his coat and
one rested in the lining Of his vest, which he
extracted on Sunday, without much pain
The last news we have from Hummel is that
he is not expected to live.
These are some of the out-croppings of the
devilish teachings of Frank Weirick, Jack
Cumming & Co. They spur on these poor ig-
norant, deluded people, to acts of treason and
rebellion, and leave them to pay the forfeit
with their lives, while these treacherous, cow
ardly villains are in their dens of safety preach
ing up that We have no Government
Let the people take warnings this is spark
from the volcano, with which the tory organs
have been threating us. Let the Government
put forth its strong hand and nip this incipent
treason in the bud, otherwise there may be
bloody times close at hand.