The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1866-11-23
Horrible Outrage, if True.
From the Troy Times Nav -


On Saturday last we published the nar-
ticulars of the disappearance Of Reuben
Henry Bateman, a young man residing at
Hoag corners, in this county, and his
suspected murder by another young man,
his rival in the affections of one of the fair
daughters of the village. The case was, as
reported, mysterious and exciting but
without being MURDER the story, as mar
rated to rs now, exceeds in frightful inter-
est any OF the tragic details which belong
exclusively to that description ofcrime.
Bateman disappeared on Thursday night
a little after twelve O'Clock. He rejoiced
the hearts of his parents and of his lady
love by reappearins on Saturday evoning
pale, haggard, wounded and crazed tor az
tecting insanity by the terrible ordeal to
which the hatred and passions of his enc
mics had subjected him. The first that
was seen Of him on Saturday night was his
reellng form entering the unsavory pre-
clncts of a neighbor's barDyard. The
,.elghbor observed him fal! and went to his
assistance. The poor fellow bore in his
hands rope and hideous looking instru
ment commonly denominated gag The
neighbor raised him gently to his feet and
bore him into the house, where restoratives
were given him and such assistance render
ed as his unfortunate condition demanded.
That he was very much prostrated, and
wounded by knife and ball, was very evi-
dent. The kind hearted neighbor rushed
off to gladden. the hearts of the parents of
the young man by conveying to them the
intelligence Of his reappearancc. A car
riage was arranged, and the bleeding and
almost insensble youth was taken to his
home-that home which all believed he
would never again bless with his beautiful
presence.
Arrived home, he articulated with diff
Guilty this narrowing and tragic tale-e Soon
after leaving his companions at the cross
roads on Thursday night, or Friday morn
ing, he suddenly beheld two men jump over
the fence directly in his pathway. He
drew up his gun and attempted to discharge
it, but the cap harmessly exploded. In
moment and with an OATH the two men, dis
gulsed with masks, were upon him. lie
saw the gleam of a blade in the glittcring
starlight, and felt its (the knife, not the
glcam nor the starlight) sharp point enter
his side near the region Of his heart. For
tunately, it was a glancing stroke, and the
skin only was perforated. We will Kill
you now, says the ruffians, and knocking
him down, they gagged and dragged him to
a distant marsh. Here rope was prOduc-
ed one end was adjusted into nose and
placed about the neck Of the youth, while
the other was thrown over the limb of a
sapling, and he was drawn up until his toes
barely touched the ground. The gag was
nov secured In his mouth by fastening a
handkerchief tightly across the face, and
his arms were pinioncd behind.
In this horrible position, young Bate
man says he was left by the monsters; but
before they bade him an affectionate adieu,
one of them drew revolver and fred It's
contents through his cap the other stepped
tol at him-the ball striking upon the tore
piece of his cap and slightly grazing his
forehead. After they had gone, Batenlan
determined that he would rot obhge his |
tormentors SO much as to die in tEat very
horrible way, and unpinionlng his arms, he |
was able at last TO remove the gag from his |
mouth, the halter from his neck and secure |
life and liberty at the same time. But 1t |
may be imagined that the cruel persecution |
to which he had been subjected, the fright !
and the wounds, completely prostrated |
him-and they did. Friday and Saturday, !
raving in mind, blind with pain, he sought |
to guide his tottcring footsteps TO Iii. home. !
At last he reached the goal-or rather Il |
ncighbor's barnyard-and ike onc risen
from the dead he was welcomed by crowds !
of people who came to hear his wonderful |
story and congratulate him upon his mira !
culous escape from horrible death.
Such, substantially, is the statement Of
Reuben Henry Bateman, of lloag's Corn
crs. If it is true, it is the most horrible
affair that has ever happened III this coun-
try; if it is not true, young Datcman, it is
only charitable to believe, is the victim OF
a monomania which to him is only a little
less horrible than would have been the
reality itself We are free to say, that 1t
has Il most improbable look upon its face,
and yet we cannot believe that any same
person would have concealed it, and self ln-
tiicted the punishment which young Bate
man evidently has received, for any ulte.lor
purpose. Altogether it is very singular
and mysterious affair.