The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1867-03-17
Man Gives Ills Daughter a Terrible
whipping for "shingling" Her Hair
and Refusing TO Lead In Prayers.

A Gibson county correspondent of the
Evansville Ind Courier gives the fol,ov-
lag account Of = recent case Of woman whip.
ping
The old man. il seems, has peculiar views
in regard u female hair. Had the young
lady insisted on wearing "a hornets nest on
the back Of her head, AS many Of our city
damseis still persist ia doing. there might
have been some excuse for a moderate
application Of the black jack, but for simply
"shinghng, We think he might have been
ccatsnted with some Iailaer relnonstrance. .
The correspondent says; b. F. Mead, re
siding IN the eastern part Of Johnson town
ship, Gibson county, Ind, who has been for
some years Jealous member of the Gambler
land Presbyterian Church, has broken the
"longquiet' upon the banks of Pigeon Greek,
by brutality beating his own daughter, which
has thrown that usually quiet community into
great excitement The facts are abopt these:
The young ady IS about se} euteeu years old;
aus been for SONG years q member of the
General Baptist Church; has the reputation
Of being very pious and devout Christian,
often leading in prayer at the family altar,
and generally obedent to the request Of her
parents. But her father, in a strange freak
in his nature, forbid that she should have her
three weeks since, v hen. in her fathers alb
seuce, she had her hair cut off, Some FIVE or
SIX days after that her father requested her to
lead IN PRAYER, which she declined, saying
she did not at that time feel in proper mood.
The neat morning, while she was engaged Ia
making up the beds her father entered the
room with large black Jack switch four or
FIVE feet long lie ordered her to stand before
him, saying he was going to whip her for cut
ting her hair off, and for not praying last
night He then piled the blackjack to her
back IN real ox>driving style, until he was
satisfied. Then turning. he threw the butt of
the stick into the fire. in order that il MIGHT
not appear iu court against lit..
Young man by the name Of blackburn
living in Mead family, went before Esquire
Duncan, of Rarton Township, and filed out
the proper affidavit, whereupon warrant
was issued and Mead arrested for trial But
the beaten girl could not be found. He had
concealedher in order that she ight not ap-
pear against him. The case was continued
to the next Saturday. His daughter then
entered into bond to appear at the time and
tees:fv against him. but tue uay arrived, she
did not come, and her bond was forfeited
Mead then fled an affidavit that he could not
have a trial in that township on account Of
the excitement aud prejudice against him.
The case was then sent 10 ESQUIRE Weeds, IN
patoes Township, aud the next Saturday
was the day fixed for the trial. A iurv of
twelve men was ordered to try the case. The
hour for trial arrived, but the injured girl
could not be found She had been taken
beyond the reach of the officer by her father,
and, as Mead's wife could not be witness in
the case, there was not much positive testi-
mony against him, Mrs. Mead and her daugh.
-, lie hat he
whipping done. Nothing could be proven,
only Mead admission that 'he did whip his
daughter, as be had right to."
One witness testified that she saw Miss
Mead's back the day after the whipping was
done. and that there we're q great number
of stripes extending from shoulder to shout
der, the blood being raised to the skin in
most Of the stripes and in one place the skin
was cut through and bleeding"