Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-06-09
BRUTAL SCOUNDRELISM.
A Woman's Chamber Invaded by Rob-
bers at Night-She is Choked, Beaten,
kicked and DangerOnsly Injured.
From the st. Louis Democrat. oath.

|
An unusually atrocious piece of ruffian.
ism was perpetrated at about one O'Clock
Sunday morning, at the residence OF Mr..
Oakes, between Fourth and Fifth streets.
MIR. Cakes family, consisting besides
himself, Of his wife, two children. and his
wife's sister, occupying the upper part of
the house on the northeast coner of Tenth
street and Howard. The apartments are
entered from tho rear, through the yard.
Mr.. Oakes usually goes home early, but on
Saturday night went to the levee to await
the arrival of a steamboat on which his
sister was expected. His family retired,
Mrs. Oakes leaving the door unfastened
for his return, and lamp burning in her
room. With her was her little boy, and
in room above slept her sister and little
daughter.
AT about o'clock Mrs. Cakes awoke as
two men entered the room, one q negro and
one white man. She was probably awak-
ened by their entrance, though they made
little noise In coming in. They had passed
into the rear yard, up the stairs, through
the kitchen, and were III her chamber. The
negro instantly sprang to her, siezed her by
the throat, and with his knee heavily press
ing on her body began choking her, bid
ding her TO make no noise, to utter not q
word, but to point out to them where her
husbands money vas. She tainted, and
the white scoundrel searched. He found a
poeket-book containing only some $50, at
which they were disappointed and became
enraged, and the negro tiercely threatened
her life, choked and beat and kicked her,
while his confederate searched the room. The
negro tried to pour some liquid down her
throat, but in the struggle the vial broke
and the contents were spilled. At length
the miscreants dragged Mrs Oakes from
the bed and through a window tina. was
close by, ont upon the porch, she falling
upon her back and receiving additional in
juries. Here they struck her till she re-
lapsed into apparent insensibility, when
they, probably thinking her dead, flung
her through the window upon the bed, but
leaving her head hanging over the window
sill. Meanwhile, Mrs. Oakes' little boy lay
in breathless terror upon the floor, where be
had been placed by one of the dastards, with
threats OF death if he made any noise. The
wretches fled, having awakened no one but
Mrs. Oakes and her child.
They could rot have been gone long
when Mr.. Oakes came home. Passing up
stairs, he found the bedroom in darkness.
Cropping for the lamp, he found it at length
beneath pile of clothes, the wick turned
down, still burning, the chimney prevent
ing the clothes from taking fire. Turning
up the wick, the light showed him the
apartment in fearful confusion, his wife APP
parently corpse, and his child nearly as
lifeless with fright. The sister up stairs
was called, the neighbors were aroused,
and a physician was summoned. DIR. Scott
came in and attended to Mrs. Oakes. She
remained nearly or quite insensible, with
swollen face and neck and bruised person,
and Lad apparently suffered severe internal
injuries.
In the room were found a new razor and
the sheath of bowie knife, left by the
scouno rels.
Not until Sunday noon did Mrs. Oakes
regain consciousness, and then suffered SO
acutely that opiates had at once to be ad-
ministered. She was able, however, at in
tervals to tell her story.
1t appears that the ruffans had no object
but moley They rIust have had accurate
information of the family's affairs, and
doubtless took the opportunity of Mr..
Cakes absence to attempt robbery which
they expected would reward them. 1t is
to be feared that Mrs Cakes life will be
sacrificed by their wickednsss and unname-
able meanness. Her health was precarious,
and her present condition is critical.