The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-26
BRUTAL SCOUNDRRLISM.
Is Benten md DanRerously Injured.

A WOman'A Chamber Invaded by NtRht-Sne
Is beaten and Dangerously Injured.
The st. Louis Democrat of Wednesday says
An unusually atrocious piece of ruffianism
was perpetrated at about / o'clock Sunday
morning, at the residence of Mr.. Oakes, who is
well known as a seller of candy on the south
side of Olive, between Fourth and Fifth streets.
Mr.. Oakes' family, consisting besides him
self, of his wife, two children, and his wife's
on the northeast corner of Tenth and Howard
streets. The apartments are entered from the
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 re-
tired, Mrs. Oakes leaving the doors unfastened
for his return, and lamp burning in her room.
With her was her little boy, and in a room above
slept her sister and little daughter.
At about one o'clock Mrs. Oakes awoke as two
men entered the room, one a negro and one a
white man. She was probably awakened 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 in
her chamber. The negro instantly sprang to
her, seized her by the throat and with his knee
heavily pressing on her body, began choking
her, bidding her to make no noise, to utter not
a word, but to point out to them where her hus-
bands money was. She tainted, and the white
scoundrel searched. He found pocket-book
containing only some $50, at which they were
disappointed and became enraged and
the negro fercely threatened her life,
choked and beat and kicked her, while
his confederate ransacked the room. The
negro tried to pour some liquid drug down her
throat, but in the struggle the vial broke and
the contents were spilled. At length the mis-
creants dragged Mrs. Oakes from the bed and
through window that was close by, out upon
the porch she falling upon her back and receiv-
ing additional injuries. Here they struck her
till she relapsed into apparent insensibility,
when they, probably thinking her dead, fluag
her through the window upon the bed, but
leaving her head hanging over the window-sill
Meanwhile, Mrs. Oakes' little boy lay in q
breathless terror upon the floor, where he 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 not have been gone long when
Mr.. Oakes came home. Passing upstairs, 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 preventing the clothes from taking
fire. Turning up the wick, the light showed
him the apartment in fearful confusion, his wife
apparently corpse and his child nearly as life
less with fright. The sister up stairs called,
the neighbors- were aroused, and physician
was summoned. DIR. Scott came in and at
| tended to Mrs. Oakes. She remained nearly OF
| quite insensible, with swollen face and neck and
| bruised person, and had apparently suffered
| severe internal injuries.
In the room were found new razor and the
sheath of a bowie-knife, left by the scoundrels
| Not until Sunday noon did Mrs. Oakes regain
consciousness, and then suffered SO acutely thai
| opiates had at once to be administered. She
was able, however, at intervals to tell her story
1t appears that the ruffians had no object but
| money. They must have had accurate informa
tion of the family's affairs, and doubtless tool
| the opportunity of Mr.. Cakes absence to at
| tempt a robbery which they expected would re.
| ward them. 1t is to be feared that Mrs. Oakes
| life will be sacrificed by their wickedness an(
| unnamable meanness. Her health was pre-
| carious, and her present condition is critical.