The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1871-07-15
From the Peoria Transcript.
HORRIBLE AFFAIR.

One Of the most horrible affairs
that ever transpired in the annals
of crime, has Just come to light
near Gilman, and resulted in a
double tragedy.
On the night Of Jnne 13, an
Irishman named Martin Meara, re-
siding near Gilman, gave his little
son, aged eleven years, q severe
beating for some slight offense.
On the following morning he told
the boy 10 get up and build fire,
when the little fellow said that he
was unable to do So Meara then
kindled q fire. and when the stove
was nearly red hot, went to the bed
and took the boy out, and delibe-
rately held him there until the flesh
was burned off and his hip bones
protruded. The smell ef the burn
ing flesh almost suffocated the in
mates of the house, and the screams
of the little sufferer could be heard
for more than quarter of a mile.
The wife of the human fiend was
confined to bed with an infant only
day old, and was unable to offer
any resistance to the brute beyond
feeble expostulation. The boy
succeeded in getting off the stove.
when the inhuman father seized
him and again placed him upon it,
this time standing him on his feet
and holding him there until the
flesh was burned from his feet. He
then took him from the stove and
struck him repeatedly on the head,
and threw him under the bed.
The monster at this point seems
to have become frightened at what
he had done, and pulled the hoy
from under the bed, began to pour
whisky down him. which somewhat
revived him. He told the boy to
stand up, but the poor sufferer said:
"Father. l can not see any more
He was probably in a dying condi-
ton at the time, but the father then
coolly knocked the hoy in the head
and instantly ended his sufferings.
Telling his wife and daughter not
to divulge what had taken place it
they valued their lives. he prepar-
ed he remains of the boy for bu-
rial, be pinning them up in sheet,
He then dug grave near a hedge,
deposited the body therein, care
rully replacing the earth, the sub
SOIL first, so as to almost defy de-
lection He narrowed over the
spot, and, as he supposed. carefully
removed removed all evidence Of
his crime
He went 20 Gilman, stating that
his hoy had run away. and procur-
ed some hanihi Is, cfferins q re-
ward for his recovery.
| On last Thursday the suspicious
of the neighbors having been
aroused, they determined upon q
search for the boy, whom many Of
them believed to have been mur-
dered Mr.. McGourtie. Of Onarga,
headed the investigation, and WIS
assisted by about fifty neighbors.
They went to the daughter of the
brute, at a school, and by assuring
her that they would not allow her
fathcrt, hurt her, drew from her
lips the details Of tie horrible af-
fair as given shove. Proceeding
to Meara's house they took him in
custody, and commenced search,
ing for the remains of the boy.
Meara declared that he was inno-
cent, that the boy had run away,
and said he would give $4,000 for
his recovery.
The attention of one of the party
engaged In the search was at
length attracted by small lump
Of subsoil which lay upon the sur
face near the hedge Sha, pened
sticks were procured, and by their
means soft spot was discovered.
Upon digging down the body OF
the boy was found.a the guilt Of
the father made certain. An in :
quest was held over the remains,
and Mesra was lodged in jail a,
Watseka, to await his trial in Oc-
tober.
The people we're naturally much
excited, and several days ago il
became almost q matter Of certain
ty that the courts would not be
troubled with the trial Of the inhu
man monster. 1t is reported tina,
after his arrest, be said the only
thing he regretted about the affail
was that he had not killed his wife
and daughter, and thus destroyed
all witnesses. The excitement
grew more intense, and finally cul
minated in the lynching OF Meara
The mob, headed by DR. B. j
: Daniels, Of Gilman, went to tht
Jail where he was confined, forced
their way into the cell, disarmine
5 the Sheriff. who endeavored to per
form his duty, took the man out t
a grove just outside the town, and
hung bin to the limb Of tree
. There was no violen: demonstra
: ton; everything was quiet and or
2 derly. About one thousand peo
pie witnessed the hanging A few
f, minutes before being hung. Near.
called ON ,he Masuns tor assist
ance. None coming forward HI
then said. II iofs~ear all Masons.'
: tie then called nn the Catholics fo
/ help. A voice cried, Call on Goo
alone. no oEe else can help vou
lie then said. "5iay he Lord Jesu
2 Chr'st have mercy on ,eV soul, ant
, tie Hoy Virgin prsy ter me"
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