National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1872-07-19
Incredible Barbarity.

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Conrad Schweitzer, says a Cleveland,
Ohio, paper, lives seven miles from
Cleveland, in Parma township, on the
direct road to Parma With him and
his aged wife dwelt Henry Walter, his
son-in law, his dau9 9hter, the wife of
Walter, and Betty Walter, daughter Of
Henry Walter, and grandchild of
Schweitzer The men of the household did
considerable moving in a field near the
house, and afterwards came to Cleveland
with produce for market. Between /
and ~ o'clock on that day old Mrs.
Schweitzer went TO the hay yfeld for some
purpose, was i.Dsent but short time,
and then heard piercing, heartrending
screams issuing from the direction of
her dwelling. Retra"'n9 her steps at
her utmost speed, she tered the house,
where an appalling scene met her gaze.
Her little grand daughter was frantically
endeavoring to tear all that remained OF
her burning garments from her person,
most of item having been consumed.
and was undergoing most severe and
cruel torture from the burns upon her
body. PROCURING water, the aged grand
| lnCliltT udSutu IL oNtT lIlt IIttIt SulI'TtJ
and soon extinguished the flames, but
not until the innocent grand-child had
been so badly burned that death cnsued
II few hours afterward. She at the time
opposed the little girl had somehow set
her own clothes on fire, and asked her
what she had been doing. Betty replied
that she had been doing nothing, but
that /" that brutal butcher that struck
you, did it," She afterward gave further
"details of the affair, saying two men had
been there who inquired for grandfather.
She told them he was not at home. They
then seized her and got the oil can.
Then one of them jammed hole in the
side of the can by striking it upon
the corner of the stove, and poured
the contents over her body while his
companion held her for that purpose.
They then set the oil on fire and hastily
left the premises, and their victim met
the terrible ordeal of burning by fire.
The condition of the oil can corroborat-
ed the girls story of the barbarity to
which she had been subjected.
We understand that there are in Roy
alton five butchers, or at least club OF
five men, of whom one or two are butch
ers. The two men in question have long
entertained unrneasured hatred against
old Mr.. Schweitzer, from what reason
we cannot learn, and have on previous
occasions sought to do him injury |
About a year since they came to his
house one evening, and tried to set it on
fire. when Schweitzer fired upon them |
and caused them to beat lively retreat. |
1t was on this occasion that one of the |
butchers alluded to struck old Mrs
Schweitzer a heavy blow, which explains
the remark Of the little girl to her grand
mother. We do not learn of any other
specific attempt to inflict damage upon
Schweitzer by these men, but other facts
are given rendering it probable that
such may have been the case. The al
legged lawlessness of the perpetrators of
these outrages lends additional weight
to the accusations against them.
The funeral of Betty Waters took
place on Tuesday from lhe house where
she was so wickedly deprived of her life
Her murerers are at large, and we do
lot learn that any well-directcd efforts are
yet on foot to effect their capture. 1t is
aid that the constable of Parma has the
names and is cognixant of the residence
md whereabout of the alleged murder
rs, but hesitates to arrest them because
# The limited amount of testimony
which can be arrayed against them.