The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-11-07
A BRurAL OUTRAGE PERpErRArEp ON A YOU'VE

BRUTAL OUTRAGE PENETRATED ON A YOUNG
LADY.-Last Saturday night shockingly bru-
tai outrage was committed upon the person OF
young lady, residing about quarter OF a
mile from Mount Vernon, Falls road. The
atrocious brutality and the cold blooded man
ner in which The act was perpetrated is abso-
lutely nexplicable, the more SO, as investiga-
ton seems to prove the assault as having been
made without purpose, apparently. Inc young
lady, and victim of the outrage, is Miss Matilda
Hunt, about twenty years of age, and described
as being an interesting and intelligent girl,
more than ordinarily attractive, and bearing
in the whole community high reputation for
virtue and an untarnshed character. The
story, taken from authentic sources, is as FOL
lows: On Saturday afternoon Miss Hunt was
at the Maryland Institute Fair, where she at
tended one of the looms OF the Mount Vernon
Company. In the evening, before starting for
her home, she joined party, consisting of four
ladies with whom she was acquainted, and one
man, named George Cornelius. The party lett
the cars at Boundary avenue, and separated
at Mt Vernon, all living there, with the excep-
ton of Miss Hunt, whose home was of a mile
distant. One OF the girls, a cousin OF Cornelius,
said to Miss Hunt, off you wish, George will go
home with you" 1t was about 1870 p. M, and
she willingly accepted this offer of an escort
The two had proceeded some distance on the
Falls road, Miss Hunt conversing little, but
Cornelius had talked considerably about ghosts,
most probably with the intention of frightening
her. She, however, paid little attention to his
stories. They had passed the last house on the
road some distance, when suddenly, without
any premonition, Cornelius committed brutal
assault upon her. She screamed, and attempt
ing to recover herself he covered her mouth
with one hand, and Frustrated her with the
other Reganing her feet, and struggling to
run, he again knocked her down, beating her
severely She thinks Cornelius struck her
|, hut fh.
greater number. There are seven Commissions
about the head and face, one side OF the latter
being dreadfully swollen. 1t presents the ap-
pearance of being perfectly black. One eye is
nearly closed also. Her hands are much bruis-
ed and swollen, as she asserts, from trying to
protect her face Cornelius left finally, leaving
her to take her way home as best she could
Upon reaching it she Immediately related TO
her mother and brother the brutal assault that
had been made upon her, and the latter, Mr..
George Hunt, proceeding to Woodberry, pro
cured from Justice J. III. Smith warrant for
the arrest of Cornelius. This was giveu to Of
icer Taylor, of the county police force who
made the arrest at once, at Cornelius house.
This was about midnight He was taken into
the presence of Miss Hunt aud Immediately
identified. Justc Smith held Cornelius in bail
of $500 Saturday night, but the following morn
ing rearrested him and placed him under bonds
of $4,000. His father, George Cornelius, and
uncle. William Neal, gave bonds Of 81 900 each.
Cornelius has throughout denied the act, and
boldly asserts that they were attacked by a
party of four highwaymen, aud that he himself
escaped narrowly with his life.
Cornelius is a married man. although not
living with his wife. He is about thirty years
of age, and does not bear good reputation in
the community. There appears to be no posi-
tive evidence that he attempted outrage, nor did
he use insulting language, as Miss Hunt admits.