The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-11-27
A Rural Hoaflir. .sn-~HIow Mr. Rayl Eu-
ioycd Ha'mseaT at q Dance.
from III Q Kokome Democrat

trroin Ut G hokomo bemocrat,I
On last Thursday night, the 18th instant,
there was dance at the residence of Henry
SwiShcr, in Clay township. Early in the
evening, after the dance had commenced, q
light tapping on The window was heard by
Reuten Rusk, y boy who was not taking part
in the festivities Of the hour. Young Rusk
looked out OF the window and saw Simeon
Jcauin2s, a sort of half-witted fellow, who
assed him iu whisper through the partly
opened door near which RuSk was sitting,
II there were many ia the house. Young
|&usk replied. L" Not many" At this moment
William RuSk, father Of the boy, saw John
Rayl passing the window towards the door,
rs if he intended to enter. He instantly
jumped up and ran across the room to his
daughter and told her to put on her shawl
and come with him home, as there was 60
ing to be fuss.
Scarcely had he spoken when Jennings
and Rsyi opened the door and entered-the
former with an open knife, which he held
behind him. and the latter with both re-
volver and open knife in his right hand, the
revolver in front and the knife pointing be-
hind. Both men went over to where RuSk
and bis daughter were standing. Jennings
took position just behind Rusk. at this
juncture the women were screaming and
leaving the room. Rayl told them that he
would give fifty dollars if there was any
fuSS--for them to remain, and all would be
right. He then told Miss Rusk not to go
home, and caught hold of her. She jerked
away and ran to the door, but Rsyl caught
ber, pushed her back, and shut the door.
The father then caught up stool and struck
him one blow, knocking the revolver out of
his hands under the bed.
They then engaged in scuffi". in which
several gentlemen present took hand and
were knifed-pro bably one fatally. Rayl
cut William RuSk slightly across the abdo.
men, cut james A. Heath severely across
the neck, barely missing the jugulsr artery !;
cut 3 young Heath slightly across the right
index finger; and cut Henry .SwiSher per-
haps fatally in the right thigh, seVering
branches of the femoral artery. Mr.. SwiSher
is now lying in very critical condition.
After the cutting, Rayl and Jennings rode
over to Levy ConwelFs and washed them
selves. Jennings then went-no one knows
where-and Rayl went TO Edward Rays,
his cousin, and stayed all night. A party
from this city were out all night after him,
but did not hit the right house.
The next morning Rayl rode to Perry
Rodgers'S, brother-in-law to his "girl," Ella
olUOS, UupS iulSS VI III 1SINLC3 pue AIiia
wasn't there, and Rodgers put off next day
for her grandmother's, near the scene Of
blood, in Clay township. He got hcr and
took her to his house. The people knew of
this, and followed tue buggy, knowing full
wei! that where she stopped they would find
Rayl. whom they sought to capture. The
posse Of men went to Rodgers's house, but
the women said that both he and Rayl had
gone to Burlington, and would return at
night. They awaited in ambush, and at
about II O'Clock the men returned and
entered the stable. Here they were sur
rounded and ordered to surrender. Rod
gers, with revolver pointed to his breast,
surrendered, but Rayl darted out and tried
to escape In moment dozen shots were
tired at the retreatiug man, and vigorous
chase ensued. Soon one Smith caught Rayi,
and knocked him down with the butt of. his
gun, Shiyering the stock TO pieces. Rayi
showed fight, but it was to no avail. He was
| tied, and, together with Rodgers, brought to
Kokomo and lodged in Jail last Sunday
about 8 O'Clock. He had received one ball
through the right LEG just above the knee,
which was extracted by DR.. Dayhuh.