Litchfield enquirer., 1876-06-01
IYoNs IoHA. May 20. 1876.


 remarkable for succession of high tra- gedies. On Sunday night last, three ''roughs" called about midnight at pub i lie house, four miles west of town, kept by widow woman, demanding entrance. Soon after they were heard breaking in 8 back door A hired man stood inside with club, and when the door opened wrenched pistol from the hand of one of them, whereupon the others commenced firing at him but without effect. while he called to the woman of the house for his pistols. Finding plucky resistance, they decamped, but brought up towards morn ing at saloon kept by an old German, in the suburbs of the city, whom they found lying on lounge, and beat and kicked till he was insensible, then shot at his wife, and finished up by robbing the house. 1t was early noised abroad, and suspicion rested on one-armed despera- do who has served several terms in prisons and jails, and who was a terror to his ac- | quaintances and the neighborhood west of town where his father lives. Many have been waylaid-not excepting his father whom he laid under contribution. Hence, he was arrested and placed in the engine house the "lock-up" being food ed by the freshet in the river), and tied to the engine with ball and chain attached to his leg. About two o'clock, the watch man, whose duty it was to look after him, called and found him asleep in sort of drunken stupor, he having been drinking heavily through the day. Two hours later he called again and found him sus- pended by the neck, in good .hangman style, about four feet high, the ball and chain still hanging to his leg and he cold in death. Some parties had stealthily en- tered and strung him up, but not, as it seems, till after he had been knocked in- sensible, there being several wounds on his head, none. however, sufficient to prove fatal. He was a powerful fellow, and there are indications that he made the best fight he could under the circum- stances. There is no clew to the perpe trators, but it is generally thought it was done by some friends of the German whom he had so unmercifully maltreated. I believe he vas recognized as one of the party. While all felt relief to be rid of him, many feel deeply the shame and dis grace of the manner of his taking of. Our local paper repudiates it as case of ''lYnching" and calls it a case of deliber- ate murder on the part of the perpetra- tors.
 The next night. few miles west of the scene of the first outrage, sober and in- dustrious young man who was bringing in a load of old iron late at night, was killed. either by accident or design, public opinion being about equally divided on the question. His body was found next morning lying in the middle of the road, with his neck broken and jaw crushed. At first it was supposed he had fallen from the wagon and had been run over. but the indications are that he was robbed and perhaps murdered. as he took out a load of wrapping paper which, if sold for money, with the cash he took with him, would have left him between forty and fifty dollars, while only twenty cents was found on his person. His team was found tied to. the fence some distance from where the body lay. He left wife and four children in destitute circumstances, for whom generous subscription is being taken up.
 These tragedies. with suicide and two jail deliveries in this county during the past ten days, furnish sufficient excite ment of the kind to last for some time, we hope. There are also some comedies to offset, the Argument" of one of which is as follows
 A newly married couple, who had con- mendable desire to do the agreeable, in- vited in some friends to help get away with nice fat turkey. The dinner pro, gressed finely till nearly through, when little more dressing was wanted. The host struck his carving knife into the bird near the neck and gave it turn; where upon he felt tremendous grating, and the whole truth flashing in upon his mind he suddenly felt a strong desire to seek some silent nook unseen by mortal eye, where he could relieve his pent up feel ings. How the matter ended deponent saith not, but it is safe to assume that it will be some time before that blushing bride will cook another turkey with the crop in.
 hear less talk about going East, this year, than usual. Hard times and high prices and fares are "what's the matter, |" and until there is reduction centennials won't draw worth a cent from hereaway. A. B.