The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-01-29

HUNTINGTON IMTTd TED, NUT NOT TO
THE EXTENT or MURDER
Tho Tar and Feather Gang, Having perpe-
trnted the Outrage In New Jersey, not
Likely to Enjoy Long Island Immunity.

hhkeiy 10 fhJoy Long bsinnd Immunity.
Richard Van Licw and Isaac Peak. who
seem to havo been the rngleaders In tho tar
and feather party" as Now Jersey poople style
the perpetrators of the outrage near Ncshanic.
are yet at large. but Mrs. Conovcr. the alleged
lnstigator. was held in $500 on her own rccos-
nizancc. or the remaining nvo concerned in
tho affair three have given bail and two yet re-
main in the county Jail at Somcrvlle
Mrs. Conovers feelings wero worry much hurt
by her arrest. " It's a shame" she walled. when
taken to Judge Coverts at Hnrdinsville on Fri
day. that two or three old 'oomcn can't get to-
gether an gossip n bit. an say one of their
neighbors deserves n tar an feathcring. without
lot OF drunken vagabonds n takin' om at their
word an maxim em liable to law" Afterward
In conversation with a reporter. sho elaborated
this limo Of Defence and told how as a mere
piece OF idle gossip. sho had declared that Mrs
Shepherd deserved TO be tarred and fcathercd.
adding. as pioce OF pleasantly. that she would
reward the parties who gave her her deserts
This was repeated TO those supposed TO have
been concerned in the Subsequent outrage and
they. imagining her to be in earnest. had full
filed her words only too literally When they
came 10 get their reward. which consisted. as
will appear below. OF half gallon OF rum and
several shillings each in money she was forced
TO give them what they asked for. and thus
seem to countenance tho crime. from fear that.
drunk az they then WERE they would tear the
house down over her head.
How true this version Ia best appears from
the sworn statement OF William Dochcrty, the
eldest OF the two brothers OF that name who
proposes to turn States evidence Ho says:
" On the 10th of fJanuary. 1877. | started from
here tNeshanicl with the intention Of going to
the donation party at tho parsonage, and
my brother Havard were in the store. and /
asked them II they would 90 with mo 10 the do
nation party Richard Van Lew said they in
tended 70 have some fun that side OF the road.
asked them what they were going 10 do He
said Mrs, Shepherd had come up on the. noun
gallon Of rum to tar and feather her"
=, rhe next portion Of the statement. relating 10
Mrs. Con2ycr. sets forth that one Shepherd. who,
apparently, wac some relation of the husband II
the, victim. came dow and said he would 10
sn,l snd see % Fanny CTHoyer and ilnd out what she
Fanny Conover said. Gro ahead with ii. aud
she would pay all expenses" Tho confess
this same shepherd; after which Mrs Conoyer
is again criminated 10y II Dory Stout. who says
that Fanny Conovcr had scnt him downwith
word Ia go ahead with i, and shc would pay all
Thus thrice assured 81 thcir reward. the party
now. according, 10 William porhcrtys stat
ment, consisting OF Richard Van Lirw, lSnar
and the two Dochortys. hlackened their fnro- At
me house Of ono Tuiue lcak. comlara-
tiv'ly near tho scene Of A,tiou, and
proceeded at once To- tho house where
Amos Shepherd lived. They NJ first tried - ;,t
u IN on the ground that they were cold. hut
Shepherd said his fire had gone out then the
lending Of his gun to them was asked IA "A
means OF opening the door, but on shepherds
refusing, they broke tho door open. While
Isaac Peak was kicking at the stair door
some one hallooed there they CO." and We all
ran out in the yard and saw that Shepherd and
his wife We're both in tho road. Mrs. Shepherd
take hold OF her. Then she halloocd
for Amos. her husband. stopped and
looked around. Charles Hon said: There
goes the -. catch him. and ran after him.
Shepherd ran again and haooed Murder
The description of the " tar and feather party"
here closes. merely narrating how. at this rriti-
cal Jun 'ture, the narrator went back 10 Peaks
house with Cray. whcrc they began washing on
the backing. Here they were Joined IN about
"A quarter ot an hour by the rest Of the party
who said they had done IT," The remainder
of the narrative ia devoted to telling how the
next morning Mrs. ConOver gave the gang the
promised whiskcy and varying amounts Of
money.
The shepherd mentioned in tho above "a Mrs
ConQv"rs messenger, has also given "a version
in VIII, h he acknowledges providing the ma
t.rial Tor the tarring, hut denies all knowledge
Uf the purpose for which the tar WIS intended.
Harvard Doch"riy, however. confirms, under
oath. nis brothers account. and that h" went
away with two companions before the commits
sion of the outrage The actual perprtrators.
according 10 these accounts are thus narrowed
To the two who are still uneaught. ami the most
snnguinr seem Ia expect to he able to hold those
herds house. and for simple assault ON his