The daily gazette., 1877-07-17
Delaware County Roughs Attempt
.. TO Rape a lazy. '-
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN UPLAND
NEAR CHESTER,

NEAR CHESTER. ...,.
From the Chester News.
On Friday afternoon officer Dalton, Of
Upland, was startled by hearing the cries
of female in distress coming from the
woods near the Reservoir across the
creek from the Borough mentioned The
officer seized boat in which were a
party of young folks and ordered the per-
sons in charge to row him over the
stream. He then hurried to the spot
whence came the cries, and found Miss
Sarah j. Dicks, and elderly lady, in
greatly agitated state, while blood
streamed down her face and from her
mouth. The officer inquired the cause
of the lady's disturbed condition and she
informed hi N that she had been assaulted
by three young men who had attempted
to commit nameless crime. She gave
the names of the parties and the officer
set about searching for the rascals. A
large crowd of men were attracted by
the screams and they volunteered to as
sist in the hunt. 4rl.1f f..I-...lft .l.
Joseph Clonney, yoang man well
known thereabouts, YVES one of the perpc-
traitors and he was seen making his way
toward the bridge which crosses the
creek at Pretty's Hall. He was acting as
though he was very much intoxicated
and was allowed to pass several crowds
of men who did not know the extent of
his crime. They thinking it was a simple
case of drunkenness did not offer to de-
tain Clonney and some of them encour-
aged him to escape from the officer whom
they saw in pursuit Clonney proceeded
into Upland and had gotten as far as
Eighth and Main streets when officer
Dalton succeeded in overtakIng ana Ar
resting him. -. ..---.
By this time the report had spread and
the widest excitement seized upon the
people who flocked into the streets. So
great was the crowd that the officer had
onsr and forcing HIM through the throng.
Many threats Of lynching were made and
it is stated to-day that if the prisoner had
been stranger he certainly would have
been strung up. The officer at last sue
ceeded in inoarcerating Clonney in the
lookup and shortly Afterwards the pris-
oner was given hearing before Justice
besieged by several hundred people but
nobody not Immediately connected with,
the case WAS allowed to enter. . T. .
Miss Dicks was interrogated by the
Justice and positively identified the pris-
oner Clonney. She stated that some of
her teeth bad been knocked out and
showed that the roof of her mouth was
lacerated. This was done by the fingers
of one of the brutes who committed the
assault. She asserted that she was pro
ceeding to the house of Mr.. Walter Ly-
tie, where she resided as housekeeper,
anu that three young men attacked her,
threw her down and attended to out
rage her person. She described and gave
the names of the guilty ones.
There were two witnesses examined
besides the lady. Their names are James
Dalton and Daniel Kelley. They stated
that they had witnessed the assault and
had ordered the men to release the lady.
The prisoner and his companions in the
crime then fed. Doubtless the oppor-
tune arrival of the witnesses prevented
the crime from being,blaoker than it real
ly was. There ls another witness named
John Watterson, who the authorities state
Is able to corroborate the evidence of the
others. ' ''h
The prisoner was held in 5000 bail to
answer at the next term of Quarter Ses-
sions, and in default he was recommitted
to the lookup An attempt was made
last evening and this morning by some OF
his friends to find bail for Clonney, but
unsuccessful. When our reporter LETT
Upland this morning at O'Clock, officer
Dalton was about to start for M edia jail
with the prisoner.
The affair was the talk of the place this
morning, and great indignation was ex-
pressed. Miss Dicks is said to be a
wealthy lady and is respectfully connect
ed In thisl county, she Is about 90 years
of age.
The other parties to the crime will be
eagerly searched for, .and if fapprehended
will doubtless share Clonney's fate, which
Is not enviable at best as there is a very
strong case again INST him, and if justice is
meted out to him he will be severely pun
ished.
Nothing has ever occurred within the
recollection of any of the inhabitants of
Upland to so greatly excite the popLlace
of that unusually quiet borough as this
affair. Clonney is said to be about 26 or
q years of age, but it is probable that he
younger.