The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-29
PRICE THREE CENTS.
TAR AND FEATHER OUTRAGE.
CONVICTION or SIX or TIE NESH1N10
MOUNTITN RUFIT.fNS.
Dinhoiicai Cruelty Instiaated by n Revenge
ni Wom"n-An Example from New Jersey
thnt should he Initiated In Huntington.

'' W ''""h ath fNhmpic from New JereoV
that should be Initiated In Huntington.
SoMERv1LLE, N. j., April 2s.-Six OF the
seven tar and feathorcrs of Mrs. Amos Shep-
herd. on Neshanc Mountain. last January, aftes
a trial here Of three days Duration were. yes-
terday morning. pronounced guilty OF assaulA
and conspiracy. Richard Van Licw was SOM
fenced to eighteen months Imprisonment IN
State Prison. Alfred Cray TO fifteen months.
Charles Hof to ono year; John Corbott and
William Doughcrty received each nine months,
while Howard Doughcrty escaped with three
months In the county Jail and t25 fine in consid.
GRAFTON Of his youth. The seventh Isaac Peaks.
has not yet been arrested. The crime for which
these sentences were given. rs narrated in THD
sun at the time. was committed on the night Of
the 10th OF January and had its origin In Q
mothcr-in-law. Mrs. Shepherd. the comoly wife
OF an invalid husband, had n filtration with
one Hegeman. the son-in-law of Mrs. Fanny
Conover On more than one occasion they were
absent from their homes contemporary eously.
and the worst construction was put on the coin-
cldcnce although Mrs. Shepherd accounted for
her absence by saying that she was earning
money Tor the support Of her invalid husband.
Mrs. Conover, however, believed the other story.
ana resolved to gvenge her injured daughter's
wrongs. Accordingly she bribcd the aboves
named sOyen persons, by tho promise Of "A dol.
feather Mrs. shepherd. Her wishes were car-
ried out; Seven men with backcned faces sur
rounded the former parsonage Of "A deserted
tho shepherds lived. The frightened husband
and vile escaped through window as the
mon broke in the door. but the latter was speed-
ily captured, Hot tar was poured over her
naked shoulders. Sgausng such intense pain
that she tainted. Tho victim was then borne
ha'k - the house and left on the doorstep, ex-
lQssd. unrrote TOD. 70 all the rigor Of january
night Her physician said that while uncon.
scious she was violated by more than one OF heI
assalants but tins She denied at the trial.
The next day The authors Of this outrage re-
ccived their reward from Mrs Conovcr and be-
came upronriuusly drunk. They then tried 10
run away, but Isaac Lcake alone escaped. The
dictments against them early this month on
three counts. First. assault and battery; sec-
oni, atrOclOus assault and battery; third, con.
spracy 70 commit an assault. 1t had alse
hronghi IN an indiNment against Mrs. Shop
herd Tor adultery which is an indictable offcnoe
in this state. punishable with 800 fine or i'm.
lrsonment for not more than six months.
u Ihle tria, began on Tuesday, and James O.
had met and procured their feathers. was ths
| iirstwness oullrd Nv the people. His testimony
pr- ners were in tho mir". but the pros secuton
had no option hut To use him as a witness In
place OF prose utlng him. u- neither shepherd
nor hls wiie could sw'trinthe persons Of their
Prosecutors lcakn t.stilr 4 tndt the prisoners.
| wtn his brother, Lad made his store. at kocl
| Mr.. Couovers brihe and their intention to earn
| thc dollar and a. hall. lie Hdyis'd them 10 pre-
| tend to ip 1t and thus get their rev ri without
earning IT, They biHckenrl thcir faces IN his
| kit hen So as 10 disguise themselves. ani he
| supplied them with the necessary feathers. TaI
! thry procured az Jacob Shepherds. no relation
of ihcir int nt"i victims Peakc. 50 he swore.
count nan .r To- this extent their proposed pro-
ceed lng. on the ground that would have good
| influence on the dI-reuutahle women of the
nelghhorhoOd. He was also present when Mrs,
tphQver paid the reward the next mOre ing. and
lent her half dollar TO make the promised
| amount.
Mrs. shepherd. In her testimony gave the
history Of the assault very nearly as above mar.
rated. She also told how her husband was
| Oil lged to cut of all her hair so cottod was u
with tar and said that the scars left by the hurn.
| ing fluid could yet he seen. A Mrs. Michel who
| had lived with her, when asked as to Mrs. Shep.
| herds reputation for truth. swore that she had
| not known her to tell lie.
| Ihedcien triedfn prove previous good chars
actor. ami also that Mrs. shepherd had really
| suffered little harm from her experience In
| charging the jury judge Dalrymple cNlorted
! ihon L. lay no regard TO tho alleged had repu-
| tatln oi tho sufferer The law had already
| taken cosnizanee of herfault, and would punish
! ne sgmr IN IT. good time, The lnry retired In
! lhe forenoon Of Thursday. and after being
| - .kel W iwenty-tour hours brought in II YER.
dlc ot guilty on th' first and third counts of the
Indictment.