The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-28
A TERRIBLE STORY.

AN OLD woMANs MURpER-A RURAL MONSTER
IN INDIANA AND HOW HE WAS TARnED AND
FEATHERED AND THEN LYNcHEp.
From tho Cincinnati Enquirer, April gal
soon after the close OF the war Christian Meiar,
then about forty six years old, suddenly appeared
near Erod, Ripley county, Post 0iilcc located
fifteen miles northwest OF Aurora, and secured u
questionable tio 10 small farm, located lonely
road, back from which, perhaps hundred yards, tho
iarm dwelling ID located. To this place Mear brought
woman about hts own age, whom no introduced MS
his wife. Here the two settled, the woman to 1.-Two
peaceabiy with her noghbors, tho man TO bcker pnd
quarrel and nght with every With whom he came
In contact, until from being known Christian Mciar
10 was known ty no othor name than "Fignt-
ing or Devil Mear." His appearance was hor-
ribly Ugly. To tho chIldren In the neigh.
borhood no WINS the Black Douglass Females
Stunned him, not only for tho horror winch his up
pcarance inspired, but for the disgust which was uni
formly experienced whenever no opened his mouth
blistered with blasphcmy and fostering with vulgar
Ivy. Tho men throughou tho country feared him az
a sman from the tombs." Tho stock In the neigh
borhood was always In danger. II any man crossed
Meiar's path a COW or norso belonging TO the Of
fender be so hacked up with KIN ife soon
nitcr TO be hopclcssly crippled. Again and again
did the ncehbors, the nearest OF whom wcrc n quar-
ter OF milo distant, harbor tho woman whom Mcar
called hts wife alter he had terribly beaten her and
did at tho risk Of becoming victim OF his Zero.
olous rovcrgc. Finally tho poor creature, almost de-
mentcd IRON excessive cruelty was attacked with a
virucnt cancer located on her tongue. Months after
this, when she had become abso utoIy dumb by rca-
Of tho inroads of the deadly ulcer continued
to toll ana do outdoor work NJ only for a muscular
man, and continued 10 do when her only reward
would bc the kicks and blows Of tho brute she called
her husband. AZ last she could do no more. Weak
aud emacatcd and suffering indcscrIbably, shc could
no longer 70 into the nelds. Then, scarcely nbe to
sit up Mciar would compel her to mount horse with
HIM and ride i've miles TO Disboro Tor medicine,
wnicn consisted generally IN dimos worth OF NOR
phbc.
THE DEATH MRS MErAR.
Week before last the close OF tho week, Moiar
rode into DIllsboio, and, entering koland's drug
store, called for vc cents worth OF morphine and
said he guessed that amount would be all tho old
woman would want Ddn't think he'd have to como
again Tor medicine for her. Just few weeks PRIOR 10
this no had como 10 Cincinnati and engaged tho
vices oil woman called Lena Swagnor, woman about
MS own age, whom he said was to act his wiic's
nurse, but wnom tho neirhbors thought he had SO.
cured as successor TO Mrs. Mcisr. Lena brought
with her boy about fifteen years old called Win
week ago last Saturday night tho boy went TO
BOTS TO stay all night. The next morning, which
was sunday April ~ old Mear went lcisurciy up 10
Mr. John Cavcndcrs, neighbour, aud asked that r..
Cavcndar come down TO hts house TO help clay old
woman out'' and dress the corpse. Mrs. Lavender.
together with three four other neghbors promptly
responded. Wnon they arrived on the premises ibcy
10und hciar ant tho old bag, Swagner. there very
carcIess OF tho corpse. which sutlnr posture
10 nm old diiapdatcd rocking char from wnicn ono
OF tho rockers had been knocked. Tho head was
bent forward on the breast, and the body appeared
as pr0pped In It's place Meiar had alleged
20 tho noighbors that the cancer had eaten its