The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-05-29
. ROTTEN ROPE.
Sensational Sequel to an Elopement
Case.
Especial to the Cincinnati Gazette. ]


BATAVIA, O., May 81. Mr.. and Mrs.
iously dubbed by its own Inhabitants as
f" HELPS Half Acre" are in tears and sorrow.
The former laments the loss and lapse from
virtue of his wife, who, in turn, mourns the
rough usage and nearly fatal hanging of her
lover this morning. Mrs. Atchley is an at.
tractive woman, Of 1.-THE form, a sparkling
eye, and of graceful carriage. She is able to
manage the widest horse on her husbands
place, and, sad to say, equally able to man
age her husband, thrifty, industrious
fsrmer, a good-hearted and kindly man.
For several weeks there has been lurking in
the neighborhood of the Half Acre" one
Story, st. Louis sport, who has kindred
among the people of this dismal region,
ostensibly to visit them, but in reality
to pay his court to the young wife.
who had been a former sweetheart.
under the eyes and ears of the too patient
husband, who at last rose up in his wrath
and demanded reform. On the day follow
ing the outburst the young wife packed up
her worldly goods, and in company with her
st. Louis lover, started for the West, leaving
her three year old child. an aged mother,
and others to grieve for the erring one.
The elopement occurred on Monday
morning, but telegram to Colonel Wap-
brought to Batavia on warrant charging
grand larceny, abandonment, etc.
The abandoned husband comes of good
stock, and is industrious and well to do.
The character of the wife has not for some
weeks been above repreacb, and it is said
that previous to her elopement CORE
spondence between herself and Story, alias
Allen, has been clandestlnely carried on.
The people of "Hell's Half Acre" and
vicinity, touched with virtuous indignation
at the wrong committed in their com.
munity, determined to avenge the same,
and at about three O'Clock in the morning
about fifty or seventy-fve masked men came
to Batavia, and entering the Munson House,
where he was stopping, demanded the pris'
oner at the hands of the officers who were
guarding him. icrf-
The mob sent delegation of eight up.
stairs. Having passed in the front door, il
being unlocked, they broke down the doors
of the room in which the officer had the
prisoner. In the hurry and darkness the
regulators selzed another inmate of the
room, Henry Skillinger, of Milford, who is
a plasterer on the Court House now being
remodeled, and put the rope around hit
neck. But soon discovering their mistake
they let him go, half crazed and scared
and gobbled up Storey. They hustled him
down stairs on the double quick, and dragged
him, with a rope round his neck and his
arms pinioned behind, along the middle o1
the street square and a half to the new iroI
bridge over the East Fork of the Little
Miami River. In going to the bridge, Story
unfastened his hands, tied behind, but KEEP
them in their place as though tied, to heII
himself if necessary. The regulators theI
threw him over the bridge with the rope
about his neck, and dangled him up and
down, and showered on his name multi
tudes of curses, and after dsmning him tt
their hearts content, and holding him til
life WAS nearly extinct and his neck terribl!
sore, they let the rope go, and Story fel
forty feet down into the river and on thu
rocks. The water being very low, th'
wonder is his brains were not dashed ou
and his body mangled. ,--..-,,
But Bill Story is not that kind of man
| and the cool water revived him battered
and stunned, he crawled ashore, and whll
| the Constable, Landlord Munson, and tn
| boarders of the hotel were hunting him will
lights, Story passed round and came in tn
back way of the house, and quietly knocked
aud was admitted by one of the femal
domestics.
The mans injuries are severe, and hi
neck bears the marks of the rope. Tit
Batavia people are justly indignant, al
fair minded citizens decrying mob law il
any case, and particularly an attempt t
inf1ct SO monstrous a punishment for
| crime SO small There is a rumor that al
attempt will again be made tonight to com
plete the butchery SO bunglingly began.