The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-05-30
VOL. XLyl.--N0. 272.
TAR, FEATHERS, AND A RAIL.
AN OUTRIGE COMMITTED BY NISKED
PERSONS -" CORNWILL PLAINS.

not Approve or the Mans Manner OF Life.
CORNWALL PLAINS, Conn, May 29.-Grand
Juror Baldwin was urged on Tuesday, BY man
VIII. 80 indignation was 80 great that he could
hardly speak. to grant warrants for the arrest
OF the eight mon who recently tarred and icath-
ercd John Robert Baird. day or two before
Grand Juror Read had boon similarly pressed
TO exercise his authority. but was obliged to de-
cline Both OF these grand jurors had heard OF
the outrago everybody in town know OF it by
haarsn, hu, when the authorities were asked
10 arrest the mon who committed it, they could
answer only that nobody know who the eight
men were Even tho man who asked the
grand juror 10 send forth warrants could not
swear TINT ho knew the men. although he was
perfectly satisfied in his own mind who they
were. But Mr.. Baird. who was the sufferer.
and who has not been seen since the night that
b. was dragged from house. ridden naked on
a rail. and coated with a gallon OF tar and
bushol Of feathers. hay papers. and tho like. ia
believed to have sent TO New York for private
detective and to have instructed him to spare
no expense in discovering the legal proofs
that will convict some Of these eight mon.
While no ono seems to know who these eight
men were everybody knows the details OF their
night visit 10 john Robert Baird.
Miss Lucrctu baldwin who is 40 years ofAge.
Is rather coney in face and figure and believed
to have somc l.ttlc property. has lived for years
by herself in little brown farm house about
amile and a hidi from what is called 10y courtesy
the Centre. There is no centre SO far rs settle
ment is concerned at Cornwall Plains The
farm houses are scattered at intervals Of from
quarter 90 half mile. John Robert
Baird is q sort of travelling tinker. n Yankee
Observation-Disclosures, but his specially is whip
ping the cat rs il is called; that is with lap
stone awl. pegs. and waxed ends. he goes
about from house TO house repairing shoes
He is believed 10 have saved money and is re-
garded as a wel-to-do man hercabouts. He
borders on 80 years. and 1t was thought
when he first began to visit Miss Baldwin. that
h. was man OF just the right age for her.
Last winter when it was announced that Mr.
Baird was making Miss Baldwn's house his
home although. as far AS known. there had
never been amy marriage ceremony. the women
Of Cornwall Plains were especially Indignant,
aud it is now said that more than one husband
was told that unless the men folks turned 10
and drove Baird out oi town. the women would
see what they could 10 in that line.
Complaints were made to the Seectman. to
the grand juror and to the constlblrs but no
law could be found on the Connects ,ut statute
books that authorized the arrest Of man for
living in tn house Of a single woman. Mr..
Wilson =. S,urg says that at last some one
md he is nclln % To- think the person had once
been one Of the town authorities-said. in
discussion Of tho matter at the village store:
II the law can't touch them. we must take tho
law into our own hands. and don't think there
will be any great fuss made II he Is treated to a
dose Of tar and feathers"
Whether this remark suggested Il or not It Is
known that few days ago II was determined to
Bar on MarG r Had Y or TAR theHr an 5s hh
OF them young and brawny farmers. but ore or
" m
agreed TO run the RISKS. II was decided that i
would not le safe 20 break into Miss Baldwins
house and that Baird must therefore be en-
ticed from 1t az night II was also learned that
the act is punishable with Imprisonment and
also that The sufferer is entitled 10 recover
civil damag $, Elaborate preparations were
made to provide for these contingencies, and il
is to these that the party owe their exemption
from arrest thus far. 1t is said that every one
OF the men cun IrONe that ne was IN some
ment among the Cornwall HIS. on the night oi
the outrage.
meadow. q iul mile from any farmhouse. nnd
Tho night s-lcctrd was wednesday of last week
At II o'clock "yerv man WAS at the barn. Two
gallon Of tar, which was about Of the con-
sistency of ml' -s IS. Two had a bag Of feathers
others iore nj tieir shoulders a rough fence
raj. Munlng their faces with conrs" tppeis
one mar. Wis. form Baird thought hc rctoe-
urd. they started over the fields !n silence.
,,.l.. !, ,.i, for
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