The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-08-20
AKU KLUx OUTRAGE IN VERMONT.
Brutal Treatment of n Staunch Re.
publican by bourbon Ruffians.

BURLINGTON, W., july 3l.-Mr. VIM.
]. Farr, of East Middlebury, accompa-
MED by his cousin, Milo X. Day, post.
master ut that place, arrived in this city
to-day, their object being to procure
medical and surgical treatment FOR Mr..
Farr, who was most inhumanly treated
by some members of the East Middle
bury Hancock and English club on
Thursday night. 1t would seem that,
not satisfied with bull-dozing the blacks
at the south, the Democrats are now be-
ginning the same practices i'll the very
few localities in this state where they
happen to be in majority.
About two years ago Mr.. Farr went
from Binghamton, N. Y, to East Mid
dlebury, and purchased the Glen house,
which he fitted up for the accommoda-
ton of summer boarders. Mr.. Farr is a
sincere and earnest Republican, fact
which did not please the Democrats of
East Middlebury, which il the only
place in Addison county where they have
n majority. Since he has lived there Mr..
Farr has been outspoken In his senti-
ments, and in consequence has been sub
jected to various petty annoyances, but
nothing of II serious nature occurred
until Thursday night last After the
Cincinnati convention, the Democrats of
East Middlebury organized Hancock
club, and procured large flag. Then
they invited several Republicans to join
their club, Mr.. Farr among the number.
Instead of doing 30, Mr.. Farr procured
flag of his own, had the names of Gar
field and Arthur painted on it, and raised
it on his hotel. This displeased the
Democrats 30 much that note was sent
to Mr.. Farr on Wednesday, in these
words, but without any names signed to
it: eff you don't take that flag down
mighty soon you will be sorry" Mr..
Farr did not pay any attention to this,
but left his flag flying all day Wednes-
day and Thursday.
At about II o'clock Thursday night,
after he had retired to. rest, the bell at
the front door was r,ing loudly, and, not
suspecting anything wrong, Mr.. Farr
got up, partially dressed, and went to
see what was wanted. He opened the
door, and was Immediately seized 10y
three masked rufiians. A hand was clapp-
ed over his mouth and he was dragged
into the road, where the three despera-
does were met by twenty-five or thirty
more, similarly disguised. Across the
road is BARRIERS shop, and into it they
went. Mr.. Farr was asked If he would
take down the Republican flag, and he
bravely said he would not. The fellows
who were either drunk or pretending to
be, then took razors and shaved off all
of Mr.. Fairs beard and hair, infiicting
four scalp wounds in the course Of the
operation. The owner of the shop must
have known all about it, for the shop was
not locked and the scoundrels seemed to
find everything they wanted very easily.
Mr.. Farr was then taken to the bank of
Otter Greek, which runs close by, and
again was asked if he would haul down
the Republican flag Again he firmly an
swered no. A rope was then tied to his
feet, bandage put over his mouth, and
he was thrown into the river three times
in succession and dragged out by the
the rope, more dead than alive. He was
then tied up to a tree with his wet clothes
on and left. Ho was found III the morn
ing senseless, and taken home.
Mr.. Farr will be cared for ut the
Fletcher hospital, in this city. His in
juries are severe, but probably not dam
gerous. However, he will always be
disfgured, and will be standing monu-
ment to the brutal Kukluxism of Vermont
Democratic Copperheads. The sheriff
and states attorney of Addison county
are now at work to discover the perpe-
traitors of the outrage, and if their iden-
tity can be established, they will feel the
seyerity of Vermont iustice