The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-05-07
"REMINISCENCES.
AN OLD MANS RECoLLEcTloNs.
Inciients OF Early Days IN the State of
Indiana.

tIt i.''t rilOH hPN '.t'i ''tift - 'b'lN'L
idea to he readers Of TA~ H,hjg # IL" state
Of society il Indiana When hrsI moved
there, than by rrcitins two stories which NJ
the time of their occurrence, Impressed them
selves indelibly upon my memory. Such
scenes rs l am about TO narrate are of fire.
luent occurrence III all newly settled roun-
tries. Since those days the progress OF edln-
cation and refinement, the rapid increase of
population, and the growing respect for Law
and order, have materially changed the gen
eral aspect of society.
moved with my fathers family from
Elktnn Md, aud settled in Connrrsvillr
Ind, in May, lS2n. He Capt. John Siliupl.)
hnnght Il tavern property on Main street,
in C"nnrrSyille, and kept the Connrr>vilc
Hotel. He had a number of hoarders. Al
the time the incident am about to relate
occurred, my father was the coroner of Fay
erte county. II WIS the month of March.
One evening had juSr come from the sap
per room, and was standing III the. front
door, when | saw youth of som" sixteen
years on "a btre-bt"kt' horse, spi.. >h-i ,v:rh
mud, and covered With hl"n:t, rid" mp iu
gre II h;Isl". liz threw himself cit his hnr>r
and, in great agitation. asked for the cnru-
urr. stepped back 10 the dining rooni and
my father on hcng told that Il messenger
awaited him AZ the door, came out and was
informed that old Betty Shafrr, notorious
old creature had Just been murdered NV
fat her at once issued an order to the sheriff
to summon and impannei a jury of Inquest.
The community was i'll great c0nmotion to
ascertain the particulars. The boy knew
all the facts, but the people did NOT, and the
former was cautioned to say norhiug until
duly sworn and examined according to law.
GREAT EXCITEMENT PREVAILED,
and doubtless Il hundred men wereat the spot
when the witnesses We're examined The
deceased was one of the Devils own imps
and the terror of the community. She had
a son as full of Satan as herSelf-a per-
feet dare devil, and as expert with the rifle
rs Il Mohawk Indian. Living near them,
and owning eighty acres OF good land, WIS
very qu,er, industrious man named RreS.
\ difficulty had arisen nrtw ren them about
some Srrk. and one night some ON. com
mrncei firing at old I'rtry's house. After
Il short time, thea Boy taking MS ritl'. com
m"nced firing i'll return az the flash of rhr
eneIny'S gun. After Il lit- rima, The firing
ceased. Shortly after This b;tltIe with rifles
between the parties, the barn of RerS WAS
fired and burned 10 ashes, and had consider
able valuable implements, etc, in and about
it was burned and by whom, and he deter
mined to make it too hot for old Betty and
her son to remain in the ncighhnrh0ud. He
took he rifle to it, On Intervening stated,
old Betty was sweeping of Il flat stone which
laid at her back door, standing with her
back towards the woods, which was about
eighty 10 one hundred yards distant Her
head was tied up with Il white hanlker-
chief When a rifle shot was fired, the bullet
har il, mud kill..i ,l,
Instantly. The boy was the only person
near by, and ran TO her. There was cry.
He caught her up in his arms and held her
until life was extinct. No one To aid him.
he caught his horse rs quickly as possibly
AMI went for the coroner. These facts were
elected on the inqni>iiion. ReeS WAS ar
rested and put into the old log pen, which
was an excuse for Il jail, and lorlled M
there. His father heing the iailor, of course
took the key. A short time rhereatter-So
soon as Mr. ices could perfect his arrange
mtntS-hr lett and went South No effort
WAS ever made 10 catch him. No une
s-emt.,! TO care wiIeth her h" waS ever caught
or not. Old Betty never troubled the neigh
borhoud any more. l could now 90 to the
spot where old Betty lies buried on the bank
of WhiIe Water river.
In the second incident recall. at least
two persons lost their lives. Long years
ago. there lived man in Indiana--a man
of whom it might be said,
HIS TRADE WAS BLOOD!
He was Il doctor, and a good one living on
the bank of u beautiful creek, about three
ar four miles from the county seat. His
farm was 4 good one. He was Il physician
of no common ability. Such was his rrpu-
tation in the profession hat patients came
TO him from far aud near. He WAS u man
of al HuN-iptr re-.
solved 10 ito Il thing, he wis certain as
fate to execute his purpose. He. was one
Of your Gen. jackson style of men. Ne
had IN extensive practice in cases Peculiar
To women. Amongst his patients from
abroad WAS woman from urighhuriug
county, who remained for some time in his
house fer treatment The pre>enc. of this
woman in the doctors HOUSE. soon led Ia
trouble hiwe him and his wife. Things
went on from bad To worse, until finally the
latter left her home, he doctor plainly say
ing that it suited him, and if il did not Suit
her she could seek Il home more congelIial
10 her Their separation led To much M |
favorable comment in the nrighhorhuol thu !
sympathy of The community being in the !
wite'S favor. The doctor. however, seemed !
ind tfrrcnt to- if not defiant Of public opin- !
ion, until the feeling became So strong !
against him for his unhluShng immortality |
in abandoning his lawful wifi, aud eStah- i
fishing another woman in her stead, that ii !;
WAS determined to give him Il taste Of the !
publc Indignation. There was al this time |
an artillery company iii the neighhorhood |
made np of some fifty or more of the sons |
of the best families of the community. L. |
was determined that il should he he in>tru !
ment 10y which the public vengeance /" !
be executed. This company WAS tn quietly |
meet IT night ut the doctors house, and, /
taking him from his bed. toduek h;iu i'll he |
creek which ran uBar The night selected |
for the execution of this scheme WAS thar |
following the regular battalion muster. !
was at that muster, for | commanded Il |
hight iniaf.t"y company, and rs | rode l..,SI |
This artillery company, they we-". as after |
wards learned, just fnrmed across my road |
consulting about and perfectlng their ar I
ran gement& which were Ia be put into exc
cutlon that night. But there was !
TRAITOR IN THEIR COMPANY
who betrayed them. The doctor was APP
prised that, ut u certain hour on that night,
their plans Were to he carried out. Some
,,,. .,ni u.ypr was known vrh, ,vos tl,,