The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1881-06-25
A storythat outrivaEs the worst

WAYNEsBURG, Pa, June 16.-A
series Of outrages which have no par
allel in the history Of this section is
reported as having been perpctrated
a few nights ago, and the particulars
as furnished sound like the improba-
bic annals of more depraved age
than the present. The facts as re-
ported are not to be questioned how
ever, and every particular is vouched
for as being capable of being implic-
lily believed. The depredations com
mitted consisted in a combination of
unheard Of outrages, the perpetrators
being gang of
MOUNTED, MASKED MEN
who made Springhill, Greene county,
their starting point and completed
their dastardly work beyond the
Pennsylvania line in West Virginia.
The mob numbered from ten to TWEEN
ty men and were considerably under
the influence of liquor, which, though
not an excuse for the crimes commit
ted, will doubtless be to a certain ex-
tent considered a palliation. The
house of Eli Reed, in the above named
village was first visited and an en-
trance effected. Their vengeance, if
such it could be called, was stated by
treating. the head of the house to q
coat Of tar, after which he was ridden
on a rail and subjected to all manner
Of indignities. Mrs. Reed was then
carried from the house considerable
distance and compelled to submit to
nameless indecencies. Not yet sat
isfed, her body was covered with
COAT OF TAR
and almost all her clothes stripped
from her person. Continuing they
me to the house of a neighbor to
taeir last victim, Armstrong Sexton,
and similar mode of procedure was
gone throug with, if possible even
more outrageous than the first. Sex
ton was taken from his house, strip
ped and his body coated with tar.
After heaping all the possible abuse
on the husband, the wife was put
under the tortures inflicted on the
person Of the lady first visited, her
husband being compelled to stand as
spectator to the fendish acts. The
next object of their hate, on whom
they proposed committing their bar
barities was John Pettet, but being
unable to take him unawares, they
were compelled to give up their plans
so far as he was concerned. Mr..
Petit was q soldier, and having had
some experience with outlaws of this
sort, was not the man for q party of
towards to attack when once on his
guard.
THE HOUSE OF A WIDOW
named Sarah Roach, who, with her
son, lives in the same neighborhood
was their next point of attack. The
boy was taken first and treated to q
coat of tar and feathers, after which
the mother was compelled to suffer
whatever punishment the mob saw
fit to inflict The West Virginia line
was crossed and widow named Wis
hey made subject of their madness.
After compelling her to undergo the
same tortures as their former victims
coat Of tar and feathers was applied.
After abusing her to such an extent
as to render her entirely helpless and
too weak to even call for assistance,
the villains carried her to large
brush heap and throwing her among
the brush and logs left her to recover
as best she could. After lying there
for several hours she recovered
strength sufficient to enable her to
return to her home, and apprise her
friends and neighbors of the circnm-
stances of the case.
The mob then disappeared seem
ingly satisfied with their
CHASTITY NIGHTS WORK
and no one seems able to tell whence
they came or whittier they went.
Their work was the most dastardly
ever known to have been committed
in this region Of country, and it is to
be regretted that there is no positive
clue to the identity of the perpetra-
tors. There is of course some slight
evidence but they came so silently,
did their work so swiftly, and disap-
peared so quietly, leaving no marks
to indicate the course of their depar-
ture, that it will be most difficult
matter to trace the matter to any one.
What is
A MOST PECULIAR PHASE
of the strange and unaccountbe
affair is the fact that the persons who
were chosen as the ones to suffer are
all harmless and inoffensive people
who, though they may have some en-
emies, have never been guilty of any
act toward the less law abiding por-
ton of the community as would call
for reparation on their part. The.
Officers of the law are making every
effort to ferret out the perpetrators
and in this laudable effort are receiv-
ing all possible aid from the citizens
of the vicinity in which the fendish
acts were committed. Whether they
will ever be overtaken and given
the reward they have only too richly
earned is yet matter which cannot
be determined, but if persistent and
determined effort will avail anything
there is hope that the law may be
indicated
A RIG rsU.A(,ux SNAKE