Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-01
A WEIRD WEDDING.
A Clergyman Compelled by Desperate
and Murderer, at the Point
Of Pistol,
To Marty Him to Deaf and Dumb Girl
"A Bad Man, Wvrse Than
Jesse James.

Jesse James.
The Lebanon (Pa.) correspondent of the
Philadelphia Times tells the following |
story of the doings of q desperate who |
rivals any OF the James gang:
prof. Jake" Bonsall, the young desper- |
ado and highwayman who became the |
commander of the notUriots Welsh noun |
tain gang OF land pirates after Ike BuzZard |
was deposed and locked in Lancaster Jail |
few months ago, has just placed the cap
sheaf on his criminal record in Berks, |
Lancaster and Lebanon counties by forcing |
a minister, at the point of pistol, to |
marry him to Miss Lydia McComas Kline,
the young, rich, pretty and deaf and
dumb niece OF Jacob V. Fletterman, of
Norwegian township. The enforced mar
riage ceremony was performed on Thurs
day evening last in the house of an old
and ignorant German farmland named
Andrew Book, who lives OH the road be-
tween Shaefferstown, in Lebanon, and
Cocalico, in Lancaster counties. On Fri
day the girl disappeared from her uncle's
house, and yesterday Bonsall and tramp
called "Horse" Spiegle were brought to
bay by Constable Schwartz, Mr.. Fletter-
man and two other men, in Kline's woods,
near the spurs of the mountains, near
Womelsdorf Both sides engaged in pistol
practice at long range, and when the con-
stables posse emptied their revolvers and
Bonsall did not surrender, they retreated,
leaving the representative of the Welch
mountain gang in possession of the blood
less field.
SEPARATING PAIR OF LOVERS.
Bonsall is the son of Berks county
farmer, and is not more than thirty years
old. Three years ago he taught school in
Norwegian township, and during the win
ter boarded with Mr.. Fletterman, whose
daughter Addie he became infatuated with
and wanted to marry. Fletterman made
some inquiries about Bonsall, and learning
that he was dissipated and had been ar
rested in Reading for garroting and rob-
bing drunken man, he ordered him out
of the house. He also endeavored to have
HIM removed from his position as teacher
of the district school, but failed. Bonsall
then went to board at a neighboring farm
and kept up secret correspondence with
Miss Fletterman, Miss Kline, who was at
that time sixteen years of age, carrying the
letters between the separated lovers. Miss
Kline is an orphan and has for eleven years
lived with her uncle, who holds in trust
for her $35, ,000 which is her share of her
fathers estate. She is blonde, and very
pretty, and, although deaf and dumb, has
had several offers of marriage. When Bon
sail learned that she was an heiress he at
once began making love to her, and al
though he is neither handsome nor intel
ligent she fell in love with him, and, in
order to keep her rival cousin out of the
field, exposed her letters to Mr.. Fletter
man. He at once sent his daughter to
Philadelphia, where she still lives. Before
the school term ended Bonsall was ac
cused of stealing gold watch from Henry
w. Zulich. Constable Hoffman then at
tempted to arrest "The Professor" who,
in the school-room, in the presence
of his pupils, drew revolver,
shot the officer through the shoul-
| der, dashed out of the house, jumped
into the constable's sulkv and drove off
| He went west and did not reappear in this
| part of Pennsylvania until last spring,
after Zulich was dead. Shortly after that
| he was arrested in Bethlehem for robbery.
| The charge was not proved, and in Easton
few days later ''The Professor" stabbed a
tramp called dublin Dan," with whom
| he quarreled over the division of the pro-
ceeds of robbery. He spent the summer
travelling about Lebanon, Berks and Lam
caster counties, and although the police
authorities have suspected him of scores
| of offenses they were unable to fasten any
| headquarters while in the Welsh noun
tains with the Freeligs, Strouses and other
families connected with the Buzzards.
THE MARRIAGE.
Last Thursday morning Miss Kline left
| her uncle's house, saying that she in
tended to pay visit to girl friend who
lived half a mile off. That afternoon, as
the Rev. Andrew J. Hoechler was driving
from Schafferstown, he overlook Bonsall,
whom he did not know. At his invita-
ton Bonsall got into the carriage. They
had not gone 100 hundred yards together
before Bonsall grabbed the lines, pulled
the horse to a standstill and excitedly
afked:
! Are you a preacher"
The astounded minister replied, eyes. "
"Then you are the man I'm looking for.
l was just making for Cocalico when you
met with me-"
With that he deliberately turned the
horse around toward Schaefferstown.
Mr.. Hoechler objected, on the ground that
he had business to attend to and could not
go back.
"You must CO." said Bonsall. "This is
business and if you make any fuss there
| will be trouble" Then he told the min
lister that two miles back there was dying
man who wanted to make a confession
that would release an innocent man from
the penitentiary. They drove two miles,
got out and walked half mile across the
fields to the cabin of Book. Bonsall went
in without knocking, and when Mr..
Hoechler entered 'The Professor closed
and bolted the door. Book, who was in.
toxicated, went into back room and soon
returned with Miss Kline, who was cry.
ing,
ing girl by the hand and addressing the
minister, ''you might as well know that
lied to you. l want you to marry this wo,
man and me. Go ahead. Don't waste any
| time"
The minister hesitated and spoke to the
girl. She looked at Bonsall, who said
"She can neither talk nor hear"
81 refuse to marry you," said Mr.. Hoech
Ter.
''But you must" exclaimed Bonsall
drawing a revolver and cooking it. "Yor
think she doesn't want to marry me,
suppose ?"
Taking a notebook, from his poke
Bonsall wrote: ''This man does not thinl
you want to marry me-" and showed it II
the girl.
She instantly took the pencil and un
derneath the query wrote: "Oh, yes,
love him and must marry him at once
now"
The minister then made them husband
and wife, but it was not until the last wore
was spoken that the groom put up his re
volver. The girl gave the minister s., anC
he drove away to tell his strange story
On Friday he learned who the girls uncl,
was and went there to inquire whether the
marriage was known to him. Mr.. Fletter
man was not at home and Mr.. Hoechle
went away, promising to return in the
evening.
SEARCHING FOR THE BRIDEGROOM.
In the meantime Miss Kline, who haC
returned home after her marriage or
Thursday afternoon, fled from her uncle's
house, taking with her all her jewelry anC
SI65. When Mr.. Fletterman heard the
minister's story that evening and learned
of his niece's elopement he consulted the
authorities and learned that three war
rants charging ''The Professor" with rob
berry had been issued in Lebanon earlier
in the week The story of Miss Kline,
marriage spread rapidly. She and Bonsal
were seen near Womelsdorf in a wagor
on Friday night, and on Saturday Mr.
Fletterman, Constable Schwartz and two
other men, who were promised $50 i
"the professor" was captured with theil
assistance, started in pursuit. No fur
ther trace of the missing girl could be
found, but the pursuing party learned
that Bonsall and vagabond known as
Horse" Spiegle had been in Womelsdort
that day. Their trail was found, and after
a chase of four miles Bonsall and Spiegle
stopped, and the pursuers saw ''The Pro
lessor" draw pistol and cover himself
with tree. The constable's party halted
and unlimbered their firearms. Between
thirty and forty shots were fired, and then
the official parry retreated in good order
Bonsall is now in the mountains, and il
will be difficult to effect his capture. Mr.
Fletterman said to-day that he would
lodge The Professor in Jail if it cosr
$1,000 to do it. 1t is the general impression
here that before taking to the mountain.
Bonsall sent his wife to Philadelphia
where he intends TO join her as soon a,
he can elude the country officers who ar
after him.