Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-09-12

Jurors. When the news of the robbery
and arrest became known, q crowd Of
one hundred and fifty men assem- bIed
and requested the Sheriff to turn ou,
the prisoners. The request was re.
fused. In the confusion wbieh pre-.
vailed Gaddis, one of the prisoners, at.
tempted to escape, but was riddled
with bullets BY the infuriated mob
The Sheriff was then overpowersd, and
the other prisoner taken from the jail
and hanged"
ERIE September 2.-The eastern
part of this county is intensely excit.
ed over the freaks Of man crazy byre-
ligion. Sylvester Knott, o well-to- do
farmer, living in comparatively iso-
lated spot on the bank of Lake Erre, is
the fanatic whose deeds are the theme
Of public conversation. Some months
ago he attended a meeting of the
Salvation Army at Franklin, where he
became greatly excited. Since then
his BRAIN has by degrees grown moro
and more infsmed, and now his frenzy
knows no check. For two weeks past
he wandered up and down the lake
bank, regardless of sunshine and storm,
declaiming on salvation schemes, pic
turing the horrors of judgment day
and calling upon sinners to worship
God or be eternallY lost Yesterday
morning he planted large GROSS in
the woods, upon which to nail his S
year ole son, believing that the boy
would be tormented 10 hell Ere for
ever unless he died the death Of man
kinds Redeemer With strength we'll
nigh superhuman Knott held the lad
firmly while driving large nail through
the little fellows hand, unheeding his
piteeus pleas for mercy. The dread
full work was interrupted by some
woodcutters who chanced to be pass
ing. Leaving bis son hanging the
first striking down one of the
with hammer, leaped into
the lake. A search for his hiding
place proved fruitless and it was
thought that he had BEEN drowned
But such was not the case. Before
midnight the crazy man returned,
smashed the door of his house and
knocked Mrs. Knott insensible at
single blow. Entering a chamber in
which his only daughter. Minnie, a
beautiful girl of l6, lay sleeping, he
bound her hands and carried her to
a lonely place in the forest, where
hundreds of cords of wood were piled.
An altar was quickly built and upon
it the madman secured his child.
''Even as Abraham did with Isaac,
will l offer you as burnt offering un-
to the Lord" chanted the msdman,
setting the funeral pJre on Ere.
The climbing flames soon licked the
exposed limbs of the girl whose shrieks
If agony and prayers for more mer-
,iful death were music to the madman's
ears. Dancing around tbs heap on
which lay the girl. he implored the
Almighty to accept the sacrifice as
Itoncment for the sinful deeds commit
ed BY him in years long gone and ad-
led fresh fuel to the altar. But help
arrived in time to prevent the con-
umation Of the fearful design. Two
'oung men crossing the woods on their
way home from a party saw a bright
light aud heard the young lady's
creams. One felled the demented
ather, while his companion scattered
he blazing fagots and lifted the girl
rom her fiery bed. The cords that
ettered her limbs were transferred to
hose of the unconscious maniac.
Miss Knott is painfully burned about
be limbs and there are large bIisters
n her shoulders and sides. So awful
vas her experience that the doors of an
syIum may open to admit the daught-
II, as well as the father. She raves
light and day and it is feared her rea-
on is permanently dethroned