The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-01-10
H1aTLANTRs An UNIoNTowN.
A wife-beatsr's Marrow Escape His ViO-
tim Attempts Suicide.

tim Attempts suicide
The usually quiet village of Union
town, about IA miles east OF Akron, has
been considerably stirred up for several
months, and especially so within the
past few days, over matter that savOrs
strongly OF Villainy and bad blood. The
story OF the affair, as related to Beacon
reporter by responsible and thorough
ly Informed gentleman yesterday, is
given below without names, although
they are at hand, In the hope that the
guilty parties may take timely warning.
There are unsuspected persons interest
ed, who are watching the whole affair,
and who will not suffer certain plans
now laid to be carried out unoppOsed.
The story runs that few months ago
a man, making pretensiOns to respecta-
bility, beat hrs wife in shameful man
ner, pulling great bunches Of hair out
of her head, bruising her face with his
fist or a stick, and so bfutally used her
that she was under doctors care sever
al days. Soon after this affair six mas
ked men went to the house of the alleg-
ed wife beater at night for the purpose,
1t Is said, Of capturing him, and in
nude condition hanging him to sign
post at a cross road with a placard of
wife beater" attached to him. Their
prey, however, heard them approach,
and, seized with fear, sprang from a sec
Ond story window of his house and made
his escape, remaining away several days.
The men followed, but could not catch
him in the darkness. Before morning,
however, they returned to the house, and
being somewhat under the influence of
liquor, smashed the windows and COM
mitted other depredations to the injury
OF the owner Of the dOmicile. The wife,
who has two children, had, during her
troubles, applied for protection at her
fathers home, but was refused admis-
sion. She then went to the home of an
uncle, who took her and her little ones
in and cared for them.
In due time the abused woman applied
for a divorce at Canton, and was given
assurance by her attorney that she could
easily be released from her cruel hus-
band upon the proof which she brought.
Shortly after the beginning of the suit,
her attorney, for some reason, changed
his mind, and, in company with dele
CATION Of men, is said to have waited on
the woman, and persuaded her to return
to her husband and drop the divorce
proceedings. In view of this, the hus-
band repaired his house and made ar
rangements to begin housekeeping
again. The wife, however, became de-
spOndent over the situation, and went
to Canton and procured poison, but she
was discovered, and the deadly drug ta-
ken from her. She then went home and
applied at the village store for poison,
but was refused. Several days ago in
the evening, she was taken violently i'll,
however, and was only saved from death
by medical skill. The following morn
ing she was again discovered in a dying
condition, but was again restored to
health. An examination of her effects
brought to light deadly poison, which
were sure indications of what had caus-
cd her serious illness.
The reporter said: "An effort is now
being made to remove her to the insane
asylum, when everybody knows she is
sane" 1t is further said that the at
tempt to declare her insane is simply to
defeat her prospects Of ever procuring
alimOny. which circumstances indicate
she richly deserves. The father of the
unfortunate woman, who refused her
admission, also claims to have had ad-
ministered to him an overdose of pOis-
on, which did not take effect. If the in
sanity plan is carried out, there will be
developments with names, and the
threats Of lynching, which are now
quite common, may become alarmingly
realistic.-AkrOn Beacon.