The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1883-04-21

parties who want to examine the
pretty new paper.
SAD RESULT OF IGNORANCE AND
W oRTHLEssNEss- SINGULAR CAPERs OF
AN INSANE CoUPLE.-From the Fair
mont Vest FrqiaiaR: Miss Mary
Jane Radelitf, of this place, is the
owner of small farm in Winfield
district, this county, adjoining the
farm OF her sister Lucinda Ritten-
house, inherited from the estate of
their father, Laban Radcliff, deceas-
ed. On Thursday of last week she
removed her household goods to the
land, intending to occupy the dwell
ing place thereon. She was met at
the place by Craft Rittenhouse and
Lucinda, his wife, who threatened to
take her life, as well as that of her lit
tie child, unless she instantly return
ed to Fairmont They were each
armed with a gun, and Craft had in
addition a pair of revolvers. Mr.
Perry Bartholow, whose team had
hauled the goods down, interfered
aud prevented any violence being
done. Miss Radciitf was obliged to
return TO town with her goods the
same day.
On Friday warrant was sworn
out and before Squire Fleming and
placed in the hands Of Constable d.
n. Snider and Thomas Bowers, who
proceeded at once to the scene Of war,
and after much parleying and strate-
gy succeeded in arresting the parties.
They were brought up in a wagon,
and their trial began at once before
the Justice. Thos Fl. b. Staggers,
Esq, as counsel for Miss Radclif,
conducted the prosecution. The evil
denee was terrible. Rittenhouse
testified on cross examination that
he had loaded his guns with buck
shot. and his revolvers were all in
good trim and that they, he and wife
meant to kill Mary Radclif, and were
only prevented by the presence of Mr..
Bartholow and the family Of George
korns.
Squire Fleming fined the parties
$40 each and costs and required them
to enter into a recogn izance in the
sum of 5000 each to keep the peace.
This they refused to do, and in de-
fault thereof were committed to jail,
where they still remain.
The parties are evidently crazy.
Friends of the wife proposed to pay
her fine and 90 on her bond, but she
obstinately refuses to be separated
from her husband, and says she en-
joys the situation. She is well con-
nected, and this wretched fix has been
brought on by the general worth
lessness of her husband Although
owning and occupying good farm,
and having had considerable money
wiled to them, they are now and
have been ia a state Of squalid power
tv for years. They do not own a COW
a pig or a chicken, and the four or
five small children have been starved
into half idiocv. They tell persons
who are about the Jail they have not
slept at night for years, hut that they
stand guard at night and sleep in day
time They each speak Of magma
ry enemies, whom they refuse to
name who desire to take their lives,
and they seem to he in terror.
Wednesday morning the Sheriff un
dertook to separate them. in order to
allow friends of the woman to under
take to get her to 60 home. They re.
fused to come out. and it was neces-
sary to bring a number of men to get
them apart Craft trembled and beg
ged to know if he was to be hung Or
shot. The woman caught her infant
child to her bosom and rushed to the
rear of the cell in perfect horror
screaming not to let them shoot her
and crying, Il have not been in a
church for fourteen years"
This is certainly a pitiable case.
They have literally starved them
selves to crazyness. A reliable gentle
man says they lived for month one
winter on parched corn.