New-York tribune., 1884-01-26
ASSAULTED IN HIS BARN.
A SAVAGE ATTACK AT EAST MEADOW, L. l.

FARMER sPRAGUE NEArIY MURDERED-HIs ASsLL-
ANT NARROWLY ESCAPES LYNCHING.
At East Meadow. in the town of Hempstead /. l..
yesterday morning shortly before O'clock. savage
assault was made upon Selah Sprague. who. with
ms Wic Sarah. lives on "A farm of thirty acres on
the line of the Stewart Central Railroad. about five
miles from the village of Hampstead The nearest
houses are those Of Peter Pottit quarter of a mile
east. and of Mrs. Spragucs brother about the same
distance 10 the west. After starting the kitchen
fire, Mr. SpTaguc went ont to the barn. which i,
about 100 feet from the house to take care Of his
stock, leaving Ms sprague in the kitchen plcpra-
mg the breakfast. He had not been gone more than
twenty minutes when Mrs. Spngue was surprised
10y the entrance INTO the kitchen of negro wearing
a heavy plush cap, and light colorcd overccat
which was covered with bioad
- want money. ! VIII xiii you.' he said and
selling hcr by the hair hc struck hor a singing
blow on the mouth, cutting her lip and ooacning
her lower teeth When he entered the house he had
.u his hand flat iron bar about two feet in length.
which va, covered with blood
Mrs. Sprague said: Have yeu killed my
husband p
No, but l will kill you. if you do not get Ee the
money" be replied.
Mis-. Spraguc then started TO get the money going
through the duCg-rOom tOthe parlor at the south
west corner OF the house. Sho took her pockctbook
which contained f3S from the bureau. ana laid il
on the table. The negro picked it up and while he
was trying 10 open it she out of the front door
ami across the ii Ids to NJ. Pettits whom she
n aru ed. and then T. her bGcther'S. Mr. Petit
Mr.. Ca'man Ot lers went Immediately 10
SPraguc's and on op,u x She barn door they found
lying on the floor ar the door, Mr. SprIgue
covered with blood ali unconscious. Close 10y the
door waSa poo t , 90 l. and blood was spatterot
Oh tne maug'r an sI-bags He was taken to the
house aud Dr>. sea Ing and Ludium of Hcmpstead
were aUluHOued. they dressed las wounds, but
wee uot abe to restore him to coLNclousne~S
although thry .eUa ned with HIM the entire day P.
he h.s toI g,shes o. tie front para OF s head. aud
ili, s,un j, Fl ct ired The phys cans say that
tnrrr u little po ability OF his recovery. lie had
gl5D In an 81 c WalStcOat pocket which h>
a,,liEiut mi sed Al the O.her pockets 81 his
c,otnug bad b. searched. As soon ns MrS.
Spr. suc ran + the house shouting tor help, thr
rJ.Iah must have left the house
a party o. hf ' men aud boys armed with guns.
pistols. ana 81 ~ started m pursuit OF nm, tlh n
mg ann ward Nt,theuy. In manure PIE.
aUuut two hundred yards from the house, on tli''
uu" Of StcwartS Central road, LIs cap WAS found.
aad further ON ms ovcrrOat. SIurtly hciur,
- O'Clock the fugitive reached NcotheTy and at the
store of Edward Kelsey he purchased u hat, Il coat
aud paII OF boots. tie wanted To 20 10 Nyo~'rtt ne
,auI. Wnic ne was waiting. officer, Pratt Ayre, and
Buhcr arrested him. and the tareo Officers Lad ~
InIru as thCy could d. 10 prevent an excited mon
from lyuchug him. lie wt, taocu 10 NlckSYEir
before Justice Edgar Dav~, and nj noon was driven
over 81 nT. SpTagIc's mousse Here g officers htd
they could do to prevent the crowd from lynch
ing ter prisoner. William Nplag ie. brother nl
the injured man. Il d Ike him "a Dl0w m tine face.
When taken IutO tbs house Mrs. Spragut tDIy
u!rut feed nIln rs t.r man who h1d struck her and
to whom she gave the money. lie WAS then taken
back a. HIck>NIlIo where Une widest excitement
prevailed. Renewed threats ol Hhchmg were
freely made. lie was strongly guarded. however.
and WAS taken to the Queens County jail at Long
Island t.ty ln late traII.
All around tine ~pra cue house the tracks of the
ultan were visible m Ie snow. He had attempted
to enter the mousse the n gnt bat iaIlh2 II Is
supposed that he Hy ln wait for Jir. Spiague.
knocking him down before he was seen. Mr.
SpTgLc Is iOTtN-thIcc years OF age, ana strong
atllctlc man. who, II No had not been taken ~ 70
dI>ad vantage, could easily have handled his
aS~lant
The arrested man gave his name as Charles \.
smith and Sald that he lived IA Poverty Hollow IN
the town of Oyster Bay. Tie wa, ful y Identified
however, as Charles A RUgg, of Oyster Bay. lie J.
Il inulatto about thirty years OF age, of light buid
and with heavy muStacie aud short AIDE whiskers
lie was sern the village of hempstead on Thurs
day afternoon and later walking on the road u
East Meadow.