The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-15
A VILLAGE IN AN uPRoAR.
Efying to Separate an Unmarried Couple
by Unearthly Noises-Hanged in Ehigy.
Reading Ra.) Letter

lReading pa letter. L
Passengers on the down trains on the
Reading Road this morning were surprised
TO see the stuffed figures of q man and
woman in loving embrace dangling from
the telegraph wires near the station Of the
village of Leesport. Last night these
figures were ridden on q rail by at least
25O masked young men and boys with
blackened faces and In all sorts of fantas-
tic costumes. They had every variety OF
rude instrument that would make a dis
cordant noise, from the giant hull fiddle to
the tin-horn. Such racket was never be.
fore heard In that village They had
drums, fifes, anvils, tin-pans, boat-horns,
big organ pipes, hotel gongs, bells, fish
horns, and other noise making instru'
ments. The noise was heard mile away,
and the villagers held their ears, but
cheered on the serenaders.
The object Of their wrath was William
p. Reeser, ffty.fve years Of age, q wild.
over, who lives in vine-clad, two-story
stone cottage, a square from the depot.
His respected wife died year ago. A
few weeks ago Mrs. Emanuel Kershner
deserted her husband and took up her
abode with Reeser. This Mortified the
villagers. Mr.. Kershner had been called
away on business, and their two crippled,
dwarf daughters, aged eighteen and
twenty, mere midgets, were obliged to go
with their mother, This added fuel to the
fame. The villagers warned the woman
to leave Reeser, which warning she did
not heed, but rather defed public senti.
ment They accordingly determined to
drive them out, and resorted to the fear
fully discordant serenade. For five nights
they have whooped it up from seven until
eleven o'clock, but the couple apparently
were not disturbed, the woman ironing at
the window saying she could stand it II
they could. Last night, however, the
house was surrounded by the noisest
crowd ever assembled there. The racket
was simply terrific to any one compelled
to listen TO it. Reeser couldn't stand 1t,
and hurriedly left the house in one direc-
into, while the woman led her crippled
children in another. The storm of noise
continued until eleven, when the mob
hung the efigies in front of Reeser's
house.
Reeser and the woman and children
quietly stole back again this morning.
Reeser called upon Squire RAIN and dc.
manded protection, but he was told he
would have to apply elsewhere. A crowd
speedily gathered about him, and Reeser
dropped to the ground in dead faint.
Soon sfterward he was taken home. He
says he will not drive the woman away;
that she is respectable, and simply his
housekeeper. The woman said she quar-
relied with her husband about a church
question, he being Methodist and she q
Lutheran. To-day her husband began a
suit for divorce.
Tonight the village was again in tire.
mendous uproar. The serenaders were
augmented by many from other points,
and the villagers were compelled to close
up their homes. Tomorrow strong dele
cations from at least dozen villages will
take part in the serenade, bringing into
play the most diabolical noise.producing
machines they can suggest The older vii.
layers encourage them and promise to pay
all costs in case of arrest. Reeser has APP
piled to Sheriff Boyer for protection, de-
claring that he is afraid OF his life. Some
Lint thas he couple will be treated to a
cont Of tar and feathers IL they do not sep.
ara.e or leave the village.