Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-13
OVER THE STATE.
TRAGIC FATE OF A GRAVE RopBEH
A sexton slain in the Grave That Ito Wa
Hiniog-Brutal Assault On
Little slIrI.

A sexton slain in the Grave That Ito Wa
Hiniog-Brutal Assault On
Little 8irI.
Between forty and fifty years ago an old
log church stood on tho commons between
Pittsburg and Allegheny. Adjoining it
was q graveyard. About daylight one day
in lsA5 farmer on his way to Pittsburg
with load of meat, passing the grave
yard, heard the sound of splitting timber.
Curious to know the cause, he alighted,
quickly climbed the graveyard fence
and stole along the direction OF tho sound.
He had gone but short distance when he
discovered man STOPPING In an
excavated grave and In tho act OF
lifting body out of tho coffin.
The grave was that Of prominent young
woman who had been buried only the day
before. The former was SO filed with
horror and indignation that before the
man could spring out he seized club that
lay near and dealt him powerful blow on
tho head. The man neither uttered q
sound nor moved after falling. The
farmer became alarmed. Dropping
INTO the grave himself he raised the
grave robbers body aud recognized
the sexton of the old church, man
who stood high in the community.
Fearful of tho consequences the farmer
hurried home, and telling his relatives
of what had occurred at once left the
state. Only five persons ever knew his
secret. Who found the body of the sexton
dead in the grave was not known by them,
but as it was given out that he died sud
denly, and no investigation was ever made
and his family soon afterwards moved
away, it was supposed by the five in the
secret that the body must have been DIS
covered by some one of the sections
family, and that the evidences of his
crime were 50 plain that II was determined
not to expose 1t by making any effort tc
ascertain how he came to his death.
The sexton's slayer went to town in
| Ohio, where he became prominent and
wealthy. He died last week, without his
secret becoming known even TO his wife
and children. The secret at the time o.
his death was in the custody of two per
sons only, all the rest Of the five having
died. One of these persons is q leading
preacher in Allegheny, the other is resi-
dent of the oil regions,
A Chilu Brutaiiy Assaulted.
A special from Cornwall, Lebanon
county, tells of an outrage committed upor
nine year, old daughter Of man nameC
| BCruer by Frank kicaddeu. The villaiI
visited Borner's place while all the family
were absent except the child, Matte. II,
threatened the child with many ways o
punishment if she revealed the crime t,
her parents and then fled The brute is
cousin OF the victim and was always much
respected. When the parents returned
several hours later they found their little
daug ghter lying on lounge very i'll. When
n gly xrh i &.
first refused to say anything for fear OF
being killed by her cousin who committed
the crime She was, however, persuaded
and she gave full account of the crime
The alarm was Immediately given and
party of citizens went in pursuit of Kis
caddeu. Threats of tarrng and featherin,
him are numerous and If caught he ma
receive worse treatment. The girl is no
expected to ree6;gr.