Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-07
4 WAR-DANCE IN OHIO.
The Victim of a Church Row Placed on
a stump and His Prosecutors France
About, Flourishing I;evolvers.

The Victim Of a Church Row Placed on
a Stump and His Prosecutors France
About, FlOurishing Revolvers.
Reports came tonight from Corning,
Ohio, says a Columbus special Of the Sd
inst. to the Chicago Times, in Sunday
Greek Valley, concerning an affair grow
inc out Of d feud existing between A. j.
McDeyitt, Of the drug firm of McDevitt &
Miller, and the pastor Of the Corning
Catholic Church, Rev. 3. N. O'Boylan.
McDevitt. though a Catholic, left the
church because of his dissatisfaction with
the priest. and claims that the latter, fail
ing to get him back, lost no opportunity
TO prosecute him. The affair seemed to
have eliminated at a recent church fair,
when the priest caused McDevitt to be
elected from the hall. Then McDevitt
caused the arrest Of the priest on the
charge Of running gambling device at
the fair. Members of the CONGREGATION
then appealed to McDeYitt not to appear,
as they did not wish the church further
scandalized, promising that he should not
be further mOlested. in case he would
comply. Under these circumstances Nc
Dewitt failed to appear, and allowed the
case to be dismissed.
Then a statement appeared, alleged to
have been written at the instgatiOn of
the priest, saying that the prosecution
was instigated by malice. and making a
furious attack upon McDeYitt, who was
called murderer, and his character held
up to contempt. McDevitt replied, giving
the alleged facts as to the arrest, and
justifying his own conduct in the matter.
Yesterday the church adopted resolutions
c0ndemning McDevitt and supporting
O'Boylan in what he mad done and said.
Last night a crowd of twenty or thirty
men went to the drug store OF McDevitt
and took him, without nat or coat, about
three miles out in the country. where
they placed him on a stump, and with
reYOlYer5 held a War-dance, and eXacted
from him a promise that he would
retract all that he had said about O'Boy-
Ian and the church. They further made
him promise not TO come back to Corning,
and McDeYitt went on to NelsOnville. He
has telegraphed to friends to meet him
here tomorrow, as the crowd which drove
him out has been making threats today
as to what they would do should he re-
turn. The greatest excitement prevails
at Corning. OBOylan came to this CITY
tonight accompanied bv four or hve of
those who it Is said made the assault on
McDevitt. He is at the residence Of the
Bishop, it is thought, to receive advice.
McDevitt will be here tomorrow, where
he will meet his friends and the Sheriff Of
Perry county, and a settlement will pro-
badly be made between the parties, or
legal steps taken to prevent further con.
fiict of such a character.
A dispatch Of March SAYS: Aug, j,
McDevitt is at New Straitsyille to-day.
Sheriff Crosbie, Of New Lexington, is at
Corning with large posse. After swear
ing in twenty-five c0nstaDles at that place
he arrested all the men known to have
been in the mob. He also arrested a large
number Of persons merely suspected OF
being connected with the outrage and
took about twenty-five Of them to New
Lexington. The excitement here is greatly
increased by this proceeding,
Father 0'BOylan has been called to
Columbus by Bishop Watterson. 1t is
the belief Of MANY Catholics that he will
be severely reprimanded if not suspended
for his rashness. 1t is also reported that
McDeYitt viii 90 to Columbus tonight to
have a conference with the Bishop, and
if 50 it is the inference that an effort will
be made to patch up peace between him
and Father O'BOylan, McDeYitt was
Catholic, but left the church, not because
OF any change in his religious faith, but Of
personal trouble with the priest. After
leaving the church he attended a Catholic
fair about two weeks ago, from which
Father O'Boylan caused him to be elected.
Then a series of spats and skiTmishes
took place between the priest and the
druggist.