Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-05-07
A STORY OF THE WAR.
WITH A STARTLING AND SHOCKING
SEQUEL IN THE PRESENT.
a Most Revolving and Brutal Case of
Incest In Belmont County-A Negro
Mans Own Daughter Bears Him Eight
Dsformed and Idiotic Children,

SrEUBENvrLLE, May IA most revolving
case oiincest haseome to light IN Somerset
township, Belmont county, and the guilty
parties brought to the jail in this city, as
the Belmont county Jail is being rebuilt
and prisoners are temporarily held here.
somerset township is the most remote in
Belmont county and was originally settled
by Quakers, 1t is one of the most unin-
vltlng localities, the land consisting of hills
ana rayines, and not susceptible of much
cultivation. The township contains two or
three small towns, but owing to their situ-
alton. remote from any railroads, they are
scarcely ever heard of. All throughout
Belmont county, long before the war. it
was known as one of the stations on an
underground railway, by which slaves
were smuggled 10 Canada, and when ne
groes reached the vicinity Of Somerton,
Boston OF Temperanceville they considered
themselves safe from detectives, as the
wildness Of the country afforded places of
hiding, IN which they were assisted by peo-
pie of the vicinity
over nifty years ago there arrived a big
staiwart negro with most uninyiting
countenance. He claimed that he had
escaped from his master in Virginia and
was secretly employed by farmers. Slave
hunters were on his track, alleging that
he was most desperate character, and
had killed an oyerseer, near Richmond.
His name was said to be Alexander Phil
lips, aged about thirty-iive wears and a
big reward was offered for his capture.
Neighbors succeeded in concealing him,
and short time afterwards he married a
fugitive slave woman.
Soon the neighbors began TO notice that
perhaps the stories of slave hunters might
be true, as Phillips showed signs of a most
vlllanous and violent disposition, and
finally refused TO work, but erected a
small log cabin in what was known as
Dog Hollow" on a branch of Captina
creek.
Here he lived with his wife. keeping
several dogs and gun, and soon acquired
the reputation of being a man whom il
was not safe TO molest. He partially cult
waited about twenty acres of ground around
his cabin, and eked out existence by hunt
ing and thieving His wife died about the
beginning of the war, leaving two or three
children, and it was said that his wife was
kicked to death by her husband in fit of |
drunken anger; but such was the terror in |
which the community held him that no IN
vestigation was made.
Soon after il was discovered that his |
daughter was pregnant and she claimed /
that the father of the child was her own |
father.
The child born was hideously deforrned |
and as il grew up was seen TO be terribly |
idiotic, incapable OF ministering to its |
slightest wants. The community was hori-
fed, but no one had the temerity to make |
complaint, and the daughter again gave
birth to an idiotic monstrosity, The repe-
ttion apparently dulled the sensibiities of |
the people in the community, for no further
ettention was paid to the matter.
Since that time the daughter has given
birth to six children, every enc begotten in
the most revolving incest These eight
children are ell living, and their appear
ance is most sickening. even If it were not
known that mental and physical deformity
came from their incestuous birth.
People have had such fear for their lives
and property that no check was attempted
TO be plIced upon his awful criminal career.
After the children were born scarcely any |
attention was paid to them, and they grew
up like wild animals more like brutes than
members of the human family. Five of
them are now in the Belmont County In
Urinary, and the other three are no one
knows where.
Phillips, in his old DAYS. has not been
able to carry on his petty thieving to such
an extent as formerly, and lately he has
INDUCED his vicious propensities by de-
stroylng the property of any neighbor who
his enmity They could stand
his incestuous intercourse with his daugh-
ter, but when il came to destroying their
pToptrty the ureN tne line. Accordingly |
last Wednesday the Constable with a posse
of men surrounded his cabin and, after
siege of several hours, arrested both him
and his daughter, and they were brought
TO jail to-day. During the siege Phillips
tried to shoot the officer, and made such
violent resistance that it was necessary to
heavily iron him.
In Jail to-day he presents the appearance
OF Gagged hyena- He said TO a reporter
that he is ninety years old, aud his hair
and beard are almost white 4 more hide
Gus looking negro could not be found
whole appearance of countenance, ewes
and gesture indicates the demon.
His daughter says she is forty-four years
old, and openly acknowledges that her ;
eight children were begotten by her own ,
father. To make matters more revolving,
she is again about TO become a mother and |,
appears 10 think no wrong of her incest.
The charge against them is malicious de-
struction OF property, but the people of the
county are so horrified at the discovery that j
they both will be put out of the way of re- I
peating their heinous crime.
Nothing ever occurred in this vicinity ,
hat has excited such revolving and sicken- 4
ng feeling.
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