Smyrna times., 1890-07-23
Scene of Lawlessness About
Hartley.

A Stall Correspondence of the EUerv
Ecening thus writes from Dover: The
people around Hartley are beginning
TO realize that their neighborhood has
been made famous by the Bedwell.
Ford shooting case. They did not
think much about the affair at first.
and it was only after they had been
overrun with anxious correspondents
and read the lurid reports in number
OF papers that it began to dawn upon
them that what they considered a
crime of only ordinary proportions had
been transformed into one of the most
sensational episodes of the day.
Caleb Ford, peppered with bird shot.
but In fair way to soon be as well as
ever, has no hesitation in declaring his
firm belief that Tom Bedwell shot him.
The assailant is still at large and is not
likely to be apprehended unless he re-
turns to the neighborhood. In that
event Constable Jones and his posse
would arrest him on sight.
What the good people of Hartley are
most excited about is the reputation
for lawlessness and disorder that their
neighborhOOd is rapidly acquiring.
Last Christmas eve Fred Mass and
Alexander Dill, two reputable citizens
OF Hartley, were terribly beaten bv
two rufians ramed Peterson and
Honey, who have thus far escaped anv
punishment for their villiany. Honey
lied to avoid arrest and Peterson after
being apprehended, forfeited his hail
bond and did not stand trial. About
two months ago E. R. Grant, a lead.
ing citizen of the town, while walking
from the railroad station to his home
was brutally assaulted by two men,
who struck him upon the head with an
iron bar, fracturing his skull and
knocking him senseless to the ground
The assailants sprang into a buggy
standing near and drove away, and no
efforts have been made to apprehend
them, although their identity is sus-
pected. 1t was in the neighborhood
that German farmer known as coy
Henry" was murdered five or six
years ago, and since the shooting of
Ford the charge has been made that
Bedwell was at least an accessory. if
not principal in the killing of "Ox
Henry"
These crimes, and the immunity that
has been enjoyed by their perpetrators
have incensed the people of that neigh
borhood, and they now demand the
enforcement of the law and the punish
ment of those who have made Hartley
the scene of their lawless acts. The
arrest and prosecution of Bedwell is
urgently demanded, and the people
insist that the power of the State be
exercised to bring him. back from Mary.
land, where he is undoubtably secret.
ed. Walter Hawkins, James Curtlett.
Esquire Phileman Scotten and other
reputable citizens of the neighborhood
are foremost in the demand that the
men who have heretofore violated the
law with impunity shall be summarily
punished.
The shooting of Ford is supposed by
many to be the outcome of a Dlot
hatched by Bedwell and Ford's sister
Susan, with the idea of removing Caleb
Ford and installing Bedwell in his
place as the head of the family. The
intrigue between Susan Ford and Ped.
we'll is the scandalous feature OF The
notorious case that most disgusts the
equitable residents. It was open and
ihameless and evidenced a state of
moral depravity that is disgrace to a
'ivilized community.