Chariton courier. (Keytesville, Chariton County, Mo.) 1878-current, 1895-03-15

The Gregory Outrage.
The COURIER gave a full account
last week Of sbe terrible outrage
committed near Dalton In the early
morning OF the 7th inst. upon the
family OF Theodore Gregory by six
young men.
Gregory was moving, traveling %
an old two-horse wagon drawn by o
very emaeiated team. and with 9th.
er worldly goods In proportion. He
went into camp iust esst OF Dsltoo
on Wednesday night OF last week,
the family consisting Of the father.
mother and 3-year-old baby girl.
Between 3 and 3 O'Clock the seyt
morning they were attacked by q
band Of six rufnans. who beat the
father isto insensibiiity, stvnek the
baby girl on the head ssd ksocked
her seDssless. then turned npon the
unprotected mother. beat, checked
and Outraged her. One OF the sends
also threstened TO outrage the
child.
A detailed recital of tbs dark and
darsnsble deeds there eoRDitted 10
too shocking FOR refined ears; suffice
to say. we have no account OF q
more barbarous act consulted by
the savages IN rhe early history OF
this country upon deieoseIess whites.
The six parties arrested on Q
charge Of being the perpetrators OF
the awful crime OF last Thursday
morning.. we're taken 20 the court
house on Saturday afternoon last
for their preliminary trial. before
Squire n. A. Wheeler. with ]. II.
DeAoss sitting as associate justice,
When the cases OF Hig and Wood
Lesslry. Bates johnson. VIM. Cole
man and Rufus Cor were called they.
through their attorney, Judge D. +.
Smith, waived formal arraignment
and we're at once committed to Jail.
without bail, TO await the action OF
the grand jury at the April term Of
circuit court. which convenes at
Keyt~svills the frst MoEday in next
month.
In the case OF VIM. LESLEY, jr, a
severance was asked by his attor-
neys. Messrs. Crawley & Son, who.
on behalf Of their client. entered a
plea Of mot guilty." and went into
trial. the result being that the de-
fendant wns bound over in the sum
OF 81. 900 for his appearance to
await an investigation by the grand
jury at the approaching April term
of circuit court.
The evidence adducsd in the case of
VIM. Lessley, it,, was largely in his
favor. Gregory failed to identify
him a. one Of the parties to the out
rage Gregory and his family had
suffered, and Mrs. Gregory could on
ly cay that he ''looked like one OF
the parties" but failed to identity
him positively.
Then, too, the accused proved a
pretty clear alibi. There wasquite a
feeling among the large aud curious
audience. that filed the spacious cir
cult court room at the preliminary
trial. in favor OF this young man.
Many expressed themselves that he
ought to have been released. The
justices presiding in the case, how
ever, thought differently, and show
ed they had the courage OF their
and bound the defendant
over. he giving bond in the required
sum of 81 900 with Wm. A. LESLEY.
Sen. E. W. Price. ]. j. Moore, W. E.
Williams. John +. and Joe v. White
sides and Jas. +. and w. A. Taylor
as bondsmen.
liz has never been claimed by the
that more than six young
men were present on that terrible
morning. hHd in his opening state
ment To th- court at the preliminary
hearing OF VIM. LESLEY, ir., last Sat
urday afternoon, Mr.. j. c. Crawley
denied that VIM. LESLEY, IT,, was
one OF the number, aud the attorney
added that "if the worst came to the
worst he was prepared to prove who
the sixth man was"
Further investigation by the attor-
neys for the prosecution. Prosecuting