The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-06-11
SUFFER In SILENCE 3
THOUGH ToRMENTED AND ROBBED,
THE AMISHiTES NEVER COMPLAIN.


VIII Not Appear In eourt-Are Dsvout,
but Have No Congregational Worship.
Their Littlo Settlement the sccno OF
Many Crimes.
The recent depredations and crimes
In tho Amish settlement few miles
northwest of Toledo have attracted tho
attention of the authorities of two or
thres counties, and hayo been q source
of comment all over the state.
Tho Amish sect is peculiar and eS-
elusive class of people, who worship
privately according to their own belief,
andv no matter how great a grievance
they may have against individual or
corporation, it is one of their funda-
mental principles never, under any cir
cumstances, to go into court
They refuse to obey summonses and
Will not testify under any conditions
Should member of family be muir
dered the remaining mem ers Of that
family or any of the sect, for that mat
ter, will not enter complaint, nor will
they testify, no matter how great pres
sure is brought to bear
That section Of country has during
tho last few months been the location
OF several mysterious crimes Four
masked men entered the house of one Of
them some three months ago, and BY
threats and horrible torture inflicted
upon the man and his wife, rs we'll as
threats against the children, secured
several thousand dollars and escaped
Although it was believed that the crime
was committed by local parties, and that
tho family knew who the culprits wore,
they refused to make any complaint or
give auy information that would lead
to the apprehension of the criminals.
These people seem to have an album
dance of everything in the way of
property and are excellent farmers, al
though they refuse to adopt any of the
improved machinery i'll vogue in this age
OF the world. They continue to use the
sickle, scythe, fail and the old fash
Toned beam plows. Their harness, cloth-
ing, etc, are all hand made, and their
general simplicity brings them into ridi-
Guile.
During the last few months two or
three farmers, not connected with the
Amish people, have mysteriously dis
appeared from the community. The
people around that part of the state
have become very suspicious of their
sanchtiod appearances and creeds, and
no little talk has been INDUCED in i'll
the way of threats They have been sub
| jected to merciless torments. Their crops
have been ruined, fences burned, uten-
sils broken, stock stolen and many 9TH
er indignitics heaped upon them.
Joel HaMtlst was only few days ago
taken from his home by several men
dressed us White Caps and subjected to
torture, one of his ears being cut off and
the other slit. He never murmured or
complained, but declares he will permit
the matter to rest with his Maker 1t
has since been learned that a crowd of
these White Caps took man named
Henry Ankcr out into the woods few
nights ago, and, after tying him secure
y to tree, hayed him nearly to death
with withes.
Ono night last week several masked
marauders went to the home of an
Amish family named Menkler and sub
jccted them TO all sorts of indgnities,
made them prepare meal, after which
they ransncked the premises, carried
away valuables and insultcd tho aged
mother aud three young daughters gross
".
The Amishites are professedly devout
TO an extreme, although they have no
congregational worship Of any sort
They never 90 to town or TO the city I'M
less it is for the purpose Of disposing of
their products or paying taxes They
mover patronizc any amusement or pub
lie gathering affair
Tho more conservative of the outside
world who have been carefully scruti-
nizing their conduct say that they are
sincere i'll their eccentricities and that Il
tough lot of citizens in certain local
ity III northwestern Ohio for years noted
for lawlcssness take advantage of their
persistent refusal 10 prosecute, and, by
way of excuse, urge the stories that the
Amish people are guilty Of the crimes
they themselves have committed. A
searching investigation is to be insti-
tutcd and efforts Will DO made to pun-
ish tho guilty. York Recorder.