Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-03-14
A Revolving Crime.
THE GREGORY FAMILY BRUTALLY
ASSAULTED IN CHARLTON
COUNTY, MO.
Mr.. Gregory Beaten Almost to Death
and His Wife Outraged Six Young
Rufians Under Arrest.

KEYTEsvILLE, Mo-, March "a man
by the name of Theodore Gregory and
his wife and three-year-old daughter,
were camped just east of Dalton, four
miles southwest of this place Wednes-
day. They had come from Springfield,
| ILL.,, and were in search of a farm 10
| rent, and were in reduced circumstan-
ces financially.
In the early part of the evening a
party of four young men stopped at
| Gregory's camp and bantered him for
a horse trade, but finally, after doing
a great deal of cussing, told Gregory
they were going to a dance and went
| on their way. There was a dance at
| Jim HudnalI's, three or four miles
northwest of Keytesville Wednesday
| night. at which several well-known
tough characters were present. They
kicked up their usual disturbance and
the dance broke up in a fight.
Between 2 and 3 O'Clock in b morn
ing the same four young men, re-en-
| forced by two others, stopped at Nh.
| Gregory's on their return, and told
| him they wanted to warm themselves
| and demanded that he get up and
make a fire. Gregory objected, but
| the ruffians insisted. A fire was finally
| made in a small box stove in one cor
| ner of the wagon bed.
| While Gregory was putting on his
| shoes the curtain to the wagon was
raised and Gregory dragged out of the
| wagon and beaten almost into insensi-
| bility. The brutes then turned upon
| Gregory's d~efenseless wife, and each
| of them outraged her, keeping the al
| most lifeless, but frantic, husband
back. While beating Gregory the lit
| tie girl was also struck on the head,
and a slight wound inflicted.
The fiends, after accomplishing their
hellish purpose, left, warning Gregory
to say nothing about what had hap
pened, threatening to kill him if he
did. Gregory and family came to
Keytesville the next morning and
made known the horrible affair. \
description of his wife's assailants and
of the horses our of them rode, two of
the number being in a buggy, left little
doubt as to who the guilty parties
We're, and Gregory swore out warrants
for the arrest of Bates Johnson, Will
liam Coleman, Rufus Cox and Woods,
William and Hig LESLEY
They were arranged before Squire
H. A. Wheeler for a preliminary hear
ing at 1 O'Clock this afternoon. They
waived formal examination and were
committed to jail to await an investi-
CATION by the Grand Jury at the next
term of the Circuit Court, which con'
venes here the first Monday in April
The sixth man, William LESLEY, Jr.,
demanded a preliminary trial and was
bound over to the Grand Jury in the
sum of 1000, the prisoner giving the
rquired bond. 1t is believed William
LESLEY, Jr., will be able to prove an
alibi-
Gregory once lived in Huntsville
Randolph county, an0 IS II years q
age. Mrs. Gregory was formerly Miss
Eliza Robb, who was raised at or neal
Fayette, Howard county, and is in hel
thirty-first year. K~eytesville citizens
have taken them in charge and rented
a house in the south part of town
They will leave no effort unspared tc
see that the perpetrators of the heinou'
crime are brought to justice.
A finger ring and pocket knife were
found in Gregory's wagon which vii
probably prove very damaging testi'
mony against one or two of the de-
PENDANTS.