The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1896-04-08
STRUNG UP BY HIS FEET.
Drunken Men accused Of a shockin
Crirua

/ Drunken Men accused of Shocking
Crime.
A dispatch from Chambersburg, Pa,
says:
\ strange case has just come to light
i'm this county that may result seriously
If all facts as now stated can be fully
proven. On March Is Thomas Clenden-
ming died at the home OF his widowed
mother, at Richmond Furnace, small
place in the North Mountain, from what
seemed to be peculiar pnase of typhoid
fever. lie had returned home from
Somerset County but few days before,
having walked the entire distance. He
was quite i'll upon his return and immed-
lately took to his bed. His legs were
badly swollen and he had intense pain
and high fever, which increas ed until
death.
The pro bable cause of death now crops
out, which for some reason had not been
told before by his mother, not even to
the attending physician.
When Clendenning came home he told
his mother that e had been with party
between or near Lambertsville and Mos
toller. In the party were men from Fort
L0udon. One day the crowd, or some of
them, got drunk, and in their rough
sport they caught Clendenning, tied
ropes around his ankles, and drawing
the ropes over the limb of tree, pulled
him from the ground. Suspended thus
4. \
left him, and some passers-by cut him
down. lie was very sick from his invert-
ed position, and the blood running TO his
head gave him most excruciating pain.
When the phase of the case beca me
known, this greatest indignation was
aroused in the neighborhood and the
mother was urged to institute suit against
the men implicated. One of the neigh
bors visited District Attorney Light to-
day aud that official is now engaged in
investigating the case.
Coroner Suesserott has received no in
formation on the subj ect, but if the state
ment to the District Attorney is found TO
be true he will have the body exhumed
and an autopsy performed. The alleged
crime having been committed in Somer-
set County, the officials here are acting
cautiously, but no effort will be spared
to ascertain the facts in the case.
The persons from Fort London who
are said TO be implicated claim TO know
nothing about the alleged crime.
Saturday HERALD reporter learned
that the story printed above is substanti-
ally correct.
Clendenning was employed as wood
chopper by Edward Mostoller., OF Mos
toller Station. lie was member of W hat
was locally known as the ''Rhoarbach
Gang" the reputed leader of which was
young man by that name from Frank
lin county. The gang was composed of
lot of boisterous young wOodsmen, all of
whom were more or less addicted 10
strong drink.
One evening early in March, the
'.Rhoarbach Gang had a lot of whisky
in their rude hut, and in the drunken
orgie which followed it was decided To
hang young Clendenning, who had fallen
asleep on his bunk, up by the heels.
4 rope was produced, one end of
which was tied around the victims legs
while the other was thrown over beam
eight feet above. He was hauled up un-
til his head and shoulders rested on the
bank, when the rope was secured and he
was left hanging in this inverted posi-
ton for four hours, while his companions
went to the store at Lambertsville, two
miles distant.
The story goes that Clendenning was
found in this condition by fellow labor
er and released. Next morning he was
unable TO work, but did not complain of
feeling any injurious effects from having
been hung up by the heels. His con-
dition did not improve and in the course
of a few days he returned 10 his home in
Franklin county.
After Clendenning leff for home ru-
NOR was started that his sickness resulted
from the cruel treatment administered
by his companions, and the members Of
the "Rhoarbach gang soon thereafter
fled from the country. Several of the
parties implicated in the affair talked
guardedly about it in Sorber's store at
I.ambertsyille.
The District Attorney of Franklin
county has been in communication with
District-Attorney Colborn and it is
likely that an effort will lie made TO
bring about the arrest of the members of
the gang. which it is believed has been
already located.