The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-28
A MINISTER BEATEN.
For an Alleged Insult to Young Lady
by Her Indignant Brother.

The Norfolk Landmark of yesterday
says:
AS a result of a severe beating, the
Rev. Rufus w. Weaver, temporary pas
tor of the Park Avenue Baptist church,
Brambleton Ward, is confined to his
boarding house, No. 220 Claiborne ave-
nue.. The assailant was Mr.. +. r. Wise,
who lives at No. 200 Clay avenue, and
the affair occurred Monday night. No
arrests have been made, and the cause
of the assault was an alleged insult
of Mr.. Wise's sister by the young min
lister.
The Rev. Mr.. Weaver came to Nor
folk about month ago from Green's
boro, n. c., to fill the pulpit of the
Rev. DR.. J. j. Hall, while the latter
was in Europe spending his vacation.
Mr.. Weaver, although young man,
being about 26 years old, is considered
a most able man, and has before him
a brilliant future. He had greatly en-
deared himself to his congregation of
Brambleton Ward, who were much
pleased with him. The attendance on
his services gradually increased in
size, having been drawn by his preach
ing.
One of the members of the Park
Avenue Baptist church is Miss Kate
Wise, very charming young lady.
Last Sunday night, after the service,
the Rev. Mr.. Weaver escorted Miss
Wise to her home and as he was about
to take his departure he kissed her
This was done, according to friends
of the young minister, with the full
consent of the young lady. But be
that as it may, the indirect result of
it was that Mr.. Viewers face is badly
disfigured from blows inflicted by the
fists of the lady's brother.
A special to the Baltimore Sun says:
As the story is related, when they
entered the room, he took a seat on
the sofa and she on a chair in the cor
ner of the room.
MIR. Weaver three times asked her TO
sit on the sofa with him. and she refus-
ing, he took chair near her He then
asked permission to kiss her, and she
refusing, he attempted to take the kiss
anyhow, whereupon struggle ensued
between Them, and the young lady,
| freeing herself, rushed from the room.
Mrs. Wise lives with her sister, Mrs.
Oldfield, and she and her husband were
at home at the time. They, learning OF
| the occurrence, demanded an explana-
which did not prove satisfactory, as
| the sequel shows He left the house,
and there the matter rested until Mon
day, when Mr.. Oldfield saw Miss Wise's
brother, Mr.. f. 7. Wise, a well known
/ young citizen and tobacconist.
| After telling him the story, Mr.. Old
| fie Id asked Mr.. Wise what he was going
| to do about it, mfr. Wise was uncertain
| just then how he would deal with it,
and Mr.. Oldfeld suggested that as Rev
| Mr.. Weayers temporary pastorate here
would cease in few days, there was
| but little time to lose. Mr.. Wise re-
| piled that he was not afraid of the
| young man getting far enough away to
| prevent his (Wise) reaching him. In
| fact, Mr.. Wise says now that he would
| rather have settled the matter out oil
| Norfolk than in it, but he finally con-
cluded to see Mr.. Weaver before he left
| the city, and consequently called at his
| boarding house, on Claiborne avenue,
on Monday evening.
| The preacher came to the door and
| Mr. Wise asked an explanation. Mr.
| Weaver said that he thought he had
| made a sufficient explanation to Mrs.
Oldfield on the night of the occurrence.
| This did not satisfy Mr.. Wise, and he
| asked the preacher 10 walk down the
| street and talk the matter over. The
| young divine, expecting an assault,
asked Mr.. Wise if that was his inten-
ticn. Mr.. Wise replied that it was not
if the explanation proved satisfactory,
but that if it did not, he would do what
he thought proper under the circum-
stances. The preacher hesitated, and
Mr.. Wise started into the house, to get
his (Weaver's) hat for him, but the lat
ter said he would get it, and did so.
They walked down toward the river,
and Mr.. Wise said that Mr.. Weaver re-
cited the circumstances as above relat-
ed and that when he reached the point
of the struggle he (Wise) began punch
ing him in the face, and continued the
punishment until he thought he had
indicated his family in the matter.
Mr.. Weaver returned home in a very
bad condition, and had to have the at
tention of physician. Mr.. Weaver is
confined to his bed, and his face about
the eyes is considerably disfgured.
He says he was sick when he went out
with Mr.. Wise, and that the latter
knew it; that the assault consisted of
about thirty blows, most OF them on
the back of the head. He did not de-
fend himself.
Mr.. Weaver is a graduate of Wake
Forest College, and is well known in
Raleigh.