Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-01-10
CORRESPONDENCE
The Star EXaggerateS, as Usual.
Berrys, Va, Jan. 4. 1906.

Berrys, Va, Jan. 4, 1906.
EDITOR COURIER:
There appeared in the Evening Star of
recent date, thrilling account of an
outrageous assault upon an aged and de-
crepit man on the Shenandoah river
Matthew Grubbs by nauc-by band Of
lawless toughs who attacked the house
of the old gentleman with clubs and
stones and numerically beat and mis-
treated him, and broke up the social
gathering, and also the subsequent arrest
and trial Of the offenders. This is fair
sample Of the Stars exaggerated accounts
of the happenings in our County from
time 10 time
1t can build the most stupendous
structures out of little material Of anv
architect l ever knew. Its correspon-
dents must be men Of wonderfully ineen,
ious minds, for upon the shortest notice
their fertile brains can formulate the
most sensational stories, and convert a
mole hill into a mountain.
After the smoke Of the battle has
cleared away in the Matt. Grubbs case.
and the narrative divested OF its war
paint, and an inventory taken, the facts
are about as follows:
Mr.. G. gave a dance 10 the Young peo-
pie Of the community. 1t seems that
several Of the youngsters went without
an Invitation. but they went. and Mr.. 6.
told them it was all right. and Mrs.
Grubbs told one Of them that if anv
one misbehayed he must put them out.
The dance progressed quietly for a
while, but as the interest increased the
boys became more lively, and Mr. Grubbs,
catching a portion Of the Christmas
spirit. remarked that be felt himself 20
be as good a man as he ever was. Per
haps he had found the lonC-sought foun-
dation or youth. He was somewhat like
the old colored man said When I was
a young man didn't know my strength
and when 7 gifts little drunk I hardly
knows IL Wit
For some cause or other a dispute
arose and the boys got into a scrap.
There was considerable noise but not
much lighting. There wSs nc weapons
used not even stone or club. No one
was wounded. no bones broken and
scarcely a spunk knot made. except Mr.
Grubbs himself. who received a few
slight bruises on the face and a black
eye. But the row broke up the dance.
The next day Mr.. Grubbs swore out a
warrant for seven Of the boys. six of
them were arrested and taken before
Justice Struder. After hearing the evil
dence he tined four Of them $3.50 each.
one of them s., and one Of them 81 for
disorderly conduct, and that consisted
chiefly in being al the dance without an
invitation. The seventh one.whom they
term the ring leader, and who has not
vet been captured. STAYED in the neirh-
borhood two dsvs and nights after the
row, and then left for his place of en-
ployment in West Virginia. He had
been working away from home for four
years and had come back on a few davs
visit, but had 10 return when he did for
his railroad pass expired the next dav.
In reference 10 Mr.. Grubbs not being
able 10 defend himself because Of his old
age, he Is not very old man by any
means. Besides he had at the home a,
the time, four strong sons and a house
fuu of friends, some Of whom were
strong young men. II he was being
badly treated surely his BOYS and friend:
would have come TO his rescue. for il
was proven that only three Of tn,
offenders took an active part in th,
melee, the others being mere strips o
boys.
am sorry 10 hear that it is nothin,
uncommon 10 have these unpleasan
scraps at these dancing parties in on
neighborhood Of late. Only wear az
this same Mr.. Grubbs had his faced slar
ped by a boy at his own house al a dane
and one man who was present at thi
one says he attended party in the sam
community just recently and they had
much bigger row than at this one.
:. J. WILEY.