Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-11
ESC0HEAG
Brutal Assault on Wife Of Postmaster,
 Sunday, the 9th.

On Sunday, December 5. NrsL John barper was set upon and brutally beaten by Roxsle and Gardner Bar Der. Mrs. Barber and her son left home at II a. m. to go to church on the Hill The son returning after serv- ice spent the afternoon with the boys on a neighboring farm. Mrs. Barber having business in another direction drove to Charles Bliven's, about four miles distant, returning just before dark. She found upon entering her home that it had been broken into and several pieces of furniture. some bric-a-brac and between y9O and sl0O in money, beside valuable papers. had been taken. The bed in her sleeping room had been disarranged, the door in the dining room having bean brok- en open.
 Mrs. Barber concluded, upon the arr rival of her son, not to disturb any Gardner's and get her husband and have him sign the postofice report which must be sent the 9th. Mrs. Bar Der is assistant postmaster.
 She started alone, went to Barber's house at Greene Corners. saw her hus- band enter, stepped up and trapped, and there being no response opened the door and stepped in and asked for her husband. The old woman set upon her and Mrs. Barber soon over powered her. when she was again set upon by Gardner Barber and beaten with O club.
 Mrs. Barber's cries of murder were heard by her son from her house, but he did not reach there in time to rem der any assistance.
 This occurred at the Sally Brainerd house at Greene Corners, on Ten Rod road. The assailants are old people, over 70 years of age. father and moth, CT of Mrs. J. Barber's husband. There were five drunken men in that house at the time.
 These people no doubt knew she had taken an open letter to the town councilman to be read on the 9th in- stant at it's meetinp complaining of. a nuisance being kept by Gardner Bar Der in two abandoned farm houses.
 These places have a bad fnfiusnce on the young people hereabouts and are menace to law-abiding citizens. These men. hangers-on. are not men of the neighborhood, but those com ing from adjacent villages, buy elder and other liquors sold at these plsces aand keep drunk most of the time. One does not need a government H. cense to sell sweet cider a produot of his farm in gallon lots and not drank on his premises.
 Mrs. J. Barber immediately dr0ve lO t1OpS Ndlley lO lIe uOIuC OI 0uoIkO H. Barber, sheriff of Washington county, where she was hospitably re- ceived, a doctor summoned, and he1 wounds dressed.
 Next morning she went to Kingston to the home of Judge Lewis. where she had been summoned to answer Co a charge against her son brought by Gardner Barber. The charge Is de- facing a tree on undivided property of her husband and said Gardner Bar Der. Mrs. J. Barber has possession of the property.
 Gardner Barber and his son-in-ixw, Herbert D. Lewis, knew her deSttna- ton and sneaked ahead and got out a warrant for Mrs. J. Barber. thinking her a stranger. alone and friendiess, in western Rhode Island, and they could see her committed to Kingston county jail in default of security.
 She called Providence influential friends and money came to her aid, more than was needed. After tho orr deal was passed Mrs. Barber cofia psed and now lies seriously i'll at tho homo of George H. Barber in Hope Va1leys well cared for Joy these kind people, and attended by a doctor.