The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-06-23
MOB
Fits Man With Coat OF Tar
And Feathers
Al Fredericksburg Not Far
From Knox County
ESCapadG With ADOthGf'S
Wife Costs EyGSight
And A Most Sensational
Scene Is Result
Woman FIees village Of
Trial--.factS In Case

rubbed with biting Carbolic acid and
with red pepper, below coat OF tar
and feathers-this was the punish
ment meted to Micael Hileman, of
Fredericksburg by mob of masked
farmers and their wives in the village
of Trail, Holmes county, last night.
The farmers objected to Hileman's as
sociation with Mrs. Rebecca Volk,
mother of seven children, whom he ac-
companied to Trail from Fredericks-
burg, on the election of the woman
from that town.
Hileman, blinded by red pepper and
goaded by the cruel smarting of the
acid, made for the time a maniac by
his suffering, ran ten miles along the
country roads until he dropped in his
tracks an hour and half after ne had
been punished by the mob. His
shrieks as he ran were heard for a
quarter of mile. He was picked up
by farmer and brought to the Office
of DIR. l.. B. Watson here. His life
hangs in the balance now. If he lives
he will lose the sight of both eyes
physicians say.
Women in Masked Mob
Hileman says women were in the
mob that tied him to pole. He de
clares he recognized some of the vii
lage officials of Trail, even though al
were masked. But no move will be
made to arrest any of the mob unless
Hileman dies or unless he brings Grim
inal action.
| Hileman met Mrs. Volk while the
latter was visiting in Fredericksburg
Their conduct became town scanda
and the woman, it is said, was or
dered to leave. Volk. the husband
heard the talk and furious scene fol
lowed, in which he is said to have
vowed revenge.
1t was then that Mrs. Frank Hile
man, sister of Mrs. Volk and sister
in-law of Michael Hileman, victim O
last nights mob, was arrested for un
becoming conduct with man named
Walter Lyons. Lyons and this Mrs
Volk were sent to the workhouse
Thereupon Hileman and Mrs. Volk lef
Fredericksburg.
Rumor Rouses Village
They came to Trail, but rumor wa
ahead of them. This village is Mrs
Volk's home town, and the townsfoll
objected to her presence in the com
pany of a man not her husband.
is even said Hileman was introduces
by the woman as her husband. 'Th
spirit in Trail daily became more ug
ly. 1t was strongly limited that /
would he better for the two If the,
went away. Hileman made stout dc
malls, but in some way the whole VII
lage seemed to know that Mrs. Vol
was not Hileman's wife.
Frightened, the two. moved to 4
house near Trail. But this did no
satisfy the farmers. Mrs. VOlk an
Hileman were warned again, but dis
regarded the warning. Then it wa
learned that Mrs. Volk, in talking wit
girlhood friends, had referred to Hiit
man as her husband. She may nc
have done so, but at any rate this wa
the rumor and 1t spread like wildfirt
The wives of the farmers were furiou
at what they considered an affront
their community.
Whipping Done in Secret
The whipping of Hileman was S
secretly planned that none outsid
of those who participated in the to
ture had any intimation of what wa
coming. Twenty men and womel
: wearing white cloth masks, gathere
: about the house in which Hileman We
? staying. They carried with them Sc
: eral lengths of rope, a large bottle I
2 carbolic acid, quart of red peppt
: and smoking bucket OF tar, wit
!. plenty Of feathers. Hileman was 81
= ting in the living room of the hous
: The leader of the mob, whom Hill
!. man describes as big man, tappe
|. on the window. Hileman looked ,
and caught sight of a row of maskt
faces. He knew what was comm
e He tottered out of the room and we
e to the doorway. Without a word b
n ing spoken, he was seized and tak'
out to the roadway.