New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-27
WOMAN COATED WITH
TAR BY GANG Of MEN
Taken from House at Night,
Kicked, Beaten and Thrust
Into Barrel, Tells Officers.
CROWD DEFIES CONSTABLE
Warrants Brought Into Maryland
Town, but Threatening Mob
at Station Prevented
Arrests.
By Telegraph to The Tribune

Ocean City, Nd, May Zo.-N oECeSIe+
County is stirred over the treatment or
Mary Holman, white woman, thirty
FIVE wears old, who was taken from hef
house and tarred by a gang of men
The town lights were out when the as
sault was committed. Although the out
rage occurred last Wednesday night, the
matter was kept quiet until yesterday
Mrs. Holman demanded an investiga-
ton. charging that she has been the
victim Of defamatory gossip as well as
a brutal assault.
No arrests have been made. 1ndigna-
ton is expressed by some residents or
this neighborhood over the occurrence
which they regard as a disgrace, but
others do not attempt to conceal their
satisfaction at the outcome.
1t was 10 o'clock at night" said Mrs.
Holman to-day. when 1 was awakened
h, the smashing of glass in the room
where I slept | was frightened. or
course. Hardly had | time 10 put on
few clothes when the door was burst in.
The crowd numbered about ten men. l
recognized three Of them. When l
screamed they struck and kicked me.
Every tooth I have Is loose. My back
and limbs are black and blue from their
blows and kicks.
Thrust Into Barrel OF Tar
some of them grabbed me around the
neck and others took me by the arms.
They also caught my feet and, holding
me in this way. they started from the
house. Nv eleven-year-o son screamed
when 7 was first struck They boxed his
face and threatened him. One man
waved a big pocket knife, the kind that
sailors carry. He threatened TO run 1t
through me if did not keep quiet. An
other had an oar. He said he would
knock out my brains. They rushed me
from the house 10 a barrel of tar, in
which I was thrown. They forced me
down in it until my whole body was
covered. Some OF IT still clings to me.
After had been in the tar barrel for
perhaps ten minutes they dragged me
ont. threw me on drying board close
by and walked slowly away. evidently
believing that nothing would be done
about it.
Il was too frightened to do anything,
but the cries of my son attracted the at
tention of Elmer Jones, son of Captain
Jones. of the Isle of Wight lifesaving
station. He told me TO come to his
fathers house. Water was heated by
negro girl. A gallon of coal oil must
have been used in getting the tar off,
and still some of it sticks
Woman's Face Dsfisured.
Mrs. HolZman's face was so discolored
from the blows that those who saw her
ON the day following the assault did not
recognize her. 1t is still badly dishgured.
on Wednesday she went to Berlin, Where
warrants were sworn out by her for the
arrest of three men, whose names have
been given. The warrants were secured
from r. II. Benson. who was named by
Governor GoldsbOrOugh as a justice of
the peace. Benson's appointment was
not confirmed by the Senate. The courts
have recently decided that magistrates
lacking confirmation have no legal
standing.
constable Campbell brought the war
rants to Ocean City. Word OF the courts S
action had spread. Gathered at the rail-
road Statlnn was q crown ol ilel' iHci
attitude was threatening. IL is believed
that there would have been an outbreak
of lawlessness If an effort had been made
to serve the warrants
"The woman has been treated worse
than a dog" declared Sheriff Harrison.
She has given the names of persons
who came to her house to me. She says
that the county can investigate every
thing that she is not afraid OF the re-
suit. That is fair offer Even If she
were all bad, no one had the right 10
treat a human being as she has been
treated. do not believe that anything
as outrageous as this has ever before
happened in Worcester County,