Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 November 1893 — A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR. [ARTICLE]

A DISGRACEFUL AFFAIR.

[Pulaski County Democrat.]

Two Young Men, Feeling Thems?lves Aggrieved, Attack a Minister with Heavy '■v’lnps to Ave ige the Alleged Insult. A shameful thing happen ed upon our streets here Monday morning about eight o’clock when Merl Moss and John Thompson armed themselves with heavy blacksnake wagon wnips and assaulted Rev. -I. T. Orton of the Presbyterian church. It is a stigma upon the enure community where such a thing could occur, and a multiplied stigma upon the two strong, muscular young athletes who wo’d so attack a slight built man whom either 01 them could toss over a ten rail fence.

For many months some, at least, of the churches of the c lty have been bothered at times by a crowd of boys, some of them men in size, who have by t u e.r conduct outside or inside or b >th much annoyed the pastors and the congregations. And right here we rise to remark that the churches are not blameless in that the did not long ago and as oftm as necessary cause the arrest and punishment of these hoodlum disturbers without regard to name, family connections or anything else. But they didn't, and naturally the tougH element has grown bolder and b Ider. Last Sunday night Rev. Orton was gr atly.annoyed by whispers ing and laughing in the back part of the church. Reference to such misbehavior had in the past beer of little or no effect, and the yourg minister was forced to son e other course. Believing Merl Moss and /ohn Thompson to be engaged, if not leaders, in ihe disturbance he requested them to retire from the church, and as they did not seem to know they were referred to he called Moss by name. They went out, much incensed, and after church they spoke to Mr. Orton about it claiming they had not been “doing anything.” Mr. Orton told them he had thought they were m.sbehaving, but added: “if you were not, 1 beg your pardon.” Monday morning it became no's ed about that the two young men were going to hoi sewhip the pieacher. A friend informed him of it when he came up town, but he went on about his business. As he walked south along the west side of the house the pair, each of them armed with a long, heavy wagon whip, ran across street from Carper’s drug store.Moss was in the lead and struck Mr Orton two or three rapid blows, another falling on M. B, Knouse who stepped between them in an effort to stop the assault. Mr. Orton ran with Moss following him brandishing his whip. At the bank they turned west, and at that juncture Sheriff McCay joined in the race directlv behind Moss, Thompson being jus f behind Irm. Moss could not gain enough on Mr. Orton to strike him often, but rear the freight house the minis ter stumbled and fell, a d there Moss struck him ouce before the sheriff could prevent the blow M oss and Thompson were both arrested aid taken before ’.Squire Freeman, who heard a little evidence from both sides but not much Moss was fined $5 and costs, anc Thompson $1 aud costs, the latter not having struck the minister though his intent was p’aiuly shown. The two who committed the shameful assault named a number of persons who say that they “didn’t see the boys doin'’ anything out of the way.” Most of thest person* sat in front of (he beys or off to one side. Others say they didn’t see the boys misbehaving “at the time the preacher invited them to leave.” On the other hand there is said to be abundant evidence that these young men had been amusing themselves all evening, whispering a id laughing at thenown pranks or those of others; that a gan of them (the names of the others have been furnished us] were guiltv of ross misconduct in the Sunday school room preceding young people’s meeting, even to throwing bibles, and that even if they were not misbehaving at the instant the niiniste * spoke they had richly earned the rebuke he gave them—earn-d it, probably, a half dozen times everylnight they have attended church fora year or two.

There was little talked about on the street Monday or for two or three da>6 except this miserable affair. The sympathy was and is with Mr- Orton. Ti e general fe Ting seemed to be expressed by a stranger who was here, who said that he had been from Maine o California, among miners, lumbermen, oow boys and Chinamen but be had r ever heard of so disgrace* f i an acl among any of them.

Some at first criticised the preachs er because he ran, but in many cases calm consideration prompted a reversal of judgment. For one thing the odds were much against him —two strong young bucks armed with whips against a boyish stripling would be such odds as few would care *o tackle when the pinch came, however easy it is to say “if I had been the preacher I’d have done” so and so. Had ne stood his ground his face would probably have been cut all to pieces in three seconds. For another thing he says his thought was that it would be entirely out of harmony with his profession to engage in a street brawl under any circumstances. Mr. Orton is right. Any lop-eared, sniffle nosed, bobtailed cur can engage in a fight, but it takes a better class of dog with a finer grade of nerve to run.

There was considerable discussion concern ng the punishment given the boys. Their friends tho’t it steep enough; on the other side it was considered very lighf for the enormity of the offense, so light as to he a premium on church outlawry. Mr. Orton lost no friends by the disgraceful affair forced UDon him His church people stand squarely with him. Indeed it seems that good will come out of it in one way, for it has stirred that church up to make arrangem-m s to quietly taka the names of those who misbehave there and later cause their arrest lor disturbance- a thing that should have b?en done long ago. Yesteiday morning, aftei the ibove was in type, affidavits were filed in Freeman’s court igainst Merl Moss and John Thompson, the young men referred to ingthe foregoing, for disturbing meeting at the Presbyte.ian church last Sunday night—the occasion from which sprang all this rffcnet.— Their arrest and trial will occur in due time, and the result will then be given. White County Democrat:

The recent prominence obtained by Rev. Orton reminds us of an adventure once befalling him that proves to our mind conclusively that he is not lacking in nerve and courage when those traits are really uec-esary, and the fact that he fled from the ruffians who assaulted him is no proof to our mind that he is a coward. We allude to a time when he was a mere boy seated behind a runaway team. The lines being out of reach, he climbed over the dashboard, over the horses and grabbing both bits of the frightened animals he clung to them while the team ran more than a.half mile. Every one who saw him expected to see him killed, but finding it impossible to stop the maddened brutes ne swung himself clear of tneir hoofs and dropped by the roadside uninjured. We never saw a gran ler display of nerve and we uever shall forget the occurrence. It seems the Dem er icv is h Id chargeable for the hard times bro't upon the country bv the vicious legislation of the Republican party. Anyhow it hns received the thr.shing at the polls that the other fellows most richly desei v?d.

Mrs. Nelson Handle is quite ill. For fresh bread and and cakes try the new Bakery, in the rooms formerly occupied by Minikus & T roy. MILLIRON & M A i.TINDALE. Quarterly meeting services Saturday night and Sunday morning at theM. E. church. Rev. J. H. Wilson, P. E. will have charge of the meeting. I have made arrangements with Eastern capitalists whereby I can loan $30,000 00 in amounts from SSOO 00 and upwards, borrower to Day commission 5 per cert. — Ke=p money 5 years or more. M. F. Chilcote. Jim Maloy has traded off his traded off his running ponies for land in Kansas ana this state. ‘Lei’ Clark has purchased and taken charge of the Red key Times. We wish him abundant success in his v.nture.

Amow» WMt mar be called fancy metal gallium le the most costly, It being quoted at $l4O per gramme. A document envelope which works like a telescope, adjusting itself to on* paper or to fifty, Is a recent invention. Essence of cinnamon, used as a spray, Is to be very useful in driving aut malaria from hospitals and sick rooms. It is stated that there are 72,000 pianos made annually In America, ahd that three pounds of steel wire Is used for ssoh instrument. A nickel paper weight, having a rubber center piece ribbed on the bottom so that It remains in place when u-ed on a slanting surface, is a reoent invention. The band saw is fast superseding tht circular saw for all kinds of work. Th* latest application is made by the tailors, wno are using it with great anocess tot antting cloth.