Rensselaer Gazette, Volume 2, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1858 — ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION. [ARTICLE]

ATTEMPTED ASSASSINATION.

Last Sunday evening our quiet village was thrown into considerable excitement by the announcement that an assassination had been attempted, and very nearly effected, in Barkley township on the previous evening. The facts, as near as jwe can gather-them, a/o these. Philip Handy, an inoffensive, quiet citizen, about forty-five or fifty years of age, who lives about eight miles north-east vfti liis place, left the house of Mr. Burns, a neighbor, about twilight, and started for home, some half a mile distapt. The next morning the wife of Handy went over to Burns’ and inquired for him, saying he had not been home since the previous evenin". The neighbors immediately turned out and instituted a search for him, and found him lying beside a log, speechless and nearly ddadi He retained his senses, however, and pointed to the back of his neck as the spot which pained him. He was carried to his home, a mustard plaster immediately applied, and a runner sent to this place for Djr.

Alter. When Dr. Alter arrived there, after dark Sunday night, Mr. Handy was still speechless, but i before Monday morning he was able to whisper so that persons could hear by putting their ears close to his mouth.

After being carried home, Mr Handy motioned with his fingers for writing materials j and when supplied, wrote, in an almost unintelligible hand, though usually a good scribe, that while he was going home on SaturdayTiight, he was attacked from behind by the olid man Lakins and his two sons, one of whom gave him a severe blow on the back of the neck with some heavy instrument,which felled him to the earth. He was 1 then dragged into the brush near at hand. Mr. Handy never lost the use of his intellect, although he was almost physically paralyzed; so he, with great effort, dragged himself to some distance from the spot where he was .left by tht assassins, for fear they would come back and finish their job,, and laid down beside the log where he was found the next day. Lakins and lfis two sons were arrested and taken before ’Squires Parkison and Hopkins; but, in consequence of the illness of Mr. Handy, the preliminary examination was postponed for two weeks. The prisoners were required to give bail in S7OO each, which has not yet been given. Great excitement prevails in Barkley township.