Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1879 — Pushing a Heifer to Church. [ARTICLE]

Pushing a Heifer to Church.

ConstaMe Eberly has arrested John Wolf John Saylor. Clinton Christ, Abdison Ditxler anu.uo**i»«Bsinger. From ail foots it appears that the defendants, with others, proceeded to Penpypaekerts meeting-houfte which is located about six miles north of this place. When they arrived there they speculated upon the chanoes of frightening the congregation, if such a thing could be done. At first it was proposed to impress a full-grown cow into service, but the animal was found to large. The design of the young men was to have something appear to the penitent people that had horns. “Well if we can’t get aoow, down there In the meadow is a heifer; suppose we get hold of her. We can handle her better than a cow,” said one of the leaders. It was a getting dark, and, as tbe motion was seconded and agreed to*it was resolved to wait until dark. The animal was about 1J years old. One es the men grabbed it around the neck, two others by the shoulders, two by the hind quarters and one took hold of its tail and give it an extra twist. The heifer commenced bawling louder and louder as tiie fbung men came nearer the meet-ing-house The animal was very much scared, and its “bawl” was very loud and unnatural. Ever now ana then the young man having the tail-piece in charge would give it an extra twist, and the heifer would shake up the surroundings that reviberated clean into tbe meeting-house. On came the heifer, the youug men laughing, but determined to carry out their original intention. At first they wan ted to throw it in through the window, hut the heifer was too heavy and the men two frill of laughter. “Bah!” veiled the heifer, but the noise was dreadful and unearthly. They reached the meeting-house yard, and when they came quite near the door they were quiet. Suddenly springing open the door they gave the heifer a violent push and an twist of the tail, and the brute yelled terrible as it showed itk white face in the center aisle. The minister was astounded and the heifer pranced and; kicked. The wompn .folks screamed at the top of i their voices, and the brave men of the congregation who got over their fright jumped up to put the animal out. Rev. Weirich, the Methodist minister, was greatly alarmed. He said it was the' devil. He had been preaching the necessity of repentance of sins or punishment will surely follow. When the young men pushed in the heifer they yelled and departed and disappeared in the darkness. The deacons succeeded in driving out the animal, but the services ended abruptly. It was soon discovered who the guilty ones were and information was accordingly sworn out against them.