Good Citizen Assaulted
Cassville Republican July 20, 1916, Thursday Late Wednesday evening of last week Sheriff Brixey was called to Butterfield to assist in restoring the peace of that little city and to serve warrants upon a number of parties who were charged with assaulting one of the good citizens of the town. The facts as the REPUBLICAN obtains them are as follows: Wednesday evening, just about dark, Mrs. Tom Poplin in company with her sister, Mrs. J. M. Green, went to Albright's to get some ice cream. On coming out of the store it is alleged that Mrs. Poplin was attacked by Jane Forgey and badly beaten while Nora Johnson, Sarah Riddle, Hugh Murray and wife stood guard with clubs to prevent Mrs. Poplin from being rescued from the attack. Ben Ray, one of this county's best citizens, happened along and attempted to stop the affair and was himself attacked for his offer to secure peace. Mrs. King also acted the part of the peace maker and was attacked. Thus having been left for a few minutes to the mercy of her assaults, Mrs. Poplin was badly beaten. Soon about fifty citizens of the town gathered and the sheriff was called. The news of the trouble spread rapidly in the community and for a time it seemed that the crowd gathered at the Poplin home could not be deterred from taking the law into their own hands but at last and fortunately cool heads prevailed and it was agreed to let the law take its course. Within an hour Sheriff Brixey had placed five of the parties under arrest and they now face charges of assault with intent to kill. The parties under arrest are Jane Forgey, Nora Johnson, Sarah Riddle, Hugh Murray and wife. They waived preliminary examination and were bound over to circuit court. Jane Forgery has been at the home of her mother in Butterfield for the past several weeks. Nora Johnson, a sister, has been at Butterfield only a very short time also, coming here, it is said from Texas. She and a Mrs. Johnson from Texas were married a short time ago. She returned to Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Murray came to Butterfield from Washburn and it is said, have had trouble there. Mrs. Poplin, the victim of the vicious attack, is the wife of the poplar Frisco agent at Butterfield, R. T. Poplin, and has been a resident of Butterfield since her marriage to Mr. Poplin about fifteen years ago. She is a faithful church and Sunday school worker, an active member of the W. C. T. U. and is held in highest esteem not only at her home but in many other parts of the county where she and Mr. Poplin are well known. She is a a frank and plain spoken woman who does not hesitate to speak out in condeming the wrong and upholding the right. It seems that her assailants had become angered at her on account of what they had heard she had said in regard to the conduct of certain persons and this is given as the cause of the assault. At the time of the assault upon Mrs. Poplin, her husband was not at home, having gone to Monett that evening on the evening passenger to attend to official business with Mr. Mills at Monett. Submitted by Donna Cooper State Historical Society of MO Microfilm |