Who could do such a thing?

FULTON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 1/29/2007 at 14:03:14

"Fairfield Ledger", August 20, 1868

Dastardly Outrage.--- One of the meanest, most despicable and dastardly outrages that we ever heard of, was committed on the farm of Mr. Alexander FULTON, residing about a mile west of this place, on the Burlinton [sic] Road, on last Friday night. Mr. FULTON is a gentlemen [sic] 60 years of age, and resides alone with his wife, who is but a few years younger. Mr. F. has for the past twenty-five years paid great attention to the culture of fruit, and had at length succeeded in rearing one of the finest orchards in the country, consisting of apples, cherries, pears; &c., together with about ten rods of choice grape vine, now loaded with grapes. When Mr. F. retired on Friday night, his trees were all safe and sound, and his grapes promising an abundant yield; when he went out on Saturday morning, all were destroyed.--- Some unmitigated scoundrels had, apparently with a draw-knife, completely girdled about 125 of his choicest fruit trees --- had cut off all but two of his grape vines --- had gone into his garden and cut off his Lima beans, and pulled up an entire bed of choice beets, the seeds of which he had received from abroad. The trees were not only simply girdled, but many of them had been shaved to the length of two or more inches entirely around the tree. It is possible that one person could have done the whole work during one night, and judging from the marks on the trees, three miscreants were engaged in the work. It is thought that it will be impossible to save any of the trees, and thus Mr. F. in his old age finds the work of a life-time completely ruined in a single night. He has the sincere sympathy of our entire community, and from the numerous and universal expressions of indignation we have heard, it will be apt to go hard with the scoundrels, should they be discovered. For our part, we cannot conceive of punishment commensurate with the offence committed; still, we hope nothing rash will be done. From certain circumstances, we have no doubt the guilty parties will be brought to trial, and as it is an offence against the entire community, every member thereof should use his best endeavors to hasten their arrest and conviction.

[Ed. note: A rod is equal to 16½ feet as a unit of distance.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.