The Manitowoc Pilot

The Free-Lovers Mobbed.—Mr. Skinner in the Lock-Up.

A genuine mob in the orderly city of Utica has not occurred for many years.—But at about ten o'clock on Saturday evening a large number of persons, with a band of Calathumpians, beleaguered the house on Cornelia street occupied by Mr. F. Skinner, the gentleman whose "spiritual affinity" induced him to leave his own wife, and take Miss Kate Beardsley to his embraces. After making divers and sundry noises, enough to alarm the whole neighborhood, in the hope of bringing out the free lovers, offensive demonstrations were made upon the house. Stones and other missiles were thrown against it and at last, Mr. Skinner and Kate Beardsley made their appearance. Leaders of the mob inquired of Mr. S., whether he had any justification to make, to which he replied that he had done nothing wrong, and was at the mercy of those present.

The mob then endeavored to take Skinner into their hands, but Miss Kate Beardsley wildly clung to him with such tenacity that it was a long time before she could be separated from her affinity. By main force the frantic and misguided girl was at length torn from Skinner, and gently carried back to the house. The mob seemed to have no intention whatever of injuring Kate.

A rail was procured, and Mr. Skinner mounted thereon, received a passage to the City Hall. We do not learn that any injury was done to his person, further than that incident to such a ride. At the City Hall the policemen took Mr. Skinner from the hands of the mob and carried him to the watch house, where he passed the night.

The mob expected to find Mr. Wheeler the spiritual lecturer, and Dr. Bentley, the man who has left a wife and three children in destitute circumstances, for an affinity; but in this they were disappointed.—Those persons have been wise enough to leave the city. After Skinner was taken to the lock up, the persons who got up the demonstration retired peacefully.—Utica Herald.