On Mar 22, 2023, at 12:20 AM, Ted Smith #55 <tcsmith@...> wrote:

I think the story below is about a plot by Smith Chapel Sackett (1814-1892) and his sons, Andrew and Frederick. https://sackett-tree.org/getperson.php?personID=I9795&tree=1

The Boston Globe (Boston, Massachusetts)m 27 Jul 1883, Page 1

PLOTS AGAINST A WOMAN.
How She Was Driven From Civilized Massachusetts.
Driven From Her Home and Covered with Tar at Nlght by Her Neighbors.
Confession of a Diabolical Scheme by One of the Schemers.

(Special Despatch (sic) to The Boston Globe.)

PITTSFIELD, July 20.--Another of the crimes for which Berkshire has become quite famous for a few years past was put on trial today at 2.30 in the Superior Court for the second time, it having been heard at the July term last year, and the jury disagreed. The affair happened at Sandlsfield, one of the hill towns in the southern tier in this county. There lived Johanna Sullivan, an Irishwoman about 40 years of age, with her five children, the oldest a boy 14 years of age. Her husband a few years before had left her a small farm, in settlement with her if she would not prosecute him for bigamy, he having married her in Ireland while there on a visit, and bringing her to Sandisficld, within 20 miles of which town he already had another wife. For ten years they lived together, and then, the first wife appearing, he left Johanna the farm in Sandisfield, with the children, and went with the first wile. Johanna was a quarrelsome woman, especially when she began to be persecuted by her neighbors, who, according to her story, heaped all sorts of indignities upon her. They burned two of her barns and one house, they sheared the horses which she had. the young men of the town insulted her, and she was continually in the courts as a defendant or a complainant for some years. She lived near the old Congregational church, for half a mile in each direction from which stretched the village green. Her nearest neighbor was one Smith Sackett, a farmer, with whom she had trouble, and whose sons she had caused to be arrested for a gross insult. Her other neighbor was Harley B. Sage, with whom lived his father-in-law, George While.

On the night of July 10, or rather on the early morning of July 11, 1881, she was aroused by some one attempting to force an entrance into her kitchen. She had previously noticed suspicious actions about the house of her neighbor. Sage, and fearing an attack, had gathered her children about her, so that thev were all in a small bedroom in the other portion of the house. Three of the men she recognized as Sage, White and Fred Sackett, a son of her neighbor, but who had been working in Connecticut. The fourth one she did not recognize, as he was a stranger. They deliberately lighted a lamp, and proceeded to the room occupied by the tamily, adjoining the kitchen. Mrs. Sullivan sought refuge in a closet adjoining, while her eldest boy defended her as best he could with a piece of board. Finally, one of the assailants called for an axe with which to break down the closet door. Mrs. Sullivan made her escape through the window to the village green by the church, and was followed by the men as soon as they knew of her flight. One of them she recognized as White, from a deformed hand, which held a can of tar. She was knocked down, her clothes raised, and the tar was poured over her body and into her hair. She was left nearly dead with fright; and, not daring to return home, she applied for shelter to another neighbor, who dared not allow her to come to his house, but permitted the family to sit the rest of the night in his yard. At daylight the eldest boy walked fourteen miles to Great Barrington for a warrant and a sheriff, who arrested Sage and While, the other two having gone to Connecticut.

At the trial, last July, of Sage, White and Sackett, the Jury disagreed, after a hearing lasting a week. Since then District Attorney Waterman has been working up the case, and has unearthed the matter, which was a most diabolical scheme. Last December, Detective Kellogg arrested, on a requisition, Andrew Sackett and W. H. Rugg of Tbomaston. Conn., whom it was found had boasted of the night's work to some of their neighbors a few days afterward. Eugene A. Clark of Naugatuck, Conn., another of the gang, ran away at the time, but finally came back into the State, and was brought here a few weeks since. He has made a confession to the district attorney, in which he exposes the plot, and tells how and who planned the work. From his story, the parties were invited to Sandisfield to attend a dance, as they understood it. The men drove to a meeting place on the road between Winsted and Sandisfield, known as "Stickles' shed," where masks were procured, and the real object of the visit was made known. Mrs. Sullivan was voted to be an annoyance to the neighborhood, and as such she was to be driven out of the town. Liquor was furnished, and, besides, there was cider brandy in considerable quantity, as well as cider. They drove to the house of Smith Sackett, the elder, and Sage and White joined the party. The masks were put on and the party cast lots as to who should do the job. The masks, however, were of little service, for the party were so drunk that the masks were lost off, and they expressed themselves as willing to do the work iu daylight. These and many other facts, it is claimed, will be proved at the trial by the confession of Clark. At the meeting of the grand jury, two weeks ago, new indictments were found against George L. White, Frederick B. Sackett and Smith Sackett, the elder, and they are charged with the commission of the crime. Eugene A. Clark, Andrew Sackett, W. H. Rugg, Algernon S. Hamilton, Harley B. Sage and George Hall are indicted as accessory. They are under $700 ball for trial, and the examination will show that the plan was a most diabolical one, and had they met with any great resistance the result would have been even more serious than it was. Mrs. Sullivan was obliged to leave the town soon after, and is now living in Connecticut.