Copyright USGenNet Inc., 2017
                           All Rights Reserved
                        USGenNet Data Repository

        Please read USGenNet Copyright Statement on this page:
                <http://www.us-data.org/fineprint.html>

Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
===========================================================================
Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
All of the above information must remain when copied or downloaded.
===========================================================================
Port Huron Times
February 4, 1875


              A BRUTAL ASSAULT.
              
              It is seldom that we are called upon to record
            so brutal an assault as the one which came up be-
            fore Justice STEVENS last Friday forenoon. The
            affair took place on Monday evening last, at the
            house of Mr. and Mrs. SUNDAY, on their farm in the
            south east part of the township of Kenockee.
              It appears that sometime last fall a daughter of
            theirs, then a widow (with four children,) became
            acquainted with and married HENRY RANKI, a German
            about 30 years of age, and a comparative stranger.
            As is often the case, the new son-in-law did not
            bring any too much peace into the family, and on
            the evening in question some altercation arose be-
            tween RANKI and Mr. SUNDAY, during which the former
            undertook to pound the old man. Mrs. SUNDAY inter-
            fered to prevent further assault on her husband,
            and RANKI pitched into her also, his muscular 
            powers proving too much for both. The old man then
            started to a neighbor's house for assistance, and
            while he was gone the dutiful son-in-law improved
            his time by pounding the old lady almost to death,
            and then left her insensible. For a time her life
            was despaired of, but she has since so far recovered
            that she was present at the trial, though her face
            was swollen and mutilated fearfully.
              The Justice's office was crowded, and the trial
            occupied most of the day. Prosecuting Attorney A. R.
            AVERY conducted the suit and Messrs. COE and WHIPPLE
            appeared for the defense. The evidence given by the
            younger children, who were present, showed the case
            to be an extremely aggravated one, and that the de-
            fendant deserves to be banished from society. He was
            sentenced to 90 days in the House of Corrections,
            together with a fine of $25 and costs. We hear that
            the case will be appealed to the Circuit Court.
              The defense in this case claim that Mr. RANKI has
            heretofore been the abused party, that the old folks
            have used every means they could to drive him away,
            and that in the assault for which he has been sentenced
            he only struck Mrs. SUNDAY with the flat of his hand -
            in return for blows inflicted by her on him with a 
            stool. Also that the assault was not renewed in Mr.
            SUNDAY'S absence.
            
===========================================================================