Dispatch, June 13, 1889

A Lady Badly Beaten.

Moral -- Other violent crimeWomen -- Personal injury

ONANCOCK, Va., June 10, 1889.

The neighborhood around Hollies Church, in the lower part of Accomack, is considerably stirred up over an assault made by Mrs. Lillie Stevens on Mrs. John Henry Mears. Mrs. Mears thought her husband was too attentive to Mrs. Stevens and used some rather uncomplimentary language about her to some of her neighbors. This came to the ears of Mrs. Stevens, who determined to take her revenge out on the woman who dared to assail her character. She accordingly armed herself with a stout blackgum and took her stand at a place where she knew Mrs. Mears would soon pass. When Mrs. Mears came up Mrs. Stevens knocked her down and beat her unmercifully about the face and body. Had not a man luckily come along and stop Mrs. Stevens she would probably have dangerously if not fatally injured her victim. Mrs. Stevens was arrested and carried before a justice of the peace, who sent her on to the grand jury. She was then taken to the court-house, where she gave bond to appear at the next grand jury term of the County Court. Mrs. Mears is known as a very exemplary woman, is well connected, and enjoys the esteem of all who know her. The affair has created no little sensation and bad feeling in the community where it occurred.