Chenango Union, Norwich, NY, June 20, 1866
Mob Law In Oneida County - The Loomises Cleaned Out
Waterville [Oneida Co., NY], June 18:
A short time before daylight this morning (Sunday June 17), the Loomis residence in Sangerfield [Oneida Co.., NY] was surrounded by a large number of persons variously stated at from 60 to 100, and the house entered and all the inmates made prisoners and put in irons. Then commenced a search of the premises. It is stated that in the house, barn and other buildings, a large amount of property was discovered, supposed to have been stolen. A close search was made from cellar to garret, and some of the articles found were thrown out of the house, and others thrown around promiscuously.
Mrs. Loomis states that after the search had commenced, she followed the party upstairs and found that the house had been fired in a closet, and that she procured a pail of water and put it out; also that going into another room she saw a bed had been torn open and fired. She turned that over and subdued the fire. She further states that the fire that consumed the house was kindled in the cellar. The prisoners and some of the contents of the building were removed and the house completely destroyed.
The persons taken prisoners were Mrs. Rhoda Loomis, Miss Cornelia Loomis, and Plumb Loomis. The above were ironed, and there were several occupants of the house over whom a strict watch as kept, but who were not arrested.
Soon after the party left the house a Dutch boy in the employ of the family was taken and hung up to a tree, in order to make him confess, if possible, what he knew of the doings of the family and others that were there. Nothing of importance was learned, further than that the man Alvord (who, it will be remembered, the Loomises denied having been at the house Saturday and Sunday, June 9th and 10th-- the latter being the day officer Filkins claims he shot him on the stairs, but who, they say, was not there at all) was at the Loomis residence on Saturday, the 9th, and that he had a gun with him.
After releasing the Dutchman, the party took Plumb Loomis and hung him up in the same manner, and called upon him to confess. He was served in this manner three times, and the last time upon being let down was found to be perfectly senseless. Between the hangings he affirmed that he had not seen the man Alvord in five years, and also said that the man who shot Filkins was a brother of Thomas Mott, now in Morrisville jail, who also fired the barn of Mr. Terry, in this place last fall, and Mr. Conger's buildings at Sweet's Corners, some time ago; that he, Mott, was hired by the Loomis family to do it; also that Alvord was on Sunday shot twice of officer Filkins, and that Grove took him away yesterday (Saturday). He also said that Mott and others, for whom there were papers, were away from here now, but proclaimed his readiness to assist in finding him. Grove also expressed himself in the same manner.
The party then proceeded to remove the horses and other live stock out of harm's way, and then fired the barn and shanties, destroying everything. The hop house was the last building fired. A small barn or shanty that was up back of the woods, was not destroyed, being the only thing left standing on the premises.
Mrs. Loomis says that the party was composed of persons mostly from Madison county; that she did not know of any from Waterville connected with it. Others say that officer Stone, of Madison county and a large posse of aids were present, and that they with a party from North Brookfield were the main movers in the affair.
Plumb Loomis was taken to Morrisville jail in irons. The others were released on condition that they leave these parts within 30 days; if seen here after that time they forfeit their lives. Although they had been warned of the intended raid, no resistance was offered by any member of the family, and therefore no shots were fired; but had there been any, the attacking party were prepared to give them a warm return.
The family are now sitting at the roadside, on the fences, with scarcely anything left but what they have upon them.
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