Piney Justice at Colliers Mills

[Ben Ruset]

From the Trenton Times, March 22, 1886:

THRASHED THE TRUSTEE

Means Takes by a pretty School Mistress to Resent Some Damaging Reports.

TOMS RIVER, March 20. There was an unexpected diversion at the meeting of the trustees of the little school at Collier's Mills last Wednesday night, when the door opened and Miss Louise Blackman, the teacher, entered the school room and, walking directly up to Trustee Ephraim Emson, began to belabor him over the neck and shoulders with a tough-looking birch switch. Emson, who was seated in one of the front rows, jumped to his feet, but the blows fell thick and fast. The big cranberry grower warded them off as best he could and made no attempt to strike back. When the pretty teacher was exhausted she handed the switch to one of her friends and sat down with cheeks aglow. All the time the thrashing was in progress the audience, who had gathered in force to witness the proceedings of the meeting that had been called for the election of an additional trustee, held its breath. The moment the thrashing stopped there was great excitement. A motion to adjourn was carried.

The cause leading up to this exciting episode dates back several months. Emson, who is one of the wealthiest men in Ocean county, is the owner of nearly all the property constituting the village of Collier's Mills, a few Miles from here. As a politician he has been been very prominent for years. He represented the county in the State Senate from 1878 to 1881, was a Cleveland elector in 1884 and at present is a Freeholder of Jackson township, where he lives. A few months ago he conceived a violent dislike for Miss Blackman, who has been the teacher of Collier's Mills school for almost a year. She came well recommended from the State Normal School and received ex-Senator Emson's endorsement at that time. The reason of his recent change of feeling toward her is said to have been a desire to put a friend of his family in her place. His fellow trustees of the school were not disposed to discharge Miss Blackman, who has made a very successful teacher and excellent disciplinarian, and Emson was unable to secure a majority. The board was equally divided on the question as to whether Miss Blackman, should stay or go. Then it began to be whispered that the ex Senator was spreading stories that tended to ruin the pretty teachers reputation. This, of course, added to the excitement, and hence it was that a large crowd assembled at the special meeting for the election of an additional trustee, whose vote would decide the question.

The young schoolmistress is a very pretty and petite young woman, who has always borne a blameless reputation, and it is understood that she is engaged to marry a New York lawyer. Since Thursday she has been suffering from hysteria and nervous prostration, caused, as her friends claim, by the damaging and un-truthful reports spread by Emson, She proposes to fight it out, and it is said the chances of her candidate for trustee are good. She, has been congratulated by her friends for her action.

 

[bobpbx]

Good for her. That'll teach him (no pun intended).

 

[Ben Ruset]

Unfortunately I can't find anything that talks about what happened after that meeting.

 

[Teegate]

Imagine being her student!

Guy

 

[NealS]

Interesting article. Fultonhistory has a little bit more about what happened in a story taken from The National Police Gazette. It's actually a little bit funny. Here's a link to the PDF. You can also find it by going to fultonhistory.com and searching for Ephraim Emson.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Wow, nice find!

 

[NealS]

Thank you! I've been a fan of this site for years now, so I'm glad to be able to contribute.

 

[Teegate]

That was a great addition to Ben's contribution. It appears the public sentiment was on her side.

Guy

 

[Teegate]

I will add a little to the story.


OBITUARIES

December 11, 1889

... ---The last will and testament of Christian D. Emson, late of Collier's Mills, has been filed on probate at the office of the Surrogate of Ocean County. By the terms of the document all of the property of the deceased, both real and personal of every description, is left to his son, Ephraim P. Emson, who is also made executor. The will directs that Ephraim Emson pay to the testator's grandson, Christian Emson Hartshorne, the sum of $10,000 when he arrives at the age of 21 years and the same sum when he attains the age of 22 years, the sum of ($)500 to be paid to him annually until he attains his majority. The sum of $500 is left to Christian Emson Lockwood, a namesake and a son of Rev. Samuel Lockwood. To the Dutch Reformed Church at Keyport $500 is given to be put at interest or the interest thereon to be paid annually by the executor. In connection with this matter the will directs ___(obscured) a bond and mortgage held by the testator against the church, remain uncollected as long as the property remains in the possession of the Dutch Reformed Society.




OBITUARIES

June 10, 1896
EMSON.--Near New Egypt, June 5, Ephraim P. Emson.



MARRIED.

March 12, 1902
WILBUR--EMSON.--March 4, at Collier's Mill, by Rev. A. J. Gregory, Dr. William L. Wilbur, of Hightstown, and Miss Hannah A. Emson, daughter of the late Ephraim Emson.

 

[Teegate]

You can read more about Emson here.

http://books.google.com/books?id=2e...0CCcQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=Ephraim Emson&f=false

 

[NealS]

Good stuff. I'm sure there's more to Ephraim Emson than what's been presented thus far, but he still somehow comes out looking like Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life.