The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-05-24

Abductson OF tho schoolmistrcss In New
Orleans.
EXAMINATION OF PATRICK RYAN FOR THE ABDUc-
TON OF HONORA A. w0OD-rHE MADNESS OF
From the New Orleans Delta May 1871
This extraordinary case Of abduction or kdnap-
ping must still be fresh in the memory of our cti
xens, At the time il tqck place we gave some
what lengthy account Of the s s.F .t ." d.
young clerk of our city, is charged with having,
by force and arms, carried of, and attempted to
rape his cousin, Honora A. Wood, a young school.
mistress of the Second district, the 18th Of April
last. For the last three days Recorder Ramos has
been engaged in the investigation of the affair." and
some dozen or two witnesses have been examined.
The young lady is very beautiful, Intelligent and
accomplished, and we are not surprised that Patrick
should fall madly in love with cousin possessed OF
all these enrolling qualities. Patrick Is by no
means satyr, and we must confess we saw nothing
in the signing Silvus to elicit such marked disdain
from this modern Phoebe This abduction equals,
in all respccts-but the most essentiathe carrying
of Of Helen by Paris, Europa by Jupiter, proser-
pine by Pluto, and the Sabine virgins by the icuna
ers Of Rome. But to the testimony.
The first witness called was Capt. H. y. Frost, OF
the steamboat California. The Captain testified
that on the day in question he saw Ryan ana MISS
Wood walking down the wharf anu gong 1ash IN;
formed hm that he was wanted IN tne ladies CABIN;
on repairing thither, in company with the clerk he
found the young lady Miss Wood, with the chamber
and she replied that she had been brought aboard
against her will; and she desired to return to her
friends. Ryan had followed the captain into the
cabin, and now said to the young lady-"Honora,
You know that love you, and that my intentions
are honorable want to marry you" The captain
then remarked to Ryan that he had taken q very
poor wy OF showing his honorable intentions. The
young lady also answered him that IT was against
the wishes OF her parents, and she had desire to
marry him. The chambermad during this time was
mending Miss Woods dress, which had been torn
her bonnet was much bent up, and her face flushed
as though she had been greatly excited. The cap
tain then ordered Ryan to leave the room and when
the four o'clock train came down he requested some
gentlemen to take the young lady home, but they
refused, and he forced to take her with him to
Mobile, and bring her back on his return. She
stayed on board during the time the boat was IN
Mobile. Ryan returned to New Orleans on board
the boat, but no conversation took place between
him and Miss Wood during the trip.
On being ross-examined, the Captain stated that
when he first saw Ryan and the young lady APP
preaching the boat, they were not walking arm In
arm. She however, did not manifest any reluctance
to accompany him, though they were not conversing
together. Ryan came to the Captain while stopping
inMobile, and asked him if he would be allowed to
return to this city on his boat. The Captain told
Ryan that he thought it would not be very safe for
him to return as the young lady had five or six
grown brothers. and some OF them would
doubtless give him good taking" eff she
were my sister," said Captain Frost, would not
leave skin enough on your body to make purse"
Ryan made no answer to this !; but q few minutes
before the boat left Mobile, he came on board and
returned to this city. During the voyage Ryan Of
clerk but the Captain told that officer not to receive
it, as he did not wish to see her put under any
further obligations to Ryan. Being asked If from
what he saw he believed Ryan to be sincere in his
protestations of love and offers of marriage to the
young lady, the Captain responded that it was i'm
possible for him to tell what were Ryans intentions
He did not hear him assert while in the cabin, that
Miss w. had promised to marry him.
Mr.. Kingsley, the clerk of the steamboat, corrobo-
rated the statement of Captain Frost, and stated
that Ryan had registered the young lady as Mrs.
Ryan. During the trip Miss w. appeared to be in
great distress and when they arrived in Mobile, she
requested the clerk to telegraph her brother and in
form him Of her situation, which he did. He also
sent second telegraph despatch to the brother, in
forming him that Ryan would return on the boat,
and telling him to have an officer ready to arrest
him. In conversation with Ryan while in Mobile,
the clerk asked him what he was thinking of in
bringing the girl away in this manner? He replied
that he loved her. and her folks opposed to the
marriage, and this was the only means he could
think of to make her his He asked the clerk to
ry some money from him to the young lady, and re-
quest her to allow him an interview. Miss W.refus
ed the interview and replied that she would receive
nothing from him. Ryan stated to the clerk that the
young lady had asked him to take her to California
but when he told this to her, and asked Ii such
the case, she replied that she never had made any
such request.
The chambermaid Of the boat testified that Miss
W. appeared to be greatly distressed while on the
boat; cried very much she looked very pale, and
witness thought she was going to faint; her dress
was very much torn and her bonnet (crushed); she
wept bitterly and continually called upon her
mother; witness endeayored to calm her, but she
refused TO be comforted witness heard her re
peatedly exclam, " Oh, my poor mother, she will
60 distracted she will not know what has become
of me y Miss Wood told witness that Ryan had
torn her dress, and threatened her life, and also
hurt her arm while in the carriage.
Miss Honora A. Wood (the young lady HERSELF
testified as follows On Monday, the 18th instant
hatv Tho III M fou n
evening, as was turning the corner Of st. Louis
and Claiborne streets, was forcibly taken by the
arm and dragged to the corner of Cont and Clai
borne streets, and there pushed into earrings
by Patrick Ryan, who afterwards jumped In
and closed the door the blinds of the carriage
were also put down Ryan then ordered ths
fast the driver was a black man attempted
to grasp his arm, but was prevented by Ryar
catching hold of my arm and waist; then offered
the driver thousand dollars If he would stop or turn
round to the city; but he was alike deaf to my en-
treaties and offers; Ryan, while in the carriage, of
fered TO marry me, but refused he then seized me
by the arm and tried to throw me down, saying he
would rob me OF my honor and then would be
forced to marry him; it was then my arm was hurt
and my dress torn at the waist; told Ryan that il
he would not i'll treat me any more would marry
him; told him this TO save my honor and to pacfy
him, and prevent his doing me any further violence
until should be rescued from his hands; the car
rage did not stop until reached the shores Of the
lake, near broken bridge, which crosses q little
bayou emptying into the lake; he then ordered me
to leave the carriage and follow him to the lake ter
minus Of the railroad, threatening to kill me
refused or betrayed him; he stopped
at restaurant and asked me If | would
not have some dinner / refused to take
dinner, but he insisted that / should go in
and he ordered couple of glasses of lemonade
OF which took two or three sips as entered the
restaurant, whispered to a waiter-thc young man
now see in Court (pointing to Antonio Garca)-
and requested him to call officer for me, but ]
think.he did not hear; complained to Ryan that
awhile; wished to wait until the cars came down,
In hopes of placing myself under the protection OF
one OF the conductors, but Ryan insisted that
should go on board the boat immediately, and told
me had better not expose myself that must take
his arm or would see the consequence; then took
his arm for fear he might suspect my design and
We walked aboard the boat; he then took me into
the cabin, placed on the sofa aud calling to the
chembermaid, told her to attend to my wants; he