Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-02-14
LEW lSIEOWNo


bic cabin. She appeared to be completely
chilled through with cold, and could scarce
ly speak for some time. On recovering
been travelling on horseback from her
fathers house in Montreal, to visit an un-
Gle that resided in kentucky, in charge of
young man named Benjamin C0nnett,
who was sent eXpressly to attend her. But
having large amount Of gold in her pos
session, an evil spirit prompted him to rob
her; and in lonely spot near Pine Greek,
he presented pistol to her breast, compell-
ed her to dismount and deliver uD what
money she possessed; when he Immediately
stripped her, tied her in this shameful con
dition, to starve with hunger Or be deyour
ed by wild beasts She had remained in
that condition nearly all night, when after
the most desperate struggles, she had re
leased herself and made her way to the cab
in After bein" refreshed, she willingly
went with the family to the spot, and poin-
ted ont the place where she had been tied,
and the path she had beaten round the tree
I trying to free herself
There was something artless in her ap-
s
delicate frame, left no doubt in the minds
OF those who saw her, that her statements
/ were true, and that she had been fouily dealt
with. She appeared to be overwhelmed
with distress at the thought Of her situa-
ton among strangers. She gave her name
as Esther Mcdowell
Rev. Mr, Grier, father OF Judge Gricr
Of the Supreme Court, resided close hy,
and took her into lis family, and kindly
| provided for her wants. \ great deal Of
sympathy was excited il her behalf, and
the neighbors We'd with each other in max
ing her presents Of clothing. Several gen
tlcmcn, now living, presented her with val
liable silk dresses, and other articles, which
she accepted, and kindly thanked them for
their liberality.
Meanwhile the news spread throughout
the country, and the public indignation
was highly excited against the villain Con
nett. Handbills, offering a reward for his
apprehension, were put in circulation, aud
the chivaIry Of the West Branch started
| in all directions to look for the scoundrel
He had twenty-four hours start, however,
and being we'll mounted, eluded all obser-
Z
The artless girl remained in the neigh
borhood, carcssed and entertained by the
sympathizing people, who could not Go
enough to alleviate her wants Her man
ners were so simple, her actions so lady
like and refined, and her description of the
thief 50 minute, that no doubt was left of
her being badly treated. Letters in the
! meantime were dispatched to her father at
Montreal, but weeks elapsed and no answer
came. Still the public confidence in her
was mistaken
The intelligence having spread far and
near, strangers focked in great numbers TO
see her, and loaded her with presents Be,
ing at the hotel kept by Duties, at Larrys
Greek, a gentleman named Hutchinson,
from Milton, called to see her She eyed
him closely, and seemed to keep shy of
him, which attracted his attention, and be
thought he detected something familiar in
her countcnance. He requested to have
some private conversation with her, which
she positively refused, when he exclaimed,
calling her by name-'I believe you are
the identical young man that once worked
for me IN Milton as a journcyman tailor
! This was a poser, and she became greatly
excited, which aroused a suspicion among
the people that she ml1ht be an impostor.
And such she ultimately proved to be-
The pretty Esther Mcdowell had deceived
and humbugged them in shameful man.
ner, and nercr was robbed as she represen-
ted
A bundle of mems clothing had also
been found near the spot where she was
found, secreted in hollow log, which went
to confirm the suspicion. At length she
confessed that such was the fact-that she
had been playing the impostor; being of
romantic turn of mind, she had actually
passed herself off as young man, and
I worked as journeyman tailor.
1t was now remembered that young
man, answering her description, had eros
sed the White Deer Mountains into Nip
penosc Valley, and staid over night with
the family of a farmer The evening of
that day she Chez came to the house of Jo-
seph Antes, Esq, where Major McMick-
en- now resides, and he ferried her over the
river, when she dofed her male attire and
placed herself in the position in which she
! was found.
Whatever became Of her is not distinct
/ ly known, though it is asserted that she
left the country soon afterwards, and went
to the West under another name, where
she shortly afterwards married, and became
a highly respectable woman
The case of Esther Mcdowell afforded
much amusemsnt for many years among
the people, and when the sub bject is broach-
ed to the old people at the present day,
their mlrthfulness is at once excited, and
they recount the circumstance of being so
nicely humbugged with considerable gusto.