Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-07-14
AMOUNT.
Chapter OF Horrors.

The police Of this city yesterday uncarth- !
ed one Of the most horrible cases of crime |
and brutality that has ever transpired in /
Columbus, in which an educated and virtu !
Gus white woman was bctrayedand outraged !
by Il negro, who has succeeded in keeping
his victim buried from the knowledge of
her friends and most respectable connec-
tons.
The woman in question is widow named
Mary Mcbride. Eight months ago she
came to this city from Iowa for the purpose
of collecting some debts due her husband,
who formerly did an extensive business as a
grain merchant at Winchester and other
points in this State. She had transacted
her business, and III company with several
acquaintanccs was about to 30 on to Iowa,
when she was taken sick at the Columbus
House, and her companions went on, leav
ing her to follow when she recovered. She
remained at the Columbus House some
time, and then went to the Goodalc, cX-
pectlng to receive from her friends the
means to prosecute her journey. But her
expected rcmittances did not arrive as she
anticipated, and her means becoming very
low, she called upon a hackman and re-
qucsted him to convey her to some cheap
boarding house. The hackman, who was
negro, and we believe the only negro hack
man in town, took her to the disrcputable
house of the notorious "Pocohontas," and
left her there. Mrs. Mcbride soon discov-
cred the character Of the house and imme-
diately left it.
The first man she met and TO whom she
told her story, was hideous and vllainous
negro named Henry Burns, who has already
served two terms in the pententiaiy for
man,laughter. This African villain eager
| Iy volunteered his services and promised to
lind her Just the place she wanted, He
then took her to his own room in a frame
house near the corner of Third Street on
the alley between Long and Spring Streets,
where he fastened her in miserable cham
Der, and that night, by the use of drugs
or some other diabolical in~trumentality el-
ttcted her ruin, after taking what money
she had left The woman gives no cXpla
nation of the means by which this was eff
tected, but makes it clearly understood that
1t was done against her will. She was com
pletey overwhelmed by the audacity Of the
villain and her own shame, and Burns by
Il horrible system of intimidation compel
led her to keep in the house, and refused
he, her all communication with the outer world;
The tGrociOuS character of the brute and
his terrible threats that he would kin her
if she exposed him or anybody who came
near her, terrified the sickly and weak
minded woman into subiection, and she
has thus remained his prisoner ever since
lie subjected her to the most bcasty treat
ment, and not only subdued her spirit bu,
reduced her body to skeleton.
By some means not known to uS, some
one passing the house yesterday discovered
the woman and the circumstances under
which she was confined, aud reported the
facts to the City Marshal and Captain White
of the police. They repaired to the house
and found realization of the story which
at first they had deemed incredible The
woman was found in bed, apparently at the
point of death. Ituppears that an abortion
had been attempted by the negro, or that
she had been delivered of negro child-nC
sign ofwhich could be found. She appeared
to be immortal dread Of the negro, and en-,
deayored to conceal the full measure of hi.
crime, though she declared she had beer
kept in confinement against her will anc
was anxious to get away, and out of hi
power She appeared enieeble in body
and mind, and her language was sometime.
wild and incoherent, but her conversation
enyinced high degree of education. Sh
mentioned number Of respectable talnllie
with whom she was acquainted, and claimed
that her own connections were Of the high
est respectability. She said her parent
were abolitionists, but would revolt at tn
idea of amalgamation There was nothin
, about the surroundings of the chamber o
, her narrative to reevethe affair of its hide
, Gus and revolving character
f The negro Burns, who isas black, hideon
, and ferocious a monster as could be fuun
! in the country, was arrested by the polio
t and lodged in the city prison, to await IL
, examination and further investigation G
! the horrible affair. He is sullen and IT
> served, and evidently thinks that it will G
!, hard with him if all the facts can be pro
j lucel i'm evidence = -.NtnteSunn Of OH ms