Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1874-07-03
AnInhuman Husband

About year ago one A. w. Futile
moved into frame cottage at Atchin-
son, Kansas, and for several months was
engaged in tinkering about the prem
Uses. He was about forty years of age,
was quite reticent, and lived the life of a |
hermit, except that a young woman was
frequently seen about the place. The
neighbors became curious, then interest
ed, and finally, according to the Atchin-
son Champion, one or two of the women
living in that vicinity went over to the
house to see the new corners. The man
met them at the gate before they entered
the house, and asked them who they
wanted to see.
Mrs. Asbach, who was one of the call
ers, informed him that they had called
over to see the ladies. In the most po-
lite manner he thanked them, but told
them he was living there with one daugh-
ter, whose mind was not very strong and
who was subject to epileptic fits when
ever stranger came into the house, and
knew it would be unpleasant for them
to see her. OF course this satisfied the
desire of theladies who came to call, but
it did not in the least satisfy their curl
osity, and ever since the house has been
kept under surveillance and a watch as
close as only curious woman can keep
was kept upon the house and its inmates.
In the course of two or three months
the man went off to work, il seems, as a
stonemason or bricklayer, he working
quite while last summer in the employ
of Owen Scip, and by him was consider
} ed a good workman and a steady, sober,
quiet man.
One day woman living in that vicin
ity took occasion, in his temporary alb
sence, to run over and see his daughter
The woman verified the mans story in
regard to the girl, who seemed about
/ twenty years of age, in all except the
: story in regard to her fits. She was
q reticent and untalkative, and seemed tC
n be endowed with only partial common
J. sense, and barely treated her visitor
e with common respect. This was early il
Q January, and it proved not only the frs
n visitor who got inside the house, but il
It was undoubtedly thu last. All winter
;, long the man appeared to have nothing
:. to do, and was continually seen arounC
d the house. All this was regarded yer.
If suspiciously, and as occasionally, a
s night, sort of frightful cry was hearC
% from the house, it became a sort o
chronic rumor that he was in the habi
as of abusing his daughter, and that it wa
Of this cause alone that placed her in thi
D. mental condition. So strong had thes
IN rumors become that Marshall Grail wa
sr informed of them, and for several day
IT. he had the house Swallowed" or Close
u ly watched, until yesterday afternoon
ye when, the man not being seen around a.
n day it was determined to at least see tn
be cause, and, accompanied by an Office
d. he entered the house. The girl SCENE
'c- frightened to death, and response to a
inquiry where her father was she state
ne that he had gone to Kansas City to &c
az work, and would not be back COR sewers
he days. After looking around Marsha
re, Grail approached door leading TO ii
eff. cellar. For the first time the girl evIn
he ed feeling that demonstrated actio
ne and she walked over to the officer an
in. told him not to go there. This actio
ed of course, made the search mere thoroug
, a and careful, and of this portion of Il
in house particularly.
Sc Lighting lamp, the officer proceeds
ng to the cellar, and there found one of IL
er, saddest and most sickening sights TIL
ON could be imagined. In one corner, upC
in a dirty, filthy pallet, lay a halfcraz,
woman, chained with an iron bar
lr. around her ankle to a staple in the wa
est The first question showed the half craze
, mental condition in which the poor W
eet man was, and the cause which produc,
me her horrible confinement in this mise
len able hole. But one little aperatare pr
mitted ventilation, and the hole bad
lay sickening, deathly smell, that was caus
to- by non-ventiation and the dirty filtl
surroundings.
ap- On box, in dirty old yellow dis
was some filthy looking meat and sol
the stale bread. The chain was taken
her leg by the use of s nall iron /
py and file, and the poor woman stood
oh- her feet.
up The story was soon gathered from I
70 woman and the girl, and it was as Fl
the of cruelty and barbarism as could
De- conceived. For one year the won
ant hal thus been confined, and never OF
que saw the light. The girl said the won
MI was her step-mother, and that she '
Seu' crazy but the quiet manner in viii