Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1874-06-30
TUESDAY MORNING, JUNE 50, 1874.
A Diabolioal Crime Unearthed.
[FrOm the Atchison tMo.j Champions !


Yesterday afternoon one of the most dia>
bolical and fendish cases of cruel maltreat-
ment that it has ever been our duty to record
was discovered in Northwest Atchison, near
the corner of Independence avenue and Di>
vision street. About one year ago. as the
neighbors say, man by the name of a. W.
Futile moved into the house, frame cottage.
one and half stories high, brought with him
some very good furniture, aud proceeded to
establish himself to all appearances perma-
nently. The man was described as being
about forty or forty five years of age, ofrather
small stature, and to all appearance quiet and
unassumlug. The women in the neighbor-
hood evinced friendly feeling toward the
family, and went over to call on his daughter
young lady about twenty years of age
They were met iu the most polite manner.
and told that he was living there with one
daughter, whose mind was not very strong.
and who was subject to epileptic fits whenever
a stranger came into the house, and he knew it
would be unpleasant for them to see her. OF
course this satisfied the desire of the ladies
who came to call, but it did not in the least
allay their curiosity.
AtteTward woman in the neighborhood
went to the house when the man was away
and conversed with the young woman. She
lcptlc fits, as her father had represented
This was early in January, and it proved
not only the first visitor who got inside the
house, but it was undoubtedly the last. All
winter long the man seemed to have nothing
to do, and was continually seen around his
house. All this was regarded suspiciously,
aud as occasionally, at night, a sort of fright
tul cry was heard from the house, it became
sort of chronic rumor that he was in the
habit Of abusing his daughter, and that it was
this cause alone that led her in this mental
condition. So strong had these rumors be.
came that Marshal Grail was informed of
them, and for several days he had the house
''shudowed,' or closely watched, until yester-
day afternoon, when the man not being seen
around all day it was determined to at least
see the cause, and, accompanied by an officer,
he entered the house.
The girl stated that her father had gone to
Kansas City for work, and would not return
for number of days. After looking about
the house for time the officer proceeded to
explore cellar into which the girl forbade
him going.
Lighting lamp the officers proceeded to
the cellar, and there found one Of the saddest
and most sickening sights that could be inn
a9lued. In one corner, upon a dirty, fthy
pallet, lay half,naked waman, chained with
an iron band around her ankle to q staple in
the wall. The first question showed the half.
crazed mental condition in which the poor
woman was, aud the cause which produced
her horrible confinement in this miserable
hole. But one little aperture permitted ven>
tilation, and the hole had sickening smell,
that was caused by non>ventilation and the
filthy surroundings. On box, in a dirty old
yellow dish, was some meat aud stale bread.
The chain was taken off her leg by the use of
small iron bar aud file, and the poor wo-
man stood on her feet.
For one year she has thus been confined,
and never once saw the light. The girl said
the woman was her step mother, and was
crazy; but the quiet manner in which the
woman acted would tend to dissipate the story.
or il it was so the alteration of the mind
must have been very slight. The poor wo-
man, nearly dead from the excitement, was
taken by the neighbors, kindly washed, Dress
ed and cared for, and by the change would
hardly be known. She is tolerabIe fair look
ing woman, and doesn't bear the appearance
of harmiDg an infant Her husband has dis
appeared along with the daughter, and an
attempt will be made to arrest the parties.
Attempted Assassination Of a Vicks-