The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-06-13
KANSAS DEvILTRY.
A DtabolfcaI Outrage Upon . Wife,
Woman Chained and Rotting In q
Dungeon for Over n Year-Flight O
Her Husband and DauRhter.

DfabOltcaI Outrage Upon o Wtle-A
Woman Chained and Rottiug In q
Dungeon for Over Year-Flight OF
Her Husband and Daughter.
About a year ago one A. W. Futile moved into
frame cottage IN Atchison. Kansas. and for several
months was engaged IN "tlnEering" about the
premises. He was about forty years OF age, was
quite reticent and lived life OF hermit, except
that young woman was frequently seen about the
place. The neighoors became curious. then inter-
ested, and 1nally, according 10 the Champion, one
or Two OF the women living IN that locality 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 wished TO see
Mrs. Asbach, who was one OF the callers says
the Champion, informed him that they had Gale
over TO see the ladies'. In the most polite manner
he thanked them, out told them ne was living
there with one daughter, whose mind was not
very strong and VINO was subject 10 eplleptlc fits
whenever stranger came INTO the house, and he
knew 1t would be unpleasant Tor them to see her.
or course this satisfied the desire OF the ladies
who came to CALL but it did not in the least alay
their curiosity 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 of to work, 1t seems,
as stonemasOn or brlckiayer, he working quite a
while last summer IN the employ OF owen Seip,
and by HIM was considered good workman and
steady, SOBER quiet man.
One day woman living in that vicinity took oc-
caslCn IN mis- temporary absence to run over ana
see ms 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 ner frs. she was retlcent ana un aka.
tIve and seemed to be endowed with only partial
common sense, and barely treated her visitor with
common respect This was early IN January, aud
1t proved not only the first visitor who got inside
the house. but 1t was undoubtedly the last. All
winter long the man appeared to have nothing to
do and was continually seen around his house.
All this was regarded very susplc0usly. and as
occasionally, at night, sort OF lrightul CRY was
heard from the house, 1t became sort OF chrome
hnf Ia wnS N n al nu htd
daughter, and that 1t was this cause alone that
piacen her 10 this mental condition. SO strong had
formed oil them, ana Tor several days ne had the
house "shadOwed," or Glossy watched, until yes
around all day. It was determined to at least see
the cause, aud, accompanied by an officer, he en-
tered the house. The girl seemed frightened to
DEATH and In response TO an inquiry as to where
her ather was she stated tnas he nal gone to
Kansas City. to set work. and would not be BACK
shall Grail approached door leading to the cellar.
For the hrst time the girl evlnceu ieeng That
oficer and tod him not to 20 there TINS action.
OF course, made the search more thorough
and ca eiul, and Of TINS portion OF the house par
Lighting lamp, the officers proceeded to the
cellar and there found one Of the saddest and most
corner, upon dirty. filthy pallet, lay hali-naked
woman, chalneu with an iron band around her
showed the nall crazed mental condltlon IN which
the poor woman was, and the cause which pro-
duced her horrible confinement IN TINS miserable
hole. But one little aperture permitted veutia-
ton, and the mole had slckenlng, deathly smell,
that was caused by aon.ventilation and tue dirty,
filthy surroundings.
on q box, In o dirty old yellow dish, was some
filthy looking meat and some stale bread.
The chain was iaKen OF her leg by the use Of
small iron bar aud 1le, and the poor woman
stood on her ieet.
The story was soon gathered from the woman
aud barbarlsm as could be conceived For one
year the woman had thus been confined. and never
once saw the light. The girl said the woman was
her sepmolher, and Was crazy; but The quiet man.
ner In which the woman acted would tend to dis
sipate the story or, II II were so, the alteration
OF the mind must have been very slight.
The poor woman nearly dead from the excite
dressed aud carea Tor. aud by the change would
hardy be known. She Is a tolerably lalr-oOklng
woman. and DOESN'T bear the appearance OF harm
ing an lniant. She seems IN constant dread and
misery lest should be taken BACK TO the hldeous
hole from which she was rescued and IS conLlnu-
ally nqulrlng II she Is in heaven.
The InDuman husband has probably escaped, and
rest daughter discovered the TACT mat she vas
also gone. The trains are closely watched to see
that she does not leave town Dy rail- Oad and an
attempt Will be made to arrest the husbin
L. would MAKE the strongest man shudder to step
inside the noe and the only wonder Is that the poor
woman lived so long,
Tue woman viii be cared for by the neighbcrs
sue IS now but little more han skeleton, and can
hardly walk around The dread OF DING back TO
the internal hole where she was discovered still
seems to haunt her, and her pathetic appeals to
save her, with the heterogeneous IN regard to
where she is. are certainly heartrendlng.