The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-06-07
THE VICTORY.

On de oder side de creek.
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THE VICTORY.
AlStrangc Crime and it's Solution.
The town of Doncaster, in England,
is famous us being the scene from
year to year Of the celebrated St. Le-
ger race. Ordinarily til is a staid, dull
enough place. with it's chief business
on market days, when the neighbour
ing farmers and families throng the
town. During the race week, how
ever, it presents a lively aspect
being literally crowded with visitors
from all parts of the world. The no.
tells and inns are filled, private board
ing-houses find all the guests they can
accommodate, and many families va
cate their residences entirely, renting
them for ten days or so to wealthy Wis.
itors who pay large sum for their ex-
elusive use. Among the visitors to
the town during the races are multi
tudes of the criminal class, who flock
thither from London, Birmingham,
Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Glasgow,
Dublin and all the large centers, for
the purpose of pursuing their nefar-
ious calling. From all the places
named likewise come body of po-
lice detectives on purpose to take care
Of the thieves and rogues with whom
for the most part they are we'll &C.
-Quainted.
In the first place, the railroad depots
are watched, and all recognized crim-
ina:s are captured there and returned
by the next train to the place whence
they came but, in spite of this ad-
mirable scheme, thousands of them are
Struggled into the town, some of them
taking up their abode there long be-
fore the races open, and others landing
at roadside stations a few miles dis
tant, and proceeding to their desti-
nation by secret paths or by night.
Many of them also adopt clever dis.
guises, and thus evade the vigilance of
the officers of the law.
During the race week persons re-
siding in the suburbs and neighboring
country are wont to retire to rest
early, and to see that their dwellings
are secure against the attack of mid
night providers. The rural police are
doubled, and every precaution is
adopted to protect the inhabitants. In
spite of all this, however, highway
robbery, garroting and burglary are of
frequent occurrence. In 1851 this
was especially the case, and remark
able crime perpetrated at that time is
here to be narrated.
About half a mile out of the town,
on the Thorne road. stood the spacious
residence of Mr.. Duncofnb. The
house was about 100 yards from the
road, from which it was separated by
a high stone wall, with two iron gates.
The house faced the river Don, fine
park, rich in trees stretching down to
the waters brink. The rear of the
dwelling was toward the Thorne road.
Mr.: Duncomb, formerly a widower,
with one daughter, Mary, aged twenty,
had recently married an individual
who was for several years his first
wife's maid. She was a large, hand.
some woman, with most imperious
manner, and she ruled her husband
absolutely. After her fathers impru-
dent marriage, the daughter quilted
DOncaster and went to reside with an
aunt at Harrogate. Long before the
death of the first Mrs. Duncomb, there
had been deep trouble between her and
her husband ON account of her waiting
maid, and this had resulted in the lat
ter's being discharged. Immediately
after Mrs. Duncomb's death, the maid
returned as housekeeper, at Mr.. Dun
combs request, after an absence OF
lover two years. Within a twelve
month the new housekeeper becrme
Mrs. Duncomb.
EARLY on the morning of Wednesday
that u.s., between and 8 O'Clock
the servants were aroused by the loud
ringing of their mistress bell. On
Fastening to the room, the door was
found open, the metallic receptacle for
the bolt of the lock having been
wrcnched off. Mrs. Duncomb was
found lying full length on the floor,
with the broken cord of the bell in
her hand, and insensible. Mr.. Dun.
comb lay arcoss the bed, with his
throat cut. The bureau was ransack-
ed, and valuable jewelry and a large
sum Of money was missing. MIR. Dun.
comb was dead, :. though still warm.