The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-04-25
ATTEMPTED OUTRAGE AT ST. AL
BANS.

past seven . ctOck 1his. l. H. -hSNoi-
ty, residing on Elm street, Western
Reserve, desired her niece Teresa Mo-
ran, girl about thirteen years ofage,
to come up town, call at the AdUertis-
er Office for a paper and go to the
Postoflice for themail. The little girl
departed at once on her GRAND and did
not return. She was always prompt
in doing errmds, never lettering by the
way, executing her commission, what
ever it might be, and returning home
Immediately, especially if it were after
nightfall. AS the moments slipped
away and grew into hours, her aunt
naturally became anxious and this anx-
iety had communicated itself to the
whole family and become almost frant-
ic, when, at ten minutes before eleven
o'clock, little Teresa was brought
home, week and III from fright and
violence. Her story, which is I'M
doubtedly true, is as follows -
Leaving home she came up town,
did her errand and started Immediately
to return. AS she walked down Pearl
street it had gfoe nearly dark and
the street was entirely deserted. She
does not remember seeing any person
after turning the corner by the Jail and
did not notice that anybody was COM
ing behind her. Just as she reached
butchers Fly Killer Factory, she was
suddenly seized by the arm by man
who said, in loud whisper:
"If you make noise I've something
in my pocket that will fix you'll"
The attack was so sudden and en-
tirely unexpected that the little girl
can form no idea where the man come
from, and she was so terrified that she
nearly lost her faculties, dared not cry
out, and probably would not have
been heard if she had.
Her abductor dragged her in silence
down Pearl street until he got along tc
the Smith farm, where he forced the
girl to climb the stone wall separating
the road from the field, and struck out
with her in Southerly direction to.
ward the Lake road. Being free from
all fear Of discovery, out in the field
he made his victim walk as well as the
poor child could, stimulating her will
thwacks from her umbrella which he
had taken, and oaths. He inquired
her name and the names of her pa
rents, where she lived and to what
church she belonged. This last inter
rogatory eliciting the reply that shc
was Catholic, he said,
"That's one of the Devils I've beer
looking for"
He also remarked,
eff l wasn't afraid somebody would
see us, I'd take you up the railroad
track"
Reaching the stone wall which sepa
rates the Lake road from the field a
the locality known as ''Nigger Hill,
they climbed over, the man still hold
ing Teresa tightly, but just as the,
struck the sidewalk he heard footstep
approaching and relaxed his hold, al
opportunity which the girl took advan
tage of to slip away and run acros
the street, where she burst into tn
house of Charles Laflain and sun
down, too weak and frightened t
speak. AS soon as she could be re
vived she told her story to Mrs. La
iain, and when Mr.. L. (who is tn
driver of the American House coach
came home, he took the girl to he
uncle's house.
Teresa describes her would-be al
ductor as a tall man, with black nous
tache and beard, long hair, a ragge
gray coat and black hat, turne
down in front. Wednesday, Sheri
Halbert and deputies took the case ]
hand and traced a man answerin
precisely to this description as fl
as the Lime Kiln in Swanton, whel
he was seen by lady and particular
: noticed because her children wei
frightened by him. He left on tt
track in the direction Of Swanton, b,
laborers beyond there saw nothing
him. ''.
The directionhe took with the gi
: was toward piece of woods North
the Lake road, and but for the prov
dental circumstance that couple
men happened at the right moment
9 be walking on the sidewalk in the lit
frequented vicinity where he climbt
q the wall, he would undoubtedly ha,
reached it with his victim, and accor
+ plshed his purpose, which was undouh
s edly rape, and perhaps murder ais