San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1877-12-29
A TERRIBLE CRIME.

Away-A Prisoner Four Days.
[From the New York SUM-
Much excitement has existed in West
port, Conn.,, for several days past, over
developments in the case of Miss Fan
ME Burt, daughter Of Mr.. Charles Burt,
a respectable resident of the place, and
who was abducted and outraged by I'M
known persons. Mr.. Burt is a retired
carman, and lives in a neat little two
story cottage, surrounded by ever
greens, on the road midway between
Westport Station and Westport. His
nearest neighbor, Amos Barnes, lives in
larger and more snowy edifice on the
other side of the way, about hundred
yards from Burt. Enmity, growing out
of lawsuit, has existed between the
two for some years past, a fact which,in
the minds of many of the aeighbors, has
direct bearing on what follows. The
reputation of the Barnes family is not
savory. The house for some years past
has been the resort of questionable per-
sons from New York. t
On the afternoon of the day after
Thanksgiving Miss Burt, who, although
fully Is, is almost child in appear
ance, sat in the dining-room OF her
fathers house with her nephew, aged
about 2 years. 1t was half-past l
O'Clock in the afternoon, and her father,
who was building stone fence for MIR.
David Morgan, a neighbor, was expect
ed home in a few minutes. There were
at least five inhabited houses within
quarter of mile, and persons were con-
stantly passing on the road. Steps were
heard on the piazza and knock at the
door. She opened it, and two men, one
tall and light complexioned, and the
other short and dark, entered. At the
door STOOD covered carriage harnessed
to a single white horse. The men asked
for drink of water. The girl rose,
drew the water from well at the back
of the house, poured it into tumbler,
and handed it to the shorter OF the two
men. Suddenly her arms were seized
and pinned together from behind,
handkerchief saturated with chloroform
was held to her nose, and she fell help
less into her captor's arms.
The men deliberately stripped the
clothing from her, and dressed her in a
suit of mems clothing they had with
them, mufling her up in her fathers
overcoat, which they found hanging be-
hind the door, lifted her into thewagon,
and drove away, passing at one time
within hail of the father at his work.
On Friday evening, Sc hours after
ward, the girl awoke to consciousness in
darkened room on the outskirts OF
New Britain, Conn.,, 36 miles away.
Here her captors forced her to drink
drugged whisky, from the effects OF
which she lay in a semi-unconscious
state for several days. While in this
condition her captors repeatedly as
saulted her, and even added blows and
drunken abuse to their other vile treat
ment. The room in which she was con-
fined was darkened by green shades,
and contained only a lounge and two
chairs. Her food was cold turkey and
chicken. The men talked very little,
and were generally in the room with her
together. They told her that Charlie
Barnes, son of the Barnes already men,
toned, had, out of spite, put them up
to what they had done. At times they
went out and locked the door, leaving
her alone for hours. She had no notion
of the time, the room being almost as
dark in the daytime as at night
After four days of this treatment they
released her, having first cut off her hair
short like boys, and charged her not
to tell any one of what they had done,
ON pain of further violence. They also
told her that she had better speak to no
one, as it was criminal offense for a
girl to be found in male attire, and she
would certainly be sent to State-prison
if discovered.
Half crazed with anxiety, drugged
with liquor, and stupefied with inhuman
treatment, the poor girl did as she was
bid, and quit the house, without even
taking notice of its appearance. She
wandered about in the fields until the
smoke of passing locomotive showed
herthe way to the railroad track. She
read the name of the station "New
Britain on the signboard, and kept
on down the track toward New Haven.