American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-12-22
A TERRIBLE CRIME.

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,
respectable resident of the place, and
who was abducted and outraged by UNI
known persons. Mr.. Burt is a retired
carman, and lives in q neat little tive
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.
On the afternoon of the day after
Thanksgiving Miss Burt, who, although
fully 16, 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 a stone fence for Mr..
David Morgan, a neighbOr, was expect
ed home in few minutes. There were
at least five inhabited houses within a
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 single white horse. The men asked
for drink of water. The girl rose,
drew the water from a well at the back
of the house, poured it into a tumbler,
and handed it to the shorter of the two
men. Suddenly her arms were seized
and pinned together from behind, a
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, mu11ling her up in her fathers
overcoat, which they found hanging be-
hind the door, lifted her into the wagon,
and drove away, passing at one time
within hail of the father at his work.
On Friday evening, So hours after
ward, the girl awoke to consciousness in
darkened room on the outskirts of
New Britain, Conn, Sc miles away,
Here her captors forced her to drink
drugged whisky, from the effects of
which she lay in 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 a passing locomotive showed
her the way to the railroad track. She
read the name of the station ''New
Britain" on the signboard, and kept
| Oh OOMn UuC lIdCh IeWdIO ANOW 1ldfCIl'
For three days and nights she contin-
ued her journey through New Haven and
down along the shore road toward home.
without daring to speak to any one, OF
even to ask for any thing to eat. She
passed few tramps, but she was bun
dled up in her fathers overcoat, and
with her hair cut they had no suspicion
of who she was.
At 2 o'clock on last Saturday after
noon she arrived in sight of home, but
did not dare to pass the Barnes's house
| for fear of further maltreatment. She
fingered about until nightfall, and ther
crept into her fathers house. Mrs. Bur
was at the door, and had great difficulty
in recognizing in the pale, sunken face
the shorn locks, and outlandish attire
the bright, cheerful girl of few days
before. The poor mother almost faint
ed when she realized the truth. Tht
father refused for some time to believe
that it was his daughter.
Every effort was made to discover anC
identify the perpetrators of the crime
but without success. Mr.. Burt remem
bered seeing some one resembling thu
younger of the two around the Barnes
house few days before, but he was no
certain. Inquiries at the ivery-stabl
and the village and among people rount
about failed to elicit any new facts.
Mr.. Burt, although poor man, ha
offered reward of 800 for the discov