The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1878-11-07
Attempted Ab1uctiOn--TwO Child.
Women In the Hands Of
the Kidnappers.

now with remarkable sensation, being
no other than seeming attempt at alb.
duction, the intended victims being two
diminutive specimens of humanity
little women-who together occupy
little residence in the western part Of
the town. Annie and Katie King are
the names of the two little people. They
are small, very small, Annie, the
younger, standing about forty-eight
inches in height, and weighing just as
many pounds as her height in inches
Katie, the elder, il triile taller, but
about the same weight. Both are per
fcctly formed, with shapcly hands and
feet, good figures and attractive faces
Annie, the younger, is especially re-
markablc for her diminutive size and
for her symmetrical figure, and long,
wavy hair, which falls in heavy masses
about her shoulders, and reaches 10 her
dolI.likc waist below.
Their home, which appears TO have been
especially built ior them, il a tiny frame
cottage on McKinncy-street, near Madi.
aon, comfortably and suitably furnished
with low casy.Chars, the tinicst Of cook
iug-stovcs, snug little bed, which they
jointly occupy, and is with its green
little furnishings and diminutive in
habitants the vcricst dolls house that
one could find in many days travel.
Here they live in comparative quiet,
seldom yenturing out except among
their near neighbors and to the home Of
a brother, who lives block away. They
live entirely acne in their little home,
their simple wants supplied by a small
pAtrimony left them on the decease of
their father, formerly a resident of this
city. Their brother, Mr. King, il Il
wcll.todo citizen OF Dayton, and watches
over them with the kindly care which
brothcrIy affection, strengthened by
their tiny heIpleasness, inspires.
For some time past they have been
troubled with apprehcnsiOnS as to their
safety. Annie, the younger and
smaller, had frequent occasions to 20
up the street and had observed that she
waS followed and closely watched by
persons unknown TO her, For two or
three nights past they had heard strange
sounds outside their little dCmicilc,
which led them to suspect that some
body was watching their home for some
evil purpose. Still, as they are frequently
annoyed by boys, who, attracted by the
novelty of their appearance, OCCASION
ally proved somewhat annoying, little
was thought of the matter, until on
Friday evening they became so alarmed
that their brothers. son, n boy Of twelve
or fourteen years, was sent to spend the
night in the house with them. They
retired about the usual hour, and about
two o'clock they were awakened by n
noise outside the house, and by Il bright
light in the room. Looking toward the |
windows, they saw three men in dark |
clothes with heavy black boards, one OF
the number carrying dark lantern, the
light Of which entered the apartment.
At another window were two more men,
without coats or masks. The helpless
little women were terribly alarmed, and
in their terror screamed for help, and
not knowing what else TO do hid them
selves under the bcd-clothcs A few
moments later they heard the click Of u
skeleton key in the back door of their
apartment, and tive men silently en-
tered the room, creeping upon the floor.
The hoy who was with them, M much
frightened rs themselves, was unable
to render them aid, except to discon-
cert the would-be kidnappers by shout
ing Justify for help. Coming into the
room the men crcpt quietly to the bed
and were evidently preparing to seize
their victims, when Annie, the younger,
sprang quickly from the bed, and, with
her short lettering steps, ran screaming
as fast as possible in the darkness-for
the villains had not yet turned on the
light from their lanterns-to the door.
As she passed one of the men caught her
by the arm, but, by good fortune and
strength above that which her little |
figure would indicate, she managed to
break from his grasp. She was followed
by the elder sister, Katie, who was
seized by the foot by one of the men,
hut who got away, followed by the boy,
all screaming for help. Being well
postcl in regard to the location of doors,
aud, aided by the light from the moon,
which was still shining, they managed
to cludc their would-bc captors-whosc
plans were evidently upset by the pres
'Ht' VI lnc Doy--hill ll'y NilDl buI VI !
door barchcadcd and shocless, and,
scrambling hastily over the fence, made
their way IA rapidly as their little
trembling limbs would carry them to
their brothers. house, screaming for
help and terribly frightened. Mrs.
King, who had been apprehcnsivc for
their safety, heard their screams, and,
running down stairs, opened the door
for them. and then, with great prompt
ness, tainted in the arms of her husband,
who had got down stairs 1T about the
proper moment. by the time the ex-
plantations were made rcstorativcs OBJ
tanned for the fainting woman and Mr.. |
King ready for the rcconnoitcr, the |
little dolls house was silent, except |
from the knot Of excited ncighbOrs who |
had gathered round in remarkably scant
apparel to investigate. Ancxamination
showed that nothing had been disturbed |
in the house, thus showing that the Oh |
lcct Of the invaders was not plumber in |
the ordinary sense of the word. Moth |
ing was seen of them by any one except
those in the house when they entered, |
and il seems that they disappeared rs
soon as the women escaped from the
house.
The object Of the Outrage is Of course
unknown, but il is believed that the in
tcntitn was to abduct the women that |
they might be used as attractions in
shows at some distant point where they |
would not be- recognized. They had |
been frequently solicited to become
members of travelling parties or 60 on
exhibition at various points, their
figures, sprightly appear
ance and intelligence, and the beauti-
iul, flowing hair of the younger
making them valuable acquisitions in